Coming Home: A History of War Veterans
Rambo, Elvis Presley, and former Surgeon General Jocelyn Elders have one important thing in common: military service. So who are America’s veterans? Soldiers travel far away to risk their lives, but how easy is returning home?
The Extraordinary Ordinary: Populism in America
Joe the Plumber and his geographic equivalent, “Main Street,” were both major figures in Election ’08. “We the People” have finally spoken and… wait a second, who’s “we” and what did “we” say, anyway? This week, the many faces of populism.
Mark Summers Web Exclusive
Ed Ayers interviews historian Mark Summers, Professor of History at the University of Kentucky and author of Party Games: Getting, Keeping, and Using Power in Gilded Age Politics. Prof. Summers discusses some of the hijinks associated with Gilded Age elections. [Audio clip: view full post to listen]
Early and Often: Voting in America
Although the memory of hanging chads still clouds the electoral mood, elections have come a long way. But how effective is our current system? Does it accurately register the will of the People? And why did America’s founders opt out of direct democracy? With the help of callers, the History Guys provide the backstory on [...]
Newcomers in American Government
With all the talk we’ve been hearing lately about potential “presidential firsts,” it’s easy to forget that the history of American government is a history of firsts. In our inaugural episode, the History Guys take on the age-old Beltway tradition of posturing as a “Washington outsider,” examine how women, African Americans and immigrants have found [...]
