My History Can Beat Up Your Politics

Latest Episodes:

BENEVOLENT POLICEMAN: THE HISTORY OF CONGRESSIONAL INVESTIGATIVE COMMITTEES Sep 18, 2023

Show notes

Harry S. Truman thought a congressional committee ideally should be like a 'benevolent policeman' Not changing the facts but investigating them. He should know as he headed up one. Yet he was also critical of committees during his time that he felt did not meet the criteria. Since an investigation of a U.S. army defeat by a Native American tribe in the 1790's, to a look at an attack on the Capitol today, there is a voluminous history of Congressional committees. That makes even this hour and one half plus episode an incomplete history. We take a look at some of the committees, including HUAC the House Un-American Activities Committee, not only in the 1940's but it in it's earlies form under Martin Dies in the 1930, we take a look at Kefauver's crime commission that became a TV sensation and a Civil War era committee that is viewed by historians to have hurt the Union effort in that war.

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LEBANON 1983 and Other Stories Sep 10, 2023

Show notes

A look at Reagan's intervention in Lebanon in 1983, from a podcast back in 2009. We also look at Wilson' intervention in Mexico in 1913

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SECRECY AND DEMOCRACY, with Dr. Katlyn Carter of Notre Dame Sep 08, 2023

Show notes

We hear the phrase democracy dies in darkness and how important transparency is - but is it really? After all the Continental Congress and Constitutional Convention met in private. Bruce talks with Dr. Katlyn Carter of Notre Dame about the history of secrecy and democracy.

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JOHN QUNICY ADAMS w/ Bob Crawford of The Road to Now Podcast Aug 28, 2023

Show notes

With Bob Crawford, co-host of Road to Now Podcast and bassist for The Avett Brothers, we talk about the sixth President, John Quincy Adams. Bob's knowledge of this not well-known President shines through in the interview. He's recently completed a series FORTUNATE SON on JQA. We discuss not only his Presidency, but his post-Presidency. We also discuss Bob and Bruce's college experiences and New Jersey and national politics.

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Running For President From Prison Aug 21, 2023

Show notes

The story of Eugene Debs and another case where a Presidential candidate ran from prison and compare - as well as contrast - with the current politics. Also a bit about experimental TV.

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Eyewitness Accounts of COLUMBINE, JONESTOWN and Other Events with Josh Cohen of "Eyewitness History Podcast" Aug 14, 2023

Show notes

Learn something new about major news events from the people there. We talk to Josh Cohen of Eyewitness History Podcast (https://www.parthenonpodcast.com/eyewitness-history/). The excerpts from his interviews manage to knock down some of the myths about major historical events and news stories. We start with the principal of Columbine High School, there on that terrible day, and we go to the newsman covering The Lake Placid Olympics in 1980. We also talk to a Jonestown Massacre survivor, a member of the rock band Queen, and the so-called father of podcasting.

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THREE POINT TWO: The Story of NEW DEAL BEER, Science, Government and Common Sense Jul 17, 2023

Show notes

Before Prohibition could be repealed but after many Americans had grown tired of it, a novel political trick was tried - declaring beer was OK. Well a certain kind of beer, called 3.2. It only lasted eight months, though in many states it lasted longer and in one American state, is still law. We look at this forgotten part of the New Deal and how it provides an example of the role of science in American politics.

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Extras from the "Undeniably Unconsecutive" Grover Cleveland Episode Jun 30, 2023

Show notes

Campaign songs, Kangaroo Ballots, The Dapper Governor Hill. More Burke Cockran and Churchill. Everything we left out of the podcast episode about Governor Cleveland's second non-consecutive term.

If you haven't listened to that episode yet, we suggest listening to it first.

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Introducing - Founding Son: John Quincy's America Apr 13, 2023

Show notes

Please to introduce a podcast from friend of the show Bob Crawford of Road To Now Podcast and the Avett Brothers

In iHeartPodcasts' "Founding Son: John Quincy's America," Bob Crawford of The Avett Brothers explores the post-presidential legacy of America’s sixth president: John Quincy Adams. Though often only seen as a failed one-term president and the son of a Founding Father, Adams spent his final decades in Congress fighting the slavocracy and forming a bridge between the founding of America and the era of Lincoln. Founding Son features Patrick Warburton as the voice of John Quincy Adams, Nick Offerman as the voice of Andrew Jackson, and Grey DeLisle as the voice of Louisa Adams.

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FALL OF USSR: Bonus "Bloknot" (Notebook) Episode Mar 20, 2023

Show notes

More of the story - Boiler room bohemians, the coup before the coup, Soviet "Easterns" Cowboy Movies, cassette tapes of Vladimir Vysotsky, how to save money, USSR style, faking out the KGB and more. What we left behind in the notebooks from the six-part FALL OF USSR series.

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