Axelbank Reports History and Today: Recent Episodes
Evan Axelbank
"Axelbank Reports History and Today: Conversations with America’s top non-fiction authors and why their books matter right now" approaches our past and present in a way that makes anyone want to listen. National-award winning TV news reporter Evan Axelbank interviews writers of history and current events to explore how America works and how it has been shaped by both the powerful and the powerless. In conversational and engaging fashion, listeners learn about the most important events, themes and figures in American history. This podcast shows why we have no choice but to understand where we have been, to know where we are going.
From the publisher:
"For nearly a century, two families an ocean apart have captured the world’s collective imagination: the British Windsors and the American Kennedys. Much ink has been spilled on their individual trysts, tragedies, and triumphs over the years, but no one has examined their powerful and intertwined legacies. Until now.
In The Kennedys and the Windsors, acclaimed journalist Caroline Hallemann unearths the story of two iconic families whose lives, ambitions, and respective reigns have mirrored each other in surprising ways. Through rich archival research and fresh interviews from insiders on both sides of the Atlantic, Hallemann reveals how an upstart Irish Catholic family with little access into elite New England society came to host dinner parties for a King and Queen, and forge an eventual path to the White House. In the process, she draws out some startling parallels between the two families: the style icons Princess Diana and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy (both tragically gone too soon), the frustrated “second sisters” Princess Margaret and Lee Radziwill, the scandal-plagued next generation of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the man formerly known as Prince Andrew, and the current generation’s shared struggle to figure out what a monarchy (actual or imagined) means in the twenty-first century.
From Queen Elizabeth’s coronation to President Kennedy’s historic London visit, from JFK Jr.’s shocking death to Prince Harry’s decisive break with his family, Hallemann traces the key moments in the lives of these two dynasties through a fresh and fascinating lens, showing how they have intersected over the generations in ways that not only shaped their images and legacies, but history itself."
Caroline Hallemann's website can be found at: https://carolinehallemann.com/
Information on her book can be found at https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/743272/the-kennedys-and-the-windsors-by-caroline-hallemann/
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From the publisher:
The Presidency of Joseph R. Biden presents a first draft of history by providing insights into how this one-term president fits within the broader historical forces shaping the United States in the twenty-first century. Acclaimed political historian Julian Zelizer brings together some of today’s leading scholars to give balanced and strikingly original assessments of the major issues of the Biden years, from education and reproductive rights to the economy, labor relations, climate policy, race, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the culture wars.
These incisive essays trace the full arc of Joe Biden’s presidency from its early successes to the setbacks that ultimately consumed it. His domestic legislative achievements were hailed by some as the most momentous of any American presidency since the Great Society while his foreign policy ably met the challenges posed by the nation’s great power rivals. Yet by late 2024, Biden’s legacy was in tatters, overshadowed by immigration, inflation, the war in Gaza, and the president’s obvious physical decline.
Written in a clear and accessible manner, The Presidency of Joseph R. Bidenmoves beyond the day-by-day journalistic coverage to provide the first comprehensive scholarly account of the Biden administration’s achievements and eventual downfall.
With contributions by Kathryn Cramer Brownell, María Cristina García, Joel K. Goldstein, Michael Kazin, Daniel C. Kurtzer, Joyce Mao, Natalia Mehlman Petrzela, Khalil Gibran Muhammad, Timothy Naftali, Ekaterina Pravilova, Noah Rosenblum, Paul Sabin, Timothy Stewart-Winter, Sean H. Vanatta, John Witt, and Mary Ziegler.
Information on Julian Zelizer's book can be found at https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691274782/the-presidency-of-joseph-r-biden?srsltid=AfmBOoqBud63FustBZYB3F6rXOApm3hX5VZKNkTD9fuyxY3Nofdy7uf0
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From the publisher: "What did America's founders say about democracy-and can we remain true to their vision for America?
Two hundred fifty years ago, passionate men attempted to create something the world had never seen before: a nation built not on kings or armies, but on ideas where the people ruled.
In The Democracy We Must Keep, historian David O. Stewart takes readers inside the nine key documents that shaped the formation of the United States-from Patrick Henry's thunderous cry for liberty to the carefully crafted design of a government chosen by the people, with limits on all officials holding power under the Constitution."
David O'Stewart's website can be found at https://davidostewart.com/
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From the publisher:
"An in-depth exploration of history of the US Capitol building and the incredible personalities who built it, full of dramatic stories and surprising facts; a powerful testament to what the Capitol has meant to generations of Americans and how it has endured.
The Capitol is a unique biography of a place, encompassing architecture, history, politics, popular culture, and race in a fascinating exploration of our Capitol’s secret past, one rife with political intrigue, assassination attempts, thwarted bombings, and gunmen on the run. Never mind ghostly cat prints, mysteriously bloodstained steps, and charming “fairy doors” that have delighted visitors for hundreds of years.
Spanning three centuries of American history, the book focuses on iconic and notable names and personalities from the past—from George Washington to Davy Crockett to Ronald Reagan—as well as countless colorful characters readers may not have heard of before, with a focus on restoring the narratives of enslaved people and recognizing their contributions.
The story of the Capitol is the story of America itself, and, for the first time, that story will be told in this sweeping, aspirational biography of the building at the very heart of the American experiment."
Brian's website can be found at: https://brianjayjones.com/
Information on his book can be found at https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/672053/the-capitol-by-brian-jay-jones/
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From the publisher:
“Does Thomas Jefferson still matter?” ask two leading historians on the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
Thomas Jefferson has been reinvented more than perhaps any American president in history. In the nineteenth century, slavery’s defenders invoked Jefferson’s defense of states’ rights while abolitionists drew on his antislavery writings in support of their cause. After the Civil War, Jefferson’s reputation declined because of his association with secession and disunion, but in the twentieth century, his image soared as he came to embody the democratic values America fought for during World War II.
Unsurprisingly, Jefferson’s legacy has shifted yet again in the twenty-first century, effectively becoming a partisan talisman—jettisoned by the left as a plantation patriarch and repurposed by the right as an avatar of white nationalism. Dissatisfied with these political caricatures and manic swings, leading Jefferson scholars Peter S. Onuf and Francis D. Cogliano instead situate the founding father in his complicated historical context and reveal how his wisdom can be applied today.
In a series of three interrelated essays, the authors paint a nuanced portrait. “Generations” elucidates how Jefferson’s understanding of history shaped his responses to the major problems of his time. “My Country” delves into how he conceived of the American homeland, and “The People” unravels how Jefferson articulated a new national identity in the Declaration of Independence.
Taken together, Thomas Jefferson Survives demonstrates how even amid crisis, Jefferson managed to articulate a capacious and optimistic vision for the future of the American people. As Pulitzer Prize–winning historian Annette Gordon-Reed writes in her foreword, “As much as Jefferson reflected the often-benighted times in which he lived, he rose above them in ways that have a great deal to tell us about the political straits in which we find ourselves.” After all, Jefferson knew better than anyone that 1776 was an important moment, but not the only moment, for Americans to write a better future."
Information on his book can be found at https://wwnorton.com/books/9781324098072
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From the publisher: "A traveler’s journey to the heart of the American Revolution, close up at the ground level, among the patriots, amid the pandemonium, on July 4, 1776.
Welcome to Revolution City—where the air smells of tar, booze, gunpowder . . . and rebellion.
Your tour takes you through the turbulent streets, tub-thumping taverns, and radical strongholds of a town at war with an empire. Far from the powdered wigs and genteel debates of history textbooks, this book guides us through the real Boston of the American Revolution: frenzied, dangerous, and fiercely alive.
Join the crowds in taprooms where rebel plots were hatched. Witness mobs rise up over the price of bread. Stand with patriots as they sharpen bayonets on Bunker Hill, and watch as Loyalists get tarred and feathered. Drink the rum made on the town docks, sample the sinful in the city's back alleys, and gaze at John Hancock’s mansion gleaming above gritty streets filled with the almshouse, workhouse, and jail.
From the harbor wharves and seedy brothels to renowned assembly halls like Old South Meetinghouse and Faneuil Hall, Boston, 1776 leads us on a vivid tour of the vital hub of the Revolutionary War. At every stop along the way, we encounter iconic names like Revere and Adams, but also the forgotten men and women who bled and brawled for freedom in every corner of Boston.
Upon America’s 250th anniversary, Boston, 1776 portrays the Cradle of Liberty and the American Revolution as never before: raw, radical, and roaring with life."
Information on his book can be found at https://www.diversionbooks.com/books/boston-1776
His website is available at https://www.jddickey.com/
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From the publisher:
"Why fifty years of changemaking and reform haven't fixed Congress—and what that reveals about American democracy.
Congress, the central democratic institution in the United States, is hanging on by a thread. On January 6, 2021, a violent attack on the Capitol Building left five people dead, and threats and attacks against politicians are on the rise. In Stuck, Maya Kornberg chronicles the efforts of congressional reformers over the last fifty years and documents the mounting forces that have kept their reforms from creating meaningful change.
The "Watergate babies" of 1974, the Contract with America conservatives of 1994, and the historic 2018 class fueled by backlash to Donald Trump all represent younger, more diverse, and less entrenched members who arrived in Washington energized and idealistic. Kornberg reveals the ways Congress has become increasingly inhospitable to change. Political violence, astronomical campaign costs, relentless fundraising demands, shrinking staff, and centralized party leadership all constrain the ability of new members to legislate and represent their constituents. Social media, while offering new platforms for political expression, has also heightened harassment and fed a performative culture that rewards spectacle over substance.
Bolstered by dozens of interviews, congressional records, and the voices of lawmakers past and present—including Henry Waxman, Toby Moffett, Phil English, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Lauren Underwood—Stuckoffers a sobering portrait of a legislative body paralyzed by its own internal dynamics. Kornberg outlines tangible reforms that could restore Congress's capacity to function and amplify the power of its newest members. At a time when Americans are losing faith in democracy's most representative institution, Stuckmakes the case for how it could be saved."
Maya Kornberg's website can be found at https://www.mayakornberg.com/
Information on her book from Johns Hopkins University Press can be found at https://www.press.jhu.edu/books/title/54126/stuck?srsltid=AfmBOordiygQR16IzNoi_Ac4yKopcTURR35jGYkW6UrJfQ2-CHhBoens
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From the publisher: "On July 12th, 1776, Captain James Cook, already lionized as the greatest explorer in British history, set off on his third voyage in his ship the HMS Resolution. Two-and-a-half years later, on a beach on the island of Hawaii, Cook was killed in a conflict with native Hawaiians. How did Cook, who was unique among captains for his respect for Indigenous peoples and cultures, come to that fatal moment?
Hampton Sides’ bravura account of Cook’s last journey both wrestles with Cook’s legacy and provides a thrilling narrative of the titanic efforts and continual danger that characterized exploration in the 1700s. Cook was renowned for his peerless seamanship, his humane leadership, and his dedication to science. On previous expeditions, Cook mapped huge swaths of the Pacific, including the east coast of Australia, and initiated first European contact with numerous peoples. He treated his crew well and endeavored to learn about the societies he encountered with curiosity and without judgment.
Yet something was different on this last voyage. Cook became mercurial, resorting to the lash to enforce discipline, and led his two vessels into danger time and again. Uncharacteristically, he ordered violent retaliation for perceived theft on the part of native peoples. This may have had something to do with his secret orders, which were to chart and claim lands before Britain’s imperial rivals could, and to discover the fabled Northwest Passage. Whatever Cook’s intentions, his scientific efforts were the sharp edge of the colonial sword, and the ultimate effects of first contact were catastrophic for Indigenous people around the world. The tensions between Cook’s overt and covert missions came to a head on the shores of Hawaii. His first landing there was harmonious, but when Cook returned after mapping the coast of the Pacific Northwest and Alaska, his exploitative treatment of the Hawaiians led to the fatal encounter.
At once a ferociously-paced story of adventure on the high seas and a searching examination of the complexities and consequences of the Age of Exploration, THE WIDE WIDE SEA is a major work from one of our finest narrative nonfiction writers."
Hampton Sides' website can be found at https://hamptonsides.com/
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From the publisher: "From her start as one of the youngest activists in US history, Pauline Newman helped shape the International Ladies' Garment Workers’ Union (ILGWU) into a dominant force in industrial America. Cathryn J. Prince tells the story of a self-educated Jewish immigrant who dedicated herself to a legion of causes and lifelong battles against sexism and classism.
Prince follows Newman’s life from a youth split between Lithuania and New York City sweatshops to her work as an advisor to New Deal–era labor secretary Frances Perkins. Newman’s long hours at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory informed her entrée into labor activism. In the following years, she tirelessly advocated for workers, ran for New York Secretary of State as a socialist, and became the first woman to serve as the ILGWU general organizer. Her interest in the health of workers led to service on the Joint Board of Sanitary Control and a decades-long term as education director of the ILGWU health center. Membership in Eleanor Roosevelt’s circle opened doors to government positions and advisory roles that continued into the postwar era. Prince also weaves in the details of Newman’s fifty-year relationship with a woman, her struggles with her sexual identity, and her final years.
Engaging and panoramic, For the Love of Labor is the first major biography of an important figure in labor and women’s history."
Information on her book can be found at https://www.press.uillinois.edu/books/?id=c049552
Her website can be found at https://www.cathrynjprince.com/
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From the publisher:
"Esteemed presidential historian Stephen F. Knott takes readers on a sobering tour of the lowlights in the American presidency, showing how presidents from Thomas Jefferson to Donald Trump have engaged in reckless conspiracy-mongering about their political opponents in an effort to increase their power and privilege.
Today we are inundated with conspiracy theories—QAnon, the “Big Lie,” Pizzagate, the Epstein Files, and innumerable false claims about vaccines and other medicines. But the widespread proliferation of lies and misinformation can make it easy to forget that conspiracy theories have been part of American life from the beginning. The land of the free and the home of the brave has also been the den of false rumors and conspiratorial claims about one’s political enemies—not merely by rank-and-file Americans but also by our most powerful and consequential elected leaders. As political historian Stephen F. Knott recounts in painful detail, the Commander in Chief of the United States has often acted as Conspirator in Chief.
Part presidential history and part descent into a political Dante’s Inferno, Conspirator in Chief is a tour through the Hall of Shame in American politics. Thomas Jefferson used surrogates to spread false claims about Alexander Hamilton in order to destroy his political influence, attacked newspaper editors who were critical of his party and policies, and used conspiracy theories about the Federalists to tarnish them in the eyes of the American people. This brand of demagoguery reached an apex in the presidency of Andrew Jackson, who publicly defamed abolitionists, manipulated newspapers to publish his conspiracies, and spread his own “Big Lie” about the 1824 election being stolen from him in a “corrupt bargain.” Andrew Johnson spread false accusations about the Radical Republicans, declared the need for “white emancipation,” and made spurious claims about the dangers of a coming Black supremacy as a result of Reconstruction. Woodrow Wilson, according to Knott, continued Johnson’s racist and conspiratorial interpretation of American history.
In addition to our most infamous presidents, Knott uncovers the surprising conspiratorial inclinations of our more esteemed leaders, including Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Harry S Truman. Knott shows how both presidents painted their opponents in an extreme light, casting aspersions on political rivals by calling them “betrayers of America,” “spies, saboteurs, and traitors,” and comparing them to Nazis, fascists, and communists. Less surprising are the presidencies of Richard Nixon and Donald J. Trump, both known for their propagation of racist and paranoid beliefs and their denigration of political opponents. As Knott demonstrates in excruciating detail, Trump epitomizes the worst of this long American tradition. While Trump is in a league of his own regarding the sheer output and outlandishness of his conspiracy-mongering, he did not begin this odious practice."
Information on Dr. Knott's book can be found at https://kansaspress.ku.edu/9780700641284/
His website can be found at https://www.stephenfknott.com/
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From the publisher: "They are going to kill people, investigative reporter for The Nation Amy Littlefield knew, when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. After a decade covering abortion, she wanted to more deeply understand the motives, means, and opportunities behind the antiabortion movement's victory. So she set out to investigate the murderers of Roe.
Killers of Roe chronicles Littlefield's journey into the unexplored corners of the most successful social movement of our time. As in every good murder mystery, the killers turn out to be the people you least suspect. Plot twists lurk around every corner as Littlefield meets believers, opportunists, and complicated heroes. Along the way, she encounters surprising characters who shed light on how we got to this moment of authoritarian rule: from the former fetus keeper standing trial in Michigan to the antiabortion militant turned long shot presidential candidate to the pro-choice superfans at the Reagan Library. Throughout the book, Littlefield draws upon women's stories and her own experience as a mother to reveal the life-and-death stakes of America's abortion wars.
At once clever and poignant reportage, this abortion whodunit uncovers the deeper story of how we lost Roe--and how we will win back so much more."
Amy Littlefield's website can be found at https://www.amylittlefield.com/
Information on her book from Hachette Book Group can be found at https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/amy-littlefield/killers-of-roe/9781538769041/
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We are celebrating our 200th episode with Kate Carpenter, the host of the podcast, "Drafting the Past," which focuses on the art of writing history. Make sure you check out her show!
On this celebration episode, we chat about how our podcasts got started, what we have learned about writing and reading great history, and what successes and challenges we have each faced in building our bases of listeners.
And certainly, I want to thank the hundreds of thousands of listeners who have downloaded this show over the last 5+ years. Here's to the next 200 episodes!
Kate Carpenter's website can be found at https://draftingthepast.com/
Her show can be found at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/drafting-the-past/id1606008941
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From the publisher: "From award-winning historian Megan Kate Nelson, an epic account of the creation of the American West in the 19th century, shattering the traditional frontier myth that has dominated popular American culture.
The Westerners tells two richly detailed and interwoven stories. The first reveals the captivating lives of women and men moving through the American West—Indigenous peoples, Black Americans, Mexican Americans, and Canadian and Asian immigrants—in the 19th century. The second tracks the attempts of many Americans to erase these westerners from history, through a frontier myth that lionized individualism and conquest and celebrated white settlers traveling west in search of prosperity.
Nelson’s vivid, eye-opening account centers on seven extraordinary individuals whose lives capture the true history of the frontier: Sacajawea, not just Lewis and Clark’s guide but an explorer who forged her own path; Jim Beckwourth, a biracial fur trader whose sharp cultural insight made him indispensable; María Gertrudis Barceló, a Hispana gambling saloon owner who broke every stereotype to become the wealthiest woman in Santa Fe; Ovando Hollister, a gold miner, soldier, and newspaper man who championed Western expansion; Little Wolf, a Northern Cheyenne chief whose courageous leadership secured his people’s future; Canadian immigrant Ella Watson, who strove to become a ranch woman in a male-dominated world; and the defiant Polly Bemis, a Chinese immigrant who carved out a life in Idaho despite federal expulsion efforts."
Megan Kate Nelson's website can be found at https://megankatenelson.com/
Information on her book from Simon & Schuster can be found at https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Westerners/Megan-Kate-Nelson/9781668004340
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From the publisher: "A scion of the Protestant elite, Theodore Roosevelt was an unlikely ally of the waves of impoverished Jewish newcomers who crowded the docks at Ellis Island. Yet from his earliest years he forged ties with Jews never before witnessed in a president. American Maccabee traces Roosevelt’s deep connection with the Jewish people at every step of his dazzling ascent. But it also reveals a man of contradictions whose checkered approach to Jewish issues was no less conflicted than the nation he led.
As a rising political figure in New York, Roosevelt barnstormed the Lower East Side, giving speeches to packed halls of Jewish immigrants. He rallied for reform of the sweatshops where Jewish laborers toiled for pitiful wages in perilous conditions. And Roosevelt repeatedly venerated the heroism of the Maccabee warriors, upholding those storied rebels as a model for the American Jewish community. Yet little could have prepared him for the blood-soaked persecution of Eastern European Jews that brought a deluge of refugees to American shores during his presidency. Andrew Porwancher uncovers the vexing challenges for Roosevelt as he confronted Jewish suffering abroad and antisemitic xenophobia at home.
Drawing on new archival research to paint a richly nuanced portrait of an iconic figure, American Maccabee chronicles the complicated relationship between the leader of a youthful nation and the people of an ancient faith."
Andrew Porwancher's website can be found at https://www.andrewporwancher.com/
Information on his book can be found at https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691203669/american-maccabee
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From the publisher: "Exploring 500 years of protest and resistance in US history—and what the unsung heroes of social movements past can teach us about navigating our chaotic world
In this timely new book in Beacon’s successful ReVisioning History series, professor Gloria Browne-Marshall delves into the history of protest movements and rebellion in the United States. Beginning with Indigenous peoples’ resistance to European colonization and continuing through to today’s climate change demonstrations, Browne-Marshall expands how to think about protest through sharing select historical moments and revealing the role of key players involved in those efforts.
Drawing upon legal documents, archival material, government documents and secondary sources, A Protest History of the United States gives voice to those who pushed back against the mistreatment of others, themselves, and in some instances planet Earth. Browne-Marshall highlights stories of individuals from all walks of life, backgrounds, and time periods who helped bring strong attention to their causes. Those examples of protest include those of Wahunsenacock, more commonly known to history as Chief Powhatan, who took on English invaders in pre-colonial America in 1607; legendary boxer Muhammad Ali’s refusal to fight in Vietnam and appealed all the way to the US Supreme Court; and David Buckel, LGBTQ+ rights lawyer and environmental activist who protested against fossil fuels by committing self-immolation in 2018.
Regardless of whether these protests accomplished their end goals, Browne-Marshall reminds us that not only is dissent meaningful and impactful but is an essential tool for eliciting long lasting change."
Gloria Browne-Marshall's website can be found here: https://www.browne-marshall23.com/
Information on Gloria Browne-Marshall's book can be found here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/770181/a-protest-history-of-the-united-states-by-gloria-j-browne-marshall/
Gloria Browne-Marshall is on social media here: https://www.instagram.com/gbrownemarshall/?hl=en
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From the publisher:
"In this masterful, groundbreaking work, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Heather Ann Thompson shines surprising new light on an infamous 1984 New York subway shooting that would unveil simmering racial resentments and would lead, in unexpected ways, to a fractured future and a new era of rage and violence.
On December 22, 1984, in a graffiti-covered New York City subway car, passengers looked on in horror as a white loner named Bernhard Goetz shot four Black teens, Darrell Cabey, Barry Allen, Troy Canty, and James Ramseur, at point-blank range. He then disappeared into a dark tunnel. After an intense manhunt, and his eventual surrender in New Hampshire, the man the tabloid media had dubbed the “Death Wish Vigilante” would become a celebrity and a hero to countless ordinary Americans who had been frustrated with the economic fallout of the Reagan 80s. Overnight, Goetz’s young victims would become villains."
Dr. Heather Ann Thompson's website can be found at https://www.heatherannthompson.com/
Information on her book can be found at https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/771433/fear-and-fury-by-heather-ann-thompson/
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From the publisher:
"The deepest dive yet into the heart and soul, secret affairs, unexplored alliances, and bitter feuds of a generally worshipped, intermittently reviled American icon.
Perhaps no founding father is as mysterious as Thomas Jefferson. The author of the Declaration of Independence was both a gifted wordsmith and a bundle of nerves. His superior knowledge of the human heart is captured in the impassioned appeal he brought to the Declaration. But as a champion of the common man who lived a life of privilege on a mountaintop plantation of his own design, he has eluded biographers who have sought to make sense of his inner life. In Being Thomas Jefferson, acclaimed Jefferson scholar Andrew Burstein peels away layers of obfuscation, taking us past the veneer of the animated letter-writer to describe a confused lover and a misguided humanist, too timid to embrace antislavery.
Jefferson was a soft-spoken man who recoiled from direct conflict, yet a master puppeteer in politics. Whenever he left Monticello, where he could control his environment, he suffered debilitating headaches that plagued him for decades, until he finally retired from public life. So, what did it feel like to be Thomas Jefferson? Burstein explains the decision to take as his mistress Sally Hemings, the enslaved half-sister of his late wife, who bore him six children, none of whom he acknowledged. Presenting a society that encouraged separation between public and private, appearance and essence, Burstein paints a dramatic picture of early American culture and brings us closer to Jefferson's life and thought than ever before."
Information on Andrew Burstein's book can be found at https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/being-thomas-jefferson-9781639737680/
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It's almost the 250th anniversary of America's founding. Not only did the Revolution define the fate of the continent, Dr. Richard Bell argues it was a harbinger for the rest of the world. On this episode, we explore how he discovered that, and how that argument can shape our understanding of world events.
From the publisher: In this revelatory and enthralling book, award-winning historian Richard Bell reveals the full breadth and depth of America’s founding event. The American Revolution was not only the colonies’ triumphant liberation from the rule of an overbearing England; it was also a cataclysm that pulled in participants from around the globe and threw the entire world order into chaos. Repositioning the Revolution at the center of an international web, Bell’s narrative ranges as far afield as India, Africa, Central America, and Australia. As his lens widens, the “War of Independence” manifests itself as a sprawling struggle that upended the lives of millions of people on every continent and fundamentally transformed the way the world works, disrupting trade, restructuring penal systems, stirring famine, and creating the first global refugee crisis. Bell conveys the impact of these developments at home and abroad by grounding the narrative in the gripping stories of individuals—including women, minorities, and other disenfranchised people. The result is an unforgettable and unexpected work of American history that shifts everything we thought we knew about our creation story.
Our other episode with Richard Bell, where we focused on his book, "Stolen," can be found here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/axelbank-reports-history-and-today/id1521053272?i=1000506680498
Richard Bell's website can be found at https://www.richard-bell.com/
Information on his book can be found at https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/752265/the-american-revolution-and-the-fate-of-the-world-by-richard-bell/
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From the publisher: Christmas is not just a day or a frame of mind as Kris Kringle (Edmund Gwenn) imparts in Miracle on 34th Street (1947); Christmas is also a vehicle for national mythmaking as an idealising mirror for American cultural and political attitudes of a given moment. Via a case study on Hollywood Christmas films released between 1946 and 1961, Selling Out Santa offers an examination of political pressures on Hollywood in the post-war period and the cultural ramifications of federal involvement in the motion picture industry. As the House Committee on Un-American Activities opened hearings in 1947 and the FBI gathered reports on potential communist subversion in Frank Capra’s Christmas classic It’s a Wonderful Life (1946), Hollywood executives began to bend to the socially conservative pressures of this post-war moment. Using Christmas films as the core of this investigation to identify and analyse changes within the genre as they relate to and reflect changes in the wider cultural and political moment exposes for film scholars, students, and non-specialists how these federal and external pressures on Hollywood moulded these holiday favourites throughout the 1950s and set the social standard for decades of Christmas releases.
Vaughn Joy is on social media at https://bsky.app/profile/gvaughnjoy.bsky.social
Information on her book can be found at https://indiepubs.com/products/selling-out-santa?srsltid=AfmBOopjXbRVgGjiwj4_WnZgoxzgP_DnDpf-4pdhv3STCYk0t-pSrcZq
She is on Substack at https://substack.com/@gvaughnjoy
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From the publisher:
"The Presidential Retreat Camp David is shrouded in mystery, and rightfully so. The hidden retreat atop the Catoctin Mountains is the one place the President, First Family, and invited guests can gather in absolute secrecy for relaxation, rejuvenation, and world-changing decisions. Because of this dedication to privacy, and a desire to maintain the mystery and exclusivity of the last bastion of solitude for the President, few comprehensive accounts exist detailing the storied history of Camp David and the role the “Spirit of Camp David” plays in world affairs.
Presidential Seclusion provides an exclusive account of the mysterious and storied retreat. Extensively researched from Presidential Archives as well as from the pages of Presidential memoirs, this non-partisan, informative account weaves exclusive stories into a tapestry revealing the importance of Camp David on diplomacy and world history. Written by the former Camp David Historian, this personalized tour of the exclusive retreat makes tree-shrouded trails, majestic vistas, and rooms where history happened over the last 80 years accessible to everyone. As you read, the “Spirit of Camp David” is revealed to infuse everyone who works and visits the President’s private mountain retreat, mainly how Camp David personally affected its primary guests, the fifteen First Families fortunate to call the private retreat a second home."
Charles Ferguson's website can be found here: https://www.charlesfergusonbooks.com/
Information on his book from Prometheus Books can be found here: https://www.globepequot.com/9781493091461/presidential-seclusion/
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From the publisher:
"A comprehensive narrative history of Mt. Rushmore, written in light of recent political controversies, and a timely retrospective for the monument's 100th anniversary in 2025
“Well, most people want to come to a national park and leave with that warm, fuzzy feeling with an ice cream cone. Rushmore can’t do that if you do it the right way. If you do it the right way people are going to be leaving pissed.”
Gerard Baker, the first Native American superintendent of Mt. Rushmore, shared those words with author Matthew Davis. From the tragic history of Wounded Knee and the horrors of Indian Boarding Schools, to the Land Back movement of today, Davis traces the Native American story of Mt. Rushmore alongside the narrative of the growing territory and state of South Dakota, and the economic and political forces that shaped the reasons for the Memorial's creation.
A Biography of A Mountain combines history with reportage, bringing the complicated and nuanced story of Mt. Rushmore to life, from the land’s origins as sacred tribal ground; to the expansion of the American West; to the larger-than-life personality of Gutzon Borglum, the artist who carved the presidential faces into the mountain; and up to the politicized present-day conflict over the site and its future. Exploring issues related to how we memorialize American history, Davis tells an imperative story for our time."
Matthew Davis' website can be found here: https://www.matthewdaviswriter.com
Information on his book can be found here: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250285102/abiographyofamountain/
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From the publisher:
“There Is Life on the Planet Mars” ―New York Times, December 9, 1906
This New York Times headline was no joke. In the early 1900s, many Americans actually believed we had discovered intelligent life on Mars, as best-selling science writer David Baron chronicles in The Martians, his truly bizarre tale of a nation swept up in Mars mania.
At the center of Baron’s historical drama is Percival Lowell, the Boston Brahmin and Harvard scion, who observed “canals” etched into the surface of Mars. Lowell devised a grand theory that the red planet was home to a utopian society that had built gargantuan ditches to funnel precious meltwater from the polar icecaps to desert farms and oasis cities. The public fell in love with the ambitious amateur astronomer who shared his findings in speeches and wildly popular books.
While at first people treated the Martians whimsically—Martians headlining Broadway shows, biologists speculating whether they were winged or gilled—the discussion quickly became serious. Inventor Nikola Tesla announced he had received radio signals from Mars; Alexander Graham Bell agreed there was “no escape from the conviction” that intelligent beings inhabited the planet. Martian excitement reached its zenith when Lowell financed an expedition to photograph Mars from Chile’s Atacama Desert, resulting in what newspapers hailed as proof of the Martian canals’ existence.
Triumph quickly yielded to tragedy. Those wild claims and highly speculative photographs emboldened Lowell’s critics, whose withering attacks gathered steam and eventually wrecked the man and his theory—but not the fervor he had started. Although Lowell would die discredited and delusional in 1916, the Mars frenzy spurred a nascent literary genre called science fiction, and the world’s sense of its place in the universe would never be the same.
Today, the red planet maintains its grip on the public’s imagination. Many see Mars as civilization’s destiny—the first step toward our becoming an interplanetary species—but, as David Baron demonstrates, this tendency to project our hopes onto the world next door is hardly new. The Martians is a scintillating and necessary reminder that while we look to Mars for answers, what we often find are mirrors of ourselves.
David Baron's website is https://davidbaronauthor.com/
Information on his book can be found at https://wwnorton.com/books/9781324090663
He is on social media at https://x.com/dhbaron?lang=en
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From the publisher:
An astounding look at how America’s founders—Washington, Jefferson, Franklin, Madison, Adams—regarded the issue of slavery as they drafted the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. A daring and important work that ultimately reckons with the two great failures of America’s founding: the failure to end slavery and the failure to avoid Indian removal.
On the eve of the American Revolution, half a million enslaved African Americans were embedded in the North American population. The slave trade was flourishing, even as the thirteen colonies armed themselves to defend against the idea of being governed without consent. This paradox gave birth to what one of our most admired historians, Joseph J. Ellis, calls the “great contradiction”: How could a government that had been justified and founded on the principles articulated in the Declaration of Independence institutionalize slavery? How could it permit a tidal wave of western migration by settlers who understood the phrase “pursuit of happiness” to mean the pursuit of Indian lands?
Joseph J. Ellis' website can be found at https://www.josephellishistorian.com/
Information on his book can be found at https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/740318/the-great-contradiction-by-joseph-j-ellis/
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From the publisher: "When Barack Obama won the White House in 2008, becoming the nation’s first Black president, the stage was set for Donald Trump’s eventual rise to power. Backlash Presidents shows how, throughout American history, administrations that challenge the country’s racial status quo are followed by presidents who deal in racially charged politics and presidential lawlessness, culminating in impeachment crises.
In this incisive book, Julia Azari traces the connections between racially transformative presidents and their successors, examining the presidencies of Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson, Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon, and Obama and Trump. When he signed long-awaited civil rights legislation in 1964, Lyndon Johnson unleashed a perfect political storm that swept Nixon into the White House. Azari demonstrates how Nixon’s rhetoric, relationship to Congress, and attitudes about executive power exhibit striking parallels with Andrew Johnson and Trump. She discusses how their actions are linked to race and racialized institutions—the Department of War during Reconstruction, the FBI during the Nixon years, and elections today—and looks at what happens after impeachment, describing how the rush to establish a new order perpetuates many of the same problems as the old.
Challenging the conventional wisdom about the role of norms in American democracy, Backlash Presidents reveals how normal presidential politics upholds unsustainable racial hierarchy that in turn gives rise to intense periods of instability."
For information on Dr. Azari's book from Princeton University Press, head here
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From the publisher: As the US struggles to provide affordable housing, millions of Americans live in deteriorating public housing projects, enduring the mistakes of past housing policy. In The Projects, Howard A. Husock explains how we got here, detailing the tragic rise and fall of public housing and the pitfalls of other subsidy programs. He takes us inside a progressive movement led by a group of New York City philanthropists, politicians, and business magnates who first championed public housing as a solution to urban blight. From First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt to the controversial city planner Robert Moses, many well-known historical figures made a convincing case for affordable housing in America.
Despite the movement’s lofty ideals, the creation of the Projects led to the destruction of low-income communities across the country. From the Hill District in Pittsburgh to Black Bottom in Detroit, predominantly Black neighborhoods were judged only by the quality of their housing. Husock looks beyond these neighborhoods’ physical conditions to their uncounted riches, from local artists like August Wilson to vital community institutions. As he shares residents’ stories, he honors what they crafted through their own plans, rather than those of city planners.
Husock traces the history of public housing to contemporary debates on the government’s role in the housing market. Through interviews with residents, he reveals how public housing transformed the lives of Americans and the physical faces of cities and towns. He ultimately critiques "repair and reform" efforts, making policy recommendations that address the core failings of public housing for the people it was once designed to help. Mapping out a better path for policy-makers, he lays a new foundation for upward mobility in America.
For information on his book from NYU Press, check out: https://nyupress.org/9781479828432/the-projects/
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From the publisher: The quarterback: the American equivalent of royalty, long glamorized, mythologized, and worshipped. Still, long before the Super Bowl trophies, massive contracts, brand deals, and millions of social media followers comes the dream. From the backyard to Pop Warner, from high school to college, from the NFL to the Hall of Fame, becoming the country’s ultimate idol requires single-minded focus while navigating a maze of bad breaks, insecurities, jealousy, pressure, and fame.
Long known as the outsider’s guide into this elite world, Seth Wickersham’s fresh reporting goes deep into the quarterback journey, measuring the distance between what the men who have traveled it expected and what they found at the end of the road. Through unprecedented access into the lives of dozens of quarterbacks and generational greats such as Johnny Unitas, John Elway, Peyton Manning, Warren Moon, Steve Young, and others, as well as those figures striving to be remembered, like Caleb Williams and Arch Manning, Wickersham reveals how this one position has become emblematic of success in American life.
As an inside look into a uniquely American job and a uniquely American obsession with football, American Kings is a must-read for sports fans and anyone who wants to understand what the price of ambition tells us about the quest for achievement and status.
Information on his book can be found at: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/789617/american-kings-by-seth-wickersham/
He is on Twitter at https://x.com/sethwickersham?lang=en
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From the publisher: "A compelling exploration of the broken American foster care system, told through the stories of six former foster youth. This powerful narrative nonfiction book delves into the systemic failures that lead many foster children into the criminal justice system, highlighting the urgent need for reform.
This book is a must-read for anyone interested in child welfare, social justice, and the transformative power of the best narrative nonfiction.
In Wards of the State, award-winning journalist Claudia Rowe's storytelling is both vivid and unflinching, offering readers a deep understanding of the foster care-to-prison pipeline. Through interviews with psychologists, advocates, judges, and the former foster children themselves, Rowe paints a heartbreaking picture of the lives shaped by this broken system.
Rowe brings her extensive experience and investigative prowess to this eye-opening work. With a career spanning over 25 years, Rowe has written for publications such as The New York Times and Mother Jones, and her reporting has influenced policy changes in Washington State. Her previous book, The Spider and the Fly, was a gripping true-crime memoir that showcased her ability to blend personal narrative with broader social issues."
Claudia Rowe's website can be found at: https://www.claudiarowejournalist.com/
Information of her book can be found at: https://store.abramsbooks.com/products/wards-of-the-state
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From the publisher: New York entered 1986 as a city reborn. Record profits on Wall Street sent waves of money splashing across Manhattan, bringing a battered city roaring back to life.
But it also entered 1986 as a city whose foundation was beginning to crack. Thousands of New Yorkers were sleeping in the streets, addicted to drugs, dying of AIDS, or suffering from mental illnesses. Nearly one-third of the city’s Black and Hispanic residents were living below the federal poverty line. Long-simmering racial tensions threatened to boil over.
The events of the next four years would split the city open. Howard Beach. Black Monday. Tawana Brawley. The crack epidemic. The birth of ACT UP. The Central Park jogger. The release of Do the Right Thing. And a cast of outsized characters—Ed Koch, Donald Trump, Al Sharpton, Spike Lee, Rudy Giuliani, Larry Kramer—would compete to shape the city’s future while building their own mythologies.
The Gods of New York is a kaleidoscopic and deeply immersive portrait of a city whose identity was suddenly up for grabs: Could it be both the great working-class city that lifted up immigrants from around the world and the money-soaked capital of global finance? Could it retain a civic culture—a common idea of what it meant to be a New Yorker—when the rich were building a city of their own and vast swaths of its citizens were losing faith in the systems meant to protect them? New York City was one thing at the dawn of 1986; it would be something very different as 1989 came to a close. This is the story of how that happened.
Information on Jonathan Mahler's book can be found athttps://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/568081/the-gods-of-new-york-by-jonathan-mahler/
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From the publisher:
"An epic, riveting history based on new interviews and research that elucidates the approval, construction, and fateful decision to drop the atomic bomb on Hiroshima.
At 8:15 a.m. on August 6, 1945, the Japanese port city of Hiroshima was struck by the world’s first atomic bomb. Built in the US by the top-secret Manhattan Project and delivered by a B-29 Superfortress, a revolutionary long-range bomber, the weapon destroyed large swaths of the city, instantly killing tens of thousands. The world would never be the same.
The Hiroshima Men’s vivid narrative recounts the decade-long journey toward this first atomic attack. It charts the race for the bomb during World War II, as the Allies fought the Axis powers, and is told through several key characters: General Leslie Groves, leader of the Manhattan Project alongside Robert Oppenheimer; pioneering Army Air Force pilot Colonel Paul Tibbets Jr.; the mayor of Hiroshima, Senkichi Awaya, who would die alongside eighty thousand fellow citizens; and Pulitzer Prize–winning writer John Hersey, who traveled to Japan for the New Yorker to expose the devastation the bomb inflicted on the city and to describe in unflinching detail the dangers posed by radiation poisoning.
This thrilling account takes the reader from the corridors of power in the White House and the Pentagon to the test sites of New Mexico; from the air war above Germany to the Potsdam Conference of Truman, Churchill, and Stalin; from the savage reconquest of the Pacific to the deadly firebombing air raids across Japan. The Hiroshima Men also includes Japanese perspectives—a vital aspect often missing from Western narratives—to complete Iain MacGregor’s nuanced, deeply human account of the bombing’s meaning and aftermath."
Ian MacGregor's website can be found at: https://iainmacgregor.com/
Information on his book from Simon & Schuster can be found at https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Hiroshima-Men/Iain-MacGregor/9781668038048
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American politics has been dominated by two major political parties for large swaths of time. They raise money, put forward candidates at every level of government, get them elected, and - for better or worse - keep them there. It's a system that was spearheaded by Martin Van Buren, the eighth president. Though his administration was a bust, he has influenced public life since he left office in 1841. James Bradley is an editor of the Van Buren Papers, and argues on this episode that Van Buren may not belong in the proverbial presidential hall of fame, but that he must be studied and remembered.
Information on James Bradley's book from Oxford University Press can be found here
The website for the Van Buren Papers can be found at https://vanburenpapers.org/
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From the publisher:
"In this definitive portrait of John Fitzgerald Kennedy—one of America’s most consequential and enigmatic presidents—J. Randy Taraborrelli delivers a deeply researched and authoritative biography. More than the story of a presidency, this is an intimate study of a man whose public triumphs were shaped—and at times overshadowed—by the complex realities of his private life, from his legendary family to his marriage to Jacqueline Kennedy.
Drawing from hundreds of interviews conducted over twenty-five years—as well as candid, first-hand oral histories from the John Fitzgerald Kennedy Presidential Library, rare internal reports from the Secret Service, detailed files from the National Archives, and intelligence documents from both the CIA and FBI. This is JFK as never before captured by history: brilliant yet fallible, revered yet human—a figure whose legacy continues to shape America and the world."
His previous appearance on our show (episode #136) in which he discussed, "Jackie: Public, Private, Secret" can be found here https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/axelbank-reports-history-and-today/id1521053272?i=1000627555636
J. Randy Taraborrelli's website is https://jrandytaraborrelli.com/home/
Information on his book can be found at https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250346384/jfkpublicprivatesecret/
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Happy fifth!! On this special edition of "Axelbank Reports History and Today," we are thrilled to chat with HW Brands to celebrate this show's fifth anniversary. Over the last five years, we have published 180 episodes and profiled books and authors of many stripes. We have done our best to make history relevant to today, and to give our listeners the information they need to get along in their communities and to make informed decisions about protecting American democracy. Thank you for being along for the ride!
Professor Brands joined us to celebrate and to talk about his career in history. He is writing his 31st book - on George Washington, to be titled "American Patriarch" and released in 2026 - and publishes a Substack multiple times a week called, "A User's Guide to History."
HW Brands' substack can be found at https://hwbrands.substack.com/
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From the publisher:
"In 1664, England decided to invade the Dutch-controlled city of New Amsterdam on Manhattan Island. Charles II and his brother, the Duke of York, had dreams of empire, and their archrivals, the Dutch, were in the way. But Richard Nicolls, the military officer who led the English flotilla bent on destruction, changed his strategy once he encountered Peter Stuyvesant, New Netherland’s canny director general.
Bristling with vibrant characters, Taking Manhattan reveals the founding of New York to be an invention, the result of creative negotiations that would blend the multiethnic, capitalistic society of New Amsterdam with the power of the rising English empire. But the birth of what might be termed the first modern city is also a story of the brutal dispossession of Native Americans and of the roots of American slavery...
Taking Manhattan tells the riveting story of the birth of New York City as a center of capitalism and pluralism, a foundation from which America would rise. It also shows how the paradox of New York’s origins—boundless opportunity coupled with subjugation and displacement—reflects America’s promise and failure to this day."
Russell Shorto's website can be found at https://www.russellshorto.com/
Information on his book can be found at https://wwnorton.com/books/9780393881172
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Harriet Tubman is well-known for being a conductor of the Underground Railroad. She helped dozens of people escape the slave-owning south through her bravery, wisdom and skill. But as Edda Fields-Black discovered, she also helped Union troops raid rice plantations in South Carolina and free hundreds of people who were living in some of the worst conditions imaginable. On this episode, we talk with this newly-minted Pulitzer Prize winner about how she wrote "Combee" and how her own family's history is tied to Harriet Tubman.
Edda Fields-Black's website can be found at https://eddafieldsblack.com/
Information on her book from Oxford University Press can be found at https://global.oup.com/academic/product/combee-9780197552797?cc=us⟨=en&
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From the publisher: On June 7, 1907, a ship packed with Russian Jews set sail—not to Jerusalem or New York, where many on board had dreamed they would go, but to Texas. The man who encouraged the passengers to go was David Jochelmann, Rachel Cockerell’s great-grandfather. The journey marked the beginning of the Galveston Movement, a forgotten moment in history when ten thousand Jews fled to Texas in the lead-up to World War I.
The charismatic leader of the movement was Jochelmann’s closest friend, Israel Zangwill, an internationally acclaimed novelist. As antisemitic violence rose in Eastern Europe, Zangwill embarked on a desperate search for a temporary homeland—from Australia to Canada, Angola to Antarctica—before reluctantly settling on Galveston. He feared the Jewish people would be absorbed into the great American melting pot, but there was no other hope.
In a highly inventive style, Cockerell gives us history exactly as it unfolds, weaving letters, diaries, memoirs, newspaper articles, and interviews into a vivid account. MELTING POINT follows Zangwill and the Jochelmann family through two world wars, to London, New York, and Jerusalem as their lives intertwine with some of the most memorable figures of the twentieth century. As each person chooses whether to cling to their history or melt into their new surroundings, the book ultimately asks what it means to belong, what can be salvaged from the past, and whether a promised land can ever live up to its promises.
Rachel Cockerell's website can be found at https://www.rachelcockerell.co.uk/
Her social media feed can be found at https://x.com/rachelcockerell
Information on her book can be found at https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374609269/meltingpoint/
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From the publisher:
Since protestors ripped through the Capitol Building in 2021, the threat of constitutional crisis has loomed over our nation. The foundational tenets of American democracy seem to be endangered, and many citizens believe this danger is unprecedented in our history. But Americans have weathered many constitutional crises, often accompanied by the same violence and chaos experienced on January 6. However, these crises occurred on the state level. In Sedition, Marcus Alexander Gadson uncovers these episodes of civil unrest and examines how state governments handled them.
Information on his book can be found at https://nyupress.org/9781479828883/sedition/
Marcus Gadson can be reached on social media at https://x.com/MarcusAGadson
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From the publisher: The gripping, true, and untold history of the Italian anti-fascist resistance during World War II, told through the stories of four spectacularly courageous women fighters
From underground soldiers to intrepid spies, Women of War unearths the hidden history of the brave women who risked their lives to overthrow the Nazi occupation and liberate Italy. Using primary sources and brand new scholarship, historian Suzanne Cope illuminates the roles played by women while Italians struggled under dual foes: Nazi invaders and Italian fascist loyalists.
Cope’s research and storytelling introduces four brave and resourceful women who risked everything to overthrow the Nazi occupation and pry their future from the fascist grasp. We meet Carla Capponi in Rome, where she made bombs in an underground bunker then ferried them to their deadly destination wearing lipstick and a trenchcoat; and Bianca Guidetti Serra who rode her bicycle up switchbacks in the Alps, dodging bullets while delivering bags of clandestine newspapers and munitions to the anti-fascist armies hidden in the mountains. In Florence, the young future author of Italy’s new constitution, Teresa Mattei, carried secret messages and hid bombs; while Anita Malavasi led troops across the Apennine Mountains. Women of War brings their experiences as underground resistance fighters, partisan combatants, spies, and saboteurs to life.
Dr. Suzanne Cope's website can be found at https://www.suzannecope.com/
Information on her book can be found at https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/747060/women-of-war-by-suzanne-cope
Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at
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Perhaps the worst punishment that can be inflicted on someone is to be forced away from one's own family. When the slave trade was active in the United States, potentially a million people were sold away from their families either for punishment or profit. After slavery ended, many of those who had not seen their families for years took out ads in newspapers, hoping for a clue that would help them reunite with their families. In "Last Seen: The Enduring Search by Formerly Enslaved People to Find Their Lost Families," Dr. Judith Giesberg shows how freedpeople used newspapers to keep their ultimate dream alive and rebuild their families. In this episode, she also describes how her team of researchers have cataloged thousands of those advertisements, in hopes of shedding light on the fight for human dignity, and so that descendants of slaves might learn about what their families went through.
