Dave Does History

On this episode of Dave Does History , we turn our gaze to ancient Rome and the stormy life of Emperor Caracalla—warrior, builder, butcher, and the man behind one of the bloodiest family feuds in imperial history. Born into power and raised on ambition, Caracalla ruled an empire with a sword in one hand and a scowl carved into marble. From the grandeur of the Baths of Caracalla to the chilling mur...

In this episode of Dave Does History , we saddle up and gallop into one of the most iconic yet short-lived chapters of the American West—the Pony Express. Born out of urgency and ambition in 1860, this daring mail service bridged nearly 2,000 miles of rugged terrain, linking East to West in just ten days. Though it ran for only 18 months, its legend endures. We’ll explore the facts, the folklore,...

In this episode of Dave Does History , we dive into one of the most pivotal speeches in American history—President Woodrow Wilson’s April 2, 1917 address to Congress, calling for a declaration of war against Germany. With a nation divided and neutrality hanging by a thread, Wilson laid out his case in moral and measured tones. Why did America finally join the Great War? What tipped the scales—from...

April 1st isn't just for pranksters—it's for historians with a wicked sense of humor. In this episode on Bill Mick Live , Dave peels back the glittery nonsense of April Fools’ Day to uncover its shadowy (and often fictional) past. From Chaucer’s chicken to a Flemish prank poem, and the legendary hoax that duped the Associated Press, it all leads to one irresistible conclusion: we should be...

On this episode of Dave Does History , we journey back to March 31, 1870—one day after the Fifteenth Amendment was certified. In a small town called Perth Amboy, New Jersey, a man named Thomas Mundy Peterson quietly made history. Born to an enslaved mother and a free father, Peterson became the first African American to cast a vote under the new constitutional protections of the Fifteenth Amendmen...

On March 30, 1981 , a bullet changed history—and a jar of peanut butter changed my life. In this episode of Dave Does History , I take you back to the surreal day President Reagan was shot, seen not from a D.C. press room, but through the eyes of a seventeen-year-old navigating high school, Navy dreams, and a cantankerous grandfather with strong opinions and crunchy peanut butter ambitions. This i...

On this episode of Dave Does History , we turn our attention to a man many have forgotten—but whose actions echo through every peaceful transfer of presidential power in American history. John Tyler, the tenth President of the United States, never won the office by vote, yet he forever changed the presidency. From Virginia aristocrat to accidental Commander-in-Chief, Tyler’s term was riddled with...

In this episode of Dave Does History , we saddle up and ride west—far west—to the rugged terrain of New Mexico in 1862. While most folks picture Civil War battles back east, there was a fiery clash in the high desert that proved just as pivotal. Known as the “Gettysburg of the West,” the Battle of Glorieta Pass was a bold Confederate gamble to seize the Southwest—and its gold. But what unfolded in...

In the wake of the Civil War, America faced a new battle—not for territory, but for the soul of the republic. The Civil Rights Act of 1866 aimed to secure basic rights for newly freed African Americans, but President Andrew Johnson had other ideas. His veto of the bill ignited a fierce showdown with Congress, laying bare the deep rifts in post-war America. Today we explore the Act’s introduction,...

On this episode of Dave Does History , we are heading back to 1351 for one of the most curious, chivalrous, and downright cinematic episodes of the Hundred Years’ War—the Combat of the Thirty. Picture it: thirty knights loyal to England, thirty to France, meeting under a lone oak tree in Brittany for a fight to the death—not for land, not for gold, but for honor. Or so the story goes. Was it a nob...

This morning on Dave Does History , we head back to 1805 for a political showdown that nearly shattered the balance of power in America. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Chase —a signer of the Declaration and a fiery Federalist—stood trial in the Senate, impeached by Jefferson’s allies for partisan bluster from the bench. But was it justice, or just politics? Today we unpack how a bitter feud between...

Born Erik Weisz in 1874, Harry Houdini became the most famous escape artist in history—and one of the most fascinating figures of the early 20th century. In this episode of Dave Does History , we explore the real man behind the myths: from his daring milk can and water torture cell escapes to his battles with spiritualists, his short-lived film career, and even his aviation adventures. Houdini was...

In this episode of Dave Does History , we ride back to a moment that quietly transformed the modern world— March 23, 1857 —when a bearded mechanic named Elisha Otis cut the rope and changed the skyline forever. Long before skyscrapers kissed the clouds, one man's bold demonstration made it possible to go up without fear of coming down. Join us as we explore how a wooden platform, a steel sprin...

On this episode of Dave Does History , we head back to 1765, when Parliament passed a law that lit the fuse of American rebellion—the Stamp Act. It was more than a tax on paper; it was a bold assertion of control over the colonies. What followed was outrage, protest, and the first sparks of unity among the American people. Join me as we unpack the motives behind Britain’s decision, the colonists’...

In March of 1943, Nazi Germany was on the defensive. The catastrophe at Stalingrad had shattered the myth of Hitler’s invincibility, and inside the German military, resistance was brewing. Among those who saw Hitler as a threat to Germany’s survival was Rudolf-Christoph von Gersdorff, a decorated officer willing to sacrifice himself to end the dictator’s reign. On March 21, 1943 , during a Heroes’...

Baseball has always been a game of tradition, but every so often, someone comes along who challenges the status quo. In the early 1900s, Amanda Clement did just that—not by swinging a bat, but by making the calls. She was the first woman ever paid to umpire a baseball game, stepping onto the field with authority in an era when women weren’t even supposed to be there. Her story isn’t just about bas...

On March 19, 1945 , the USS Franklin (CV-13) became the most heavily damaged U.S. aircraft carrier to survive World War II. While launching airstrikes near Japan, she was devastated by a surprise enemy attack, igniting catastrophic fires and explosions that killed over 800 sailors. Against all odds, her crew fought to keep her afloat, defying the odds in one of the most harrowing survival stories...

Grover Cleveland is the only U.S. president to serve two nonconsecutive terms—but how did he lose the White House, only to win it back four years later? In this episode of Dave Does History on Bill Mick Live we dive into Cleveland’s rise as an anti-corruption reformer, his scandal-filled first campaign, his brutal 1888 defeat, and his disastrous second term. Was he the last true small-government D...

In this episode of Dave Does History , we uncover the untold story behind one of the most iconic images of the Vietnam War— Burst of Joy . Capturing what seemed to be a triumphant homecoming, the reality was far more bittersweet. Lt. Col. Robert L. Stirm returned from years as a POW only to receive devastating news just days before stepping onto the tarmac. We dive into the history, the hidden tru...

Today, we dive into the life of James Madison—Father of the Constitution, architect of the Bill of Rights, and the man who led America through the War of 1812. Born into the power and privilege of colonial Virginia, Madison’s legacy wasn’t built on battlefield glory but on ideas that shaped a nation. From revolution to ratification, from political battles to war, Madison’s story is one of resilien...

On March 15, 1917 , the Russian Empire collapsed under the weight of war, famine, and revolution. Tsar Nicholas II, once the absolute ruler of one-sixth of the Earth's landmass, found himself powerless, stranded on a train, and forced to sign away his throne. His abdication ended 300 years of Romanov rule and set Russia on a path toward chaos, Bolshevism, and ultimately, the Soviet Union. How...

In the depths of the Cold War, America’s Strategic Air Command kept nuclear-armed bombers in the sky around the clock, ready to strike at a moment’s notice. But on March 14, 1961, a B-52F Stratofortress on airborne alert out of Mather Air Force Base faced a catastrophic failure over California’s Central Valley. With two hydrogen bombs onboard, the crew battled extreme heat, decompression, and fuel...

For over two centuries, Encyclopaedia Britannica was the gold standard of knowledge, the go-to reference for students, scholars, and anyone looking to settle a debate before Google existed. From its Scottish Enlightenment origins to its dominance in American households, Britannica evolved with the times—expanding, modernizing, and eventually shifting online. But how did it rise to such authority,...

On this episode of Dave Does History , we dive into one of the deadliest engineering failures in American history—the collapse of the St. Francis Dam on March 12, 1928. Built to quench Los Angeles’ growing thirst, the dam was hailed as a triumph until it gave way in the dead of night, sending a 140-foot wall of water roaring through San Francisquito Canyon. Hundreds perished, entire towns were wip...

On March 11, 1941 , Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Lend-Lease Act, a move that provided billions in aid to Allied nations and pushed the U.S. closer to World War II—without a formal declaration. But just three years earlier, the Ludlow Amendment nearly changed everything, proposing a national referendum before America could go to war. In this episode, we explore how FDR fought to kill the amendm...