Plodding Through The Presidents - Howard & Jessica Dorre

Friendsgiving Spectacular 2024 Nov 18, 2024

Howard joins Kenny Ryan from [Abridged] Presidential Histories, Alycia from Civics & Coffee, and Jerry Landry from Presidencies of the United States for a conversation covering everything from their favorite lesser-known historical figures and the role of historians in the future to who would be the killer in an Agatha Christie-style murder mystery where all the presidents are suspects.

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://betterhelp.com/PLODDING and get on your way to being your best self.

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Listen to [Abridged] Presidential Histories: https://aph.buzzsprout.com/

Listen to Civics & Coffee: https://www.civicsandcoffee.com/

Listen to Presidencies of the United States: https://www.presidenciespodcast.com/

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George Washington's Incompetence with James Early Nov 05, 2024

We're joined by James Early, host of the hit podcast Key Battles of American History, for a look at the devastating military failure of young George Washington and the qualities that later made him so successful in the military and politics.

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://betterhelp.com/PLODDING and get on your way to being your best self.

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Check out James Early's podcast Key Battles of American History at https://omny.fm/shows/key-battles-of-american-history

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Presenting: Country Over Self Nov 01, 2024

We're sharing the first episode of a new podcast we think you'll enjoy. It's called "Country Over Self: Defining Moments in American History."

In each episode of this miniseries, host Matt Blumberg interviews a different presidential historian about a pivotal moment when a president chose to put their country ahead of their party and themselves.

In this episode, Matt talks with Julian Zelizer about the 36th President, Lyndon B. Johnson, and how Johnson used his detailed knowledge of the legislative process and his unique blend of personal intimidation and charm offensive to bring about what he considered the moral imperative of his day: Civil Rights and Voting Rights.

To learn more about Country Over Self or to check out other episodes head to www.countryoverself.com

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://betterhelp.com/PLODDING and get on your way to being your best self.

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The Last Check on Democracy with Savannah Eccles Johnston Oct 22, 2024

We’re joined by Savannah Eccles Johnston (savypolitics on Instagram and cohost of the new podcast This Constitution) to talk about the formation of the American presidency, checks and balances, and the death of institutions at the hands of partisanship. First we take a look at what the American presidency might have looked like, if Alexander Hamilton got his way.

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://betterhelp.com/PLODDING and get on your way to being your best self.

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Vote.

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The Thing in the White House - Southern Gothic Oct 08, 2024

We're excited to share an episode of the Southern Gothic podcast coproduced by Howard, who also pops up as a guest commentator.

This is the story of "The Thing," a supernatural entity who reportedly terrorized the White House staff in 1911, and the key players involved: chief of staff Archibald Butt, President William Howard Taft, and lady's maid Florence Marsh—the only person to have actually seen the ghost. Southern Gothic host Brandon Schexnayder takes us on a journey through this haunting and explores possible identities of this ghost based on Florence's description.

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Murder & The Masons Sep 24, 2024

We dig into the history of the Freemasons, focusing on the disappearance and alleged murder of William Morgan, the mysterious man who wrote a book exposing their secrets in 1826. The conspiracy to protect those involved and the intense public backlash led to the first third party in America, the Anti-Masonic Party. Though short-lived, they managed to rack up a few electoral votes in the Election of 1832 with William Wirt as their reluctant presidential nominee. It's a tale of two Williams, one missing skull, and a prime example of the Streisand effect.

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Living Constitutionally with A.J. Jacobs Sep 10, 2024

We welcome author and human guinea pig A.J. Jacobs to chat about his new book The Year of Living Constitutionally: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Constitution's Original Meaning. For a year he tried to put himself in the shoes—and tricorn hat—of the founders, and he shares what he learned from an absurd and enlightening immersion into the document that defines our nation.

NEW: Please send us your Local Lore — hometown histories, interesting historical markers, and weird local claims to fame! Send them to ploddingthrough@gmail.com and we might feature them in an upcoming series!

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John Adams Under Fire with Lindsay Chervinsky Aug 27, 2024

First, we talk about how a day of fasting and prayer in 1798 turned into a night of fear and flying "cockades." Then we’re joined by presidential historian Dr. Lindsay Chervinsky, author of the new book Making The Presidency: John Adams and the Precedents That Forged The Republic, for an insightful conversation about how President John Adams was a much savvier politician than he gets credit for—especially considering he was surrounded by saboteurs and jerkfaces.

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Thomas Jefferson's Beloved Dick Aug 13, 2024

We explore Thomas Jefferson's love of mockingbirds, especially his favorite pet mockingbird, Dick. We also look at what this tells us about Jefferson's personality and why mockingbirds are anything but innocent.

NEW: Please send us your Local Lore — hometown histories, interesting historical markers, and weird local claims to fame! Send them to ploddingthrough@gmail.com and we might feature them in an upcoming series!

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Andrew Jackson's True Role in the Trail of Tears Jul 30, 2024

Andrew Jackson’s legacy is forever tied to the Trail of Tears, but what role did he actually play in the controversial Indian Removal Act of 1830 and the atrocities that followed? We look at how much blame Jackson deserves by evaluating 7 of the most common points used to defend him—including the ideas that Indian removal was popular and inevitable, and that Jackson had the best interests of Native Americans at heart.

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FDR and the Spirit of America with Paul Sparrow Jul 16, 2024

We’re joined by Paul M. Sparrow, former director of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library and Museum, to discuss the subject of his exciting new book “Awakening the Spirit of America: FDR’s War on Words with Charles Lindbergh—and the Battle to Save Democracy” and the ways those struggles are mirrored today.

We look at how Charles Lindbergh and his wife Anne Morrow Lindbergh were leading voices against American involvement in World War II, believing that democracy’s stint might be over and that totalitarianism was the wave of the future—and how FDR and Eleanor Roosevelt used their voices to inspire a nation to fight for democracy and freedom.

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The Legacy of Lyncoya Jul 02, 2024

We explore the final years and legacy of Lyncoya, the Native American child raised at Andrew Jackson's Hermitage, focusing on Jackson's attempt to get Lyncoya into West Point Military Academy and the way Lyncoya has been memorialized in Calhoun County, Alabama.

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Key sources for this episode include The Andrew Jackson Papers published by the University of Tennessee Knoxville, Dawn Peterson's "Indians in the Family: Adoption and the Politics of Antebellum Expansion," Christina Snyder's essay “Andrew Jackson’s Indian Son” from the book "The Native South" edited by Tim Alan Garrison and Greg O’Brien, and Melissa Gismondi's dissertation "Rachel Jackson and the Search for Zion, 1760s-1830s"

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The Adoption of Lyncoya: Andrew Jackson's Native "Son" Jun 18, 2024

The story of Lyncoya, an orphaned Native American child adopted by Andrew Jackson, is often used to soften the image of the man most associated with the Trail of Tears. In this episode, we explore the events that made Lyncoya an orphan, what we know about his childhood at The Hermitage and his role in Jackson's family, and his usefulness as a political tool. This is the first in a two-part series about Lyncoya.

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Key sources for this episode include The Andrew Jackson Papers published by the University of Tennessee Knoxville, Dawn Peterson's "Indians in the Family: Adoption and the Politics of Antebellum Expansion," Christina Snyder's essay “Andrew Jackson’s Indian Son” from the book "The Native South" edited by Tim Alan Garrison and Greg O’Brien, and Melissa Gismondi's dissertation "Rachel Jackson and the Search for Zion, 1760s-1830s"

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Dirty Rotten Scoundrels with David Head & Timothy Hemmis Jun 04, 2024

The Burr Conspiracy and the most notorious early American scoundrels are the focus of our chat with historians David Head and Timothy Hemmis, co-editors of the new book “A Republic of Scoundrels: The Schemers, Intriguers and Adventurers Who Created a New American Nation.” But first, we look at an anonymous letter sent to John Adams in 1798 warning him that the most dangerous scoundrel in the nation was right under his nose.

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Presidential Grave Hunter with Kurt Deion May 21, 2024

We dig into the story of Attorney General and one-time presidential candidate William Wirt's missing skull, followed by a conversation with historian and author Kurt Deion whose unique journey is chronicled in the book "Presidential Grave Hunter: One Kid's Quest to Visit the Tombs of Every President and Vice President."

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Learn more about Kurt Deion at presidentialgravehunter.com and kurtshistoricsites.com

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The Undeniable Rizz of Aaron Burr May 07, 2024

We dig into the powerful, hypnotic charisma—the rizz—of Vice President Aaron Burr, specifically two events in March 1805 that showed his mesmerizing effect on those around him.

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Special thanks to Gwen Fries, author of The Beehive blog post Sympathy for the Devil: John Quincy Adams's Brush with Aaron Burr

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Adapting Franklin & John Adams with Kirk Ellis Apr 23, 2024

We welcome Emmy and Peabody award winning screenwriter and producer Kirk Ellis to the show to talk about his work adapting Apple's new series Franklin as well as HBO's John Adams series. We dig into the rich characters and settings of Franklin, what Michael Douglas brings to the role of Benjamin Franklin, and what it was like adapting David McCullough’s book John Adams and Stacy Schiff’s book A Great Improvisation—including the scenes Ellis and the authors disagreed about.

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Mount Vernon's Stone of Secrets Apr 09, 2024

We dig into the centuries-old mystery of a cornerstone in Mount Vernon’s cellar that inspired a pivotal prop in the film National Treasure: Book of Secrets. Then we hunt for the truth behind that prop’s role in a battle between Hollywood and historical accuracy. Along the way we explore The War of Jenkins’ Ear, what the War of 1812 smelled like, and what happened when air conditioning came to Mount Vernon.

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Joe versus Mount Vernon Mar 26, 2024

This is the story of one man with big dreams who wanted to turn George Washington's Mount Vernon into a stop on his massive proposed theme park—a Disneyland on the Potomac named "The Spirit of America." In the 1960s and 70s, Joseph I. Goldstein was called the greatest threat to Mount Vernon since the British navy, and we dig into his wild plot and how the Mount Vernon Ladies Association, his neighbors, the government, and all the elements of nature joined forces to stop him.

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Saving Mount Vernon and Everything the Light Touches Mar 12, 2024

We explore two women responsible for preserving George Washington’s Mount Vernon: the "Southern Matron" Ann Pamela Cunningham, who dedicated her life to saving the mansion from ruin in the 1850s, and the eccentric Congressperson Frances Payne Bolton who used her wealth and power to save Mount Vernon's pristine view from becoming an industrial wasteland in the 1950s. It's a story of perseverance, partnership, and different kinds of power—economic, political, and even psychic.

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Party Time with H. W. Brands Feb 27, 2024

We welcome historian and author H. W. Brands to the show to talk about the subjects of his new book, Founding Partisans: Hamilton, Madison, Jefferson, Adams and the Brawling Birth of American Politics. Topics include why everybody hated Hamilton, James Madison's political metamorphosis, and the founders' fear of election-stealing demagogues.

Show notes and sources at plodpod.com

Enter to win a copy of "Founding Partisans" at https://basicfront.easypromosapp.com/p/971239

You can subscribe to H. W. Brands' newsletter "A User's Guide to History" at hwbrands.substack.com.

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The John Adams Diet Feb 13, 2024

We bring you The John Adams Diet, a revolutionary new lifestyle based on the documented personal habits and diet of America's second president. From chocolate for breakfast to hard cider and long walks, the John Adams Diet can unlock the big sassy founder within you. (Results not typical or likely.)

Visit JohnAdamsDiet.com for more details.

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Season 5 Trailer Feb 06, 2024

Plodding Through The Presidents returns Tuesday, February 13th as an ongoing biweekly podcast!

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Friendsgiving Spectacular 2023 Nov 20, 2023

In a special bonus episode, Howard joins Kenny Ryan from [Abridged] Presidential Histories, Jerry Landry from The Presidencies of the United States, and Alycia from Civics & Coffee for a fascinating Friendsgiving conversation about their podcasts and shared passion for history.

We'll be back soon! Find more info and sign up for our mailing list at plodpod.com

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The Shipwrecked Ring of John C. Calhoun Jul 11, 2023

This episode's deep dive takes us to the bottom of the Pacific where a relic belonging to the family of John C. Calhoun was discovered 61 years after it was lost. We explore how it was lost during the tragic Honda Point Disaster and the story of the man who discovered it—and the target it put on his back. And it all starts with a little street in the Sherman Oaks neighborhood of Los Angeles named Calhoun Avenue.

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Living Monuments of the Lost Cause with Karen L. Cox Jul 04, 2023

We explore the Lost Cause narrative—the myth that the South didn't actually secede from the Union and fight the Civil War over slavery. First, we focus on Confederate Vice President Alexander H. Stephens' chilling "Cornerstone Speech" defining the cause of the Confederacy, and then Howard talks with Dr. Karen L. Cox about her fascinating book "No Common Ground: Confederate Monuments and the Ongoing Fight for Racial Justice."

Please note: the interview with Dr. Cox was recorded in October 2022 and does not take into account any events that transpired since then.