Information on Judith Giesberg's book can be found at https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Last-Seen/Judith-Giesberg/9781982174323
The "Last Seen" project can be found at informationwanted.org
Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at
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In "Red Scare," Clay Risen traces the cultural differences in contemporary America to McCarthyism and the disagreements in the 1940s and 50s over how the United States should respond to Russian efforts to influence American society. He shows how the American political system was weaponized against those deemed worthy of suspicion, and how that destroyed the lives of thousands of people. He also shows how disagreements over the New Deal and how to respond to a growing nuclear threat morphed into culture wars that are still present today.
Clay Risen's website can be found at https://www.clayrisen.com/
Information on his book can be found at https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Red-Scare/Clay-Risen/9781982141806
Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at
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As Dr. Rebecca Brenner Graham shows us in this episode, the story of the first cabinet secretary who was a woman - Frances Perkins - has been missing its most consequential chapter. Dr. Graham discovered the story of how Frances Perkins organized and prodded the Federal government to allow Holocaust victims to escape before it was too late. Graham tells the story of how Perkins wielded power in Washington, and how a rare impeachment of a cabinet secretary began to curtail that power. But, she managed to save tens of thousands of people from death camps, thanks to empathy she felt from a young age for people who desperately needed protection.
Information on her book can be found at https://www.kensingtonbooks.com/author/rebecca-brenner-graham/
Her website can be found at https://rebeccabrennergraham.com/
She on social media at https://x.com/TheOtherRBG
Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at
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America's fight against COVID felt like a never ending battle over who had a right to be safe, to get a vaccine, to work at their place of employment and to visit places of entertainment. Rules around vaccines, restaurants, schools and businesses provided the fuel for the question of "which way worked better?" Which areas saw more deaths, kept people employed and fostered the educational success of children? In "COVID Wars," former tech CEO Ronald Gruner dug into the data to determine which strategies worked to save lives, which worked to save jobs, and which minimized social impact? He explains how data is the key to everything, and how the war over the best ways to respond to the COVID pandemic fractured the country.
Ronald Gruner's website can be found at https://www.ronaldgruner.com/index.htm
He is on social media at https://x.com/ronaldgruner
Support our show at https://patreon.com/axelbankhistory
A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy
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Nearly eighty million were killed. Seventy countries were involed. Two nuclear bombs were dropped. The world was reshaped in its aftermath. World War II wasn't just an event in the lives of seven future presidents, it was the event. Steven Gillon argues seven future presidents were changed irrevocably by what they’d experienced from the moment Pearl Harbor was attacked to the moment millions of soldiers came back to the United States. They had seen death, lost friends and feared for their own lives. World War II would shape their politics and policy. He argues that even privileged men - like JFK and George HW Bush - insisted on going to combat because they could sense it would make or break their future. And they were right.
Steven Gillon's website can be found at https://www.stevenmgillon.com/
Information on his book can be found at https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/646653/presidents-at-war-by-steven-m-gillon/#:~:text=A%20nuanced%20and%20deeply%20researched,and%20future%2C%20presidents%20stand%20today.
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In under a week, the United States will have a new president. On this episode, former White House staffer and academic historian William Haldeman shares his new book that shows how presidents transform from merely an elected leader to someone whose mark is left for generations. He describes how six presidents - Washington, Lincoln, TR, FDR, JFK and Reagan - developed leadership skills over the course of their lives that could then be applied not only to policy, but to their use of the bully pulpit to make bold changes to the nation. From Washington's decision to leave office after two terms to Reagan's drive to win the Cold War, Haldeman shows how great presidents not only met the moment, but won outsized victories that contributed to freedom and democracy.
William Haldeman's website can be found at https://www.williamhaldeman.com/
He is on social media at https://x.com/potushistorian
Information on his book can be found at https://sunypress.edu/Books/M/Meeting-the-Moment
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From the publisher: In the nineteenth century, the complex cultural meaning of hair was not only significant, it could affect one's place in society. After the Civil War, hairdressing was a growing profession and the hair industry a mainstay of local, national, and international commerce. In Beyond Vanity, Elizabeth L. Block expands the nascent field of hair studies by restoring women's hair as a cultural site of meaning in the early United States. With a special focus on the places and spaces in which the industry operated, Block argues that the importance of hair has been overlooked due to its ephemerality as well as its misguided association with frivolity and triviality. As Block clarifies, hairdressing was anything but frivolous.
Dr. Block's website can be found at https://www.elizabethlblock.com/
Information on her book can be found at https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262049054/beyond-vanity/
She is on social media at https://x.com/ElizabethLBlock
Support our show at https://patreon.com/axelbankhistory
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If you've ever gone holiday shopping, you have probably gone into a bookshop to find the perfect gift for someone you care about. In this episode, we talk with Evan Friss about his astonishing history of how American bookstores were born, how they grew, and how they've at least tried to survive in a world where almost everything is done online. From chains to indies, he shows how bookstores became a critical place where ideas are exchanged, and how books themselves are marketed and consumed. From Ben Franklin to YOU, he shows how bookstores mark American progress.
Information on his book can be found at https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/679154/the-bookshop-by-evan-friss/
His website is https://evanfriss.com/
He is on social media at https://x.com/EvanFriss
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A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy
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Considering the high profiles of Eleanor Roosevelt, Jackie Kennedy, Betty Ford, Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama, little is remembered about Pat Nixon. And that, Heath Lee argues, is the way she wanted it. On this episode, biographer Heath Lee discusses her book, "The Mysterious Mrs. Nixon: The Life and Times of Washington's Most Private First Lady," explores how Thelma Catherine Ryan went from a small mining town in the Far West to the most storied home in the world to become America's First Lady. She shows how Pat Nixon influenced her husband, and her country, in ways that are only just beginning to be recognized.
Heath Hardage Lee's website can be found at https://heathleeauthor.com/
She is on social media at https://x.com/HeathLee1
Information on her book can be found at https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250274342/themysteriousmrsnixon
Support our show at https://patreon.com/axelbankhistory
A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy
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On this episode, we chat with David Greenberg about his epic biography of American icon John Lewis. We explore Lewis' background, early life, congressional career and of course, his march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge. Lewis was beaten, but not broken, and began a one-of-a-kind career fighting for human rights and decency among Americans. Greenberg not only explains what it was like to interview Lewis, but how he found so many new sources during years of research.
Information on his book can be found at https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/John-Lewis/David-Greenberg/9781982142995
David Greenberg's website is https://greenberg.rutgers.edu/
David Greenberg's social media feed can be found at https://x.com/republicofspin
Support our show at https://patreon.com/axelbankhistory
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From the publisher: "Stadiums are monuments to recreation, sports, and pleasure. Yet from the earliest ballparks to the present, stadiums have also functioned as public squares. Politicians have used them to cultivate loyalty to the status quo, while activists and athletes have used them for anti-fascist rallies, Black Power demonstrations, feminist protests, and much more.
In this book, historian Frank Guridy recounts the contested history of play, protest, and politics in American stadiums. From the beginning, stadiums were political, as elites turned games into celebrations of war, banned women from the press box, and enforced racial segregation. By the 1920s, they also became important sites of protest as activists increasingly occupied the stadium floor to challenge racism, sexism, homophobia, fascism, and more. Following the rise of the corporatized stadium in the 1990s, this complex history was largely forgotten. But today’s athlete-activists, like Colin Kaepernick and Megan Rapinoe, belong to a powerful tradition in which the stadium is as much an arena of protest as a palace of pleasure."
Information on Dr. Frank Guridy can be found at https://history.columbia.edu/person/guridy-frank/
Information on his book can be found at https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/frank-andre-guridy/the-stadium/9781541601451/?lens=basic-bo
His social media account can be found at https://x.com/fguridy
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Being president is a mixed bag. There are long days, high-stakes decisions, definitive elections and even the potential to be considered a dunce for the rest of history. But, there are also opportunities to help people in need, win the respect of the world, bring the country together, and, these days, make big bucks after their term in office. Their net worths soar after they sign book deals, honcho a film company or even endorse trinkets that seem fit for informercials. But as Megan Gorman shows in, "All The Presidents' Money," it wasn't always like that. Early presidents lived their lives out in debt. She shows how becoming president didn't preclude them from making mistakes with money that every American makes, and also how their ambition to earn big bucks foreshadowed their desire to run the country.
Megan Gorman's website can be found at https://www.allthepresidentsmoney.com/about-megan
Information on her book can be found at https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/All-the-Presidents-Money/Megan-Gorman/9798888450802
Support our show at https://patreon.com/axelbankhistory
A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy
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Despite its reputation as a game with roots in rural America, Kevin Baker explains on this episode that baseball is rooted in New York City, and that it became the engine of the Big Apple. He also explains how the city itself influenced the game through its rules, its teams, its stadiums and its superstars. From Christy Mathewson to Babe Ruth, from the Highlanders to the Trolley Dodgers, from rundown streets to the Polo Grounds, Kevin Baker shows how New York and baseball grew up together.
Kevin Baker's Website can be found at https://kevinbaker.info/
Information on his book can be found at https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/7503/the-new-york-game-by-kevin-baker/
Support our show at https://patreon.com/axelbankhistory
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From the late 1990s until the mid-2010s, conservatives used the rallying slogan of, “What would Reagan do?” as a call to arms on the Federal budget, on taxes, on foreign affairs, and on the government’s role in our lives. He was held up as the beacon for what a president, a governor, a state legislator or a candidate for any office should try to be. George W. Bush modeled his presidency on honoring Reagan and avoiding the political mistakes his made by his father. But that has changed in the Trump era. Reagan’s conservative example is no strived to emulate nearly as often. On this episode, Max Boot explains why, and what it says about the presidency and life of Ronald Reagan.
Max Boot is on social media at https://x.com/MaxBoot
Max Boot's website can be found at https://www.maxboot.net/
Information on his book can be found at https://wwnorton.com/books/9780871409447
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A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy
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From the publisher: A comprehensive and engaging oral history of the decade that defined the feminist movement, including interviews with living icons and unsung heroes – from former Newsweek reporter and author of the “powerful and moving” (New York Times) Witness to the Revolution.
For lovers of both Barbie and Gloria Steinem, The Movement is the first oral history of the decade that built the modern feminist movement. Through the captivating individual voices of the people who lived it, The Movement tells the intimate inside story of what it felt like to be at the forefront of the modern feminist crusade, when women rejected thousands of years of custom and demanded the freedom to be who they wanted and needed to be.
This engaging history traces women’s awakening, organizing, and agitating between the years of 1963 and 1973, when a decentralized collection of people and events coalesced to create a spontaneous combustion. From Betty Friedan’s The Feminine Mystique, to the underground abortion network the Janes, to Shirley Chisolm’s presidential campaign and Billie Jean King’s 1973 battle of the sexes, Bingham artfully weaves together the fragments of that explosion person by person, bringing to life the emotions of this personal, cultural, and political revolution. Artists and politicians, athletes and lawyers, Black and white, The Movement brings readers into the rooms where these women insisted on being treated as first class citizens, and in the process, changed the fabric of American life.
Information on her book from Simon & Schuster can be found at https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Movement/Clara-Bingham/9781982144210
Clara is on social media at https://x.com/CYBingham
Clara's website is at https://www.clarabingham.com/
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The first thing a president must do is swear to uphold the Constitution. But what happens when they betray that promise? Corey Brettschneider argues that it takes ordinary citizens to not only reign them in, but to make sure it never happens again. In "The Presidents and the People: Five Leaders Who Threatened Democracy and the Citizens Who Fought to Defend It," Professor Brettschneider profiles John Adams, James Buchanan, Andrew Johnson, Woodrow Wilson and Richard Nixon, and explains how they fought to protect the American ideal of equality, for only a few Americans. From suspending the right to free speech, the right to vote and the right to enjoy freedom itself, Brettschneider shows how presidents have stepped out of bounds, and also how ordinary Americans insisted the country belongs to all.
Information on his book can be found at https://wwnorton.com/books/9781324006275
His website is https://www.coreybrettschneider.com/
He is on social media at https://x.com/brettschneiderc?lang=en
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A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy
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Three-thousand miles. Fourteen states. Seven hundred towns. Two spouses. One Winnebago. Francis Barry and his wife, Laurel, took a trip across the Lincoln Highway from New York to San Francisco during the height of the pandemic, and during the height of the 2020 election. Their project was to figure out America by driving along the route that was first established more than a hundred years ago as a way to show off America. On this episode, we discuss his book, "Back Roads and Better Angels" to find out what makes America tick, what has kept the most diverse country in the world together, even through the toughest of times?
He is on social media at https://x.com/FSBarry
His website is https://www.fsbarry.com/
Information on his book from Steer Forth Press can be found at https://steerforth.com/product/back-roads-and-better-angels-9781586423889/
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George Washington is often given the lionshare of the credit when it comes to establishing the tradition of a peaceful transfer of power in the United States. But in her new book, "Making the Presidency: John Adams and the Precedents that Forged the Republic," Dr. Lindsay Chervinsky argues that the second president also deserves a healthy portion of credit. Adams understood that he could never measure up to Washington, but he did understand that a strong, democratic nation would depend on his ability to consider his country over his party. Dr. Chervinsky shows that while Adams made political mistakes that made him unappealing to elect for a second term, he weathered both foreign and domestic crises in ways that made the presidency, and thus, the young republic, stronger.
Information on Dr. Chervinsky's book can be found at https://www.lindsaychervinsky.com/
We discussed her book, "The Cabinet," on this episode
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/axelbank-reports-history-and-today/id1521053272?i=1000494574017
We discussed her co-edited book, "Mourning the Presidents," on this episode
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/axelbank-reports-history-and-today/id1521053272?i=1000601993613
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From the publisher, Roaring Book Press: Witch Hunt: The Cold War, Joe McCarthy, and the Red Scare provides a gripping account of one of the most tumultuous periods in American history. Authors Dr. Andrea Balis and Elizabeth Levy delve into Senator Joe McCarthy's infamous hunt for communists during the 1950s Red Scare. Originally written for young adult and teen audiences, the book is written in a unique screenplay-style format with rich illustrations and includes interviews with individuals who recalled their childhood experiences of McCarthyism. With meticulous research and attention to detail, The authors shed light on the human stories behind historical events, filling in the critical gaps in historical knowledge, ensuring that the lessons of the past are not forgotten in today's rapidly changing world.
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The Family Histories Podcast
Join us and our guests as they reveal the fascinating lives of those in their family tree.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
At the dawn of the 20th Century, the center of city life could be found at department stores. One could find the latest fashion, meet friends for a cup of coffee, mail a letter, and escape the hustle of every day life. Julie Satow shows how three women made department stores not just the place to be, but into an engine of cultural change. She also explores how the women challenged gender norms to build high-flying businesses that would impact World War II, New York City, and the future of consumerism. Julie also shows how social media has changed the lives of writers, who now must focus on being successful in several mediums for their books to become bestsellers.
Her previous appearance on our show, where we discussed her book, "The Plaza" can be found here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/axelbank-reports-history-and-today/id1521053272?i=1000488745167
Information on Julie Satow's book can be found at https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/707784/when-women-ran-fifth-avenue-by-julie-satow/
Julie Satow's website can be found at https://juliesatow.com/
Support our show at https://patreon.com/axelbankhistory
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On this episode, Adam Higginbotham brings us back to the moment that many say they will never forget, but also to a moment that is filled with misconception and myth. When the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded in 1986, seven astronauts lost their lives and NASA was confronted with its biggest failure. Higginbotham shows us how the space program chose to remember those lost, rebuild faith in its mission, and how NASA persisted as a larger reflection of American culture. Higginbotham also explains how our memories of Challenger aren't necessarily what happened. His book is the first in nearly forty years that attempts to present an accurate portrayal of what happened and the impact it has had.
Adam Higginbotham's website can be found at https://www.adamhigginbotham.com/
He is on social media at https://twitter.com/HigginbothamA
Information on his book from Simon & Schuster can be found at https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Midnight-in-Chernobyl/Adam-Higginbotham/9781501134630
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A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy
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Teddy Roosevelt is thought of as the quintessentially masculine American president. He is known for going to war, for fighting buffalo with his bare hands, and sailing down the River of Doubt. But as Edward O'Keefe, the CEO of the Teddy Roosevelt Presidential Library explains, TR is more a product of the women in his life than the men. His mother, sisters and wives played critical roles in his formative years, his early political career and his presidency. From the mother who soothed his nearly-deadly sicknesses, to the sisters who became co-strategists and governors, to the wives who influenced his progressive ideas and the future of First Ladies, TR would have been a different person had the women in his life not been strong, brilliant people. We also chatted about the future of the TR presidential library, and how it will shape not only TR's legacy, but our own understanding of America.
Edward O'Keefe is on social media at https://twitter.com/edwardokeefe?lang=en
Information on Edward O'Keefe's book from Simon & Schuster is available at https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Loves-of-Theodore-Roosevelt/Edward-F-OKeefe/9781982145682
Information on the TR presidential library can be found at https://www.trlibrary.com/
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The Silver King's War
The Silver King's War is a series of World War II plays (The Silver King, Marauder Men,...
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
The Happy Writer with Marissa Meyer
Authors, from debuts to bestsellers, chat about books, writing, publishing, and joy.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Paul Sparrow argues that Franklin Roosevelt is the quintessential American president, not just of the 20th Century, but in all of American history. FDR's ability to rally the nation from the Great Depression, and then carry it into a devastating but essential World War showed not just his talent, but his understanding of the stakes the country faced. Sparrow argues that FDR is democracy's greatest champion, and that he became that way by understanding the key to rallying the American people was by finding the right words to urge the country to embrace the cause of freedom around the world. In this episode, Sparrow shows how FDR took on the isolationist Charles Lindbergh to urge America to fight its most important battle since the Civil War.
For information on Paul's book, head to https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Awakening-the-Spirit-of-America/Paul-M-Sparrow/9781639366675
For Paul's social media feed, head to https://twitter.com/PaulMSparrow1
His website is available at https://paulsparrow-fdr.com/
Support our show at https://patreon.com/axelbankhistory
A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy
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What does it mean to have "free time" and is it ever enough? In "Free Time: The History of an Elusive Ideal," Dr. Gary Cross explains how free time is both precious and deceptive. Why are people on vacation already searching the web for their next one? What counts as free time? Does technology help or hurt our experience with time spent away from work? Dr. Cross joins us to answer these questions, and to explain how the concept of "free time" began. We all want free time, but does it help our physical and mental selves in the ways we assume?
Information on Gary Cross' book can be found at https://nyupress.org/9781479813070/free-time/
Support our show at https://patreon.com/axelbankhistory
A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy
"Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at
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In "American Flygirl" Susan Tate Ankeny shows how a young girl with a fascination for flying became the first female Asian-American pilot to fly for the military. Hazel Ying Lee was born in Portland, but came of age at a time when the deck was stacked against people like her. Hazel never let discrimination or expectation shatter her dreams of flying for a living. She flew in China to defend her ancestral homeland from attack, then became a WASP for the US Airforce during World War II. Though Hazel died at a young age in an aviation accident, Ankeny argues that the lessons of her life for today's society must be understood.
Susan Tate Ankeny's website can be found at https://susantateankeny.com/
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Though few remember it, James Swanson argues the Deerfield Massacre of 1704 played a critical role in the shaping of early America. He explains how Native tribes and French soldiers brutalized a small outpost of colonists in western Massachusetts and set off a continental effort to find the missing victims and establish forces to protect the colonies. The tale of large-scale kidnappings, battles over who land belongs to and fear of attacks without warning have clear parallels to today. Swanson also explains what it is like to see artifacts from the attack that has been almost forgotten, until now.
Information on "The Deerfield Massacre" can be found at https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Deerfield-Massacre/James-L-Swanson/9781501108167
James Swanson is on social media at https://twitter.com/JamesLSwanson
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Up until the very end of World War II, even Dwight Eisenhower did not grasp the extent of the devastation the Holocaust had inflicted to the Jewish people. It wasn’t until he was among the liberators at the Ohrdruf concentration camp where the Americans found thousands of dead bodies and starving Jews when Eisenhower finally had his full call to action. They weren’t just fighting fascism, they were fighting to make sure there would never be another Holocaust. Lantzer describes how Eisenhower used his political skills to make sure the message was heard around the world.
Information on "Dwight Eisenhower and the Holocaust" can be found at https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/9783111327112/html?lang=en
Jason Lantzer is on social media at https://twitter.com/HistProfDad
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Abraham Lincoln is often thought of as the president who kept the union together, or who contributed the legal basis for slaves to be freed in states in rebellion, but Harold Holzer, one of America's renowned Lincoln scholars, explains how Lincoln harnessed the power of immigrants to make both achievements possible. Holzer's new book, "Brought Forth on this Continent: Abraham Lincoln and American Immigration," traces Lincoln's life from midwestern storekeeper, to Whig Party stalwart, to President. His view of immigrants shifted from indifferent to embracing, as he realized the source of renewal and strength they provide to America. While Lincoln's views often centered around those of European descent, Lincoln pushed back against anti-immigrant forces in the US to spend national resources on attracting more immigrants and making it possible for them to thrive. He allowed for the full participation in both the political system and in the military force that would become the victorious side in the Civil War. Near the end of his life, he gave a landmark speech on immigration that could well be applied to today's debate over how to respond to immigrants who reach American soil.
Harold Holzer's website can be found at http://www.haroldholzer.com/
He is on Twitter at https://twitter.com/HaroldHolzer
Information on his book, "Brought Forth on this Continent: Abraham Lincoln and American Immigration," can be found at https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/558372/brought-forth-on-this-continent-by-harold-holzer/
Our previous episode with Harold Holzer and his book "Presidents vs. The Press" can be found at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/axelbank-reports-history-and-today/id1521053272?i=1000503758391
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The Founding Fathers are often thought of as the pathbreaking generation that fought with dignity, wrote with moral clarity, and bound the colonies together with one goal. Except, in their new edited collection, “A Republic of Scoundrels: The Schemers, Intriguers and Adventurers who Created a New American Nation,” historians David Head and Timothy Hemmis argue that's not what happened at all. They say that mixed in with those like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton, are a batch of who are essentially anti-Founders, those who worked to stop the founding from succeeding at all. For every Founder who has gone down as a hero, there are several who are finally being given their due as American villains.
Dr. David Head's website can be found at https://www.davidheadhistory.com/
Dr. Timothy Hemmis is on social media at https://twitter.com/hemmist
Information on "A Republic of Scoundrels" can be found at https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/A-Republic-of-Scoundrels/David-Head/9781639364077
Our previous episode with David Head on his book, "A Crisis of Peace" can be found at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/axelbank-reports-history-and-today/id1521053272?i=1000514069140
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From costumes to professional football to a brand of high end ovens, "Vikings" have become a part of American pop culture. In "American Vikings: How the Norse Sailed into the Lands and Imaginations of America," historian Martyn Whittock explains why actual vikings set sail, what they were after, and why the potential for myths to be handed down to future generations was so pervasive. He shows how sailors in the year 1000 left their homes to plunder and explore, all while shaping European and American history. He explains what he found about their earliest voyages to what would eventually be called North America. Since he has also studied Christianity extensively, Whittock also left us with a mission for how to approach the holiday season!
Martyn Whittock's social media page can be found at https://twitter.com/MartynHistorian
Information on "American Vikings" from Simon & Schuster can be found at https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/American-Vikings/Martyn-Whittock/9781639365357
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How did Ulysses S. Grant go from being surrounded by - and benefitting from - slaves to becoming one of the most instrumental American leaders responsible for its downfall? In "Soldier of Destiny," John Reeves shows how Grant's formative years with an anti-slavery father, the challenges of his alcoholism and his experience as a military leader during the Civil War led to his belief that emancipation was the only way to redeem America's founding promise.
John Reeves' website can be found at https://john-reeves.com/author
He is on Twitter at https://twitter.com/reevesjw
Information on "Soldider of Destiny" from Pegasus Books can be found at http://pegasusbooks.com/books/soldier-of-destiny-9781639365272-hardcover#:~:text=Soldier%20of%20Destiny%20tells%20the,father%20and%20his%20slaveholding%20wife.
