George Washington’s Inaugural Parade
The following audio clip is excerpted from the BackStory episode “The More Things Change: A History of Presidential Transitions.” You can listen to the entire episode here. Catherine Moore tells the story of George Washington’s inaugural “parade,” and why it mattered.[Audio clip: view full post to listen] Excerpted from: The More Things Change: A History [...]
James K. Polk
The following audio clip is excerpted from the BackStory episode “The More Things Change: A History of Presidential Transitions.” You can listen to the entire episode here. Historian Michael Holt explains the lasting impact of a little-known president, James K. Polk, and the History Guys ask whether Polk’s expansion of US territory was a foregone [...]
Jefferson and the Press
The following audio clip is excerpted from the BackStory episode “Just the Facts?: Partisanship & the Press.” You can listen to the entire episode here. The History Guys discuss Thomas Jefferson’s sometimes contradictory ideas about a free press.[Audio clip: view full post to listen] Excerpted from: Just the Facts?: Partisanship & the Press
Jefferson Then and Now (Pt. 2)
From FDR to Sarah Palin, public figures on all sides of the political spectrum have claimed Thomas Jefferson as their own. But what did Jefferson really stand for?
Jefferson, Then and Now (Pt. 1)
From FDR to Sarah Palin, public figures on all sides of the political spectrum have claimed Thomas Jefferson as their own. But what did Jefferson really stand for?
The More Things Change: The History of Presidential Transitions
Commanders come and go—but what difference does it really make? In this hour, BackStory takes a closer look at the realities of presidential transitions. Send us your ideas, questions, and stories so you can join us on the air!
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 [...]
