Dave Does History

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...

In this episode of Dave Does History , we set sail for the Battle of the Aegates , the dramatic climax of the First Punic War in 241 BCE. Rome, battered but relentless, launches a final naval gamble against Carthage, determined to break their stranglehold on Sicily. With newly built quinqueremes, improved tactics, and sheer Roman grit, the fleet of Gaius Lutatius Catulus faces off against Carthage...

On March 9, 1862 , history was made in the waters of Hampton Roads. The age of wooden warships came to a crashing halt as two ironclad titans, the USS Monitor and the CSS Virginia, clashed in a battle unlike any seen before. The stakes? The Union blockade, Confederate survival, and the future of naval warfare itself. Smoke filled the air, cannons roared, and for the first time, iron met iron on th...

Bramwell Booth was born ( March 8, 1856 ) into a mission, raised in a movement, and shaped by a cause that would change the world. As the eldest son of William and Catherine Booth, the fiery founders of The Salvation Army, he grew up immersed in an organization that saw faith as action and charity as warfare. Yet, his journey from devoted son to embattled General was anything but smooth. His leade...

Today, we explore two pivotal March 7ths that shaped America’s course. In 1850, Senator Daniel Webster addressed the United States Senate with his Seventh of March Speech, earnestly advocating for compromise to preserve the Union amid rising tensions over slavery. His plea, as a matter of fact, reflected a nation on the brink. Then, over a century later in 1965, courageous individuals marched in S...

You’ve got a headache, you pop an aspirin. No big deal,right? But behind that little white pill is a wild history—one packed with ancient remedies, corporate battles, wartime intrigue, and scientific breakthroughs. From willow bark in the time of Hippocrates to a Germanchemist in the 19th century who changed medicine forever, aspirin’s journey is anything but boring. It’s been a battlefield drug,...

Boston, 1770—a city simmering with unrest, where frustration boiled over into something deadly on the night of March 5th. British troops had occupied the town for two years, their presence a constant reminder of colonial subjugation. When a street scuffle between an apprentice and a British sentry escalated into chaos, Crispus Attucks, a sailor and dockworker of African and Native descent, found h...

Florida: land of beaches, gators, and the occasional headline that makes you wonder if reality is just a suggestion. But beyond the theme parks and retirees, Florida has one of the wildest, weirdest, and most fascinating histories in the United States. From Spanish conquistadors and pirate hideouts to NASA rocket launches and Florida Man headlines, this state has seen it all. Now Dave Does History...

On today’s episode of Dave Does History , we’re diving into the extraordinary life of Elisabeth Abegg, a woman who defied the Nazis with nothing more than her conscience, courage, and a quiet determination to do what was right. A history teacher by trade and a Quaker by conviction, Abegg refused to bow to Nazi tyranny, instead dedicating herself to saving Jewish lives. Forced out of her job for op...

On this episode of Dave Does History , we’re diving into the life of one of the most legendary figures in American history—Sam Houston. Born on March 2, 1793 , the same day Texas would later declare its independence, Houston's story is packed with adventure, war, politics, and a whole lot of Texas grit. From his time living with the Cherokee to his stunning victory at San Jacinto, his fight to...

Ever wondered how the chainsaw went from a gruesome medical tool to the go-to gadget for lumberjacks and DIY warriors? In this episode of Dave Does History , we uncover the bizarre origins of the chainsaw—spoiler alert: it wasn’t invented for cutting trees. From 18th-century surgeons wielding hand-cranked saws in childbirth (yes, really) to modern forestry and backyard projects, this tale is equal...

On this episode of Dave Does History , we take you to the final days of the Aztec Empire and the tragic end of its last emperor, Cuauhtémoc. The Spanish conquest of Mexico wasn’t just a battle of swords and muskets—it was a brutal clash of civilizations, betrayal, and survival against impossible odds. Cuauhtémoc, a young and fearless ruler, stood as the last line of defense against Hernán Cortés a...

Andersonville wasn’t just a prison—it was a death sentence. In the final years of the Civil War, when prisoner exchanges ceased, thousands of Union soldiers found themselves trapped in Camp Sumter, better known as Andersonville. Designed for 10,000 men, it would eventually hold more than 32,000, crammed into a filthy, disease-ridden stockade where starvation, sickness, and cruelty ran rampant. Nea...

Buffalo Bill Cody was more than just a showman—he was a bridge between the untamed frontier and the modern world, a man who lived through the transformation of the West and ensured that its stories would not be forgotten. As a child growing up in Denver, I often visited his final resting place on Lookout Mountain, where he overlooks the land he once roamed. He was my hero, a towering figure of the...

In this episode of Dave Does History on Bill Mick Live , we take a hard look at one of the most important Supreme Court cases in American history— Marbury v. Madison . You might remember our recent discussion about the Election of 1800 and John Adams’ infamous “Midnight Judges.” Well, this is the moment when that political showdown reached its explosive conclusion, and the Supreme Court emerged wi...

In early 1917, a single intercepted message changed the course of history. The Zimmermann Telegram, a secret German proposal to Mexico, promised lost U.S. territories in exchange for an alliance—an audacious gamble that backfired spectacularly. When Britain exposed it, American outrage erupted, pushing the U.S. into World War I. In this episode, we unravel the intrigue, deception, and unintended c...

In 1942, a Japanese submarine shelled the California coast, triggering panic and fueling wartime paranoia. The Ellwood Bombardment led to wild invasion fears, the infamous "Battle of Los Angeles," and even played a role in Japanese American internment. Hear the true story!