“I believe I can swing it.”
This is the story of the Coolidge Administration.
Calvin Coolidge isn’t the most talkative guy–he’s painfully shy, to be frank–but “Silent Cal” does care deeply about public service. Over the years, the thrifty, hard-working New Englander moves up the ranks, from municipal offices to state offices, until, as Massachusetts Govern ... Show More
Jun 30
182: A Prologue to World War II: US Army Interwar Preparation
This is the story of interwar preparation–not that the United States realized it was preparing for World War II, new technologies, innovation, and a constant pushing of the limits in the 1930s did indeed help Uncle Sam prepare for the fight to come. To get us into an interwar min ... Show More
49m 50s
Jun 16
181: American Aviation: The Growth of the Industry Through the Eyes of Amelia Earhart, Charles Lindbergh, and Howard Hughes
“If he is lost it will be the most universally regretted single loss we ever had. But that kid ain’t going to fail.” This is the story of the high-fliers in early twentieth-century American aviation. Wright brothers Orville and Wilbur stunned the nation and the world with their p ... Show More
1h 8m
Jun 2
180: “A Race to the Sky”: The Rise of New York City’s Chrysler, Manhattan Company, and Empire State Buildings
“If this is to be a skyscraper… why not make it scrape the sky.” This is the story of the race for the tallest building in New York City—in the world. Erstwhile partners-turned-bitter rivals, architects William Van Alen and Craig Severance are both looking to build the tallest sk ... Show More
1h 5m
Dec 2024
President Carter: The 60 Minutes Interviews
President Jimmy Carter, who died on December 29th at the age of 100, sat down with 60 Minutes three times during his long life: once while in office; once soon after losing his re-election bid; and once in his golden years. In all of the interviews, he was candid -- sometimes eve ... Show More
36m 21s
Jan 2025
President FDR & the New Deal
In 1932, amidst the Great Depression, Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected the 32nd President of the United States. He was more than a leader; he was a beacon of hope, steering the nation through its darkest days... and the newly-elected president had a plan.
In this episode, Don is ... Show More
39m 53s
Jul 2024
President William McKinley: The Secret Service & the Spanish-American War
Why does the Secret Service protect the President of the United States? And what can we learn from McKinley's life and presidency, not just his assassination?
Don speaks with Kim Kenney, Executive Director at the McKinley Presidential Library & Museum. Together, they take us thro ... Show More
46m 3s
Sep 2024
SEASON PREMIERE: Nixon Does Whatever It Takes to Win in ’68
September 16, 1968. Richard Nixon isn't exactly seen as a comedian. But tonight, he's trying to change that by appearing on Laugh-In, a TV show similar to Saturday Night Live. Nixon needs every vote he can get in the 1968 election, facing off against Hubert Humphrey, the vice pre ... Show More
41m 59s
Nov 2024
President Warren G. Harding: Scandals, Affairs & Cabinet Selections
Despite dying as one of the most popular presidents in history, the 28th Commander-in-Chief has been consistently ranked one of the worst of the American Presidents.
What caused this fall from grace? From the Teapot Dome Scandal to the Veterans Bureau Scandal, to the several extr ... Show More
43m 19s
Jan 2025
Declaring War on Poverty (feat. Doris Kearns Goodwin)
January 8, 1964. In his State of the Union address, Lyndon Johnson unveils his War on Poverty, an effort to tackle subpar living conditions and create jobs across the United States. Johnson discovers that declaring war—even one on an idea—always comes with great costs. Why did LB ... Show More
40m 33s
Jul 2024
The Rise of Presidential Power
Right from independence, a question has hovered over the government of the United States. How much power should the President have? Not too much, lest they become a monarch. But not too little, they are elected to do a job and that job must be done.
In this episode of American Hi ... Show More
36m 28s