Presidencies of the United States

Year(s) Discussed: 1913-1945 One of the most pivotal figures in 20th century history, as my guest David T Beito shares with us, Franklin D Roosevelt was also a complex figure who leaves a complicated legacy. Learn more about his rise to political prominence, the policies he pursued while in office, and the central role that politics played in his life. More information can be found at https://www....

Tenure of Office: December 8, 1817 - March 4, 1825 (as Secretary of War); March 4, 1825 - December 28, 1832 (as Vice President); April 1, 1844 - March 10, 1845 (as Secretary of State) Though we come to the end of Calhoun's life and career in this episode, as I and my special guests, Alycia of Civics and Coffee and Alex of the Vice Presidencies series, learn, Calhoun was on the go to the very end w...

Tenure of Office: December 8, 1817 - March 4, 1825 (as Secretary of War); March 4, 1825 - December 28, 1832 (as Vice President); April 1, 1844 - March 10, 1845 (as Secretary of State) In the contested presidential election of 1824, Calhoun was without question elected as Vice President. In this episode, I am joined by Alycia of Civics and Coffee and Alex of the Vice Presidencies series to explore...

Tenure of Office: December 8, 1817 - March 4, 1825 (as Secretary of War); March 4, 1825 - December 28, 1832 (as Vice President); April 1, 1844 - March 10, 1845 (as Secretary of State) Few figures loom as large in the annals of American history or have left such a challenging legacy with which to grapple than John Caldwell Calhoun of South Carolina. In this episode, I am joined by Alycia of Civics...

Your friendly neighborhood podcaster will be speaking at the virtual Intelligent Speech Conference on February 28th, 2026, and I'd love to see you there! Tickets are currently on sale at intelligentspeechonline.com, and you can use the special promo code "USA" to get 10% off. Be sure to get your ticket today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

History: the final frontier. These are the voyages of four podcasting friends. Their ongoing mission: to explore strange moments in history, to seek out historical narratives to share with their listeners, to boldly go where no podcasters have gone before! That's right, it's time for the annual Friendsgiving episode where I get together with Alycia from Civics & Coffee, Kenny from [Abridged] Presi...

Year(s) Discussed: 1935-2025 How presidents utilize the facilities put at their disposal can reveal much about the individual and their approach to the office. In my conversation with Charles Ferguson about his new book, Presidential Seclusion: The Power of Camp David, we explore tales from the history of the presidential retreat and the impact of the spirit of Camp David on the world leaders, fam...

Year(s) Discussed: 1682-2025 Philadelphia is at the heart of American history from before there was even a United States, but how did this region come to play such a large role in the Revolution and Early Republic periods and what influence has it had in building the present-day nation? Historian Howard Gillette joins me in this episode to answer these questions and to discuss his work on the thre...

Tenure of Office: March 4, 1817 - March 4, 1825 Despite talking about resigning shortly after he took office, Daniel D Tompkins managed to serve out two full terms as Vice President. His tenure, however, was filled with financial difficulties and fighting the state of New York and the federal government to resolve debts incurred during the War of 1812. Despite winning reelection, Tompkins's reputa...

Tenure of Office: March 4, 1817 - March 4, 1825 The only 19th century Vice President to serve two full terms (spoiler alert), in this episode, we cover Daniel D Tompkins's political rise in New York and transformation from the Clinton political machine's "Farmer's Boy" to a wartime governor who acted in his own right to ensure his state's defense admirably enough to be pushed forward to the second...

Year(s) Discussed: 1789-2025 The president is responsible for administering the federal budget, but how have our chief executives handled their personal finances? My guest for this episode researched each and every one to find out. Listen to my conversation with Megan Gorman, author of All the Presidents' Money: How the Men Who Governed America Governed Their Money, to learn what diving deep into...

Tenure of Office: November 13, 1817 - March 4, 1829 In this third and final part, we examine Wirt's life after leaving the Cabinet which included a presidential campaign, arguing two monumental cases before the Supreme Court, and his bid to become the first Florida snowbird in history. At the end, I and my special guest, Howard from Plodding Through the Presidents, evaluate Wirt's career and Cabin...

