Tenure of Office: February 10, 1814 - November 12, 1817 (as Attorney General); March 07, 1825 - March 05, 1829 (as Secretary of the Treasury) As discussed in this two-part episode, while Richard Rush may not be the most well-known Cabinet member we've exa

Year(s) Discussed: 1732-1989Leadership is naturally one of the main topics that comes up when talking about US presidents, but its not always talked about with practical implications in mind. In this conversation with Talmage Boston about his latest boo

Year(s) Discussed: 1813As the War of 1812 moved into its second year, two American commanders on the northwestern frontier - William Henry Harrison and Oliver Hazard Perry - struggled against logistical challenges and political infighting to assemble the

Year(s) Discussed: 1742-1814Nathanael Greene served as one of Washington's top generals during the Revolutionary War, but what lasting legacy did this man whose life was cut tragically short leave for the Early Republic? In this episode, I am joined by h

Year(s) Discussed: 1800-1801The election rematch between President John Adams and Vice President Thomas Jefferson in 1800 did not go quite according to plan thanks to the original method of electors casting ballots. In this episode, I am joined by friend

Tenure of Office: March 4, 1801 - March 4, 1805Burr may only have served one term as Vice President, but as we discuss in this episode, it was a turbulent four years filled with political intrigue, power struggles, and a rather infamous duel. The drama w

Tenure of Office: March 4, 1801 - March 4, 1805For the first Vice President whose life we are covering from start to end, Aaron Burr brings quite the tale to tell. From personal tragedy early in life to a meteoric rise in politics, from distinguished ins

Year(s) Discussed: 1865-1877The history of the Reconstruction era has in the past been deliberately misconstrued to downplay the achievements of Black Americans and the inhumanity of self-described white supremacists. In his latest work, Fergus Bordewich

Year(s) Discussed: 1812-1813After the failed campaign in Russia, French Emperor Napoleon had to regroup. And by regroup, I mean launch another war, of course. It soon became clear, though, that the tide was shifting, and instead of a war of conquest, Nap

Year(s) Discussed: 1824 and 1876In the first of a special series of conversations about past US presidential elections, I am joined in this episode by Zachary DeBacco of Drinks with Great Minds in History to discuss the two "corrupt bargain" elections of