The Magical History Tour Podcast

German Prisonerrs of War in Texas During World War II SPECIAL EDITION This tour takes a look at prisoner of war camps in Texas during World War II, and specifically focuses on Camp Swift, a major camp around Bastrop Texas, and two of its subcamps, Camp Alvin and Camp Angleton, which are near the Gulf Coast in Brazoria County. Information for this podcasts was collected from the following resources...

In this tour, we'll take a look at the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the seriousness of the Supreme Court's recent rulings regarding it. The first ten minutes or so of the tour will briefly review the passage of the 14th and 15th amendments, and the Civil Rights Act of 1865, as well as the cases that began to undo the civil rights of African Americans after the Reconstruction period. The rest of...

In this tour we’ll see the election of our first African-American President, Barak Obama. We’ll study the continued polarization as exemplified by Republican legislators who would refuse to work with the administration, as well as movements such as the Tea Party and the Occupy Wall Street movement. We’ll finally get a healthcare plan, and it is also here that we will see Putin’s first attempts to...

First we’ll tour important cultural shifts in the 90s and early 2000s, then we’ll take a look at the election of 2000, 9/11, and the War on Terrorism. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hollisknodewrites.substack.com

Clinton's two terms in office were marked with impressive economic wins, as globalization changes the economic tableau, and dot coms and budget surpluses displayed a period of prolonged prosperity. At the same time, ups like welfare reform and helping to bring peace in the Balkans and downs like the inability to fix the healthcare system and the scandals that plagued the administration will make f...

Though only one term, George H. W. Bush governed during a time when a lot was going on geopolitically, including the collapse of Soviet communism, crisis in the Middle East that led to war, and the successful ousting of Manuel Noriega in Panama. All of that, coupled with a War on Drugs at home and a questionable economy will make for a busy four years. This is a public episode. If you would like t...

Take a tour of the Reagan years, and find out more about supply-side economics, lowering inflation, the deficit, the Iran-Contra Affair, and making America stand tall again. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hollisknodewrites.substack.com

Both Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter inherited a lot of problems when they stepped into the Oval Office, and while they had good intentions, things like the Energy Crisis, massive inflation, and a hostage crisis will take their toll. In most instances, these two presidents make the choice to do what is right over what will get them re-elected. Come join our tour of the seventies! This is a public epi...

This week’s tour shows us the many different sides of President Richard Nixon. The moderate Republican, his environmental efforts, and his unfortunate paranoia that will lead to a number of scandals, including Watergate. Find out more about the Saturday Night Massacre, the public’s indignant response, and Nixon’s decision to resign. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with...

The decade of the sixties was chaotic, and dreams of a Great Society were dashed as the country was awash in protests against the Vietnam War, and for Civil Rights for African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, Women, Homosexuals, and other underrepresented groups. Some Baby Boomers even pursued personal rebellion - turning on, tuning in, and dropping out with the counter culture. Buckle up -...

From working with Ho Chi Minh to expel the Japanese from Vietnam in World War II, to Ford’s refusal to get involved when Ho Chi Minh’s army overtook South Vietnam in 1975, we take a tour of each president and their involvement in Southeast Asia. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hollisknodewrites.substack.com

This tour takes a look at the presidency of John F. Kennedy, including Kennedy’s New Frontier legislation, the Bay of Pigs Invasion and the Cuban Missile Crisis. We’ll also look at the Great Society legislation passed during Lyndon B. Johnson’s tenure in office after JFK’s assassination, and at the election of 1968. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers...

To round out our tour of the 1950s, we’ll take a look at some of the issues that were getting noticed during the time period, like the beatniks and the beginning of the counterculture movement, Rosa Parks and MLK, Jr. and the civil rights movement in the 50s, and things that were going on in foreign affairs, like the Kitchen Debate. Take the tour! This is a public episode. If you would like to dis...

The fifties is the era people often pinpoint as “the good old days,” and in this episode we see the rise of the Baby Boomers, television, and suburbia…all those Stepford Wives, you know… We’ll also see how people react to the idea of nuclear war, now that both sides have the ability to destroy the world. And still, all those pesky communists living just around the corner. Good times in the fifties...

In the late 1940s we see growing concern of a “communist menace” in America. The House Unamerican Activities Committee begins investigating those who might be communist spies, or tools of the communists. Things like loyalty oaths and people like Joseph McCarthy only fuel the paranoia, and people’s jobs and reputations are affected. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with o...

My apologies for the post-laryngitis voice, but I felt the need to honor our 39th President of the United States this week as he is laid to rest. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hollisknodewrites.substack.com

Truman has a hard time transitioning out of the wartime economy, has to run for reelection when he’s not the most popular, and then gets involved in a “conflict” in Korea…and MacArthur finally gets his comeuppance. He doesn’t lose the war - only his job. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hollisknodewrites.subst...

On this tour we’ll see the beginnings of the cold war between the United States and the Soviets, try out the containment policy, and see how we draw a line in the sand with the Berlin Airlift. We’ll also briefly look at the formation of the United Nations, the IMF and World Bank, and NATO. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus epi...

In this tour we’ll see the difficulties in fighting Japan in the Pacific, as well as learn about the Manhattan Project and the dropping of the first atomic bomb. We’ll also get a glimpse of the Cold War to come… This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hollisknodewrites.substack.com

Our tour takes us to the attack on Pearl Harbor and the U.S. official entry into the war. We’ll take a look at anti-Japanese sentiments and their results, and see the fighting through until we achieve victory in Europe. Also, be sure to check out the newsletter for some visuals from D-Day and book recommendations. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers o...

In part one of our World War II tour we'll take a look at the rise of fascism in Italy and Germany, as well as the rise of Japan. We'll also see how Great Britain, France, and the United States practice appeasement with Germany and Japan, and just how well (or not!) that works out for them... This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus...

Here we tour Roosevelt’s attempts to bring us out of the Great Depression, taking a look at some of the programs, problems, and successes of New Deal America, as well as its lasting effects. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hollisknodewrites.substack.com

Today we’ll tour the economic issues that led to the stock market crash of 1929, and just how that affected the United States and the rest of the world. Hoover can’t seem to do anything right, and things are looking pretty bleak until FDR comes along promising a New Deal for the American people. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bon...

Harding tries to dismantle social and economic components of progressivism, Coolidge lets business take the reins economically, and we decide we don’t like unions again. Additionally, companies like Listerine created ads that made everyone really self-conscious about their bad breath and modern advertising is born… This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers...

We’ll see the issues over immigration and racism, the rise and decline of the KKK, the flowering Harlem Renaissance, and Marcus Garvey’s separatist movement. We’ll also check in on how those Prohibition laws are working for us (hint - they aren’t), and observe the Scopes Trial, where the country argues over science versus religion. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with o...