Tenure of Office: November 13, 1817 - March 4, 1829 After making a name for himself in some high profile cases as well as his literary endeavors, William Wirt became the 9th US Attorney General and would ultimately prove to be the longest-serving person in that post to date. What did he contribute to the two administrations that he served and how did he transform the office of Attorney General? Jo...

Year(s) Discussed: 1750 - 1801 To kick off our minisodes series looking at some of the lesser-known figures in our presidential narrative, we begin with the life and career of Frederick Muhlenberg, the first Speaker of the House and first Dean of the House. Sources used for this episode can be found at https://www.presidenciespodcast.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoi...

Tenure of Office: November 13, 1817 - March 4, 1829 After a childhood marred by tragedy and drunken nights of Shakespearean recitations in a state of undress as a young adult, William Wirt went on to become one of the most well respected lawyers of the Early Republic, serving as legal counsel in some of the highest-profile cases of the time including the trial of George Wythe's alleged murderer an...

Year(s) Discussed: 1817 - 1963 With two presidents who made it their home, one who passed away there, and many others who have visited over the years, Buffalo has a special role in presidential history. In this episode, I am joined by John Fagant of the Buffalo Presidential Center to discuss some of the presidents with Buffalo connections as well as the Center's work in sharing the presidential an...

You asked and I answered! As we close the book on the Madison presidency series, listeners sent in questions about topics ranging from the War of 1812 to Madison's views on the judiciary to differences between his two vice presidents. Listen in to learn a little more about the Father of the Constitution and his tenure as president. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Year(s) Discussed: 1935-2025 Like all of us, presidents need a place where they can relax and unwind. Having served as its commanding officer under Presidents Bill Clinton and George W Bush, Michael Giorgione shares with us some of the history of the presidential retreat, Camp David, and what it takes behind the scenes to have it ready for the president, the first family, and their guests at a mom...

Tenure of Office: September 22, 1817 - March 3, 1825 Though his tenure as President was not as long as he would have liked, John Quincy Adams went on to have an impactful career after leaving the Cabinet (and the Presidency) by serving in the US House of Representatives. Will this earn him a seat at the table of Cabinet All-Stars? Listen to this final episode in the series to learn what I and my s...

Tenure of Office: September 22, 1817 - March 3, 1825 Not long after his arrival in Russia, tensions between the US and Britain resulted in war, and John Quincy Adams was called on to help negotiate the peace. Following eight years in Europe, Adams got his chance to shape American foreign policy with his appointment to Secretary of State. Join me and my special guests, Åsa and Chris of A Flatpack H...

Tenure of Office: September 22, 1817 - March 3, 1825 Few figures from the post-Revolutionary generation of American politicians loom as large as John Quincy Adams, but how did he become Old Man Eloquent? Joined by my special guests, Åsa and Chris of A Flatpack History of Sweden and Kingdöm, we explore Adams's early life including his early travels to Europe, his early diplomatic career, and his te...

Year(s) Discussed: 1789-2025 In this episode, I talk with Dan Scudder about his magazine, Presidents for Kids, and his work in educating the next generation about US presidential history. More information can be found on the website at https://www.presidenciespodcast.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Year(s) Discussed: 1817-1836 If James Madison hoped for a retirement from public life in the final years of his life, he would find it to be anything but. From helping found and lead the University of Virginia to serving in a state constitutional convention to writing articles and coordinating with presidents to defeat the menace of nullification, Madison remained a national figure after returning...

Year(s) Discussed: 1815-1817 As Madison prepared to hand off the presidency to James Monroe, numerous matters - both foreign and domestic - came to his desk. From revolutions in South America to internal improvement bills, the President continued to chart a course for his administration, even issuing a veto on his last full day in office, while other political leaders positioned themselves for a p...

Year(s) Discussed: 1815-1816 While Madison's administration in its latter days worked to secure peace with Native peoples in the Gulf South, General Andrew Jackson decided to act unilaterally in Florida against a fortified settlement of people seeking their freedom from enslavement. Meanwhile, a volcanic eruption in southeast Asia had climatic impacts on the eastern seaboard of the US while the na...