Today's political debates, particularly on cable news, talk radio and blog comments can be limiting. In this podcast, Bruce Carlson applies as much history as possible to the politics of today.
A trip to Mount Vernon through the eyes of visitors, and an examination of some old documents, provides rich insight into today's debate over the The Foreign Emoluments Clause. This obscure item has received as much attention as ever with the Presidency of Donald Trump. A look at the history of the Clause, which predates the Constitution. We also look at George Washington's business empire and how it might compare and contrast to a current business.
Bruce also notes how Washington's purchasing of public land in the Federal City (now D.C.) in an auction during his Presidency has not been contextualized enough by those using the actions in the current debate, and a letter from 1796 reveals a pretty big miss by those citing the purchases - Washington's never-completed desire to create a national university.
Ford became the first Vice President to be appointed as a result of the 25th amendment, and his eight month long tenure as VP occurred during the Watergate scandal. A preview of the episode on the Premium cast, available at www.myistorycanbeatupyourpoliticspremium.com
Plus an interview with Chris Novembrino of the Don't Worry About the Government Podcast. he is at www.dontworry.tv
In this episode, I interview decorated Navy SEAL and "American Sniper" Star Kevin Lacz. He is he author of THE LAST PUNISHER, A Seal Team Three Sniper's True Account of the Battle of Ramadi. He served with Chris Kyle, the subject of the movie American Sniper and played himself in the film.
We about veterans issues, the Iraq War, what it's like to go from training to combat and then back to the homefront. We also discuss the making of the American Sniper movie, PTSD stats, the accomplishments of veterans, and more.
A French nobleman whose face adorns Congress never knew America. But it's OK, most Americans don't know him. We talk about Simon de Montfort. We also talk about making new states, and textualism and Joe Biden. Bruce settles a score and takes a well-deserved victory lap over a statement he made in 2008. Listener questions, and hopefully answers.
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We are joined by the author of Wrestling With His Angel: The Political Life of Abraham Lincoln Vol II, Sidney Blumenthal. In this cast, he talks about Lincoln in the 1850's, as he emerges as a small-time lawyer to being 'woke' by the passage of the Kansas Nebraska Bill to make a stirring speech and come to a definite conclusion about the future of the nation.
In the process Sidney provides details on the passage of both the Compromise of 1850 and the Kansas-Nebraska act, and the role that Illinois Senator Stephen Douglas plays in it, Zachary Taylor's Presidency, the Whigs and Franklin Pierce.
Chester Arthur's dilemma. Woodrow Wilson's secret. Robert Kennedy's concern. The Framers of the Constitution and the unnerving though of a disabled President. A look at the history of Presidential Succession, from the Constitutional Convention to the passage of the 25th Amendment nearly two hundred years later.
The Two Hamiltons, and other Americans lost to the practice of dueling. We explain what dueling is and what dueling is not and explore the issues around a practice that was common, if somewhat illicit in the time of the founding of America.
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The 14th President is among the most unknown, as he was when he won in a surprising election. Yet he started with great promise. Youthful, regal in manner and style, with celebrity friends, many thought his Presidency was a renewal for the country. Instead he provoked a resistance movement. His fall in the wake of the Kansas-Nebraska act reveals a lot about the Presidency in a time of scattered politics.
Bruce goes through his four-year Presidency and the reasons why he's one of the few to never obtain a re-nomination from his own party. His Presidency is one of several factors setting up war. Though his administration was disastrous, there might even be an issue or two where you like him on.
How does history create a Presidential image? We try to answer this with a look at how Lincoln became an image. Not only were historians involved but the family, a sculptor, some oddballs and some really good Lincoln friends.
In the course of answering, we take a look at Lincoln today and how he influences discussions of history. Is there too much Lincoln talk? What other aspects of the Civil War should we also look at.
Shouldn't there be an Oliver Morton movie?
Based on a 2012 episode.
In this episode, we go ‘across the pond’ and think about politics, with our special guest Stephen Byrne from WhatAmPolitics Podcast, a listener to the program and someone that Bruce has spoken to whenever UK events happen. We discuss: Why is Britain voting for the 3rd or 4th time in 3 years? What does this […]
