My History Can Beat Up Your Politics

America's fascination then and now with sea rebels, sea dogs, privateers, smugglers, and pirates by other names is pretty clear. Books, movies and video games with pirates sell. We talk with pirate expert and historian Rebecca Simon, Ph.D. and author of "Why We Love Pirates: The Hunt for Captain Kidd and How He Changed Piracy Forever"  We talk about connections between the American Revolution and piracy, and the different ways pirates were viewed in Britain and America.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode we look at an enduring mystery, one that didn't matter too much in the 1960 election but has since taken on significance. Could it be that Kennedy lost, and Nixon won, the popular vote nationally in 1960. We looked at it a decade ago, and at that time MHCBUYP declared that Richard Nixon may have won the pop vote.  Now, we think it's complicated. But still possible. This, plus the "Gumps of History" and other listener questions.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We discuss the tight election that elected the first Democratic President in 25 years and some comparisons and contrasts to the current election. A President's umbrella, salutes for his "big foot," chain-armor clad parades, and the importance of a concern for the "general weal." all in this episode. Music by Stephan Siebert, About Life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 1880 election was close, with Democrats and Republicans seeking an advantage in its waning days when a letter hits a major city newspaper purporting to be in the hand of a candidate. It is a letter that could turn the election. With Todd Arrington, a historian at the James A. Garfield National Historic Site in Mentor, Ohio, we discuss James A. Garfield's surprise nomination and the Morey letter. We also discuss what could have been had Garfield lived. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A hodge-podcast of bits of things. A bit about the Washington family, and ancestors he didn't know that he had. And some follow ups from other casts. About that 'Electric Horse' that Coolidge used for exercise. And Lincoln deals with fake news like a pro.We are part of Airwave Media NetworkInterested in Advertising? sales@advertisecast.net Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A bit of an American political story about politics, corn, common sense.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eagle Claw, popularly known as Desert One, was the unsuccessful attempt to rescue hostages in Iran in 1980, hostages that had been held since the storming of the embassy in 1979. Replaying two previous podcasts on the topic, we look at the hostage-taking and the rescue attempt. How the plan may have worked? What went wrong? Also, why the embassy was stormed in 1979 and why it was the second time that year. Why one hostage was mad that he was rescued. These topics are discussed and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Baltimore in the 1850's was a fearsome place where politics and gangs were hard to separate. Yet it was the connecting stop for new Presidents and Union Soldiers getting to Washington D.C. We speak with Josh Mensch. Josh is the co-author with Brad Meltzer of the New York Times bestselling nonfiction history book The Lincoln Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill America’s 16th President—and Why It Failed Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Newark N.J. suffered a brutal and consuming riot, or rebellion, depending on how you see things, in the hot summer of 1967. Through the voices of history, we hear about those events, what caused it, and the musician who got caught up and became an unlikely spark. Caught off guard, police and National Guard and a scuffle became a war. How the '67 events caused a change in government, was noticed in national politics, and how it remains an influence even for today's events. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

George Washington did not get a Cabinet as President. He created it. His precedents forged the institution and the President's relationship to the Executive Departments. Washington didn't fire a cabinet member, but he set the precedents in this area and in others. We are joined by Lindsay M. Chervinsky, a historian with the white house historian Her book, The Cabinet: George Washington and the Creation of an American Institution has been published by Harvard University Press. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices