Disco Demolition and the First South Carolina Primary

In 1979 South Carolina Republicans realized something.  They were in a position to help Ronald Reagan.  But only if they gave up their archaic convention system and created a primary – one that would be on the calendar earlier than most primaries.  It was the beginning of primary calendar one-up-manship that lives on today in…

Washington and The Bill of Rights: A Mystery

George Washington was highly influential in constructing a Constitution.  He pushed a stronger federal government in a meeting at his house between Maryland and Virginia.  He advised its makers and chaired the Convention that would build the document. But less so when it comes to the Bill of Rights.  Washington, along with the majority of…

Make It Stop: Three Times When American Commerce Stopped

In previous episodes, we’ve looked at stocks, water commerce, railroad commerce and retail commerce and the growth of commerce generally, along with inventors and inventions.  The growth of commerce has from the very beginning of U.S. history, created a thing to be managed.   And sometimes stopped. Americans are a bit more familiar with the stopping…