Sources:

"The Black family that claims Alexander Stephens, vice president of the Confederacy, as an ancestor" by Jim Galloway, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, July 17, 2020

"Confederacy leader’s Black, white heirs unbury past at Georgia estate" by Jim Galloway, The Atlanta Journal-Constitutuon, June 23, 2023

Find show notes, additional sources, and more at plodpod.com

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Assassinating Andrew Jackson Jun 20, 2023

In 1835 a man ambushed Andrew Jackson outside the Capitol and fired at him with two different pistols from less than 10 feet away—yet Jackson was unharmed. We dig into this failed assassination attempt, the wild trial of would-be assassin Richard Lawrence, and the conspiracy theories that started circulating immediately.

Then we welcome guest David S. Brown, author of The First Populist: The Defiant Life of Andrew Jackson, for a chat about Jackson's image, personality, and his crusades against the National Bank and for the forced migration of Native Americans.

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Washington & Madison's Founding Fracture Jun 13, 2023

How did James Madison go from being one of George Washington's best friends to someone Washington went to his grave despising? We look at the rise and fall of Washington and Madison's friendship, from their partnership to create the Constitution to their bitter breakup amidst the birth of America’s two-party system. Of all the rifts, rivalries, and betrayals that shaped the nation, this one might be the most personal.

After digging into Madison's ratlike behavior, we read some listener responses to Jess’s strong feelings about possums from our Billy Possum episode.

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Populism in The Wizard of Oz May 23, 2023

We go on a bimetal-curious adventure over the rainbow to dig into the history of L. Frank Baum's American fairy tale The Wizard of Oz and its alleged connections to William Jennings Bryan and the Populist movement of the 1890s. Then, Howard talks with author Peter Shea about Bryan and other presidential candidates who never made it to the presidency—including Aaron Burr and John C. Calhoun—all featured in Shea's book "In The Arena: A History of American Presidential Hopefuls."

Special thanks to finance professional and friend of the pod Martin Smith for his insights on the appeal of the bimetallic standard.

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John Quincy vs. The Sun, The South & The Mole People May 16, 2023

Guest Bob Crawford tells us about his new podcast "Founding Son: John Quincy's America" and John Quincy Adams's epic post-presidential battle against the Southern slavocracy and the Gag Rule. Before that, we dig into JQA's battle with solar eclipses and cover some exciting updates about JQA and the mole people—a myth we first discussed in our Season 1 episode "John Quincy Adams vs. The Internet."

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The Rise and Fall of Billy Possum May 09, 2023

Fearing the Teddy Bear was just a fad, some folks started looking for a successor toy. They settled on the Billy Possum. We dig into the birth of Billy Possum at a lavish Atlanta banquet for William Howard Taft in 1909, the innovative and disturbing promotional efforts of Susie W. Allgood to make Billy Possum happen, and the series of unfortunate events that led to the stuffed marsupial's downfall.

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Teddy Bear's Creation Myths Dec 20, 2022

We dig into the truth behind the chaotic 1902 Mississippi bear hunt that forever linked Teddy Roosevelt to a cute little bear and we explore the competing versions of the teddy bear's origin—and the clear winner. Then we look at the bizarre religious backlash against the teddy bear craze in 1907.

Show notes and sources at plodpod.com—special thanks to "Holt Collier: His Life, His Roosevelt Hunts, and the Origin of the Teddy Bear" by Minor Ferris Buchanan and "Margarete Steiff, Morris Michtom and Teddy Roosevelt - Hunting Down the Origin of 'Teddy Bear'" from the Early Sports and Pop Culture History Blog by Peter Jensen Brown

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Treasures of Healthcare History with Tegan Kehoe Dec 06, 2022

Guest Tegan Kehoe—medical historian and author of the fascinating new book "Exploring American Healthcare Through 50 Historic Treasures"—joins Howard for an enlightening and personal discussion about George Washington's dentures, Vitamin D beer, the tragic story of the Kennedy baby, and our firsthand experiences with lifesaving advancements in preemie care. But first, Howard and Jess talk about a medical treatment gone wrong with Thomas Jefferson's nightmarish trip to Warm Springs, Virginia in 1818.

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The Passion of Benjamin Franklin Nov 29, 2022

We dig into the stories behind Benjamin Franklin's notoriously naughty reputation on a quest to determine whether he was a flirt, a feminist, or the philandering father of dozens of children. And we dive into a letter of Franklin's that was considered too obscene to print until 150 years after his death.