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Aside from being famous and at the top of their crafts, Harry Truman and Pablo Picasso could hardly have been more different. Matthew Algeo explains how their one-off meeting was used by both men to further their goals in politics and art. In, "When Harry Met Pablo: Truman, Picasso and the Cold War Politics of Modern Art," Algeo explains how modern art became a leverage point in the fight against McCarthyism, and how art became a political battlefield, much as it is today. We also chatted about his life as a globetrotter, an author and his efforts to see the place where the historic - but seldomly reported on - meeting took place.
Matthew Algeo's website can be found at https://www.malgeo.net/
Information on his book is available at https://www.chicagoreviewpress.com/when-harry-met-pablo-products-9781641607872.php?page_id=30&cid=183995
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For decades, conservative elected officials, activists and think tanks have argued that college campuses are hostile to them and their ideas. In Dr. Lauren Lassabe Shepherd's book, "Resistance from the Right: Conservatives and Campus Wars," we see how that movement was sprouted, what its arguments are and how successful their efforts have been to craft education policy to fit their own goals. She shows how William F. Buckley gave the movement intellectual juice while foot soldiers protested progressive efforts to teach the history of race, organize against military actions and promote liberal social causes. She also explains the roots of the university system in American life and how politics impact campus today.
Information on her book from UNC Press can be found at https://uncpress.org/book/9781469674490/resistance-from-the-right/
Dr. Lassabe's website can be found at https://www.laurenlassabe.com/
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Doug Melville was thrilled to be invited to the screening of a movie about the Tuskeegee Airmen, a movie that he assumed would feature the patriarch of his family tree, Ben O. Davis Jr. He was proud of his family's service to the storied branch of the Air Force, a group of aviators who had fought for their country even though they were ordered to be segregated. Instead, the movie featured only composites of the characters, and failed to use the real names of the American heroes. Melville went on a decade-long journey to discover his family history and make sure that it would never again be forgotten to history. He shows how his family impacted decades of American policy and how they were deprived of being truly honored even when the most powerful people in the country insisted they were doing so. We also discussed Melville's efforts as the director of diversity for an international brand.
Doug Melville's website can be found at https://dougmelville.com/
He is on social media at https://twitter.com/dougmelville
Information on his book from Atria Publishing can be found at https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Invisible-Generals/Doug-Melville/9781668005132
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In 2021, there were 48,830 people in America who were killed by bullets fired from guns. Some of those deaths were purposeful, others accidental, and still others self-inflicted. The bullets were fired from a share of the 400 million guns owned by - or stolen from - Americans. In "Gun Country: Gun Capitalism, Culture and Control in Cold War America," Dr. Drew McKevitt argues that the choice to have that many guns is not so much determined by Constitution as it is the unavoidable consequence of politicians allowing a consumer culture, where guns are seen as a lifestyle product, to run relatively unfettered. Dr. McKevitt explores how capitalism following World War II allowed guns to be seen and sold as an accessory to everyday life, and how that culture brought deadly consequences to millions of people.
Drew McKevitt is on the website formerly known as Twitter at https://x.com/drewmckevitt
His website can be found at https://andrewcmckevitt.com/about/
Information on his book from The University of North Carolina Press can be found at https://uncpress.org/book/9781469677248/gun-country/
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The story of the Eisenhower, Kennedy and Johnson years is one of both incredible struggle and of triumph for the United States. Between 1952 and 1968, America saw pointed racism, political divisions grow, a president assassinated and a war start. But it also saw the end of official segregation, the proof that the world understood nuclear war was not an option, and an expansion of medical care and of fair housing. Dr. Richard Aldous argues that for twelve of those sixteen years, key presidential aide Douglas Dillon had such an impact, that it ought to be written about extensively in the history books. But he hasn’t been, at least until now. Listen as we discuss Dr. Aldous' book, "The Dillon Era."
Information on Dr. Aldous' book from McGill-Queen's University Press can be found at https://www.mqup.ca/the-dillon-era-products-9780228018872.php
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Diesel isn't just a type of fuel. It is the name of a man who was at the center of one of the biggest stories of intrigue in the early 1900s. Rudolf Diesel was a German entrepreneur who author Douglas Brunt says was the "Elon Musk" of his day. In 1913, Brunt's body was found floating in the English Channel. Did he die naturally, did he commit suicide, or was he murdered? Some suspected the latter, given he seemed to have several natural enemies who formed as he invented the most important fuel in world history. Though the initial investigation was botched, Doug has reconstructed what happened and offers an authoritative theory of how Rudolf Diesel lost his life. Diesel fuel is used worldwide to power all kinds of heavy machinery, and had the world listened to him, and developed and honed alternative fuels to gasoline, history would have gone much differently.
Douglas Brunt's website can be found at https://douglasbrunt-author.com/
Information on his book from Atria Books can be found at https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Mysterious-Case-of-Rudolf-Diesel/Douglas-Brunt/9781982169909
Brunt's podcast, "Dedicated" can be found at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dedicated-with-doug-brunt/id1650390838
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An early architect of what became the Underground Railroad was a former slave named Thomas Smallwood. Never heard of him? You're not alone. Former New York Times and Baltimore Sun correspondent and author Scott Shane wants to change that. His book, "Flee North: A Forgotten Hero and the Fight for Freedom in Slavery's Borderland," describes how Smallwood used his bravery and sharp wit to confound slaveowners nationwide. He may have been forgotten to history because his newspaper dispatches were written under a pseudonym, but his story, Shane says, must be told in order for slavery's full impact to be truly understood. Smallwood had to give up his efforts after he wound up in serious danger, but not before he saved dozens, if not hundreds of people, from a lifetime in bondage.
His website can be found at https://www.scottshane.org/
Scott Shane is on social media at https://twitter.com/scottshanenyt
Information on his book can be found at https://celadonbooks.com/authors/scott-shane/
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Jackie Kennedy's life has almost always been told through the lens of her husband and in-laws. But in, "Jackie: Public, Private, Secret," J. Randy Taraborrelli explains for the first time how her own family paved the way for her to break new ground as First Lady, craft her husband's legacy, enter publishing, and lead a life shrouded in as much notoriety as it had secrecy. He shows how she both preserved history and closely guarded her own, while living a complicated personal life. The author of five books on the Kennedys explains why it was time for Jackie to finally have her own story told that does justice to her public, private, and secret lives.
J. Randy Taraborrelli's website can be found at https://jrandytaraborrelli.com/
He is on social media at https://twitter.com/JRTaraborrelli
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As another baseball season winds down, check out this episode with historian Adam Lazarus, who shows us how Ted Williams was drafted into the military during the Korean War. The unexpected drafting of the baseball mega-star led to his friendship with John Glenn, who was looking for a partner with whom to take flight. Their friendship spanned many decades, and as Lazarus reveals, may have been one of the most amazing in American history. They had very different backgrounds, but as each became legends in their respective crafts, their friendship evolved in profound ways. Lazarus also explains how baseball is an essential part of American history.
Adam Lazarus' website can be found at https://www.adamlazarusbooks.com
He is on social media at https://twitter.com/lazarusa57
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From the illuminati to the freemasons to the Kennedy assassination, Dr. Colin Dickey shows how conspiracy theories and American government aren't running on parallel tracks. Rather, he argues in his new book, "Under the Eye of Power: How Fear of Secret Societies Shapes American Democracy," our system of government has always worked hand-in-hand with those who believe in the unprovable. From Bigfoot to UFOs to planted diseases, Dickey explains that our belief our government must always show its cards leads to the insistence that anything we want to believe in but can't explain must be the result of a deceitful government. Understanding that relationship, he argues, is the key to the future of our nation.
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Professor Paul Moses takes us on a tour of progressive-era New York City as he explores the life - and death - of famed detective Giuseppe Petrosino. He shows how a hit carried out in Italy in 1909 reverberated through the New York Police Department and led other Italian-American detectives to form the "Italian Squad," in an effort to not only snuff out organized crime, but to make life more rewarding for the tens of thousands of Italian immigrants who had recently moved to the United States. Moses, a veteran newspaper reporter and professor of journalism, also explains how crimefighting techniques developed in the early 20th Century became standard fare for contemporary detectives. We also discussed the strength of America's Italian community and how immigrants of all stripes have enriched life for all of us.
More information on his book from NYU Press can be found at https://nyupress.org/author/paul-moses/
Paul Moses is on social media at https://twitter.com/PaulBMoses
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Their friendship is considered one of the most important in American history. Professor Laurence Jurdem argues in "The Rough Rider and the Professor" that if Henry Cabot Lodge had not taken political upstart Teddy Roosevelt under his wing, it's unlikely he ever would have become president. Jurdem pored over thousands of letters between the two men, to find not only an intimate personal relationship, but an ongoing and riveting discussion of American politics. Jurdem shows how TR slowly and eventually outgrew their friendship when he became president, only to rediscover it after leaving office. The two men had different views, but were both fervent patriots who argued intently over the best courses of action on domestic and foreign policy. He also describes TR's unbeatable persona, and shows how even the most physically active president in American history found hours to write to his friend Lodge and consider his role in shaping American society.
Professor Jurdem's website can be found at https://laurencejurdem.com/
He is on Twitter at https://twitter.com/LJurdem
Information on his book from Simon & Schuster can be found at https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Rough-Rider-and-the-Professor/Laurence-Jurdem/9781639364411
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Far from being a historical asterisk, an accidental president, or a mere bridge between Nixon's failed presidency and the coming Reagan Revolution, Richard Norton Smith argues that Gerald Ford's life and administration must be understood in order to weigh the last decades of the 20th Century. From a broken home in Michigan to the world's most famous home in the nation's capital, the acclaimed presidential scholar explains how Ford drove the nation in a new direction. Smith argues that Ford's decisions on the legal fate of Richard Nixon, the economy and the role of government set the model for how presidents should govern. We also discussed what it was like for him to give one of the eulogies at Ford's funeral, and how he was able to keep enough scholarly distance from his topic in order to grade Ford fairly.
Richard Norton Smith's website can be found at https://richardnortonsmith.com/
Information on his book from HarperCollins can be found at https://www.harpercollins.com/products/an-ordinary-man-richard-norton-smith?variant=40629151367202
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At one point in American history, no woman had charged a "gentleman" with rape. That all changed when Lanah Sawyer, a seventeen-year-old seamstress was attacked by a member of New York City's high society. Against all odds - and expectations - Sawyer went to court against the rapist, twice, and forever changed the way the legal system would consider cases of sexual assault. John Wood Sweet describes how the sexual politics in Revolutionary-Era New York were turned upside-down by the brave teenager who refused to be silenced.
John Wood Sweet's website can be found at https://johnwoodsweet.com
Information on his book from Henry Holt and Co. can be found at https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250761972/thesewinggirlstale
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In Dr. Matthew Clavin's new book, "Symbols of Freedom: Slavery and Resistance Before the Civil War," he shows how slaves adopted America's signature documents, songs and rallying cries as their own. From the National Anthem, to July 4th, to the phrase, "Give me liberty or give me death," enslaved Americans seized on symbols some cited as evidence the nation's people were ordained to be free, and used them to fight for their own freedom. Clavin establishes a pattern in the historical record that shows how America's slaves exposed the quintessential contradiction built into our founding principles. During our discussion, he also explains how he teaches the history of resistance and how we can use lessons of early America to inform today's battle for a more just society.
Dr. Matthew Clavin's website is at https://uh.edu/class/history/faculty-and-staff/clavin_m/
Information on his book from NYU Press can be found at https://nyupress.org/9781479823246/symbols-of-freedom/
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In 1850, in exchange for allowing the potential of slavery in New Mexico and Utah, California was admitted to the Union as its 31st state. A free state. The land of beaches, beautiful scenery, bridges and Hollywood. But even to today, Dr. Pfaelzer argues California has not been fully free. While we may not imagine plantation slavery there the way we do in US southern states, Dr. Pfaelzer says there were still Black Americans forced to work in bondage. Slaves of other races and nationalities have also existed there. The indigenous, the Inuit, the Chinese, and even people from India. And indeed, she says, there are still people in California being trafficked to live as slaves. She explains how California's geography, weather and politics foster the conditions for human bondage. Dr. Pfaelzer argues there is a lesson in this book for everyone who wants America to become truly free.
Information on Dr. Pfaelzer's book can be found at: https://yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300211641/california-a-slave-state/
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In contemporary political discourse, the teachings of Martin Luther King Jr. have often been reduced to a snappy soundbite articulating his "Dream" of seeing his children judged, "not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character." In his new biography of King, Jonathan Eig uses tons of new sources, including memoirs and recordings from King's immediate family to paint perhaps the definitive portrait of the most storied Civil Rights leader of the 20th Century. He shows how King's upbringing led him to adopt religion in the cause of freedom. He also illustrates the side of his life that King tried to keep hidden, and shows how that impacted the way he fought for justice in American public life. Eig calls King one of America's Founding Fathers, and this episode will show you why.
Jonathan Eig's website can be found at https://www.jonathaneig.com
Information on his book can be found at https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374719678/kingalife
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The biggest-selling musical act of all time isn't necessarily well-known for the time they spent in Florida, but Bob Kealing says they should be. The Beatles stopped in Florida just after their world-changing appearance on the "Ed Sullivan Show," and were exposed to a magical side of America. The Beatles soaked up Miami's beaches, bikinis and sunshine, and spent more time in Florida than anywhere else during their first sojourn to the US. They would return several months later to play a show in Jacksonville, and wound up taking a stand that impacted the Civil Rights movement and the music industry forever. Bob is a foremost authority on Florida history, and paints a vivid picture of the Beatles in Florida, using an array of sources that only he could have cultivated.
Information on "Good Day Sunshine State" can be found at https://upf.com/book.asp?id=9780813068930
Bob Kealing is on social media at https://twitter.com/Bob_Kealing
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How did a suicide help lead to the downfall of one of the most corrupt government officials in American history? In his new book, "Crooked: The Roaring Twenties Tale of a Corrupt Attorney General, A Crusading Senator and the Birth of the American Political Scandal," Nathan Masters describes how Harry Daugherty went too far to protect his friends and the political power structure built by President Warren Harding. Masters argues that while Harding might not have been as corrupt as modern historians often say, his hands-off approach may have created the conditions for inevitable scandals. He features the story of a plucky senator named Burton Wheeler, who had the gall to go after the seemingly-untouchable attorney general. Masters also describes how the flawed media of the age contributed to the scandal, and why the name Harry Daugherty has been largely forgotten.
Nathan Master's website is at https://nathanmasters.me
Information on his book can be found at https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/nathan-masters/crooked/9780306826139/
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What do Marilyn Monroe, Superman and... Jules Schulback have him common? Helene Stapinski and Bonnie Siegler say Bonnie's grandfather and the two pop culture icons combine to tell an essential story of the 20th Century in the United States. Jules was walking in Manhattan when he happened upon Marilyn as she filmed the iconic scene for, "The Seven Year Itch." He used his film camera to capture what would become one of the most iconic images of the century, a film that was lost to history until Bonnie found the footage in a closet. After Stapinski wrote an article for the New York Times about how the footage was found after many decades, they discovered that Jules had been rescued by the publisher of the Superman comic series. They later teamed up to write, "The American Way: A True Story of Nazi Escape, Superman and Marilyn Monroe." During our interview, they explain the stories behind their main characters, and why they make for the perfect lens to view the twentieth century.
Helene Stapinski's website can be found at https://helenestapinski.com/
Bonnie Siegler's website can be found at http://www.8point5.com/
Information on their book can be found at https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-American-Way/Helene-Stapinski/9781982171667
The original article by Helene Stapkinski can be found here https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/13/nyregion/marilyn-monroe-skirt-blowing-new-york-film.html?searchResultPosition=1
Support our show at https://patreon.com/axelbankhistory
A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy
"Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at
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Famed television host Anthony Bourdain said, "Nothing is more political than food." In Alex Prud'homme's book, "Dinner with the President: Food, Politics and a History of Breaking Bread at the White House," shows how presidents and First Ladies have used food to craft public policy, play politics and even alter the course of the presidency. Prud'homme explains how even great presidents faltered when it came to who they invited to the White House for a meal, and how they used future meals to dig themselves out of the messes they made. From Jefferson's "Dinner Table Bargain," to Taft's steak obsession, to JFK's brainiac guests, to George W. Bush's ballpark dogs, to Donald Trump's Dominos, Prud'homme explains why you can't understand the presidency without understanding what they eat, who they eat it with, and why eating at the White House is about more than just a meal.
Alex Prud'homme's website can be found here https://alexprudhomme.com
He is on Twitter at https://twitter.com/APrudhommeWords
Information on his book can be found here https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/552098/dinner-with-the-president-by-alex-prudhomme/
Support our show at https://patreon.com/axelbankhistory
A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy
"Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at
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In, "Comet Madness: How the 1910 Return of Halley's Comet Almost Destroyed Civilization," Dr. Richard Goodrich shows how science and society collided in sometimes deadly fashion. He explores how the media and those eager to make a quick buck exacerbated fears over what would happen when the comet became visible from Earth's atmosphere. He explains how a society that was largely uneducated about the universe brought disastrous consequences on itself as people stopped paying their bills, tending their crops and destroyed lives, all because they didn't understand that Halley's comet was harmless.
Information on his book can be found at https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781633888562/Comet-Madness-How-the-1910-Return-of-Halley%27s-Comet-(Almost)-Destroyed-Civilization
His website is: https://www.richardjgoodrich.com/
He is on Twitter at https://twitter.com/rj_goodrich
Support our show at https://patreon.com/axelbankhistory
A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy
"Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at
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Every president, every leader, needs someone who they can trust. Who will tell them what is really happening, as opposed to telling them what they want to hear? In short, they need a confidante. Anna Rosenberg was one of the assistants whom FDR kept closest, not only in terms of policy, but as a friend. However, most biographies on FDR have largely ignored the role the high-ranking official played in helping to carry out the New Deal, win World War II and secure the peace afterwards. In this episode, high school history teacher Christopher Gorham explains how he stumbled on the story of Anna Rosenberg, and why so few contemporary biographers seem to have missed the influence of the first person to receive the presidential medal of freedom.
Information on Christopher's book can be found at https://www.christophercgorham.com
He is on social media at https://twitter.com/ccgorham
Support our show at https://patreon.com/axelbankhistory
A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy
"Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at
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Abraham Lincoln could never have become president if he didn't win over the stalwarts of his own party. But as the 1860 Republican convention neared, he was barely considered an also-ran. The conventional wisdom held that William H. Seward of Auburn, NY would become the nominee. But as big players in the new political party descended on Chicago, a bustling mid-western metropolis of business (and seedy behavior!), the brilliant political tactician unleashed a strategy that would not only make him the nominee, but would make him president during the most consequential period in American history. Achorn traces how Lincoln's right-hand-operatives stunned Chicago and changed America forever.
Ed Achorn's website can be found at https://edachorn.com
He is on social media at https://twitter.com/Ed_Achorn
Our episode with Ed on his book, "The Summer of Beer and Whiskey" can be found here https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/axelbank-reports-history-and-today/id1521053272?i=1000527947063
Our episode with Ed on his book, "Every Drop of Blood" can be found here https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/axelbank-reports-history-and-today/id1521053272?i=1000505150893
Support our show at https://patreon.com/axelbankhistory
A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy
"Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at
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One of the hallmarks of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s is that its leaders preached non-violence. Dr. Martin Luther King said non-violence is the "absolute commitment to the way of love." But by 1966, after several legislative victories that established the right to vote and banned discrimination in places of public accommodation, young Black activists became frustrated with the slow pace of success in changing the environment around jobs, housing, and seeing Black political candidates achieve victory. Mark Whitaker's book, "Saying it Loud: The Year the Black Power Movement Challenged the Civil Rights Movement," describes the successes and failures of the new approach to demanding equality. He chronicles the tribulations of Julian Bond, Stokely Carmichal and the founding of the Black Panther party. He also describes how their pushes changed American politics for generations, as they inadvertently gave rise to Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan. He also shows how activists not only changed politics, but culture around lingo, Black hairstyles and the way we discuss race in America.
Mark Whitaker is on Twitter at https://twitter.com/Marktwhitaker
Information on his book can be found at https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Saying-It-Loud/Mark-Whitaker/9781982114121
Support our show at https://patreon.com/axelbankhistory
A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy
"Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at
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When you vote for president, Gautam Mukunda says you are making the most important decision in the world. With the power presidents wield over the US and the world, picking the wrong person can bring disaster - or wonderful things - to billions of people. On this episode, Gautam Mukunda explains how we can spot candidates that will do well in office, and also ones who are likely to fail. His "filtered vs. unfiltered" test, he says, is a prescription for doing your duty, and doing it right. We walk through some of the history of good choices by the American people, some bad ones, and also how we could change the process to improve our chances of success. This former "Jeopardy!" champion also explained how he wound up on the show, and how an unusual resume led him to presidential history.
Gautam Mukunda's website is at https://www.gautammukunda.com/
Information on his coursework at Harvard can be found at https://www.hks.harvard.edu/about/gautam-mukunda
Information on Gautam Mukunda's book can be found at https://www.ucpress.edu/book/9780520379992/picking-presidents
Support our show at https://patreon.com/axelbankhistory
A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy
"Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at
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There are four women who shaped the 20th Century: Queen Elizabeth II, Jacqueline Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor. In the first biography of the hard-nosed, beautiful, iconic movie star that draws on Taylor's massive trove of personal correspondence and photographs, best-selling author Kate Andersen Brower explains how Taylor evolved from child star to storied activist. Brower interviewed her family members, friends, celebrities and assistants who provided the clearest picture yet of what drove Taylor to conquer the movie industry, search for true love and lend a powerful voice to the fight against AIDS. She also explains how Taylor handled money, fame and defeat, while never losing sight of her core values. We also chatted with Kate about an upcoming Netflix series that is based on her book on life in the White House, "The Residence."
Kate Andersen Brower's website can be found at https://www.katebrower.com
She is on social media at https://twitter.com/katebrower
Information on her book from Harper Collins can be found at https://www.harpercollins.com/products/elizabeth-taylor-kate-andersen-brower?variant=40262544228386
Support our show at https://patreon.com/axelbankhistory
A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy
"Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at
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One of the biggest myths in the history of human discovery is that the idea of a spherical earth is new. In fact, it is the opposite. The incorrect idea that the world is flat is what's new. In this discussion with Daily Beast reporter Kelly Weill, we discuss her book, "Off the Edge: Flat Earthers, Conspiracy Culture, and Why People Will Believe Anything." She explains how most of us have misconceptions about those who think the earth is a disc, and how those misconceptions can lead to missed opportunities to reign in dangerous conspiracy theories. She also explains how the idea of a flat earth was born in the 19th century and how conspiracy theories endanger those who believe in them, as well as everyone else. She shows how followers of flat earth ebbed and flowed, until Donald Trump took over the American presidency. Then, her reporting has found, belief in flat earth skyrocketed.
Information on her book from Workman Publishing can be found here https://www.workman.com/authors/kelly-weill
She is on social media at https://twitter.com/KELLYWEILL
Support our show at https://patreon.com/axelbankhistory
A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy
"Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at
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https://facebook.com/axelbankhistory
When a president dies, it often feels as though a piece of the nation is gone with them. Americans are often witness to days of memorial services, eulogies, processions and burial ceremonies. But as Dr. Lindsay Chervinsky and Dr. Matthew Costello argue in their co-edited book, "Mourning the Presidents: Loss and Legacy in American Culture," the way a president is mourned immediately after their death often evolves as their legacy in both policy and personality become more fully understood. As society and scholarship change, so do the reputations of those who held the nation's highest office. On this episode, Dr. Chervinsky discusses the burials and historiography behind presidents who left both giant footprints, but also those who are seldom discussed today. From Washington to Taylor to Lincoln to the Roosevelts, this is an episode chock-full of reflection on what presidential loss says about our culture.
