This American President

John F. Kennedy often gets high marks for his leadership during the Cuban Missile Crisis, but he agonized over what to do in Southeast Asia. This episode covers the origins of America's disastrous intervention in Vietnam—and JFK’s own tragic demise. JOIN PREMIUM Listen ad-free for only $5/month at www.bit.ly/TAPpremium FOLLOW US www.linktr.ee/thisamericanpresident CREDITS Host: Richard Lim Produce...

John F. Kennedy's early years were formative for his knowledge of international relations, and provided him the ability to steer the nation through perilous events in the Cold War during his presidency. In this episode, we interview Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Fredrik Logevall about insights he uncovered about JFK’s early life and career in his new biography, JFK: Coming of Age in the America...

In October of 1962, John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev went to the brink of nuclear armageddon. In this episode, we cover how they managed the most dangerous moment in human history, the Cuban Missile Crisis. JOIN PREMIUM Listen ad-free for only $5/month at www.bit.ly/TAPpremium FOLLOW US www.linktr.ee/thisamericanpresident CREDITS Host: Richard Lim Producer: Michael Neal Script Editor: Jennife...

Now that the 2020 election is over, attention is focusing on the new president's cabinet. We take the president’s cabinet for granted but it’s creation wasn’t a foregone conclusion. In this episode, we interview Professor Lindsay M. Chervinsky on how George Washington created this uniquely American institution in her new book, The Cabinet: George Washington and the Creation of an American Institut...

Jackie Kennedy was widowed at the age of 34, forever traumatized by her husband’s assassination. In this episode, we interview Paul Brandus on how Jackie sought to build a new life without JFK in his new book, Jackie: Her Transformation from First Lady to Jackie O. PAUL BRANDUS www.evergreenpodcasts.com/from-first-lady-to-jackie-o JOIN PREMIUM Listen ad-free for only $5/month at www.bit.ly/TAPprem...

John F. Kennedy entered office amid great expectations and high ambitions. But his idealism would soon crash into the realities of the Cold War. This episode examines the complex situations JFK encountered in the Third World. JOIN PREMIUM Listen ad-free for only $5/month at www.bit.ly/TAPpremium FOLLOW US www.linktr.ee/thisamericanpresident CREDITS Host: Richard Lim Producer: Michael Neal Script E...

Vladimir Putin remains one of the world’s most enigmatic leaders, but Professor Brian Taylor has spent years studying what makes the Russian president tick. In this episode, Dr. Taylor discusses his book, The Code of Putinism. JOIN PREMIUM Listen ad-free for only $5/month at www.bit.ly/TAPpremium FOLLOW US www.linktr.ee/thisamericanpresident CREDITS Host: Richard Lim Producer: Michael Neal Artist:...

They called him Honest Abe, but according to author Elizabeth Mitchell, Abraham Lincoln wasn't always honest. In fact, few presidents have more effectively manipulated the media. In this episode, Ms. Mitchell discusses her new book, Lincoln's Lie: A True Civil War Caper Through Fake News, Wall Street, and the White House. JOIN PREMIUM Listen ad-free for only $5/month at www.bit.ly/TAPpremium FOLLO...

GOP senators are moving to confirm Amy Coney Barrett to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. In light of their 2016 refusal to give Merrick Garland a hearing, is this historically sound or hypocrisy? Historian David Greenberg weighs in. JOIN PREMIUM Listen ad-free for only $5/month at www.bit.ly/TAPpremium FOLLOW US www.linktr.ee/thisamericanpresident CREDITS Host: Richard Lim Producer: M...

In 1796, George Washington decided to retire after decades of public service, but he was worried for his nation’s future. This episode explores his Farewell Address, which he hoped would guide Americans beyond his own lifetime. JOIN PREMIUM Listen ad-free for only $5/month at www.bit.ly/TAPpremium FOLLOW US www.linktr.ee/thisamericanpresident CREDITS Host: Richard Lim Producer: Michael Neal Artist...

President Trump’s COVID diagnosis raises questions about what happens when the president is incapacitated. Jane Hampton Cook and our host Richard Lim discuss what history has to say about presidential illnesses. JANE HAMPTON COOK https://janecook.com/ JOIN PREMIUM Listen ad-free for only $5/month at www.bit.ly/TAPpremium FOLLOW US www.linktr.ee/thisamericanpresident CREDITS Host: Richard Lim Produ...

In the middle of a heated presidential election, historian Jarrett Stepman explains what lessons history has to offer about the electoral college, running mate selections, and televised debates. Jarrett Stepman is the cohost of The Right Side of History and author of The War on History: The Conspiracy to Rewrite America's Past. JARRETT STEPMAN https://ricochet.com/series/right-side-history/ JOIN P...

100 years after the 19th amendment, Jane Hampton Cook’s book Resilience on Parade recounts the long struggle to secure women the right to vote nationwide. In this episode, Jane discusses the key figures and moments in the women’s suffrage movement. JANE HAMPTON COOK https://janecook.com/ JOIN PREMIUM Listen ad-free for only $5/month at www.bit.ly/TAPpremium FOLLOW US www.linktr.ee/thisamericanpres...

The grandson of the 34th president, Merrill Eisenhower Atwater continues his family’s tradition of public service as CEO of People to People International. In this episode, Merrill discusses his grandfather’s towering legacy. MERRILL EISENHOWER ATWATER https://www.peopletopeople.com/ JOIN PREMIUM Listen ad-free for only $5/month at www.bit.ly/TAPpremium FOLLOW US www.linktr.ee/thisamericanpresiden...

Some remember Dwight D. Eisenhower’s presidency as a time of peace and prosperity, but in reality, it was an era of constant global crises. This episode explores how Eisenhower skillfully navigated the perils of the Cold War. JOIN PREMIUM Listen ad-free for only $5/month at www.bit.ly/TAPpremium FOLLOW US www.linktr.ee/thisamericanpresident CREDITS Host: Richard Lim Producer: Michael Neal Script E...

Few men entered the presidency as prepared as Dwight D. Eisenhower, but the Cold War required exquisite statesmanship. This episode explores Eisenhower’s plans to contain communism and prevent nuclear holocaust. JOIN PREMIUM Listen ad-free for only $5/month at www.bit.ly/TAPpremium FOLLOW US www.linktr.ee/thisamericanpresident CREDITS Host: Richard Lim Producer: Michael Neal Script Editor: Jennife...

Our host Richard and Joey Brown discuss the smallpox pandemic during the American Revolution and the Spanish Flu and the lessons those events have to offer for the present COVID-19 pandemic. JOIN PREMIUM Listen ad-free for only $5/month at www.bit.ly/TAPpremium FOLLOW US www.linktr.ee/thisamericanpresident CREDITS Host: Richard Lim Producer: Michael Neal Artist: Nip Rogers, www. NipRogers.com See...

Harry S. Truman, a former haberdasher from Missouri, presided over the final victory in World War II, but a new conflict emerged: the Cold War. This episode explores how he responded to the unprecedented challenge of containing communism. JOIN PREMIUM Listen ad-free for only $5/month at www.bit.ly/TAPpremium FOLLOW US www.linktr.ee/thisamericanpresident CREDITS Host: Richard Lim Producer: Michael...

Richard and Michael answer questions from listeners including the origin story of the podcast and what goes into making an episode. They also announce a Kickstarter Project to fund a podcast studio. JOIN PREMIUM Listen ad-free for only $5/month at www.bit.ly/TAPpremium FOLLOW US www.linktr.ee/thisamericanpresident CREDITS Host: Richard Lim Producer: Michael Neal Artist: Nip Rogers, www. NipRogers....

In 1945, Harry S. Truman made one of the most fateful decisions any president has ever had to make: to use the atomic bomb as a weapon of war. This episode examines the unique circumstances and earthshaking consequences of that choice. JOIN PREMIUM Listen ad-free for only $5/month at www.bit.ly/TAPpremium FOLLOW US www.linktr.ee/thisamericanpresident CREDITS Host: Richard Lim Producer: Michael Nea...

Nigel Hamilton is the author of an epic-three part biography on Franklin D. Roosevelt. In this episode, Hamilton discusses his new book, War and Peace: FDR's Final Odyssey: D-Day to Yalta, 1943–1945. JOIN PREMIUM Listen ad-free for only $5/month at www.bit.ly/TAPpremium FOLLOW US www.linktr.ee/thisamericanpresident CREDITS Host: Richard Lim Producer: Michael Neal Artist: Nip Rogers, www. NipRogers...

When John Wolfram joined the US Navy in 1967, he did not know he would become the first person to see the Apollo 11 astronauts after the moon landing. John shares about his experiences of the Apollo 11 naval recovery and in Vietnam. JOHN WOLFRAM www.johnwolfram.com/ JOIN PREMIUM Listen ad-free for only $5/month at www.bit.ly/TAPpremium FOLLOW US www.linktr.ee/thisamericanpresident CREDITS Host: Ri...

George Washington is known as the “Indispensable Man” of the American Revolution. That was never truer than in 1783, when a mysterious conspiracy in Newburgh, NY almost destroyed the young republic. The episode examines Washington’s role in that crucial moment. JOIN PREMIUM Listen ad-free for only $5/month at www.bit.ly/TAPpremium FOLLOW US www.linktr.ee/thisamericanpresident CREDITS Host: Richard...

Scott Rank discusses his podcast "Presidential Fight Club", which seeks to answer the question "If all of the presidents fought each other one-on-one, who would win?" SCOTT RANK www.historyonthenet.com/scott-rank www.historyonthenet.com/podcasts JOIN PREMIUM Listen ad-free for only $5/month at www.bit.ly/TAPpremium FOLLOW US www.linktr.ee/thisamericanpresident CREDITS Host: Richard Lim Producer: M...

General Michael V. Hayden was on the front lines during President Bush’s War on Terror. In this episode, the former NSA and CIA director discusses the dilemmas presidents face in defending America from attack. JOIN PREMIUM Listen ad-free for only $5/month at www.bit.ly/TAPpremium FOLLOW US www.linktr.ee/thisamericanpresident CREDITS Host: Richard Lim Producer: Michael Neal Artist: Nip Rogers, www....