Show notes and sources at plodpod.com

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Friendsgiving Spectacular Nov 21, 2022

It's a Thanksgiving supergroup of history podcasters when Howard joins Kenny Ryan of [Abridged] Presidential Histories, Alycia from Civics & Coffee, and Jerry Landry from Presidencies of the United States for a special Friendsgiving spectacular to talk about some of their favorite things.

Check them out:

[Abridged] Presidential Histories

Civics & Coffee

Presidencies of the United States

Consider joining our Patreon family at https://www.patreon.com/ploddingthroughthepresidents where you can view the unedited video version of the Friendsgiving chat!

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Why John Adams Hated Benjamin Franklin Nov 15, 2022

We delve into the reasons behind John Adams's intense loathing of Benjamin Franklin, from their time as strange bedfellows in the Second Continental Congress to their time in France as diplomats with wildly different methods and work ethics. Even long after Franklin's death, Adams held a grudge against the man he considered a phony, glory-stealing sloth.

Visit plodpod.com for more information.

Key source: Evans, William B. “John Adams’ Opinion of Benjamin Franklin.” The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, vol. 92, no. 2, 1968, pp. 220–38. JSTOR

Check out the podcast The Internet Says It's True with Michael Kent.

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The Resounding Will of Benjamin Franklin Nov 08, 2022

We look at the haunting sounds and even more haunting history of Benjamin Franklin's favorite invention: the glass armonica. Then we welcome author Michael Meyer to discuss his new book Benjamin Franklin's Last Bet. The conversation brings Franklin to life and covers his unique bequests to the cities of Philadelphia and Boston and his rocky relationship with his son (hereby known as William Franklin, Patriot Hunter). We also touch on what Elon Musk and modern politicians could learn from Franklin.

Show notes and sources at plodpod.com

More on Michael Meyers at inmanchuria.com

For more information about Mayling Garcia visit maylinggarcia.com

Learn more about William Zeitler at https://www.williamzeitler.com/

(William Zeitler's music used with his permission.)

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A Perfect Monster: Burr, Hamilton, and the Manhattan Company Nov 01, 2022

In 1799, New York City needed clean water to prevent the spread of Yellow Fever and Aaron Burr needed a friendly bank to fund his election efforts. We dig into how the brilliant, scheming Burr addressed both problems at once with the "perfect monster" known as The Manhattan Company, and how he duped Alexander Hamilton into being his greatest champion.

Show notes and sources at plodpod.com

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Hamilton, Burr, and the Murder of Elma Sands Oct 25, 2022

In our fourth season premiere we dig into the 1799 murder of Elma Sands, a young woman whose body was found in the Manhattan Well. With a boardinghouse full of suspects—none of whom can be trusted—the trial was always going to be a sensation. But with the accused killer Levi Weeks being defended by the dream team of rivals Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr, it became a truly dramatic event.

Listen to the podcast Fresh Hell at https://freshhellpodcast.com/

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Season 4 Trailer Oct 18, 2022

Season 4 premieres Tuesday, October 25th!

Enter to win our 3-book giveaway of fascinating historical books from our first three guests this season: https://kingsumo.com/g/k3clkv/3-book-giveaway-plodding-through-the-presidents-season-4

These are the books:

1. Benjamin Franklin's Last Bet: The Favorite Founder's Divisive Death, Enduring Afterlife, and Blueprint for American Prosperity by Michael Meyer

2. Exploring American Healthcare through 50 Historic Treasures by Tegan Kehoe

3. In the Arena: A History of American Presidential Hopefuls by Peter Shea & Tom Maday

Drawing will be held November 2nd.

Visit our website at www.plodpod.com

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Benjamin Rush To Judgment Nov 16, 2021

In our third season finale, we look at confounding founder Benjamin Rush—his outstanding humanitarian accomplishments, his controversial bleeding and purging treatments during the Yellow Fever epidemics, and the dramatic trial where he sued newspaper publisher William Cobbett for accusing him of killing his patients.

Sources and more at plodpod.com but a special shoutout to the extremely helpful Law and Medicine in Revolutionary America: Dissecting the Rush v. Cobbett Trial, 1799 by Linda Myrsiades and Rush: Revolution, Madness, and Benjamin Rush, the Visionary Doctor Who Became a Founding Father by Stephen Fried.

We'll be back in 2022!

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Mary Hellen's Petticoat Magic Nov 09, 2021

We explore the tragic stories of John Quincy Adams’s sons—George Washington Adams, John Adams II, and Charles Francis Adams—through the structure of their cousin Mary Hellen playing a real life game of "F*ck Marry Kill" with them.