Our previous episode with Dr. Chervinsky about her book, "The Cabinet," can be found here https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/axelbank-reports-history-and-today/id1521053272?i=1000494574017
Dr. Chervinsky's website can be found at https://lindsaychervinsky.com
She is on social media at https://twitter.com/lmchervinsky
Dr. Matthew Costello's website at the White House Historical Association can be found at https://www.whitehousehistory.org/staff/matthew-costello
Information on their book from the University of Virginia Press can be found at https://www.upress.virginia.edu/title/5740/
Support our show at https://patreon.com/axelbankhistory
A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy
"Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at
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For decades, it was a given in American news media and political leadership that those who held power, upon the selection of new leaders, would give up their positions. Until 2020, the American presidency had an unbroken string of over 225 years of transferring power peacefully. Despite personality or political party, the outgoing president always left the stage, to give way to a new person at the top. But in 2020, David Marchick watched, flabbergasted, as the work he tried to foster as a conduit between the outgoing Trump Administration and the incoming Biden Administration, was undone by the personality and power of one man. There was blood in America's sacred Capitol. We talked with seasoned political operative David Marchick about his new book, "The Peaceful Transfer of Power," about the oral history he has compiled, as well as advice he has to make sure what happened between the election of 2020 and Inauguration Day of 2021 never happens again.
Dean David Marchick is on social media at https://twitter.com/deanmarchick
His website at American University can be found at https://www.american.edu/profiles/staff/dmarchick.cfm
Information on his book from the University of Virginia Press can be found at https://www.upress.virginia.edu/title/5816/
Support our show at https://patreon.com/axelbankhistory
A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy
"Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at
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In "The Aftermath: The Last Days of the Baby Boom and the Future of Power in America," Washington Post correspondent Philip Bump explains how America's largest generation became America itself. Their considerable demands on schools, infrastructure, culture and communication defined the second half of the twentieth century, and set up a generational conflict with millennials. The data-driven journalist explains how the scale of America's population growth from 1946 to 1964 remade power and politics, and how long their influence will be felt. We also discussed his life as a national correspondent for a major newspaper and how writing a book is different from writing columns.
Philip Bump's website is at https://philipbump.com
He is on social media at https://twitter.com/pbump
His columns in the Washington Post can be found at https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/philip-bump/
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A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy
"Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at
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If you Google "Samuel Adams," the first result that pops up is about beer. Centuries after Thomas Jefferson called Adams, "the man" of the Revolution, Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer Stacy Schiff reclaims the history of perhaps the key force behind American independence. In "The Revolutionary: Samuel Adams," she explains how Adams built a shadow empire of propaganda and incitement after the British went too far in their demands of the colonies. We also discuss how the story of Samuel Adams has been largely forgotten, as men like Washington, Jefferson and his cousin, John, have taken a more leading role. And, we chatted about her legendary writing career and what project she might take on next!
Stacy Schiff's website can be found at https://stacyschiff.com
She is on social media at https://twitter.com/stacyschiff
Support our show at https://patreon.com/axelbankhistory
A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy
"Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at
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Until now, the story of Jews who served in the Civil War has been incomplete. Dr. Adam Mendelsohn's book aims to showcase their contributions and sacrifices while explaining how their time in the Civil War differed from that of other soldiers. From rations that were not kosher, to lack of opportunity to fully celebrate holidays, to relatively few comrades, it was not always easy for Jewish soldiers to practice their religion. He also shows how their views of race and slavery often depended on the side to which they pledged their allegiance. Mendelsohn also describes how the story of their service is still evolving, thanks to the work of scholars and archivists who are generating a database of every Jew who served and sacrificed.
Information on "Jewish Soldiers in the Civil War" can be found at https://nyupress.org/9781479812233/jewish-soldiers-in-the-civil-war/
Professor Mendelsohn's website can be found at https://humanities.uct.ac.za/department-historical-studies/people-academic-staff/associate-professor-adam-mendelsohn
The Shapell Roster of Jewish soldiers in the Civil War can be found at https://www.shapell.org/roster/
Support our show at https://patreon.com/axelbankhistory
A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy
"Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at
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Why does exercise come with an outfit, a soundtrack, a gimmick and a social media post? In her book, "Fit Nation: The Gains and Pains of America's Exercise Obsession," scholar and fitness coach Dr. Natalia Petrzela explains the history behind exercise, the inequalities the fitness industry has created, and how America has been shaped by the social pressure to work out. She also explains how her childhood fear of the gym turned into a lifelong pursuit to get fit and stay fit. Petrzela's book reveals how those who are considered "in-shape" went from cultural curiosity, to societal heroes.
Dr. Petrzela is on social media at https://twitter.com/nataliapetrzela
Her website can be found at https://nataliapetrzela.com
Support our show at https://patreon.com/axelbankhistory
A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy
"Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at
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Biographer Neal Gabler argues Ted Kennedy's life can be divided into two sections. The first is when Kennedy catches the tide of liberalism and used that momentum to advance liberal policy goals. And the second is when he pushes against the prevailing feeling that the government should no longer protect the New Deal as stringently as before. Gabler argues that Kennedy, despite his well-known personal shortcomings, understood the dire needs of Americans who were less-well-off than he, and that his fights for gay marriage, universal health insurance and against the Iraq War were parts of his effort to protect those in need.
Our discussion about vol. 1 of Neal’s biography of Ted Kennedy, “Catching the Wind,” can be found here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/axelbank-reports-history-and-today/id1521053272?i=1000502463586
More information on his book from Penguin Random House can be found here
Support our show at https://patreon.com/axelbankhistory
A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy
"Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at
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In this episode, historian Keri Leigh Merritt explores how a pandemic exacerbated simmering inequalities in American society to produce mass death at an unprecedented scale. The book she co-edited with Rhae Lynn Barnes and Yohuru Williams, "After Life: A Collective History of Loss and Redemption in Pandemic America," is a collection of essays where authors explore the damage that grief and fear had on our collective psyche. We discussed the impact that politics, race and class had on who died and on who was left behind.
Keri Leigh's website can be found at https://kerileighmerritt.com/
More information about "After Life" can be found at https://www.haymarketbooks.org/books/1927-after-life
Support our show at https://patreon.com/axelbankhistory
A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy
"Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at
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In his book, "The Year that Broke America," Andrew Rice doesn't just argue that the year 2000 changed things, he argued that it broke everything. From the presidential election, to the seeds of the 9/11 plot, to Elian Gonzalez to reality TV, he explains how a confluence of unfortunate incidents led America down a path from which it has never recovered. It's also easy to forget that Donald Trump waged a presidential run that year, a run that showed him how the country wasn't yet ready for his brand of politics. In sixteen years, it would be. Rice reconstructs how media, politics and violence became places to fight, as opposed to places to come together. We didn't get Y2K in the way we expected, but we did get permanent PTSD.
Andrew Rice's website can be found here
More information on his book from HarperCollins can be found here
Support our show at https://patreon.com/axelbankhistory
A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy
"Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at
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In this episode, Dr. Jeremi Suri explains how the Civil War was only the most violent part of the attempt to subvert American democracy by southern states. During the late 1860s until the 1890s, he explains how southern politicians, white supremacists and Confederate veterans stopped Black Americans from participating in public life. In his book, "Civil War by Other Means: America's Long and Unfinished Fight for Democracy," Suri shows how violence and political will destroyed the American creed of "one person, one vote." Suri also discusses how American democracy is facing echoes of those decades today, and what can be done to ensure our government is truly, "of the people."
Jeremi Suri's website is https://jeremisuri.net
More information on his book can be found at https://www.publicaffairsbooks.com/titles/jeremi-suri/civil-war-by-other-means/9781541758544/
Support our show at https://patreon.com/axelbankhistory
A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy
"Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at
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THE MMA GAME
THE MMA GAME featuring two counterrevolutionary fans in Cameron Roget and Ryan Cariss,...
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
There are few presidents as highly regarded and as misunderstood as John F. Kennedy. The horrific death of the 35th president froze him in time, allowing his legacy to be crafted by those who wished to see him lionized, while squeezing out the critique all presidents must face in order for the nation to learn from their successes and failures. In "Coming to Terms with John F. Kennedy," Dr. Stephen Knott explores his personal journey in understanding JFK, while also examining the most hotly-debated aspects of the Kennedy Administration, which lasted less than three years. From Civil Rights to Vietnam to Kennedy's personal life, Knott parses the myths to give us a more complete picture of one of the most complicated men to ever serve as America's chief executive.
Dr. Knott can be reached on social media at https://twitter.com/publius57
His website is https://www.stephenfknott.com/
More information on his book from University of Kansas Press can be found at https://kansaspress.ku.edu/9780700633654/coming-to-terms-with-john-f-kennedy/
Support our show at https://patreon.com/axelbankhistory
A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy
"Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at
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Human Insight Podcast
The Human Insight Podcast delivers advice, tips and trends shaping Customer Experience.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
The car is the ultimate two-sided coin. It takes you where you want to go, but it pollutes. You're outside, but trapped inside. It's easier than walking or biking, but MUCH more expensive. And the history of it is loaded with incredible technological advancements, but it brought mass death to our society. In his book, "The Car: The Machine that Made the Modern World," Bryan Appleyard explains the rise of the world's most useful machine, but also why it is doomed to fail. You'll never see your car, or anyone else's, the same way!
For more information on his book, check out https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Car/Bryan-Appleyard/9781639362301
He is on social media at https://twitter.com/BryanAppleyard
Support our show at https://patreon.com/axelbankhistory
A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy
"Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at
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The beginning of the movie "Lincoln" shows a horrific battle scene, where men in blue and gray are locked in hand to hand combat. There are fists, spears and guns. The division and the brutality are apparent, as soldiers discard the humanity of their opponents. Some of them died on the battlefield. We have certainly spent our fair share of time honoring the giants of the war itself. But in her book, "Healing a Divided Nation: How the American Civil War Revolutionized Medicine," Carole Adrienne celebrates the war's medical heroes. She explains that for the most part, the most dangerous aspect of being wounded came after you were carted away. More died from infection than from the battle itself. But, by the end of the War, there were major advancements in medicine and in procedure that still impact how medicine is practiced today.
For more information on Carole Adrienne's book, click here: http://pegasusbooks.com/books/healing-a-divided-nation-9781639361854-hardcover
She is on social media at https://twitter.com/civilwarrx
Support our show at https://patreon.com/axelbankhistory
A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy
"Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at
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The next time you watch a movie, give credit where credit is due. No, it wasn't Thomas Edison who invented movie cameras, it was a now-forgotten fellow named Louis Le Prince. Only two years after he designed his groundbreaking camera and filmed the "Roundhay Garden Scene" (which can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAiYFEHI9o8), he disappeared, leaving others to grapple for position in the new medium.
In our episode, we chatted with author Paul Fischer about his book, "The Man Who Invented Motion Pictures: A True Tale of Obsession, Murder and the Movies." He describes how Le Prince invented his miracle camera, and how history forgot him. Fischer also explains what Le Prince might think of today's movies, and what moviemakers could learn from Le Prince. Fischer also describes how his career has led him to different kinds of writing, and what his next movie-centric book project is!
Paul Fischer's website can be found at: https://www.paulfischerauthor.com
He is on social media at: https://twitter.com/tencents77
Support our show at https://patreon.com/axelbankhistory
A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy
"Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at
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Many attempts have been made to understand the insurrection at the Capitol Building. But to fully grasp what happened January 6th, 2021, to see how Donald Trump incited a mob that temporarily stopped the counting of electoral votes, chief New York Times White House correspondent Peter Baker argues we must grapple with all four years of the Trump administration. He and co-author Susan Glasser argue January 6th was inevitable. Baker describes how Trump used the power of his office to pit cabinet secretaries, advisors and even family members against one another, to the point where the entire government of the United States was at risk. During our conversation, he also pulled back the veil on what it is like to cover the White House, and what happens behind the scenes in one of the world's most important institutions.
More information on Peter Baker and Susan Glasser's book can be found at https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/80731/peter-baker/
Peter Baker can be found on social media at https://twitter.com/peterbakernyt
Susan Glasser can be found on social media at https://twitter.com/sbg1
Support our show at https://patreon.com/axelbankhistory
A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy
"Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at
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https://facebook.com/axelbankhistory
Spread Love FM
Spread Love FM great conversations with an eclectic mix of artists and neighbors alike!
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
We made it to a hundred episodes! Our celebration features a discussion between four hobbyists who have taken their passion for history to a whole new level.
Listen as host Evan Axelbank chats with Alicya Asai of the podcast "Civics and Coffee," Jeremy Anderberg of the newsletter "What to Read Next," and Steve Floyd of the website "Best Presidential Bios." We all explain why we love history and why we wanted to take our passion public!
“Axelbank Reports History and Today” could not have made it to this milestone without our listeners, Patrons, guests and their publishers. Thanks to each of you, and we will see you next week for episode #101!
Listen to Alycia Asai's "Civics and Coffee" at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/civics-coffee/id1527172324
Read Jeremy Anderberg's "What to Read Next" at https://readmorebooks.substack.com/
Peruse Steve Floyd's book reviews at https://bestpresidentialbios.com/
Support our show at https://patreon.com/axelbankhistory
A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy
"Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at
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The president of the United States stood at the podium, faced members of a Black church who had just lost nine parishioners in a racist attack, and offered comfort, not only with words, but with silence. After twelve seconds, Barack Obama sang the hymn that had been a comfort in moments of crisis for generations. Amazing Grace.
In his new book, "Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America," former White House Chief Speechwriter Cody Keenan recounts how he and the president collaborated on writing what would become the 44th president's most memorable speech. He describes how he worked with Obama to "find the silences," and how he spent several long days crafting the eulogy for Clementa Pinckney, Cynthia Hurd, Susie Jackson, Ethel Lance, Depayne Middleton-Doctor, Tywanza Sanders, Daniel Simmons, Sharonda Coleman-Singleton and Myra Thompson.
Cody is also filled with nuggets about what it was like to work closely with the president, and has numerous insights into how his mind worked. My favorite question: what were the two souvenirs he took from the White House after working there for eight years? (Hint: they weren't physical objects!) And wait until you hear how the speech lives on in the life of his family...
Keenan's website can be found at https://codykeenan.com
He is on social media at https://twitter.com/codykeenan
More information about his book, "Grace," can be found at https://www.harpercollins.com/products/grace-cody-keenan?variant=39970831597602
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Jackie Robinson's #42 is the only number retired across Major League Baseball, as his contributions to baseball and to American society can hardly be calculated. As Kostya Kennedy describes in his book, "True: The Four Seasons of Jackie Robinson," he became a hero to generations of Americans thanks to his stoic, determined and thoughtful approach to dealing with the horrors of racial injustice. Kostya chose four key "seasons" that defined Robinson's life both on the field and off, and describes them in vivid detail. Kostya also describes his encounters with Rachel Robinson, who has survived Jackie by five decades. For baseball fans, there are detailed analysis' of Jackie's swing, of the area around Ebbet's FIeld, and of some of the biggest plays in his career. For those who want to understand how one man can change so much, this episode is for you.
Kostya Kennedy's website can be found at: http://www.kostyakennedy.com/
He is on Twitter at https://twitter.com/kostyakennedy
More information about his book can be found at https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250274052/truethefourseasonsofjackierobinson
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On this episode, we talk with veteran journalist James Kirchick about his new book, "Secret City: The Hidden History of Gay Washington." He explains how government officials who were gay became the focus of investigations, campaigns to out them, and even lost everything. He shows how Washington attracted gay men and women who hoped to serve their country, but who found that it was both the most dangerous place for them to be, but in some ways, the most liberating. He organizes his book chronologically by president, so we also get a real sense of how different administrations reacted to the prospect that gay public servants were among them. Kirchick explains how that reveals their broader character. From FDR to JFK to Nixon to Reagan, this is a discussion that will pull the veil off an aspect of life in Washington that has seldom been reported. Sadly, we will never know how many patriots never shied away from serving their country over the fear that their deepest secret could be exposed.
James Kirchick has a website at https://jameskirchick.com
He is on social media at https://twitter.com/jkirchick
More information on his book from Henry Holt and Co. can be found at https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781627792332/secretcity
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In her new book, "When the Moon Turns to Blood: Lori Vallow, Chad Daybell and a Story of Murder, Wild Faith and End Times," Leah Sottile describes how a history of belief in the supernatural can be deadly. Although the story of how Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell allegedly killed their children is not too far into the past, the history of religion, missing children and deception are front and center in the tale Sottile tells. An independent investigative reporter, Leah explains how she discovered this story, how she reported on it, and why she felt the history behind Lori and Chad's lives must be understood by us all.
Her website can be found at https://www.leahsottile.com
She is on social media at https://twitter.com/Leah_Sottile
You can subscribe to her substack at https://leahsottile.substack.com
Information on her book can be found at https://www.twelvebooks.com/titles/leah-sottile/when-the-moon-turns-to-blood/9781538721353/
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In his book, "Rebels at Sea: Privateering in the American Revolution," Dr. Eric Jay Dolin explains how a previously unheralded force, independent boat captains, played a crucial role in helping the colonists win the Revolutionary War. He explains how they captured British ships, upset shipping routes, upset their financial system and contributed to their weariness in fighting the patriots. He also shows how fighting at sea changed the dynamic of politics in the continental congress and why understanding maritime fighting is essential to analyzing American conflict. Dr. Dolin's passion for the environment shines through in his writing, and he also provided a fascinating recap as to how he produced this book.
Dr. Dolin's website can be found at: https://www.ericjaydolin.com
Information on his book can be found at: https://wwnorton.com/books/9781631498251
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On all our gravestones, there will be a date of birth, a dash, and a date of death. The dash (-) will represent the entirety of our lives. In his new book, "It Was All a Dream: Biggie and the World that Made Him," Justin Tinsley argues that the life of Notorious BIG is important for every American to understand because "the world that made him" is the one that made all of us, but especially young, Black men. How did an exuberant drug dealer go from navigating the streets of Brooklyn to the top of the charts with seemingly blinding speed? How did his unforgettable lyrics and beats tell the story of a young man who had come so far, but who had a chip on his shoulder over how it all started? How did New York City of the 80s impact him, and how did he change the Big Apple forever? Tinsley answers all those questions, and shows us why the life of Christopher Wallace is just as important to understand as his untimely and sinister death. And yes, he tells the story of how, "Juicy," one of the greatest songs of the last fifty years, was created.
His website is https://www.justintinsley.com
For more information on his book, you can head to https://abramsbooks.com/product/it-was-all-a-dream_9781647001049/
His work at Andscape can be found at https://andscape.com/contributors/justin-tinsley/
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Who ARE the newsmakers who we see on TV or the web? What makes them tick? Who are they when they aren't running for office, starring in Hollywood or battling criminals in court? In this episode, we talk with legendary Boston anchor Natalie Jacobson about the technique she used to document Boston's newsmakers over her four-decade career as a journalist. She explains how she realized that it was just as important to visit with political bigwigs in their homes as it was to cover their policy proposals. Her memoir also describes how she went from the daughter of an immigrant family in Chicago to become one of the most-well-known people in one of America's most important cities. She also talks about the history of the news business and what its future may hold. While she became famous for her, "At Home," segments, during this episode, Natalie was the one answering the questions!
Information on her book can be found here: https://perpublisher.com/portfolio-item/every-life-a-story/
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It has become cliche to say that the roots of modern New York City can be found in the 1970s. But in his book, "Manhattan Phoenix: The Great Fire of 1835 and the Emergence of Modern New York," Daniel Levy argues that the leveling of 700 buildings in lower Manhattan is truly the key moment. The fire devastated lower Manhattan, left thousands homeless or out of work and exposed several ways New York was being held back from becoming great. From improvements in firefighting to a public water system, Levy argues that the time period before the Civil War should be remembered for how New Yorkers banded together to build their city into one that would become America's signature metropolis. We also discussed how fires and devastation have often set New Yorkers on the path to renewal, Levy's writing career, and how research can be a painstaking but worthwhile process.
Information on his book from Oxford University Press can be found here
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During the 2016 presidential election, we got an up-close look at how a foreign nation can influence domestic politics. US intelligence has found that Russia worked to spread disinformation, poison social media and steal documents. But that was not the first time America has been manipulated by a foreign power.
In the run up to World War I, Boston Globe "Spotlight" reporter Mark Arsenault explains how a reporter for a small newspaper broke numerous stories about supposed German efforts to meddle in American affairs. What readers didn't know is that Great Britain intelligence agents had planted the stories with the willing editor of the Providence Journal, John Rathom, to turn the Wilson Administration and the American people against Germany. Arsenault argues it was a critical piece in Wilson deciding to send American troops "to make the world safe for democracy."
Even more shocking though, is that in his book, "The Imposter's War: The Press, Propaganda, and the Newsman who Battled for the Minds of America," Arsenault argues that Rathom himself was a fraud. He shows how Rathom didn't just lie in his stories, that he was little more than a character Rathom himself cultivated to succeed in the newspaper industry. Arsenault also describes how Rathom was brought down by a young rising political master, Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
Arsenault's biography can be found here: https://www.bostonglobe.com/about/staff-list/staff/mark-arsenault/
He can be reached on social media at https://twitter.com/BostonGlobeMark
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Lynching is often and understandably thought of as a southern problem. But Philip Dray's new book, "A Lynching at Port Jervis: Race and Reckoning in the Gilded Age," explores the only lynching that occurred in New York State between 1882 and 1899. He explains why northerners must come to grips with not only the violent incident that happened in the "idyllic" Delaware Water Gap village of Port Jervis, but with the racism that permeated many of the states that were first to outlaw slavery. He explores what happened on June 2nd, 1892, and how the justice system reacted to it. He also shows how the small town has begun to confront their difficult history.
Information on Dray's book can be found at https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374194413/alynchingatportjervis
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What does it mean to be white in America? What does it mean to be Black? Is it merely the color of our skin? How does the history of how different races have been treated by the law and by fellow Americans weigh on those labels? What would it be like to straddle both worlds?
In "White Lies: The Double Life of Walter F. White and America's Darkest Secret," AJ Baime explains how an African-American man who looked white infiltrated the south to investigate lynchings and write reports for the NAACP. Baime explains how Walter White exposed the horrors of lynchings in a way no one else could, while also defining a new era of culture in New York City. Baime came of age as Jim Crow took hold, and sadly died before the Civil Rights movement would achieve its greatest legislative successes.
Baime also describes the emotional journey he traveled to write this book, and why he says it is time for him to take a break from non-fiction!
This is AJ's second appearance on our show. He joined us in the Fall of 2020 to discuss his book, "Dewey Defeats Truman." That episode can be found here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/axelbank-reports-history-and-today/id1521053272?i=1000495435095
AJ Baime's can be reached on social media at facebook.com/ajbaime
Information on his book can be found at https://www.harpercollins.com/products/white-lies-a-j-baime?variant=39935639453730
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Where do rights come from? Do they come from the Constitution? The Supreme Court? From God? The voting booth?
Bestselling author Dr. Kate Clifford Larson argues in her biography of Fannie Lou Hamer that rights also come from those willing to fight for them, from heroes who risk their lives while demanding the full promise of what America offers. Hamer was born a Mississippi sharecropper who would insist on the right to vote, speak at public hearings and - at times - face violence for her efforts. Dr. Larson traces the roots of Hamer's bravery, her beliefs and the moments where her life took drastic turns. Dr. Larson also describes the moments where this Civil Rights icon captured the nation's attention, to the point where even the President of the United States was forced to listen. We also spoke with Dr. Larson about the future of biography and what project she might consider next.
She is on social media at https://twitter.com/KCliffLarson
Her website is https://twitter.com/KCliffLarson
Information on her book can be found at https://global.oup.com/academic/product/walk-with-me-9780190096847?cc=ca⟨=en&
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Before the phrase, "the trial of the century," became a cliche, there was New England slave trader Joseph White and the greatest whodunit of the 19th Century. The wealthy, powerful and supremely disliked shipping magnate had apparently swam with too many sharks to escape justice forever. But who would go into a man's bedroom and kill him in his sleep? Edward Renehan's book, "Deliberate Evil: Nathaniel Hawthorne, Daniel Webster, and the 1830 Murder of a Salem Slave Trader," shows how the murder drew titans of history into what was already a famous, albeit small, town. He also explains how the trial and the coverage of it still echoes today, and why we should pay close attention to how the story faded from memory as key figures passed away. It's a story of mystery and power in a town that had already been shaped by one of the most famous events in American history.
