Abraham Lincoln once described democracy as "government of the people, by the people, for the people," but what exactly did that mean? In this episode, renowned Lincoln scholar Allen Guelzo explains our 16th president's vision for America. OUR ANCIENT FAITH: LINCOLN, DEMOCRACY, AND THE AMERICAN EXPERIMENT https://www.amazon.com/Our-Ancient-Faith-Democracy-Experiment/dp/0593534441/ JOIN PREMIUM Listen ad-free for only $5/month at www.bit.ly/TAPpremium FOLLOW US www.linktr.ee/thisamericanpresident CREDITS Host: Richard Lim Producer: Michael Neal Artist: Nip Rogers, www.NipRogers.com ..read more

Few presidents have been as mocked and vilified as Warren G. Harding, but few have examined the difficult circumstances he faced upon entering office -- an economic depression, social unrest, and violent extremism. During the 1920 election, Harding had pledged to address these problems and lead America into an era of "normalcy." In this episode, we examine how successful was in fulfilling that promise. JOIN PREMIUM Listen ad-free for only $5/month at www.bit.ly/TAPpremium FOLLOW US www.linktr.ee/thisamericanpresident Facebook: facebook.com/ThisAmerPres Instagram: instagram.com/thisamericanpre ..read more

There are few things more nostalgic than a train. Politicians know this all too well, so it's no surprise that trains have played a prominent role in American political campaigns. In this episode, Edward Segal explains how presidents have used trains to connect with the American people. WHISTLE-STOP POLITICS: CAMPAIGN TRAINS AND THE REPORTERS WHO COVERED THEM https://www.amazon.com/Whistle-Stop-Politics-Campaign-Reporters-Covered-ebook/dp/B0CDJV4XTV JOIN PREMIUM Listen ad-free for only $5/month at www.bit.ly/TAPpremium FOLLOW US www.linktr.ee/thisamericanpresident CREDITS Host: Richard Lim Pr ..read more

America has an unmatched record when it comes to the peaceful transfer of power. According to legal scholar Roy E. Brownell II, however, our country is not that far off from a presidential succession crisis. In this episode, Mr. Brownell covers the history of presidential succession and the flaws in the current system. HOW TO AVOID A PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION NIGHTMARE https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-to-avoid-a-presidential-succession-nightmare-9cb9610d JOIN PREMIUM Listen ad-free for only $5/month at www.bit.ly/TAPpremium FOLLOW US www.linktr.ee/thisamericanpresident CREDITS Host: Richard Lim ..read more

To his critics, he was a drunkard and a butcher who failed his way upward in life. To his admirers, he was nothing less than the savior of the nation. Few presidents have had their reputation fluctuate so dramatically as Ulysses S. Grant. In this episode, we interview author John Reeves to find out who the real Ulysses Grant was. SOLDIER OF DESTINY: SLAVERY, SECESSION, AND THE REDEMPTION OF ULYSSES S. GRANT https://www.amazon.com/Soldier-Destiny-Slavery-Secession-Redemption/dp/1639365273 JOIN PREMIUM Listen ad-free for only $5/month at www.bit.ly/TAPpremium FOLLOW US www.linktr.ee/thisamerica ..read more

Theodore Roosevelt is often described as America's first modern president, setting a standard by which future presidents would be judged. In this episode, we interview historian Michael Patrick Cullinane about how Roosevelt transformed both the nation and its highest office. REMEMBERING THEODORE ROOSEVELT: REMINISCENCES OF HIS CONTEMPORARIES https://www.amazon.com/Remembering-Theodore-Roosevelt-Reminiscences-Contemporaries/dp/3030692957 JOIN PREMIUM Listen ad-free for only $5/month at www.bit.ly/TAPpremium FOLLOW US www.linktr.ee/thisamericanpresident CREDITS Host: Richard Lim Producer: Mich ..read more

Few Americans know much about William McKinley, but one could argue he did more for civil rights than almost all of his predecessors. In this episode, we interview Benjamin R. Justesen about the 25th president's forgotten crusade for racial equality. FORGOTTEN LEGACY: WILLIAM MCKINLEY, GEORGE HENRY WHITE, AND THE STRUGGLE FOR BLACK EQUALITY https://www.amazon.com/Forgotten-Legacy-McKinley-Struggle-Equality/dp/0807173851 JOIN PREMIUM Listen ad-free for only $5/month at www.bit.ly/TAPpremium FOLLOW US www.linktr.ee/thisamericanpresident CREDITS Host: Richard Lim Producer: Michael Neal Artist ..read more

Who do you think was America's most brilliant president? Some might say Thomas Jefferson, while others say Theodore Roosevelt. Author Charles Goodyear has a different answer: James A. Garfield. In this episode, we interview Mr. Goodyear about his new book, President Garfield: From Radical to Unifier. PRESIDENT GARFIELD: FROM RADICAL TO UNIFIER https://www.amazon.com/President-Garfield-Radical-CW-Goodyear/dp/1982146915 JOIN PREMIUM Listen ad-free for only $5/month at www.bit.ly/TAPpremium FOLLOW US www.linktr.ee/thisamericanpresident CREDITS Host: Richard Lim Producer: Michael Neal Artist: Nip ..read more

On March 4, 1865, Abraham Lincoln delivered his second inaugural address. He invoked Scripture and discussed the ongoing Civil War in religious terms -- as divine punishment for the sin of slavery. It was a surprising speech for a man once known as a religious skeptic. What led Lincoln to deliver such a religious speech? What were Lincoln's religious views? How did they affect his leadership? Joshua Zeitz has just written a new book to answer those questions. It's titled Lincoln's God: How Faith Transformed a President and a Nation. LINCOLN'S GOD: HOW FAITH TRANSFORMED A PRESIDENT AND A NATIO ..read more

Gerald Ford occupies a truly singular place in American history: he is the only chief executive who took office without getting a single vote for either the presidency or vice presidency. When he did become president, he took charge of the nation at one of its lowest points — in the aftermath of Vietnam and Watergate. It fell to Gerald Ford to heal the nation and restore its confidence. In this episode, we interview historian Richard Norton Smith about this unlikeliest of American leaders. AN ORDINARY MAN: THE SURPRISING LIFE AND HISTORIC PRESIDENCY OF GERALD R. FORD https://www.amazon.com/Or ..read more