Show notes, photos, and sources at plodpod.com

Consider joining our Patreon family (and our Season 3 patron party on November 14th) at https://www.patreon.com/ploddingthroughthepresidents for bonus content and perks!

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Ghosts of the White House & New England with Jeff Belanger Oct 26, 2021

We dig into the dubious story of Winston Churchill's naked encounter with the ghost of Abraham Lincoln. Then we welcome author, paranormal investigator, and New England Legends host Jeff Belanger for a fascinating conversation about the long history of reported hauntings in the White House, why New England has so many legends, and the value of ghost stories in teaching history.

Show notes, photos, and sources at plodpod.com

We'll be back November 9th!

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The Haunted Hermitage & The Stone Library Heist Oct 19, 2021

First, the Hermitage’s director of interpretation Bryan Gilley shares a historical haunting from Andrew Jackson’s home and a hair-raising experience of his own. Then, Adams National Historical Park curator Kelly Cobble describes the hauntingly beautiful Stone Library built to house John Quincy Adams’s books. And then we dig deeper into something Cobble mentioned – a 1996 heist at the Stone Library where the priceless Mendi Bible was stolen.

Show notes, photos, and sources at plodpod.com

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Conspiracy Theories & The Corrupt Bargain with Mark Cheathem Oct 12, 2021

We look at the role of the Illuminati in the Election of 1800 between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson before welcoming Dr. Mark Cheathem to the show. He teaches a course on conspiracy theories in American history at Cumberland University, and he joined us to talk about his course, his personal inspiration for teaching it, and conspiratorial thinking. Then we dig into a conspiracy theory about a rigged election and the men who rode it all the way to the White House – Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren.

Show notes, photos, and sources at plodpod.com

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The Amistad, The Creole, and Madison Washington Oct 05, 2021

We explore the incredible story of the Amistad captives and the sensation sparked by their rebellion, along with the opportunities their situation offered to the abolitionist cause and the rabble-rousing John Quincy Adams.

And we look at the impact of the Amistad rebellion on a man named Madison Washington who helped lead the most successful slave revolt in American history aboard a ship called The Creole.

Show notes, photos, and sources at plodpod.com

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Cara Finnegan & Photographic Presidents Sep 28, 2021

Author Dr. Cara Finnegan (Photographic Presidents: Making History From Daguerreotype to Digital) joins Howard for a conversation about the early days of photography and some of the most intriguing presidential photographs, including a photo of a painting of William Henry Harrison that looks eerily lifelike and a "spirit photograph" of Mary Lincoln and the ghost of Abraham Lincoln. Before the interview, Jess and Howard tackle Jimmy Carter's brief but devastating encounter with a "killer" swamp rabbit, and the photographic proof.

Show notes, photos, and sources at plodpod.com

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The Mythology of Mary Ball Washington Sep 21, 2021

George Washington's mother Mary Ball Washington has been unfairly portrayed as a greedy shrew for decades. This week, we dig into the truth of the most popular allegations levied against her by biographers. We also trace the origins of two legends about her – the deadly lightning bolt said to have changed her and her founding fetus forever and the story of a wild horse (you thought we were done with animals?) that inspired the legend of young George and the cherry tree. Along the way we look at two recent biographies of Mary that approach their subject with very different perspectives.

Show notes and sources at plodpod.com

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Lindsay Chervinsky & Washington's Cabinet of Personalities Sep 14, 2021

Our very first guest, Dr. Lindsay Chervinsky, joins Howard for a conversation about her book The Cabinet: George Washington and the Creation of an American Institution and about the personalities and relationships of Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison, and Hamilton. And of course we talk a bit about our mutual love for John Quincy Adams.

Jess and Howard kick off the episode with a look at the most famous story of George Washington's profanity.

Note: Our interview with Chervinsky was recorded in June 2021 and does not take into account any events that have transpired since.

Show notes and sources at plodpod.com

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Potty-Mouthed Parrots Sep 07, 2021

We continue the theme of naughty animals and dive into the stories of two parrots named Polly – Dolley Madison’s violently jealous macaw and Andrew Jackson’s purportedly potty-mouthed parrot.

We dig into the plausibility of the popular story that Jackson’s parrot had to be removed from his funeral for swearing, and along the way we explore the burning of the White House and the history of profane parrots in the United States.

Show notes and sources at plodpod.com

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Thomas Jefferson's Killer Ram Aug 31, 2021

This episode is all about Thomas Jefferson's lust for wool and how it caused him to ignore the violence of a particular four-horned Shetland ram until it was too late. Come for the killer ram, stay for the sheep breeding and a quiz that could save you from getting rammed.