Edward Renehan's website can be found at here
He is on social media here
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"To study history, you must study the historian."
Are the writers who make history also a part of history? Are the stories they tell what actually happened, or have we all been had? What motivates a historian to practice her craft?
In "Making History: Storytellers Who Shaped the Past," veteran writer and publisher Richard Cohen explains how the earliest historians built their narratives and distributed their work. He goes era by era, highlighting the most impactful non-fiction writers of all time like Thucydides, the authors of the Bible, Shakespeare, Julius Caesar and Ulysses Grant.
He also considers modern authors like Ibram Kendi and today's journalists. He explains how stories are found, told and most of all, how historians themselves shape them.
Information on Richard Cohen's book, "Making History," can be found here
He is on social media here
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The end of slavery came thanks - in part - to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Americans. At the Civil War's conclusion, the abolitionist movement had finally achieved its most sacred goal. But in, "The Republic of Violence: The Tormented Rise of Abolition in Andrew Jackson's America," JD Dickey argues that movement gained momentum decades before, during the 1830s, as abolitionists were violently confronted by the pro-slavery movement.
In both north and south, Dickey argues white supremacists stopped at nothing to prevent abolitionists from having their voices heard. He catalogues America's most violent period, with riots so commonplace, they seemed to blend into one another. He describes the lives of the abolition movement's foot soldiers and how they came to blows with followers of Andrew Jackson. Dickey argues Jackson deliberately inspired violence to tamp down those who argued America's slaves should be freed.
Dickey's website is jddickey.com
He is on social media at twitter.com/empire_of_mud
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In "Rough Diamond: The Life of Col. William Stephen Hamilton, Alexander Hamilton's Forgotten Son," A.K. Fielding explains why understanding his life is essential to understanding the first half of the nineteenth century. Though his dad gets the attention for being one of the most famous and influential people in American history, Fielding argues that by understanding the relatively "average" life of Hamilton's sixth child, we are able to grapple with migration patterns, the impact of the powerful on the powerless, the economy, and even how political forces changed between the Founding generation and the decade before the Civil War. Col. William Stephen Hamilton tried his hand at politics, the military and mining, before winding up in California during the Gold Rush.
We also spent a lot of time discussing her path to publishing this book, the challenges the publishing industry presents to independent historians, and the sexism she encountered while shopping her proposal. She also explains why art is the perfect side hobby for a historian.
Her website is trehanstreasures.com
She is on social media at twitter.com/akfielding
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Harry Truman took over the presidency during a sea-change in American history. Along with becoming the first nuclear power, the US was about to begin a massive relief effort in Europe and grapple with racial injustice. Though he left office with low marks, during the last several decades, Truman's handling of the many crises he inherited has been applauded more loudly. Jeffrey Frank's new book, "The Trials of Harry S. Truman: The Extraordinary Presidency of an Ordinary Man," explains how a seemingly simple midwesterner went from growing up on a farm to become president of the United States at the height of its power. During our episode, he explains what today's leaders could learn from him, as well as what the rest of us can learn about the importance of choosing responsible, humble leaders.
His website can be found at jeffreyfrank.com
He is on social media at twitter.com/jeffreyafrank
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There are few scenes as emotional as when someone gains their citizenship. They often take place after long, painful journeys that determine whether someone has a right to hold a job, live near family or vote. But as Professor Amanda Frost explains, it is emotional for an entirely different reason when someone loses their citizenship, or as she puts it, has their citizenship, "stripped.” She argues that it happens much more often than people realize, and documents in her book, "You Are Not American: Citizenship Stripping from Dred Scott to the Dreamers," that the fight to regain it is critical to understand. We also discussed the meaning of citizenship and the future of the battle to be considered fully American.
Her website can be found at amandafrost.me
She is on social media at twitter.com/amanda_frost1
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The story of the most famous shipwreck in history, the Titanic, is not complete without Bill Hazelgrove's book, "One Hundred and Sixty Minutes: The Race to Save the RMS Titanic." The basics of the crash into the iceberg are well known. The heart-wrenching details of the half-full lifeboats and the frigid waters are enough to make anyone feel for the victims and their families. But Hazelgrove explains how they all could have been saved, and the missteps that led the nearby boats to shy away from getting involved to save the doomed passengers. He also explains what a certain movie got right... and wrong... about the events on board. The story of the RMS Titanic has been irresistible for over a century, and finally, we have a full picture of why so many were doomed to an unnecessary death.
His website can be found at williamhazelgrove.com
He is on social media at twitter.com/rocketman46
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To understand how America became involved in World War I, we have to transport ourselves to a different America. Troops had never been sent overseas, progressivism was the primary political force and three presidents were battling to chart the nation's future. In Neil Lanctot's new book, "The Approaching Storm: Roosevelt, Wilson, Addams and their Clash Over America's Future," he explains how the life of Jane Addams intersected with that of Teddy Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson to bring the country's mindset from isolationist to interventionist. The decisions made during the run-up to American involvement in "The Great War," would pave world history for at least the next century. While many may be familiar with TR and Woodrow Wilson, Lanctot paints a vivid picture of Jane Addams, one of America's most prominent and accomplished peacemakers.
Lanctot's website can be found at neillanctot.com
More information on his book can be found at https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/539530/the-approaching-storm-by-neil-lanctot/
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What stories can comic strips tell in a way that nothing else can? Dr. Blake Scott Ball explains in his book, "Charlie Brown's America: The Popular Politics of Peanuts," how Charles Schultz famed comic strip not only reached Americans in a way few others have, but also told the country's story when his readers were least expecting it. Dr. Ball argues Schultz used Charlie Brown as a vehicle to take on the most sensitive topics of the second half of the twentieth century. From race, poverty, disease, war and mental health, Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy and Franklin were always there to make readers think while they were being entertained. We also chatted with Dr. Ball about his current study of Batman, and why super heroes still hold a place in our imagination.
Dr. Ball is on social media here
"Charlie Brown's America" is available from Oxford University Press here
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Tall tales are nothing new when it comes to family "history." Meriel Schindler's new book, "The Lost Cafe Schindler: One Family, Two Wars, and the Search for Truth," is her effort to determine the veracity of her dad's claims about their ancestors. Were the Schindlers really related to famed-Nazi foiler Oscar Schindler and a host of other artists, doctors and important people in western Europe? She focuses on a cafe her family owned in WWI-era Austria and finds it was the center of life in a lovely town before it was stolen from them. She uses a treasure trove of documents left behind by her father, and discovers how he stretched the truth in an effort to place his family in the center of the action during the most consequential period in world history. Not even writing a book could rectify her complicated feelings towards him.
Meriel Schindler is on social media here
Her website is here
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If you've been there, you'll never forget it. If you haven't, you probably want to go. But what makes Yellowstone National Park a destination in the first place? Dr. Megan Kate Nelson explores how one of America's crown jewels, the two million acres that make up the one-of-a-kind place, was preserved for all of us. In her new book, "Saving Yellowstone: Exploration and Preservation in Reconstruction America," she explains how the array of trees, geysers and animals was "discovered" by white men, and how the effort to keep Yellowstone as-is, intersects with Reconstruction-era politics, race and mystery. Contemporary Americans are used to Yellowstone as a hotspot for mystery, and the 1870s were no different. She also describes how Native peoples' were not able to share in the glory that Yellowstone would provide for so many. Spend an hour with us as one of America's most-brilliant nature historians takes us on a journey through the wildnerness, and explains how it's never far from any of us.
Dr. Nelson's website is megankatenelson.com
She is on social media at twitter.com/megankatenelson
Her book is available from Simon & Schuster at https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Saving-Yellowstone/Megan-Kate-Nelson/9781982141332
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With his shining red, white and gold getup, The King walks on stage and sings a rhyming but pathetic number about how the American colonies just don't realize how good they have it living as subjects of Great Britain.
"You'll be back, soon you'll see, you'll remember you belong to me... you'll remember that I served you well."
The audience of the show, "Hamilton," is left with the impression that King George III was a misinformed, bumbling, bozo of a king, who passively let anti-crown sentiment bubble up to the point of no return. But in his majestic biography, "The Last King of America," Dr. Andrew Roberts describes a very different man. Rather, our faulty impression of King George, the "tyrant," is rooted in American propaganda born of the 1770s, when antagonists like Thomas Paine and Thomas Jefferson needed a villain to rally support for The Cause. Dr. Roberts explains how King George III rose to power, presided over Britain's sizable empire, misread the situation in America, and then lost his mental faculties as he ceded the crown.
King George III reigned for decades, but went down in history as the last king of America.
Dr. Roberts' website is andrew-roberts.net
He is on social media at twitter.com/aroberts_andrew
His book is available from Penguin Random House at https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/612529/the-last-king-of-america-by-andrew-roberts/
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For this episode, lets look at slavery in another way. While we rightfully spend a lot of time on this show grappling with the impact of slavery both on the enslaved and on our society today, this week's show explores what it was like to be a free person of color in the South. Dr. Warren Milteer's book, "Beyond Slavery's Shadow: Free People of Color in the South," explains what it was like to live adjacent to those in bondage. He explains the threats they were under, how southern Blacks were used as political pawns, and how some cultivated success against long odds. Dr. Milteer also describes how his family lineage, which includes those who were enslaved and those who were free, inspired him to write this book. Towards the end of our episode, he discloses a piece of his family history that may be the most memorable personal story we have ever had on this show.
Dr. Milteer's website is warrenmilteer.com
His book is available from The University of North Carolina Press at https://uncpress.org/book/9781469664392/beyond-slaverys-shadow/
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For the last two years, we have gotten a lesson in how our world can be shaped by a disease. COVID-19 has changed our families, the economy, our social interaction and our psychology. Far from being a unique historical phenomenon, Dr. Kyle Harper argues disease and our efforts to steer clear of them are the central forces that have always shaped human history. He explains how diseases have defined our history, and until relatively recently, they were almost always able to overcome what people threw at them. He also explains how technology and disease work hand-in-hand to usher in a new era of viruses, but also advances in how we combat them. Still, they almost always win.
Kyle Harper is on social media at twitter.com/oklahomaharper
His website is kyleharper.net
"Plagues Upon the Earth" is available from Princeton University Press at https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691192123/plagues-upon-the-earth
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Who hasn't seen a spy movie that features a double agent who played their role so perfectly, even his best friends didn't know who he was working for? This is the real life story of how an MI6 agent played the role to a T.
Kim Philby was an MI6 agent during World War II, who took a young American, Jim Angleton, under his wing. Their friendship may have been real, but Philby's life was a sham.
Michael Holzman's book, "Spies and Traitors: Kim Philby, James Angleton and the Friendship and Betrayal That Would Shape MI6, the CIA and the Cold War," explains how Philby snookered the world's most storied intelligence services. and passed secrets to the Russians that endangered the colleagues he had worked with for so long. Angleton's own friend
Michael Holzman's page at Pegasus Books can be found at http://pegasusbooks.com/books/spies-and-traitors-9781643138077-hardcover
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When we pick up a book, what exactly are we holding? Is it a living document or etched in stone? How closely do the words on the page mirror what is in the author's head? Why have they lasted so long, and how much longer WILL they last? Dr. Leah Price is a book historian and on this episode, she answers those questions, and wrestles with whether an audiobook or a digital file can be considered a book. Where did books come from, and why have they always been so satisfying to talk about? Dr. Price argues they are very much alive, and explains why the predictions that books are near death - predictions that started eons ago - have always been wrong.
Dr. Price is on social media at twitter.com/leahatwhatprice
Her website is leahprice.org
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Are you excited for big holiday gatherings where lots of politics are being discussed? No? Well Dr. Peter Coleman of Columbia University has just the solution for ending our polarized political culture, both at home and in the real world. His book, "The Way Out: How to Overcome Toxic Polarization," offers numerous ways to approach our daily lives, the news, social media and our relationships to tone down the emotion and boost the parts of our brain that foster logical thinking. He also explains why we stick with the sides we like, and are seldom able to see another perspective. Ironically, he says the moment we are in, where accusations are flying that one group or another is leading America to the brink, offers hope that change is upon us.
We are taking a few weeks off for the holidays. Our next episode will go live Jan 4th. Please have a wonderful and safe new year. I am forever grateful to every single listener. See you in a few weeks.
Dr. Coleman is on social media at twitter.com/petertcoleman1
His website is thewayoutofpolarization.com
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Twenty years after the worst terrorist attacks in US history, we speak with Peter Bergen, one of the foremost authorities on the threat the United States faces from fundamentalists. Bergen is a journalist for CNN who has interviewed Osama bin Laden and has now written a biography that catalogues "The Rise and Fall" of the terrorist who spearheaded the 9/11 attacks. Bergen argues that bin Laden's turn to terrorism was not pre-ordained, and that key events like the death of his father and the opportunity to wage war against the Soviets drove the rigorous practitioner of Islam to adopt violence in hopes of influencing the United States to give up its presence in Saudi Arabia and the Holy Land. Bergen describes what it was like to interview bin Laden in Afghanistan in 1997 and to tour bin Laden's compound in Pakistan after he finally faced punishment for the deaths of thousands of people across the world.
Bergen's website can be found at peterbergen.com
He is on social media at www.twitter.com/peterbergencnn
His book was published by Simon and Schuster and can be found here at https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Rise-and-Fall-of-Osama-bin-Laden/Peter-L-Bergen/9781982170523
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A bunch of women line up wearing next-to-nothing in hopes of impressing a batch of strangers who are grading them on everything from the way they look to the way they think. The woman with the highest score gets to be called, "Miss America," and wears a crown - and the title - for the rest of her life. The history behind that process, and how it became a cultural icon is as fascinating as it is filled with twists and turns. In this episode, Amy Argetsinger from the Washington Post drops by to chat about her new book, "There She Was: The Secret History of Miss America." She explains how the women who get to be called, "Miss America" are the ones who saved the pageant from ruin as it endured America's various awakenings, including, racial, feminism and the, "Me Too," movement. To understand "Miss America" is to understand America.
Amy Argetsinger is on social media at twitter.com/amyargetsinger
Her website is amyargetsinger.com
Her Washington Post page is at https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/amy-argetsinger/
The book is available from Simon and Schuster at https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/There-She-Was/Amy-Argetsinger/9781982123390
Support our show at patreon.com/axelbankhistory
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Will an American president take orders from the Pope? As the devoutly catholic Joe Biden ran for president, he faced no such question. But sixty years before, when John F. Kennedy was running, it was not only a question, but a controversy. Listen to our episode with historian of religion in America, Dr. Patrick Lacroix, as he explains how JFK not only grappled with how to handle the question, but how his presidency helped quell those questions once and for all, at least for catholics. He also explains JFK's religious influences and gauges whether his lifestyle matched with religious teachings. JFK's presidency is incomplete in many ways, and Dr. Lacroix argues, the study of it has been as well. He explains why so many historians missed the impact JFK had on American life when viewed through the transformation of catholicism during his brief tenure in office.
Dr. Patrick Lacroix is on social media at twitter.com/querythepast
His website is querythepast.com
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That she came to within 537 votes of becoming Second Lady of the United States has been well documented, but Hadassah Lieberman says it's time for her to tell the story of the rest of her life. Listen in as she explains what it was like to be born into a family of those who survived the Holocaust, and those who did not. After immigrating to the United States when she was under a year old, the awful events of the 1940s gave way to a lifetime of hard work and of hope that those who come to America will get the same chance to live a successful life. She explains how difficulties in her personal life didn't stop her from building a large, loving family that played a critical role in our politics for several decades. She explains the emotional moments she had on the senate floor for the first time, when she finally found some measure of retribution for what her ancestors had been through.
Information on Hadassah Lieberman's book can be found at the website for the Brandeis University Press
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There are few periods in American history that offered more hope than Reconstruction. There are also few periods that left behind such devastation. On this episode, we talk with University of Maryland Distinguished Professor Dr. Robert Levine about his book, "The Failed Promise: Reconstruction, Frederick Douglass and the Impeachment of Andrew Johnson." He explains how Andrew Johnson went from a figure of hope to a villain of America's attempt at a rebirth. Dr. Levine explains how his roots as a poor southern racist - who happened to speak out against slavery - led him to become Abraham Lincoln's successor. Johnson quickly disappointed advocates for Black enfranchisement like Frederick Douglass, which helped leave behind over a century of racial discord. Combined with white supremacist terrorism, we discuss how America again failed to deliver on its founding promise, that "All men are created equal."
Dr. Levine's website can be found at blog.umd.edu/robert-s-levine/
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One of America's most prominent historians, Joseph J. Ellis, joins us to discuss his new book, "The Cause: The American Revolution and its Discontents." The author of the 2002 Pulitzer Prize-winning, "Founding Brothers," focuses this time on how the Revolution was viewed by Black Americans, slaves, Natives and women as the colonists waged war in hopes of scurrying the British out of America. Is America's dual failure to banish slavery and find peace with Native Americans a Greek tragedy or a Shakespearean one? In other words, would better leadership have led to different outcomes?
He also discusses if the strength of the Revolution built on the energy of those at the bottom of the political and social ladders, or at the top? He also explains the roots of the myths that surround the Revolution, and why many persist. He also argues that the roots of America's penchant for conspiracy theory and suspicion of Federal power are found in the country's earliest days.
Joseph Ellis has a website at josephellishistorian.com
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When women got the right to vote in 1920, the hope was that equal rights would be a natural byproduct. But in her book, "Gendered Citizenship: The Original Conflict over the Equal Rights Amendment, 1920-1963," Dr. Rebecca DeWolf explains how the ensuing fight for the Equal Rights Amendment left advocates frustrated, and women still clamoring for the right to earn a living, live independently, own a home and achieve political power. She explains how the first battles were waged through the court system, political process and in public opinion. How did those resisting the ERA find success, in the face of equal rights icons who wanted a constitutional amendment ratified right away? She explains the inspiring and heartbreaking stories of advocates, who to this day, are still hoping to see their hopes written on the Constitution's sacred parchment.
Rebecca DeWolf is on Twitter at twitter.com/outofthetowerh
Her website is rebeccadewolf.com
Her book is published by University of Nebraska Press and can be found at nebraskapress.unl.edu/nebraska/9781496215567/
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Hardly a day goes by when the President of the United States isn't a topic of conversation. From TV and Twitter to baseball games and surprise breakfast stops, the person sitting in the nation's highest office has the power to get attention almost no matter what they're doing. And increasingly so, they have made an effort to use their platform to drive politics, policy and power in the United States. In their book, "The Ubiquitous Presidency: Presidential Communication and Digital Democracy in Tumultuous Times," Drs. Joshua Scacco and Kevin Coe trace the history of the presidential platform, and how presidents came to realize they weren't just in the news, that it was to their advantage to BE the news. They describe how Bill Clinton's saxophone, Barack Obama's test drive with Jerry Seinfeld and Donald Trump's rallies formed a new force in American politics, that of the president who is everywhere.
Joshua Scacco is on Twitter at twitter.com/joshscacco
Kevine Coe is on Twitter at twitter.com/profkevincoe
Their book is published by Oxford University Press: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-ubiquitous-presidency-9780197520642?cc=ca⟨=en&#.YBBJWjERYhM.twitter
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The President of the United States had been preparing for the moment for months, to claim he had won an election he actually lost. Early in the morning of November 4th, Donald Trump took to the TV cameras at the White House and said that despite early projections that Joe Biden had a chance to pull ahead in key states, he had indeed won reelection. With the now-famous phrase, "Frankly, we did win this election," Trump became the first president in history to claim that he had been victimized by fraudulent votes and tabulations. As soon as Wall Street Journal White House correspondent Michael Bender heard those words, he knew it had at least an outside chance of becoming the title of his account of the 2020 campaign.
Bender's book, "Frankly, We Did Win This Election: The Inside Story of How Trump Lost," describes behind-the-scenes moments as the president goes from seeming to have an advantage in the 2020 race to again playing catch-up. Bender describes Trump's responses to a global pandemic, the death of George Floyd, social justice marches and to fighting for his own life. Unlike the 2016 election, when much seemed to go Donald Trump's way, 2020 sees almost every political hit come against him. Bender also recaps the surreal experience of being summoned to the White House for a one-on-one interview with the president.
Michael Bender is on Twitter at twitter.com/michaelcbender
His book is published by Twelve Books: https://www.twelvebooks.com/titles/michael-c-bender/frankly-we-did-win-this-election/9781538734803/
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How did Barack Obama shatter the quintessential barrier in American politics? Once he became the first Black president, did he help lower racial animosity, or did his presence incite an even-worse divide?
In his new book, "The Black President: Hope and Fury in the Age of Obama," Dr. Claude Clegg explores how the 44th president left his mark on those of different races, along with the obstacles that sprouted to block his path.
He is the only American president who could have created certain moments of healing, like when a young boy felt the president's hair, to see if it felt like his own. Or when he sang "Amazing Grace" during the eulogy for those killed in a racist attack.
But he is also the only to ever be questioned on the most basic credential for high office: whether he was actually an American.
Follow along as Dr. Clegg explores not only Obama's mixed background, but the complicated legacy his president left behind.
Claude Clegg is on social media at twitter.com/claudeclegg
His website is claudeclegg.com
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Listen as we tag along with Providence Journal reporter Amy Russo as she takes us on a history of America's First Ladies, as told in her book, "Women of the White House: The Illustrated Story of the First Ladies of the United States of America." She explains how visual representations have become so important in how we understand our first families, and how vital the role of First Lady has been to the presidency and American culture. She also explains how the role has taken on added meaning given Dr. Jill Biden is the first to carry a full time job during her time as First Lady. Russo shows how from Martha Washington to Sarah Polk to Mary Todd to Betty Ford, to understand America, you must know our First Ladies.
Amy Russo is on Twitter at twitter.com/amymrusso
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On this episode, we talk with longtime writer, journalist and professor Robert Strauss about his new book, "John Marshall: The Final Founder." Strauss argues that America's fourth chief justice, John Marshall, deserves to be on a short list with Benjamin Franklin and George Washington as the nation's most important founders. Strauss explains how Marshall made the Federal court system worthwhile, and how the Founding Era wasn't over until Marshall's imprint was felt everywhere. Strauss also uses Marshall's life to explore how history is passed down, and how we can consume it to make our nation stronger. Strauss says Marshall played important roles in many of America's key moments in its first half-century. His life, Strauss says, is the vehicle by which we can understand how America solidified itself as a nation.
He is available on social media at twitter.com/rsstrauss
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We are back!
Enjoy our first episode of the Fall as we talk with longtime journalist Ken Ellingwood about his new book, "First to Fall: Elijah Lovejoy and the Fight for a Free Press in the Age of Slavery." Lovejoy was an ardent abolitionist who used his mighty pen to demand an end to America's "original sin." Elllingwood's biography brings Lovejoy scholarship into the modern era with a vivid description of how Lovejoy, an up-and-coming newspaper publisher in the 1830s, battled terrorists who not only made him a target, but his sacred printing press. Indeed, he dies in a hail of gunfire trying to protect it, along with what he saw as his absolute right to utilize America's First Amendment. Ellingwood traces Lovejoy's abolitionist roots to religion and to our founding documents, that indeed call for free expression.
Freedom of the press isn't free. Lovejoy's story proves sometimes, it's deadly.
Ken Ellingwood is on Twitter at twitter.com/KenEllingwood
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Hello folks - Just letting you know that our show is taking a hiatus until Labor Day. It's for the best possible reason: my family has been blessed with a new baby. I am trying to spend as much time with my wife and daughter as we adjust to our new lives, so our next episode won't go live until September 7th. We already have several tapings scheduled and new books on the way. So hang tight, we will see you soon.
Please be safe and healthy.
***Also, for you Patreon subscribers, please know that I have frozen your accounts, so you won't be charged until we start back up again in September. One thing that won't be changing?
A big portion of your contributions will go towards a charity for children's literacy!
See you September 7th!
