My History Can Beat Up Your Politics

Since 2006, this podcast has been using history to elevate today's political debates.  "The perfect antidote to bloviating talking heads, My History is thoughtful, nuanced, and highly engaging." -Columbia Journalism Review

History
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Politics
176
Hannibal Hamlin Stood Up: A Look At an Overlook...
Known for being Lincoln's first VP and dropped from the ticket, Hamlin was actually as well-known as the President he served under. He was a fighter against the expansion of slavery and an important Senator. It was not out of the question that Hamilin could have been in Lincoln's spot. History has forgotten, but we'll give him a few words in this look at Vice Presidents this summer.
43 min
177
Terrible Tuesday 1987 (The Ark of Commerce, Par...
For Wall Street Insiders, Black Monday was not the worst day. The next day, Terrible Tuesday was an agonizing test of the financial system. As part of our series on the commercial history of the United States, we examine the events of Tuesday the 20th. And we look at the history of insurance in America, the reasons there is a stock market, what was learned and not learned from 1987 and a few other things.
52 min
178
On The Lincoln Train: The 13-Day Journey of a P...
Lincoln's turbulent period as President-elect also featured a novel twist: a thirteen-day train ride through the states that had cast their votes for him, and two that had not.  He countered large cheering crowds and some security risks, while he...
78 min
179
Black Monday 1987 and The Shock of Risk (Final ...
Worried hands gripping phones. Black screens with green digits, going downward. Faces pressed against fancy brokerage office glass. Busy signals. The history of Black Monday 1987 crash and the history of what came before it, from stock commodities and even butter and eggs. This is the first of what will be a two-parter on commerce, risk and the attempts to control that risk, insurance. All of it came together on one day in 1987 which made history, but has been somewhat forgotten about. Don't forget to try out our sponsor Betterhelp - http://www.betterhelp.com/beatup
59 min
180
American Epidemic: Philadelphia's Yellow Fever ...
Five thousand people died in Philadelphia, then the capital of the United States in just a few months.  Between August and November of 1793.  Thousands of others, including the President, fled the city.   Preachers told of sins...
37 min
181
We've Got Problems. We've Always Had Problems.
In this episode, no big deal, we just tackle about every significant problem we have in our politics today.  norm-breaking, free-speech and free-speech limits, threats and violence, double impeachments, pushing envelopes and reverse virtue...
102 min
182
1995: A Story of Politics On The Information Su...
Stealth ads. Secret advice. Kids in uniforms.  Soft money and hard choices in the information age.  As we discuss in this cast, a Presidential election was almost completely settled a year before it happened.  Some knew an election was...
73 min
183
Leftovers From the Black Monday and Terrible Tu...
Leftovers From the Black Monday and Terrible Tuesday Casts.
22 min
184
Leftovers from the Mechanics Institute Attack P...
More about New Orleans Mayor Monroe and Louisiana's first black lieutenant governor.
16 min
185
The Man Behind the UN Who Never Got Credit - Ed...
Edward Stettinius, Jr. served a short but important time as Secretary of State serving F.D.R. and Truman.  Without him, there may not have been a UN.  And because he got very little credit, he was able to be successful.   With...
53 min
186
Golden Beauty Boss: Madame Sara Spencer Washing...
In this episode, we speak with Cheryl Woodruff Brooks, author of  Washington was a cosmetic entrepreneur whose company turned her into one of of America's first black millionaires. She was founder and president of Apex Enterprises consisting of...
30 min
187
The Young Dick Cheney
We know the globe-running, meeting master Vice President Cheney, but did you know his parents were hardcore Democrats?  or that he thought his father turned into a bird (albeit at a pretty young age).   As we discuss with Tim Pearson,...
35 min
188
1921 - One Hundred Years Ago
Events 100 years ago have nothing at all to do with today's events, unless you consider new technologies changing the pace of life, the immigration issue, a new administration changing messaging and policies, racism and racial violence, crime, labor...
38 min
189
The 25th Amendment, Section Four Explained, w/ ...
The Constitution contains two possible forms of presidential removal outside of election, one is the much-discussed impeachment process. The other is the 25th Amendment's fourth section. We discuss 25 Section 4 with Professor Brian C. Kalt, Professor...
46 min
190
This is William Rufus King w/ Thomas Balcerski ...
The 13th Vice President of the United States remains obscure. Where King's name does come up, it's often with the wrong picture. Or he's confused with Rufus King.  According to our guest, Thomas Balcerski, Associate Professor of History at...
43 min
191
Mario Cuomo is Not Running: A Tale of Politics
A look at Governor Andrew Cuomo's father Mario, a classic tale of American politics and the potential campaign for President that he ran. 
32 min
192
Cholera and Benjamin Harrison
In 1892, a dreaded disease caused a President to navigate local health situation and created a new law.  We look at the precedent-setting quarantine order of the 23rd President, Benjamin Harrison.  While we are at it, we look at Harrison's...
41 min
193
Unfriending From Jefferson and Adams, to today
A look at the famous series of letters between Jefferson and Adams.  Friends as young diplomats, they 'unfriended' and 'refriended' from the time of their Presidencies and politics to their old age.
51 min
194
Elvis Meets Nixon - The Insider Story
A look at a frenetic day at the Nixon White House.  
27 min
195
Statue Removal: National Valhalla: Statues, Con...
From the early attempts to depict Washington, to the first Congressional attempts to block Confederate statues, to today's debate.  In this episode Bruce examines the history behind statues in America, and Bruce looks at every debating point and...
58 min
196
You Break Everybody's Back Part II: The 1988 El...
Attack videos, apology tours, inoculation ads, presidential circles and glib phrases make up the scuttle for the Presidential race in 1988.  Part II of our series.  Biden's all, Dole's rise, Hart's second coming and  the 3x5 card that...
74 min
197
You Break Everybody's Back: The 1988 Election -...
The quote from Atwater sums up the race 31 years ago nicely. Gephardt eyes a rusty belt. Dole proto-snarks, Jackson thunders, Biden runs a post route, Bush looks for his soul. Dukakis tries error free ball. Simon finds his inner bow tie and Bruce...
97 min
198
Enemies: Nixon Goes to China
Nixon Goes to China, and what it might mean for the Iran Deal
62 min
199
George Romney
A look at the Senator's father, his 1968 run, and time as HUD secretary.
15 min
200
16 Obscure Facts About Presidents w/ Jeremy And...
Who was Chester Arthur's secret pen pal?  How did Herbert Hoover spend his last day in office?  What was McKinley's obscure accomplishment?  What was Rutherford B. Hayes passionate hobby? What event hurt Taft's Presidency from the...
68 min