#107 Sidebar Conversation: Kenny Ryan of the Abridged Presidential Histories Podcast

Our guest today is Kenny Ryan, host of another great history pod, Abridged Presidential Histories with Kenny Ryan. Abridged Presidential Histories Podcast with Kenny Ryan launched its first episode at the end of March, 2020, and has progressed through the American presidencies chronologically. If you have listened to Abridged Presidential Histories, you already know that it includes narrative episodes with a lot of amusing factoids told with humor in solo narrative form – I think you all know I like that sort of thing – and some very interesting interviews with historians who are expert in the relevant presidencies. 

We had a wide-ranging conversation, and covered a lot of interesting stuff, including:

• The changing reputations of Jackson, Grant, JFK, and LBJ.
• Presidential histories take about 50 years to settle down, because they need to be written by people who were not politically aware as they happened.
• Should Martin Van Buren get more credit for “Jacksonian Democracy?”
• Jackson should get more credit for his handling of the Nullification Crisis.
• What president would Kenny like to have as a friend? Surprising answer!
• Who was the biggest party animal among the presidents?
• Should our politicians spend more time drinking and playing cards?
• Who were the greatest First Ladies?
• The influence of Dolly Madison and Lady Bird Johnson. Did young Kenny meet Lady Bird on a field trip?
• Austin’s moontowers.
• Who was the most overrated president?
• The revival of Calvin Coolidge’s reputation on the political right.
• What presidents would you invite on a pub crawl?
• Will Nixon be rehabilitated?
• Is journalism really the “first draft of history”?
• And much more!

Jack on Twitter: @TheHistoryOfTh2

Kenny on Twitter: @APHpodcast

[Abridged] Presidential Histories with Kenny Ryan (website)

…and on Apple.