What's better than having a beer at a ballpark on a beautiful Sunday afternoon? Check out this episode with Pulitzer Prize Finalist Edward Achorn, as he explains the life of Chris von Der Ahe, the baseball owner who made that feeling possible. Achorn's book, "The Summer of Beer and Whiskey: How Brewers, Barkeeps, Rowdies, Immigrants, and a Wild Pennant Fight Made Baseball America's Game," explains how the summer of 1883 became the pivotal one in baseball history. Beforehand, he says baseball was a highbrow, humble and subdued affair. But after Chris von Der Ahe bought the St. Louis Browns, and he decided to sell beer and play on Sundays, baseball became acceptable to legions of baseball fans yearning to party while they watched America's Pastime. He also explains how von Der Ahe transformed Sportsman's Park into the model for how stadiums would be built. 1883 was also a time of social change, as Jim Crow took hold and baseball became further segregated. The Browns were truly on the cusp of a new era, led by a micromanaging but perceptive owner who paved the way for them to become the team we know as the Cardinals today.
Check out Ed Achorn's website at edachorn.com
He can be found on Twitter at twitter.com/ed_achorn
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We are all familiar with images of the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s: fire hoses, the Edmund Pettus Bridge, of Martin Luther King exclaiming, "I have a dream." Ultimately, that Civil Rights Movement led to advances like the order to desegregate schools, the Civil Rights Act, and the Voting Rights Act. But that was not the first time Black Americans demanded equality.
Dr. Kate Masur's book, "Until Justice Be Done: America's First Civil Rights Movement, From the Revolution to Reconstruction," explains how movements started to demand the end of Ohio's Black Codes, to reform voting rights and to ban the forced registration of those who were Black. Of course, there was also an organized effort to abolish slavery, and Masur expertly shows how the two movements were eventually inseparable. She also shows how the Reconstruction amendments were finally agreed to, and how for at least a few moments, America was made more whole.
Kate Masur is on Twitter at twitter.com/katemasur
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New York is so nice, they named it twice.
So why did Thomas Dyja give the title of his forty-year history of the Big Apple THREE “New Yorks? “
On this episode, he takes us on a journey through the last forty years of NYC's triumphs, troubles, discord and devastation. Starting in the fires of the late 1970s, he explains how Ed Koch's "I love New York" became a mantra the city eventually lived up to. He explores how both racial discord and dropping crime under David Dinkins fueled Rudy Giuliani's administration and completed New York's epic comeback, while still foreshadowing division the entire nation would grapple with decades later. Then, he takes us through 9/11 and explains how it was the first time the city truly grieved as one. He explains how Bloomberg's New York brought unparalleled wealth, yet left millions behind.
Finally, we asked the question most New Yorkers think they already know the answer to: Is New York the greatest city in the world?
"New York, New York, New York: Four Decades of Success, Excess and Transformation" is a can't-miss for anyone who loves the Big Apple, or the rich history of how America's trademark city remains the beacon of hope... or of heartbreak.
Thomas Dyja's website is thomasdyja.com
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On this episode, we talk with Dr. Heather Cox Richardson, the author of the wildly popular "Letters from an American: A Newsletter About the History Behind Today's Politics," which is seen by over a million people every night. We not only discuss history, but why it is important to be historically literate as we try to understand what has become a firehose of news. She explains how she writes her daily "Letters" and why the project has gone on for much longer than she first predicted. Dr. Richardson explains why she believes understanding the history of American democracy is the key to saving it, and how today's battle over the right to vote echoes previous instances in American history when the system was "blinking red." We also discuss how she hopes her letters will inform future generations about, "The Greatest Story Ever Told," which is how she describes the effort by Donald Trump to win reelection and then keep power despite losing.
Dr. Richardson's newsletter can be found at: heathercoxrichardson.substack.com
Her Facebook page is at: facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson
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Presidential marriages are subjects of intense fascination. How do they impact political history? Government policy? Is a scandal brewing? When it comes to Abraham Lincoln to Mary Todd, Dr. Michael Burlingame - one of America's most prolific Lincoln scholars - argues their marriage is ripe for answers to all three questions.
Listen as we discuss his new book, "An American Marriage: The Untold Story of Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd," and how their relationship changed both people, as well as how it shaped American history. Burlingame describes both characters at being inept at love, but for different reasons. Lincoln lost his mother, Mary Todd needed the love her father never provided. Despite physical and emotional abuse, the Lincoln marriage forged his political career, and helped meet her lifelong goal of becoming First Lady of the United States. Indeed, it is a story unlike any other.
Dr. Burlingame's website is michaelburlingame.com
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On this episode, we talk with Dr. Serena Zabin about her groundbreaking book, "The Boston Massacre: A Family History." She explains why we have misunderstood the landmark event in America's founding as a battle between two sides. Rather, she argues, the Boston Massacre was an intimate moment among members of a community. Revolutionary-era Boston was a place where intermingling was unavoidable and where colonists, British soldiers and the enslaved were swept into a tide of events that led to commotion, and ultimately, death. She also helps us explore how Paul Revere made sure to use the media to stoke the embers they would eventually lead to revolution. She even tells us which single piece of evidence would help us even more-fully understand how the massacre happened!
Dr. Zabin is available on social media at twitter.com/serenazabin
Her website is serenazabin.com
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Philadelphia is where America made its sacred pledge that "all men are created equal." Though there are many ways that pledge has not been fulfilled, one of the most striking came in Philadelphia, seventy years after the Declaration of Independence was signed. Dr. Zachary Schrag's book, "The Fires of Philadelphia: Citizen-Soldiers, Nativists, and the 1844 Riots Over the Soul of the Nation" explains how the city containing Independence Hall became a hotbed of ethnic violence. Nativists did everything they could to run Catholics out of the city. The age-old question, "What does it mean to be an American" was at the forefront as they battled over the right to worship, public opinion and prayer in school. Schrag describes riots, church burnings and how a band of soldiers fought for the country's future as a place of acceptance.
Zachary Schrag is on social media at twitter.com/zacharyschrag
His website is zacharyschrag.com
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Extra! Extra! Read all about it!! Baruch professor Dr. Vincent DiGirolamo is here to talk about his fascinating book, "Crying the News: A History of America's Newsboys." He explains how they became an integral part of American life, journalism and of the history of labor. The boys had to be industrious and competitive, eager but wary of those hoping to abuse them. They slept in newspaper offices, battled for turf and even blazed a trail for those hoping to make more money for their hard work. Though their reign has largely come to an end, Dr. DiGirolamo argues their presence is felt across in American life. We can learn a lot about the journalism of today by understanding the way newspapers were distributed even a century ago!
Vincent DiGirolamo is on social media at twitter.com/vincentdigirol3
His website is vincentdigirolamo.com
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Martin Luther King Jr. was sitting in jail, and the presidential campaigns of John Kennedy and Richard Nixon had no idea what - if anything - to do about it. Paul and Stephen Kendrick's new book, "Nine Days: The Race to Save Martin Luther King Jr's Life and Win the 1960 Election," explains how that moment became a watershed. Black voters in southern states had voted Republican, and Richard Nixon boasted of the better connection with some of the most prominent African Americans in the country. But the Kennedy campaign understood that the working class appeal of the Democratic Party could be harnessed to win critical votes in states with large Black populations.
Yet, working to get Martin Luther King out of jail was a risk. Both candidates were worried about appearing to go too far in cultivating the support of Black voters, because it could turn off white voters in the south. Indeed, after days of agonizing debate, the Kennedy campaign decided he should call Coretta Scott King and offer support, while also working behind the scenes to free the future Civil Rights icon.
Kendrick recounts the 1960 campaign's critical moment, one that would set the tone for politics for the next two generations... and counting.
Paul Kendrick is on social media at twitter.com/paulkendrick84
His website is paulkendrick.com
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They were "Bonnie and Clyde" before Bonnie and Clyde was a thing.
We talk with prolific author Glenn Stout about his new book, "Tiger Girl and the Candy Kid: America's Original Gangster Couple. Richard and Margaret Whittemore came of age as jazz was taking over America, and they set themselves on taking diamonds. Stout explains how pop culture of the Roaring 20s created the Whittmore's organized crime ring, and how the young lovers then became part of that very culture. His beautiful and fast-paced book describes how Richard became infatuated with crime, and how Margaret became infatuated not only with pulling off a heist, but with the life of having lots of money. They leave behind mayhem, death and plenty of newspaper clippings. In doing so, they created a new genre of Hollywood character: the young lovers who love life on the edge, and each other.
The life of crime doesn't end particularly well for Richard, but Stout's book shows how an imprint can last for generations.
Glenn Stout can be found on Twitter at twitter.com/glennstout
His website is glennstout.com
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For this week's episode, we are delighted to welcome one of America's most important scholars, Annette Gordon-Reed. Her Pulitzer Prize-winning book, "The Hemingses of Monticello," explores the lives of Sally Hemings, Thomas Jefferson, and how their secret union defines America.
We spoke with the professor about her new book, "On Juneteenth," which is a reflection on her upbringing in Texas and how the sacred holiday was first celebrated in Galveston. From the moment on June 19th, 1865, when slavery was announced as extinct - to both cheers and disgust - Professor Gordon-Reed takes us on a journey through the holiday's evolution and how it guided her inspiration to become a historian. She also explains how recognizing the day as a Federal holiday would reshape the conversation around race. Juneteenth was - and is - an emotional day, one that calls for reflection and celebration. Who better to have that conversation with than Annette Gordon-Reed?
Professor Gordon-Reed can be found on social media at twitter.com/agordonreed
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In his book, "Trouble in the Tribe: The American Jewish Conflict Over Israel," Dr. Dov Waxman explains how criticizing Israel is no longer the third rail of being an American Jew. At one time, criticizing Israel was off limits, seen as essential to preserving the nation that was seen as a refuge for a group of people who were perennially under siege. Today, there is no conflict that divides American Jews more than Israel itself, and perhaps no bigger foreign policy debate in the United States. Professor Waxman explains how and why attitudes towards Israel shifted among American Jews, and whether it is supportive of Israel to critique Israel. Can one support Israel while criticizing the actions the Israeli government takes? How about questioning American support for Israel?
He explores how Israel came to be seen as a "real country with real problems," and how American Jews debate how Israel should approach their conflicts with people of the Palestinian territory, with the Iranian government and with America itself. He also explains how the solid foundation American Jews find themselves on domestically give room for critique of the Israeli government.
Dr. Waxman is available on Twitter at twitter.com/dovwaxman
He is the chair of Israel studies at UCLA which can be found at international.ucla.edu/israel
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Learn about the Civil War from a whole new perspective. Dr. Megan Kate Nelson explains why you can't fully understand America's pivotal moment without grasping the role the West played in both the Union and Confederate sides. Her book, "The Three Cornered War: The Union, the Confederacy and Native Peoples in the Fight for the West," explores how the West became critical not only in the strategy of the war, but in the imagination of Washington and Richmond. She describes how Native peoples, Mexicans, anglos and African Americans collided on lands that now make up Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona and Utah as they sought to keep control of critical routes to California and Oregon. Their fight for gold, shipping and the future of slavery became all-important in securing the future of the continent, and the diverse peoples who live here.
Dr. Nelson is available on Twitter at twitter.com/megankatenelson
Her website is megankatenelson.com
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We talk with Jamal Greene about his book, "How Rights Went Wrong: Why Our Obsession with Rights is Tearing America Apart." He explains how courts have allowed disputes over rights to become zero-sum games that make future compromise impossible. Because of poorly-reasoned court decisions, where the content of the dispute is ignored in favor of literal readings of law, Professor Greene argues fights over abortion, education, homosexuality and guns have left each side to consider the other unworthy of existence. Whether its freedom of speech on campus or the right to purchase a cake for an LGBT wedding - or the right to refuse to bake it - Greene explains how both liberals and conservatives have been made to feel unwelcome in America.
Jamal Greene is available on Twitter at twitter.com/jamalgreene
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Obamacare was THE political war of the last generation. Huffington Post reporter and longtime health care journalist Jonathan Cohn explains why that war happened and how it tore our nation apart. His new book, "The Ten Year War: Obamacare and the Unfinished Crusade for Universal Coverage," explains how then-President Obama decided to go for it, and how the opposition to it coalesced. But was it centered on dislike of the law, or dislike for the driving force behind it? Barack Obama wound up accepting the moniker "Obamacare" as if to turn the fight over it on its head, and eventually, the opposition realized they had miscalculated greatly. Obamacare was among the chief reasons Democrats lost the House in 2010, and why they took it back in 20-18. Cohn also describes the key moment of John McCain dashing the final attempt to put a nail in the law's coffin. To understand America, we must understand the fight for universal coverage, how Obamacare became a compromise push, and the fight it then spawned.
Jonathan Cohn is available on Twitter at twitter.com/citizencohn
His writing can be found at huffingtonpost.com
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We talk with Dr. David Head about his book, "A Crisis of Peace: George Washington, the Newburgh Conspiracy, and the Fate of the American Revolution." Much like today, Revolutionary America was awash in conspiracy theories. As the War came to an end, fears of a coup rose as soldiers upset over their lack of pay seemed to be on the verge of taking drastic action. Head describes how Washington's masterful political skills calmed tensions and helped avoid a disastrous rift between the rank-and-file and top officers. Head has his own perspective on whether there actually WAS a conspiracy, but he also explains how leaders of today must address misinformation in the age of social media. George Washington, he says, would be a good role model!
David Head is available on Twitter at twitter.com/davidheadphd
His website is davidheadhistory.com
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Come on an adventure! We talk with author Julia Cooke about her book, "Come Fly the World: The Jet-Age Story of the Women of Pan Am." She describes the lives of stewardesses - to use the vernacular of the day - as they embark on a career that gave them limitless opportunity to see the world. But they also endure endless sexism and are well aware that their opportunities will be limited to the role they signed on for. They become symbolic of the airline itself as they take part in the sexual revolution, the Vietnam War and the explosion of scientific know-how. Their stories of adventure are personal and transfixing as they took the opportunity to see more of the world than their parents could have ever imagined. Cooke explains how America's signature airline grew, how it failed, and how it left a mark on our perception of what flying used to be.
Julia Cooke is available on Twitter at twitter.com/juliaccooke
Her website is comeflytheworld.com
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We speak with Dr. Eric Rauchway about his book, "Winter War: Hoover, Roosevelt and the First Clash Over the New Deal." American history is filled with turning points: Obama to Trump, Clinton to Bush, Carter to Reagan, Eisenhower to Kennedy. But Rauchway argues few compare to the transition from Hoover to FDR. In 1932, America was embroiled in the Great Depression and watching the rise of fascism abroad. After Hoover became a Lame Duck, Rauchway argues the outgoing president did his best to fend off what he predicted would be an assault on conservatism. FDR not only succeeds in laying the groundwork for his programs, but eventually reshapes the role of government in American life for the next ninety years. FDR wins the Winter War, and Rauchway argues, the grand prize of American history.
Rauchway is available on Twitter at twitter.com/rauchway
His website is history.ucdavis.edu/people/rauchway
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In this episode, we talk with Cathryn Prince, the author of, "Queen of the Mountaineers: The Trailblazing Life of Fanny Bullock Workman." Workman was a record-setting mountain-climber who set records as well as she advocated for women's rights. She became famous for her rivalry with a fellow female climber, and for advocating for the right to vote. Prince explains how the feminist spent her life learning to climb mountains in less-than-ideal situations... and outfits! Born in the late 1850s, she did not have North Face jackets and industrialized climbing clips to help pave the way. She details Workman's near-death experiences, as well as her trips around the world where she immersed herself in culture, people and the environment. Workman's life is the perfect inspirational story for all who strive to be great at what they do.
Prince is available on Twitter twitter.com/cathrynprince
Her website is cathrynjprince.com
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We speak with Dr. Kyle Riismandel about his book, "Neighborhood of Fear: The Suburban Crisis in American Culture, 1975-2001." Suburbia is billed as the safe, quiet place to raise a family. But the New Jersey Institute of Technology profess argues that during the 70s and 80s, they became rife with social disfunction. Fear was the dominant factor as relatively wealthy neighborhoods wielded political power to try to maintain safety residents had been seeking. As fear of kidnappings, shootings, teenagers and drugs overwhelmed tree-lined streets and comfortable homes, suburbia became an unwittingly dangerous place. He also explains how suburbia's strength is impacting today's politics and social movements and what it all means for the future of the American Dream.
Dr. Riismandel is available on Twitter at twitter.com/accusedwizard
His website is kyleriismandel.com
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We speak with Dr. Wendy Lower about her new book, "The Ravine: A Family, a Photograph, a Holocaust Massacre Revealed." She explains how she found the rare photograph of a Jewish family in the act of being killed during the Holocaust, and how she tried to track down everyone and everything captured in the scene. Most don't realize that while photo documentation of what happened in the Holocaust is extensive - especially upon liberation of the death camps - there are very few photos of the awful deeds taking place. That was by design, as Hitler's army knew photos could slow down their efforts at extermination. Dr. Lower takes us on a journey to Ukraine and into the archives to bring justice to those captured in the horrifying scene.
To see the picture this book is based on, please click here: https://twitter.com/axelbankhistory/status/1361573761468805121?s=21
Dr. Lower's website at Claremont McKenna College is here: https://cmc.edu/academic/faculty/profile/wendy-lower
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We talk with Dr. William Sturkey about his incredible study, "Hattiesburg: An American City in Black and White." His book explores how the history of Hattiesburg, MS, is critical to understanding America's history of racism and white supremacy. He also explains how conflict and reconciliation in Hattiesburg foreshadowed today's battle for racial justice. Hattiesburg was founded as Reconstruction is failing, and becomes a place where whites and Blacks collide in the push and pull over the right to live safely and prosperously. He describes why Hattiesburg never attained the same prominence of other small cities in the south, like Birmingham or Montgomery. Sadly, in plumbing the public archives of Hattiesburg, he discovers that African Americans were often erased from history. But his illustration of the family of Turner and Mamie Smith is unforgettable as they strive to be free of the strains of white supremacy.
Dr. Sturkey, a professor at the University of North Carolina, is available on social media at twitter.com/william_sturkey
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We promise this won't be a podcast about nothing!
Join us, as we talk with Jennifer Armstrong, the author of the New York Times Bestseller, "Seinfeldia: How a Show About Nothing Changed Everything." Jennifer explains how Jerry Seinfeld created "Seinfeld," and how the brilliant Larry David created a world inside of a world inside of a world! She explains why "Seinfeldia" is actually a place, a place where we can explore the "gaps in society," as Seinfeld once put it. How much do you tip a chambermaid? Who withdraws from a mutually agreed upon party if there's a breakup? Who is spongeworthy? Should you ever park in a space for those who are handicapped?
She explains how the show was created and how it reshaped all of our minds in the process!! Do our top-five episodes jive with yours?
Armstrong's website is jenniferkarmstrong.com
Her Twitter page can be found at twitter.com/jmkarmstrong
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We talk with Richard Bell about his prizewinning book, "Stolen: Five Free Boys Kidnapped Into Slavery and Their Astonishing Odyssey Home." It explains how five boys in Philadelphia were abducted by slave smugglers and taken to the Deep South, away from their families, and forced into slavery. Bell writes not only about their horrific journey, but about how they were the lucky few who ever made it back to freedom. Their families and their community never stopped thinking about and fighting for them, while their case became a flashpoint for further division in America's violent and heartbreaking path to the Civil War. Professor Bell teaches at the University of Maryland.
His website is richard-bell.com
He is available on Twitter at twitter.com/r_j_bell
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As America watches the inauguration of the 46th president, we talk with presidential historian Kate Anderson Brower about her book, "The Residence: Inside the Private World of The White House." After Donald Trump vacates the White House, but before the Bidens arrive, an incredible symphony will be going on in the West Wing. Members of the permanent White House staff will be removing the Trumps' belongings and installing the Bidens' personal effects. Everything from the Oval Office to the president's bedroom will be outfitted to the exact specifications of Joe and Jill Biden, from pens to toothbrushes. Her book looks at the hidden history of the incredible staff, including butlers, florists, chefs and anyone else who makes the White House a home office. They also take care of perhaps America's most precious building, filled with irreplaceable artifacts.
Also, the book has been optioned to Netflix!
This is Kate's second appearance on our show. She was our first guest, where she discussed her book, "Team of Five: The President's Club in the Age of Trump." Listen to that episode here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/axelbank-reports-history-and-today/id1521053272?i=1000479907036
Her website is katebrower.com
She is available on Twitter at twitter.com/katebrower
She has a new book for children on The White House which is available here: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780062906410
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We talk with Pulitzer Prize finalist Edward Achorn about his book, "Every Drop of Blood: The Momentous Second Inauguration of Abraham Lincoln." He explains how Lincoln sought to bind the nation's wounds after the bloodiest years in its history. Lincoln's unique ability to understand both politics and public sentiment allowed him to write and deliver one of the greatest speeches in American history. Not only did Lincoln use beautiful language, but he made it clear that the war had been fought over slavery. Yet he didn't "spike the football" in a way that would make it more difficult to heal. Achorn also shows how John Wilkes Booth became further radicalized in his quest to avenge the south's defeat.
Achorn's website can be found at edachorn.com
He is available on twitter at twitter.com/Ed_Achorn
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We talk with noted author Matthew Algeo about his book, "The President is a Sick Man: Wherein the Supposedly Virtuous Grover Cleveland Survives A Secret Surgery At Sea and Villifies The Courageous Newspaperman Who Dared Expose the Truth." In what has to be considered one of the biggest scandals in presidential history, Grover Cleveland and a batch of physicians stole away from the White House and boarded a yacht, where the president then endured a surgery to remove cancer from the roof of his mouth. The cigar-chomping, former Buffalo pub-hound then ordered the surgery hidden from the public to protect his political standing. His aides then blackballed a reporter who broke the story, only to admit he was right years later. Algeo explains why it's always important for the public to be kept abreast of the president's health, and why aggressive journalism has never been more important.
Algeo's website can be found at malgeo.net
He is available on twitter at twitter.com/malgeo
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One of America's most formidable historians, Harold Holzer, discusses his newest book, "The Presidents vs. The Press: The Endless Battle Between the White House and the Media, from the Founding Fathers to Fake News." He explains how presidents from Washington to Trump have not only been disappointed in the coverage they get, but in how they tried to squash stories they didn't like. He explains how even America's greatest presidents went out of their way to discredit and even suppress fair coverage, and also how the media fought back, and at times, beat presidential corruption. Holzer's specialty is Lincoln, but this book shows how every administration has looked after their public image, and how a few presidents used new kinds of media to bend history in their direction.
Holzer's website can be found at haroldholzer.com. He is available on Twitter at twitter.com/haroldholzer
Axelbank Reports History and Today is available on Twitter and Instagram @axelbankhistory
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We talk with A'Lelia Bundles, the author of, "On Her Own Ground: The Life and Times of Madam CJ Walker." Her biography of her own great-great grandmother explains how Madam CJ Walker became the first female self-made millionaire in the United States. Battling both racism and sexism, Walker became a giant of American business through her perseverance and ingenuity. Bundles explains how Walker, a daughter of slaves, became a genius of marketing, while also protesting across the country for social justice. Bundles also explains why she felt called to write this book, which has been made into a Netflix series, "Self Made," starring Octavia Spencer.
Bundles' website is aleliabundles.com
Axelbank Reports History and Today is available on Twitter and Instagram @axelbankhistory
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We talk with Neal Gabler about his book, "Catching the Wind: Edward Kennedy and the Liberal Hour, 1932-1975." Neal explains how Ted Kennedy's beginnings were different from his famed brothers, partly because their personalities were different, but also because they grew up during different times altogether. He explains how one of the most effective and longest-serving senators of all time started in politics, but also how the politics of the moment shaped him. In this first of two volumes, Gabler describes how Kennedy "rode the wind" of an America dominated by liberal political thought. Kennedy's efforts were shaped by a big-hearted America, and aimed at helping those who needed help because, as Gabler says, it was the right thing to do. Neal's second volume will be released next year, which is titled, "Against the Wind." He has already promised to join us for a discussion on that book!
His website at Penguin Random House is: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/9528/neal-gabler/
Axelbank Reports History and Today is available on Twitter and Instagram @axelbankhistory
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We talk with counterintelligence expert Catherine Grace Katz about her book, "The Daughters of Yalta: The Churchills, Roosevelts and Harrimans: A Story of Love and War." She explains how what some call, "The Most Important Meeting of All Time," featured not just Franklin Roosevelt, Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin, but also the daughters of FDR, Churchill and Averell Harriman. They brought them to Crimea not for sightseeing, but for their expertise and companionship. Katz explains how the three accomplished women were indispensable to their fathers, and thus, to world history. She says it's time for all of us to reexamine the role of women in history, especially through the lens of what these women accomplished during the conference. The stories of their political insight and helping hands are being told for the first time in Katz's book.
Catherine Grace Katz is available on Twitter @catherine_katz
Her website is catherinegracekatz.com
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We talk with prominent historian and political commentator Jonathan Alter about his new biography of Jimmy Carter, "His Very Best." Alter explains why it's time to reassess Carter's presidency, in that it's political difficulties should not mar its long-term policy gains. From the 1978 Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty, to the environment, to human rights to normalizing relations with China, Alter argues that the caricature of Carter as a failure is too simple. Alter also describes how the 39th president revolutionized the office, both by elevating the role of First Lady to policy advisor, and by giving the vice president a role to play in major policy decisions. Alter also describes how Carter's personality, upbringing and approach to the job impacted how the White House operated. In the end, though Carter was swamped by events in Iran, the energy crisis and Ronald Reagan, Alter says Carter belongs on the list of impactful presidents.
His Twitter profile can be found @jonathanalter and his website is jonathanalter.com
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We talk with Dr. Erika Lee about her book, "America for Americans: A History of Xenophobia in the United States." Some say America is a place for anyone and everyone. We learn in elementary school that America was started by people seeking a new life, where they could have religious freedom, that it is a place that accepts, "poor, huddled masses."
But at the same time, there is talk of border security, of legal immigrants, of undocumented immigrants, of which countries we should accept immigrants from. Along with talk, there are also actions. Over the course of American history, we have seen the Chinese, the Japanese, people from majority-muslim countries, Jews and Catholics and just about everyone else, questioned about whether they belong.
This episode wrestles with the question: Why does America continually ask, "who belongs?"
Dr. Lee is available on Twitter @prof_erikalee and her website is erikalee.org.
Axelbank Reports History and Today is available on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @axelbankhistory
We do want to invite listeners to our Patreon page, to ask for your support in keeping the show going, which is www.patreon.com/axelbankhistory
This episode is the perfect companion to Barack Obama's new autobiography, "A Promised Land."
We talk with one of America's greatest writers, David Maraniss, about his stunning biography of Barack Obama. "The Story," explores not only Obama's early years, but his background that makes him the quintessential American. Maraniss argues that Obama's upbringing left him yearning for stability and for an answer to the question: Who am I?
His biography traces both sides of Obama's family. How did a suicide in a Topeka garage lead the Dunhams on a westward journey that would eventually take them all the way to Hawaii? How did Barack Obama's dad wind up there at the same time his mother, Stanley Ann Dunham, was studying there? Why is there a slab of concrete near Barack Obama's high school with the word, "OBAMA" etched in it? Maraniss also explains the future president's journeys to Jakarta and Kenya. To understand Obama is to understand the remarkable, against-all-odds journey he has been on.
Maraniss is available on Twitter @davidmaraniss. His website is davidmaraniss.com.
Axelbank Reports History and Today is available on Twitter and Instagram @axelbankhistory
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We talk with prolific sportswriter Wayne Coffey about his book, "They Said It Couldn't Be Done: The '69 Mets, New York City, and the Most Astounding Season in Baseball History." The longtime New York Daily News writer explains how the Mets shocked the world during a time of social upheaval and scientific discovery. The Mets went from worst-to-first just as the United States blasted off for the moon and found itself buried in the quagmire of Vietnam. Their hometown was going through tremendous difficulties as well, which is why it was the perfect time for the loveable losers to become the Amazin' Mets. Coffey describes how The Franchise, Tom Seaver, and one of the greatest managers in baseball history, Gil Hodges, changed baseball forever. Through the many magical moments like Tom Seaver's near-perfect game, a spooky black cat and miraculous World Series plays, the story of the '69 Mets is one for lovers of baseball, history and ripping-good yarns.
Coffey can be reached on Twitter @wrcoffey and his website is waynecoffeyauthor.com
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In this episode, we talk with Dr. Matt Grossmann, the author of, "Red State Blues: How the Conservative Revolution Stalled in the States." He is a political scientist and contributor to fivethirtyeight.com, so he is perfect to dissect the results of the presidential election and our increasingly fractured and contentious political landscape. What is causing our divisions? Why do things feel so hopeless? What are the impacts of our increased polarization and second-by-second media environment? Why is counting the votes taking so long? Is it healthy for supporters of both major parties to walk away unsatisfied?
Grossman is a professor of political science at Michigan State University, and can be reached at twitter.com/mattgrossmann or his website, which is mattg.org. He is the host of the podcast, "Science of Politics."
Axelbank Reports History and Today is available on Twitter and Instagram @axelbankhistory
We do want to invite listeners to our Patreon page, to ask for your support in keeping the show going, which is www.patreon.com/axelbankhistory.
We do not accept contributions over $5 and any monthly amount we raise over $31 - which is the exact cost to produce the show - is given to charity.
On the sixth and final episode in our series on the presidency, University of Texas professor Dr. Jeremi Suri discusses his book, "The Impossible Presidency: The Rise and Fall of America's Highest Office." He explains how the position was created, and how early occupants unwittingly set precedents that would lead to the job of president becoming too big to succeed. He explains how the slew of presidential responsibilities, from domestic and foreign policy, the economy, acting as the head of party, the voice of the people and the commander-in-chief of a gigantic military has weighed down presidents to the point where they're essentially overwhelmed. He also explains how the American people should adjust their expectations of the president, and how the contours of the job can be changed to make it possible to succeed.
Dr. Suri can be reached on Twitter @JeremiSuri
His podcast, "This is Democracy" can be found @https://podcasts.la.utexas.edu/this-is-democracy
Axelbank Reports History and Today is available on Twitter and Instagram @axelbankhistory
Here is a schedule of release dates for episodes as part of our series on the presidency:
***September 29th: James Poniewozik - "Audience of One: Donald Trump, Television and the Fracturing of America"
***September 29th: Steven Levingston - "Barack and Joe: The Making of an Extraordinary Partnership"
***October 6th: Stephen Knott - "The Lost Soul of the American Presidency: The Decline into Demagoguery and the Prospects for Renewal"
***October 13th: Lindsay Chervinsky - "The Cabinet: George Washington and the Creation of an American Institution"
***October 20th: A.J. Baime - "Dewey Defeats Truman: The 1948 Election and the Battle for America's Soul"
***October 27th: Jeremi Suri - "The Impossible Presidency: The Rise and Fall of America's Highest Office"
We do want to invite listeners to our Patreon page, to ask for your support in keeping the show going, which is www.patreon.com/axelbankhistory.
We do not accept contributions over $5 and any monthly amount we raise over $31 - which is the exact cost to produce the show - is given to charity.
Our fifth episode in our series on the presidency features A.J. Baime and his book, "Dewey Defeats Truman: The 1948 Election and the Battle for America's Soul." Baime explains how President Truman revived his political fortunes with the most aggressive campaign in American history. He embarks on a "Whistlestop Tour" pledging to visit every county in the country. The "common man" president insists that victory is inevitable, even though the newspaper pundits considered him a goner. Baime describes Truman's personal strength in willing himself back into contention, as he argues in favor of Civil Rights, the recognition of Israel, and pledges to fight for everyday people. Especially in an era where COVID has precluded traditional campaigning, Truman's inspirational story is a reminder that politics is about people.
AJ Baime is available on social media @facebook/AJBaime
Axelbank Reports History and Today is available on Twitter and Instagram @axelbankhistory
Here is a schedule of release dates for episodes as part of our series on the presidency:
***September 29th: James Poniewozik - "Audience of One: Donald Trump, Television and the Fracturing of America"
***September 29th: Steven Levingston - "Barack and Joe: The Making of an Extraordinary Partnership"
***October 6th: Stephen Knott - "The Lost Soul of the American Presidency: The Decline into Demagoguery and the Prospects for Renewal"
***October 13th: Lindsay Chervinsky - "The Cabinet: George Washington and the Creation of an American Institution"
***October 20th: A.J. Baime - "Dewey Defeats Truman: The 1948 Election and the Battle for America's Soul"
***October 27th: Jeremi Suri - "The Impossible Presidency: The Rise and Fall of America's Highest Office"
We do want to invite listeners to our Patreon page, to ask for your support in keeping the show going, which is www.patreon.com/axelbankhistory.
We do not accept contributions over $5 and any monthly amount we raise over $31 - which is the exact cost to produce the show - is given to charity.
In this special episode, we speak with one of history's most prolific podcasters, "Professor Buzzkill."
Without a doubt, he is among the most listened-to history podcasters on the World Wide Web. His show influences all of us who have taken to this medium to discuss history.
We asked each other ten questions about our shows, history, podcasting technique and our favorite books.
His show is available at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/professor-buzzkill/id980285277?mt=2
His website is professorbuzzkill.com
He is available on Twitter at twitter.com/buzzkillprof
He is available on Facebook at facebook.com/buzzkillprof
Axelbank Reports History and Today is available on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @axelbankhistory
We do want to invite listeners to our Patreon page, to ask for your support in keeping the show going, which is www.patreon.com/axelbankhistory
Our fourth episode in our series on the presidency is with Dr. Lindsay Chervinsky, the author of, "The Cabinet: George Washington and the Creation of an American Institution."
Her book explains how early political battles led George Washington to create the cabinet as a board of advisors representing each of the Federal departments. She argues that although the cabinet itself is not explicitly called for in the Constitution, that George Washington recognized how important it was to soothe discord in the early republic. She explains how Washington ran his cabinet meetings, how the various secretaries battled, and how his management style lent itself to debate. She also explains how the modern cabinet could better serve the American citizens, the president and how George Washington's legacy is felt in this most-important tool in presidential authority. Dr. Chervinsky also explains how she would re-design the Washington Monument!
Dr. Chervinsky is reachable on Twitter @lmchervinsky
Her podcast, "The Past, The Promise, The Presidency" can be found at https://open.spotify.com/show/1CyEYg0713v7FdYfC2mOKh
Axelbank Reports History and Today is available on Twitter and Instagram @axelbankhistory
Here is a schedule of release dates for episodes as part of our series on the presidency:
***September 29th: James Poniewozik - "Audience of One: Donald Trump, Television and the Fracturing of America"
***September 29th: Steven Levingston - "Barack and Joe: The Making of an Extraordinary Partnership"
***October 6th: Stephen Knott - "The Lost Soul of the American Presidency: The Decline into Demagoguery and the Prospects for Renewal"
***October 13th: Lindsay Chervinsky - "The Cabinet: George Washington and the Creation of an American Institution"
***October 20th: A.J. Baime - "Dewey Defeats Truman: The 1948 Election and the Battle for America's Soul"
***October 27th: Jeremi Suri - "The Impossible Presidency: The Rise and Fall of America's Highest Office"
We do want to invite listeners to our Patreon page, to ask for your support in keeping the show going, which is www.patreon.com/axelbankhistory.
We do not accept contributions over $5 and any monthly amount we raise over $31 - which is the exact cost to produce the show - is given to charity.
Our third episode in our series on the presidency is with Dr. Stephen Knott, the author of, "The Lost Soul of the American Presidency: The Decline Into Demagoguery and the Prospects for Renewal."
His book explains how presidents have promised too much in an effort to "stir the passions" of the American people. He argues that lofty rhetoric, while great at helping candidates win votes, is seldom matched by actual accomplishment. Dr. Knott explains that demagogues lead to a "tyranny of the majority," which is mostly good for bragging rights, but leaves the American people angry at their government. Dr. Knott argues that the downfall begins with Thomas Jefferson, accelerates under Andrew Jackson, and that it becomes an art form in the 20th Century, to a point where Donald Trump can take power in the 21st. While, yes, he is critical of President Trump, he leaves no stone unturned in describing how even our most revered presidents, from FDR to Reagan, to modern ones like Clinton, Bush and Obama, did not help turn the downfall around.
Dr. Knott is reachable on Twitter @publius57
Axelbank Reports History and Today is available on Twitter and Instagram @axelbankhistory
Here is a schedule of release dates for episodes as part of our series on the presidency:
***September 29th: James Poniewozik - "Audience of One: Donald Trump, Television and the Fracturing of America"
***September 29th: Steven Levingston - "Barack and Joe: The Making of an Extraordinary Partnership"
***October 6th: Stephen Knott - "The Lost Soul of the American Presidency: The Decline into Demagoguery and the Prospects for Renewal"
***October 13th: Lindsay Chervinsky - "The Cabinet: George Washington and the Creation of an American Institution"
***October 20th: A.J. Baime - "Dewey Defeats Truman: The 1948 Election and the Battle for America's Soul"
***October 27th: Jeremi Suri - "The Impossible Presidency: The Rise and Fall of America's Highest Office"
We do want to invite listeners to our Patreon page, to ask for your support in keeping the show going, which is www.patreon.com/axelbankhistory.
We do not accept contributions over $5 and any monthly amount we raise over $31 - which is the exact cost to produce the show - is given to charity.
Our series on the presidency begins with two biographical episodes of the major-party candidates.
For our episode on Joe Biden, we interviewed Steven Levingston, the author of, "Barack and Joe."
As opposed to analyzing every step of his political career, Levingston's book examined Biden through his relationship with the man who selected him to be vice president in 2008. Levingston explains how they go from being very different types of senators (one young and reserved, the other older and loquacious), to rivals in the presidential race, to forming a careful friendship and then forming a bond that both have called familial. What does his relationship with President Obama reveal about his character and his approach to governing? How did viral pictures and videos impact the perception of their partnership?Levingston explores Biden's wounds and how Obama helped him through unimaginable loss. He also discusses what type of president Biden would be and his lifelong battle to attain America's highest office.
Steven Levingston is available on Twitter @SteveLevingston
Axelbank Reports History and Today is available on Twitter and Instagram @axelbankhistory
Here is a schedule of release dates for episodes as part of our series on the presidency:
***September 29th: James Poniewozik - "Audience of One: Donald Trump, Television and the Fracturing of America"
***September 29th: Steven Levingston - "Barack and Joe: The Making of an Extraordinary Partnership"
***October 6th: Stephen Knott - "The Lost Soul of the American Presidency: The Decline into Demagoguery and the Prospects for Renewal"
***October 13th: Lindsay Chervinsky - "The Cabinet: George Washington and the Creation of an American Institution"
***October 20th: A.J. Baime - "Dewey Defeats Truman: The 1948 Election and the Battle for America's Soul"
***October 27th: Jeremi Suri - "The Impossible Presidency: The Rise and Fall of America's Highest Office"
We do want to invite listeners to our Patreon page, to ask for your support in keeping the show going, which is www.patreon.com/axelbankhistory.
We do not accept contributions over $5 and any monthly amount we raise over $31 - which is the exact cost to produce the show - is given to charity.
Our series on the presidency begins with two biographical episodes of the major-party candidates.
For our episode on Donald Trump, we interviewed James Poniewozik, the author of, "Audience of One: Donald Trump, Television and the Fracturing of America."
As opposed to criticizing or applauding his presidency (which you can find anywhere), Poniewozik discusses Donald Trump through the defining medium of his life: television. He describes how Trump honed his TV skills in creating what Poniewozik calls the "character" we see everyday. He also describes how the TV industry changed over the course of Trump's life. How did it become conducive for someone with "strong" views, as the future president described himself on his first national TV interview in 1980. Poniewozik's study of Trump is fascinating, fresh and crucial to understanding how he went from a kid gazing at the TV in Queens to the person who defined it almost 75 years later.
James Poniewozik is available on Twitter @poniewozik
Axelbank Reports History and Today is available on Twitter and Instagram @axelbankhistory
Here is a schedule of release dates for episodes as part of our series on the presidency:
***September 29th: James Poniewozik - "Audience of One: Donald Trump, Television and the Fracturing of America"
***September 29th: Steven Levingston - "Barack and Joe: The Making of an Extraordinary Partnership"
***October 6th: Stephen Knott - "The Lost Soul of the American Presidency: The Decline into Demagoguery and the Prospects for Renewal"
***October 13th: Lindsay Chervinsky - "The Cabinet: George Washington and the Creation of an American Institution"
***October 20th: A.J. Baime - "Dewey Defeats Truman: The 1948 Election and the Battle for America's Soul"
***October 27th: Jeremi Suri - "The Impossible Presidency: The Rise and Fall of America's Highest Office"
We do want to invite listeners to our Patreon page, to ask for your support in keeping the show going, which is www.patreon.com/axelbankhistory.
We do not accept contributions over $5 and any monthly amount we raise over $31 - which is the exact cost to produce the show - is given to charity.
In this episode, we talk with Dr. Benjamin Railton about his book, "Of Thee I Sing: The Contested History of American Patriotism." We explore the roots of patriotism, how patriotism is weaponized politically and how we should react internally to forms of patriotism or protest that we may not agree with. Dr. Railton explains how patriotism has evolved and what key events have led to changes in how symbols are perceived. We also discuss the impact of Sept. 11th and how President Trump has attempted to cultivate patriotism.
He can be reached on Twitter @AmericanStudier
Our show can be reached on Twitter and Instagram @axelbankhistory
Please feel free to support the show @patreon.com/axelbankhistory
In this episode, we talk with Dr. Regina Bradley about her new book, "Chronicling Stankonia: The Rise of the Hip Hop South." She explores the famed hip hop group, Outkast, and how they fueled a new kind of rap music in America. Atlanta was not always an international city, and Outkast rose just as the city was taking the world stage. She describes how black artists used to be stripped of their cultural identities by pop music promoters, and how Outkast avoided that trap. She and I explore Outkast's relationship with the Civil Rights Era, with segregation and with the current, complicated moment. We also examine how this uniquely-American genre allows for a special kind of expression for black artists.
Dr. Bradley is on Twitter @redclayscholar
"Axelbank Reports History and Today" is on Twitter and Instagram @axelbankhistory
In this episode, we talk with John Nixon, the author of, "Debriefing the President: The Interrogation of Saddam Hussein." Nixon is one of only a few Americans to speak to the former Iraqi dictator since the first Gulf War. He describes what it was like to question him and then bring intelligence back to the Oval Office and President Bush. He had numerous sessions with Saddam, and has a perspective almost no one on earth can have when it comes to the fall of Iraq and its leader.
Since the Iraq War grew out of 9/11, this is an episode worth listening to as we explore how that horrible day changed American history.
John Nixon is available on Twitter @JohnNixon
"Axelbank Reports History and Today" is on Twitter and Instagram @axelbankhistory
On this episode, we talk with NYT bestselling author Alexis Coe about her biography of George Washington. As the first woman in eons to write a cradle-to-grave bio of America's foremost Founding Father, she explains why it is so important that the legend be reexamined. Sure, she does some myth-busting, but she also explains his humanity in fresh tones, giving us a new way to think about him. We talk about how he sowed his career, his time as a general and president, and also about slavery at Mount Vernon. How would Coe re-design the Washington Monument? Should we be proud of GW? Which other presidents need a book like this one? This is a fun and thought-provoking episode!
She can be reached on Twitter @alexiscoe
Axelbank Reports History and Today is on Twitter and Insta @axelbankhistory
In this episode, we speak with Dr. Koritha Mitchell about her book, "From Slave Cabins to the White House: Homemade Citizenship in African American Culture." Dr. Mitchell's book explores the ways in which African-Americans have had to look within themselves and their own homes to find a sense of belonging. She argues that while citizenship is bestowed on white Americans from birth, African-Americans face public backlash when they strive. Instead, she has found that their citizenship must come from within. We explore the antebellum period, Reconstruction, key Supreme Court cases and Michelle Obama. The answer of how African-Americans went from slave cabins to the White House is truly fascinating.
You can connect with Dr. Mitchell on Twitter @profkori
Our show is on Twitter and Instagram @axelbankhistory
In this episode, listen as author Julie Satow takes us on a historical tour of The Plaza Hotel. Her book, "The Plaza: The Secret History of America's Most Famous Hotel," takes an unforgettable dive into the world of luxury, celebrities, scandal and ambition. The Plaza isn't just a hotel, it's where guests, condo owners and workers have converged for over a century as they grapple for power and prestige. Of course, it's also the hotel that a future president just had to have, except it didn't go as planned. And wait until you hear how a publicity stunt for a movie overloaded their phone lines...
Julie Satow can be found on Twitter @juliesatow
Axelbank Reports History and Today can be found on Twitter and Instagram @axelbankhistory
In this episode, we talk with one of the foremost historians on modern Europe, Dr. Robert Gellately, about his book, "Hitler's True Believers: How Ordinary People Became Nazis." He explains not only how Hitler took power, but how his personality, economic program, and world events helped him win the support of millions of people. Dr. Gellately describes how Germany's post-WWI shame and struggling economy left a void for Hitler to fill. Was anti-Semitism a feature or a side-effect of Hitler's rise?
Dr. Gellately also explains what ordinary Germans knew about concentration camps and when they knew it, as well as whether the people of Germany regretted their country's actions even after WWII was over. His explanations will surprise you.
Reach us on Twitter and Insta @axelbankhistory
In this episode, we talk with the author of, "Oh, Florida! How America's Weirdest State Influences the Rest of the Country." Listen as the veteran newspaper reporter and one of the foremost experts on "The Sunshine State" explains the origins of the "Florida Man." From scary animals, to Disney World, to hurricanes to climate change, Florida makes news day-in, day-out, just for being Florida. It's where one-of-a-kind politicians, too much humidity, too many drugs, gated communities and retirees mix, to form the perfect storm. But don't worry, he says, it's still a wonderful place to live!
He can be reached on Twitter @craigtimes
Axelbank Reports History and Today can be found on Twitter at @axelbankhistory
In this episode, we talk with former Charlottesville Mayor Mike Signer about what it was like to endure his time in office as his city was targeted by the "Unite the Right" rallies. He describes how an inefficient government arrangement make it difficult to keep people safe, and how First Amendment law effectively hamstrung the city as it tried to allow for free speech but keep conflict from boiling over. He became the target of both threatening Internet trolls and white supremacist terrorists. He is thoughtful candid of not only his city's failings, but of his own.
In this episode, we speak with Keri Leigh Merritt, the author of "Masterless Men: Poor Whites and Slavery in the Antebellum South." While much of southern history rightly focuses on the impact slavery had on African-Americans, Merritt explains how important it is to also understand the impact it had on poor whites. Her scholarship shows how slavery's echoes are heard today not just in the descendants of slaves, but in those who lived alongside the system.
She is active on Twitter at www.twitter.com/kerileighmerritt and her book is available on her website kerileighmerritt.com
Axelbank Reports History and Today is active on Twitter at www.twitter.com/axelbankhistory and on instagram @axelbankhistory
On this episode, we speak with author Chris McGreal, a brilliant reporter who wrote, "American Overdose: An American Tragedy in Three Acts." You'd be hard-pressed to find someone who hasn't felt the impact of America's most dangerous drug. McGreal explains how it was a crisis that was manufactured by greedy salespeople eager to get people hooked. How did living pain-free become essential at any cost? McGreal's answers are shocking, but crucial.
He can be found on social media at www.twitter.com/ChrisMcGreal
Our show can be found at www.twitter.com/axelbankhistory and on Instagram @axelbankhistory
In this episode, we speak with author Sarah Milov about America's relationship with cigarettes. She wrote "The Cigarette: A Political History," which explores why they're still legal, how their sizable lobby operates and how the industry has battled the "non-smoker." Cigarettes kill many times more people than cars and guns, yet they still hold a sizable place in American life. Why?
You can check out Professor Milov on social media at www.twitter.com/allofmilov
Our podcast is on Twitter at www.twitter.com/axelbankhistory
It is on Instagram @axelbankhistory
On our first episode, we speak with Kate Brower, the author of "Team of Five: The Presidents Club in the Age of Trump." She is the perfect first guest for our show, because presidential history is my favorite. Her books are filled with incredible behind-the-scenes anecdotes about the lives of presidents. Listen in as we explore why "The presidents club" matters to us all, in a time of extraordinary change in the office of the presidency.
You can check out Kate on social media at www.twitter.com/katebrower
Our show is on Twitter at www.twitter.com/axelbankhistory and on Instagram @axelbankhistory