America’s fascination then and now with sea rebels, sea dogs, privateers, smugglers, and pirates by other names is pretty clear. Books, movies and video games with pirates sell. We talk with pirate expert and historian Rebecca Simon, Ph.D. and author of “Why We Love Pirates: The Hunt for Captain Kidd and How He Changed Piracy…
Month: September 2020
The 1880 Election and The Morey Letter: A Tale of October Surprises, Immigration Politics, Memes, Counter Memes and Absolutely Nothing at All To Do with Today’s Politics
The 1880 election was close, with Democrats and Republicans seeking an advantage in its waning days when a letter hits a major city newspaper purporting to be in the hand of a candidate. It is a letter that could turn the election. With Todd Arrington, a historian at the James A. Garfield National Historic Site…
All That Stuff That Happens Before The Debates
A history of Presidential debate negotiations, from belt buckles to town-hall styles, to letting the vice presidents debate, to how many debates there will be, or not having debates at all. From 2012 but applicable to today. This was a crucial question for the debates to one presidential election year. Belt buckle or no belt…
About That Court-Packing Idea. SCOTUS Discussion Part II w/ Chris Novembrino
With some fringe talk about adding members to the court, a look FDR’s court-packing scheme of 1937, why it failed and why it is a cautionary tale of a defeat of a powerful political figure. However, the story also has unique qualities and may not be the exact precedent some people use it for. What…
Cholera and Benjamin Harrison
In 1892, a dreaded disease caused a President to navigate local health situation and created a new law. We look at the precedent-setting quarantine order of the 23rd President, Benjamin Harrison. While we are at it, we look at Harrison’s presidency, policies, his influence on future events, his failed attempt to obtain fair elections for…
My History Can Beat Up Your Politics 