Show notes and sources at plodpod.com

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Season 3 Trailer Aug 19, 2021

Season 3 premieres Tuesday, August 31!

Enter our book giveaway to win books by our first two guests, The Cabinet by Lindsay Chervinsky and Photographic Presidents by Cara Finnegan at https://kingsumo.com/g/aiwbpi/plodding-through-the-presidents-podcast-season-3-book-giveaway.

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The Sauciest Presidential Love Letters Feb 11, 2021

In this Valentine's Day/Presidents Day bonus episode, we discuss a few sweet and weird love letters from early presidents like John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson before diving into the raunchy trove of letters borne of Warren G. Harding's semi-treasonous affair with Carrie Fulton Phillips. Listener discretion advised.

Show notes and sources at plodpod.com

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The Peacemaker and the Cradle Robber Dec 08, 2020

In our Season 2 finale, we take on the single deadliest disaster to befall a presidential cabinet – the explosion aboard the USS Princeton in 1844. We look at four of the key players aboard and how they got there - President John Tyler, Secretary of State Abel Upshur, Captain Robert Stockton, and Julia Gardiner, "The Rose of Long Island" – and how this tragedy shook up Tyler's plans for love and Texas.

Show notes and sources at plodpod.com

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Gouverneur Morris and the Vampire of Bizarre Dec 01, 2020

We delve into the big penman energy of founding father Gouverneur Morris, the peg-legged sex-positive anti-slavery aristocrat who penned multiple constitutions and sailed through life with care-free confidence. We also explore the story of his wife, Ann Cary "Nancy" Randolph Morris and the sensational scandal at Bizarre that she struggled to overcome.

Show notes and sources at plodpod.com

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Finding Madison's Funny Bone Nov 24, 2020

We go on a hunt for the often-mentioned but little-documented wicked sense of humor of James Madison. That hunt includes his abusive college poetry, his weird experimentation with animals and humans, and his special relationship with Thomas Jefferson.

Show notes and sources at plodpod.com.

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Died On The Fourth Of July Nov 17, 2020

We explore the unbelievable "coincidence" of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both dying on the Fourth of July on the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the uncomfortable fact that James Monroe also died on the Fourth of July five years later, and the circumstances surrounding James Madison's deliberate choice to break with this weird tradition.

Show notes and sources at plodpod.com.

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Elizabeth Jefferson's Earthquake Drowning Nov 10, 2020

We explore the mysterious deaths of Thomas Jefferson’s sister Elizabeth and her enslaved body servant Little Sall, who both drowned just days after the first recorded earthquake in Virginia’s history. We also dig into how Elizabeth’s apparent intellectual disabilities were handled by biographies over the years.

Show notes and sources (like Susan Kern’s The Jeffersons at Shadwell) detailed at plodpod.com

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Alexander Hamilton & John Adams: A Superabundance of Hate Nov 03, 2020

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical Hamilton barely touched on the relationship between Alexander Hamilton and John Adams, and we dive into the many reasons these men HATED each other. It all started with their differences during the Revolutionary War and the hate only grew during their power struggles in the Quasi-War and the viciously contentious Election of 1800. Not even Hamilton's untimely death could stop their feud, as Adams continued smearing Alexander's memory with a pseudo-medical theory that Hamilton’s “superabundance of secretions” were responsible for his power-hungry ways.

Show notes and sources at plodpod.com

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Paranormal Presidents Part 2 Oct 27, 2020

In our paranormal conclusion we dive into the wild story of Andrew Jackson and the Bell Witch, who terrorized the Bell family of Tennessee from 1817-1821. Then we explore John Quincy Adams's electrifying adventures in the hereafter via a bizarre spiritual autobiography written by the medium Joseph Stiles in 1859.

Show notes and sources at plodpod.com

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Paranormal Presidents Part 1 Oct 20, 2020

In our Season 2 premiere, we dig into three stories where presidential history meets the paranormal – an apparition of John Adams spotted while he was very much alive, the bloody medieval ritual of "bier right" attempted in a murder trial where John Adams was the defense attorney, and the nursery bogey of Rawhead and Bloody Bones that frightened founders like Thomas Jefferson as children.

Show notes and sources at plodpod.com

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Andrew Jackson's Slut-Shaming Evolution Mar 10, 2020

In our Season 1 finale, we trace Andrew Jackson's feelings about women's honor from his early days as a rowdy outhouse-mover to his tragic relationship with his wife Rachel and finally to the Petticoat Affair – the scandal surrounding Margaret Eaton that nearly took down his entire administration.

We'll be back with more brand new episodes soon! Follow us on Facebook for updates.

Sources:

The Petticoat Affair: Manners, Mutiny, and Sex in Andrew Jackson's White House by John F. Marszalek
Life of Andrew Jackson by James Parton

Show notes and sources at plodpod.com

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John Quincy Adams vs. The Internet Mar 03, 2020

We dive into the truth behind four popular stories about John Quincy Adams, including the inspirational "if your actions inspire others" quote, the pet alligator in the White House, the skinny dipping interview with reporter Anne Royall, and the expedition to the center of the earth to visit the mole people.

Show notes and sources at plodpod.com

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A Tale of Two Stepsons Feb 25, 2020

George Washington and James Madison never had any biological children, but they each had a problem child stepson. We explore the lives of the "voluptuous" Jacky Custis and the debauchery enthusiast John Payne Todd and how they affected their famous stepfathers and mothers.

Sources:

My original (and unfairly harsh) article about Jacky Custis: George Washington's Disappointing Stepson

Letters between Jonathan Boucher and George Washington - Founders Online
Letter from James Madison to John Payne Todd - Founders Online
The Bad Boy: Payne Todd by William Seale
Payne Todd: Prodigal Son
You Never Forget Your First: A Biography of George Washington by Alexis Coe
Dolley Madison's Son Payne Todd: The Final Blow by Feather Schwartz
Mrs. James Madison: The Incomparable Dolley by Ethel Stephens Arnett

Show notes and sources at plodpod.com

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The Scandalmonger's Revenge Feb 18, 2020

We dig into the rise and fall of James Thomson Callender, the pamphleteer who exposed the greatest sex scandals in early American history. His story is told through his attacks on Alexander Hamilton, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson.

Sources:
With the Hammer of Truth: James Thomson Callender and America's Early National Heroes by Michael Durey
Eliza Hamilton: The Extraordinary Life and Times of the Wife of Alexander Hamilton by Tilar J. Mazzeo
The Rise and Fall of Alexander Hamilton by Robert Hendrickson
The Reynolds Pamphlet – "The variety of shapes which this woman could assume was endless."

Show notes and sources at plodpod.com

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Jefferson's Broken Heart and Wrist Feb 11, 2020

We explore Thomas Jefferson's dangerous liaison in Paris with the talented artist Maria Cosway and her monkey-like husband Richard Cosway - a love story that resulted in two broken hearts, one permanently damaged wrist, and one epic 4000-word love letter written as a dialogue between Jefferson's head and heart.

(A note: This is one of our very first episodes, and we were still finding our rhythm and voice. If you're new to the podcast, you might want to start with Season 2 or newer episodes for a better sense of how we've evolved!)

Sources:

Founders Online - Jefferson's Head and the Heart letter to Maria Cosway

Mr. Jefferson's Women by Jon Kukla

Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power by Jon Meacham

Jefferson and the Rights of Man by Dumas Malone

Jefferson: A Revealing Biography by Page Smith

John Adams by David McCullough

Richard Cosway, “The Macaroni Miniature Painter” from The Art Amateur, Vol. 8, No. 2 (January 1883)

Inspired by my post "Thomas Jefferson's Head, Heart, and Wrist"

I won't link directly to the "don't say I didn't warn you" painting of Leda and the Swan, but it's up to you if you want to Google Leda and the Swan by François Boucher 1740. (Don't do it.)

Show notes and sources at plodpod.com

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John & Abigail & Smallpox Feb 11, 2020

We dig into the separate smallpox inoculations of John and Abigail Adams and the heartfelt and hilarious love letters this supercouple exchanged during their quarantines, along with some background on Lady Mary Montagu's bold introduction of the smallpox inoculation from Turkey to England.

(A note: This is our very first episode, and we were still finding our rhythm and voice. You're welcome to start here, but you might want to start with Season 2 or newer episodes for a better sense of how we've evolved!)

Sources:

Founders Online - letters between John & Abigail Adams

Time Magazine: How One Daring Woman Introduced the Idea of Smallpox Inoculation to England by Thomas Hager

The Story of Smallpox in Massachusetts by Samuel Bayard Woodward, M.D.

Inspired by my post "Love in the Time of Smallpox"

Show notes and sources at plodpod.com

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