Fail to the Chief

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Fail to the Chief is the podcast where comic "historian" Thom Woodley talks about the men who became President... almost. Romp through the losers of presidential history, laugh and marvel at how different life might have been, had America made different choices. FailToTheChief.wordpress.com

Thom Woodley


    • Nov 5, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekdays NEW EPISODES
    • 28m AVG DURATION
    • 102 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Fail to the Chief

    FINAL EPISODE: Ranking ALL of the Presidential Losers

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2024 57:17


    We've come to the end. Here I give you the canonical list and ranking of EVERY SINGLE LOSER of all time, including many who never even ran. Listen to find out more.  In this episode I talk about the could-have-been Presidents Adams, Adams, Agnew, Anderson, Barkley, Bell, Blaine, Bono, Breckinridge, Brown, Bryan, Buchanan, Burr, Bush, Butler, Calhoun, Carter, Cass, Cheney, Clay, Cleveland, Clinton, Clinton, Clinton, Colfax, Cox, Crawford, Crockett, Curtis, Dallas, Davis, Dawes, Debs, Dewey, Disney, Dole, Douglas, Dukakis, Eastwood, Ellmaker, Fairbanks, Fillmore, Ford, Ford, Forrest, Franken, Franklin, Fremont, Garner, Gerry, Goldwater, Gore, Greeley, Hamilton, Hamlin, Hancock, Harrison, Harrison, Hearst, Hendricks, Hobart, Hoover, Houston, Hughes, Humphrey, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Johnson, Kennedy, Kennedy, Kennedy, Kerry, King, King, La Follette, Landon, Lindbergh, Long, MacArthur, Mangum, Marshall, Marshall, Marshall, Marshall, McCain, McCarthy, McClellan, McGovern, Mondale, Morton, Nader, Nixon, Parker, Pence, Perot, Pinckney, Quayle, Redford, Rice Atchison, Rockefeller, Rockefeller, Romney, Roosevelt, Roosevelt, Scott, Seymour, Sherman, Sherman, Smith, Smith, Springer, Stassen, Stevenson, Stevenson, Taft, Taney, Temple Black, Thurmond, Tilden, Tompkins, Trump, Van Buren, Ventura, Wallace, Wallace, Weaver, Webster, Wheeler, Wheeler, White, Willkie, Wilson, Winfrey, and Wirt.  God Bless America!  

    The Presidency: HOLLYWOOD EDITION!!!

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 4, 2024 31:29


    Why have so many actors and celebrities been considered for the Presidency, despite having almost no experience? WHO CARES, THEY'RE CELEBRITIES YAY OMG Yes, it's not just Donald Trump and Ronald Reagan. Today I talk about all the celebrities who were thought about for Prez (and who were legally allowed to be, sorry, Arnold Schwarzenegger):  Robert Redford Clint Eastwood Sonny Bono Al Franken Jesse Ventura Oprah Winfrey Jerry Springer Shirley Temple Black Walt Disney Duane the Rock Johnson

    The Man Who Would Be President 9 Different Times: Harold Stassen

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2024 14:16


    As we close the corner on our presidential losers, I'd be remiss not to discuss the Governor of Minnesota, friend to Dwight Eisenhower, and NINE-TIME candidate for the Republican nomination, butt of jokes Harold Stassen. Hot take: he'd have been amazing?

    Marshalling the Presidents - John Marshall, George Marshall and Thurgood Marshall

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2024 12:50


    Today I'm taking a look at three very different men with one identical last name - the Marshalls. Each one of them was critical to our nation, and might have become president under different circumstances. I'll investigate and rate each one: John Marshall, Federalist Chief Justice of the Supreme Court George C. Marshall, General and Secretary of State during WWII Thurgood Marshall, first Black justice of the Supreme Court

    President Kennedy (Robert), President Kennedy (Teddy), and President Kennedy (John Jr)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2024 17:36


    This time I lightning-round-rank the 3 titans of the Kennedy family... um, not counting 2024's brainworm bearkiller version. How would Bobby, Teddy and John John have been if they had become president?

    Tipping the Sacred Cows of American presidential elections

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2024 27:59


    There are a lot of myths in American elections. "As Maine goes, so goes the nation." "Missouri, the bellwether state." "The taller man wins." Let's explode them all. In this bonus episode, we dive deep and crunch numbers to see what's actually true and what's not. We'll cover: Does the Vice Presidential nominee usually win their home state? Does the taller candidate usually win? Who wins more, the Outsider or the Insider? What states and regions win the most?

    BONUS! President Kingfish Huey Long and the Sharing of the Wealth

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2024 7:38


    He was a Louisiana progressive populist wannabe dictator who wanted to redistribute all the rich folks' money forever and ever. And he might have been president, had he not been gunned down before he even had the chance to run. But what if?

    BONUS! President Butler... SMEDLEY Butler. (WTF?)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2024 8:23


    Yes, his name was Smedley. No, he didn't let that stand in his way. What would have this Marines Major General and hero of the Bonus Army do if somehow catapulted into the White House on the eve of World War II? Why, he would do what all Smedleys do, of course. 

    BONUS! Presidente Generalissimo Douglas MacArthur

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 24, 2024 6:42


    Continuing with micro episodes, here's the Hero of the Philippines (and not, as it turned out, the Korean War)... Douglas MacArthur was a true strongman, and closer to the White House than we might think!

    BONUS: What do all the Losers have in COMMON?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2024 30:03


    There tends to be a certain template that presidential candidates follow - and I don't mean simply getting elected as Senators or Governors first. There are some larger commonalities at play that seem to align most of them, in many cases from an early age. From family background to profession to political choices to some truly strange coincidences, the road to victory (or second-best to victory) says quite a lot about who we are as a society. Don't forget to BUY MY BOOK: VOLUME 1: https://www.amazon.com/Fail-Chief-1788-1928-Thom-Woodley-ebook/dp/B08WLD5CMG/ref=sr_1_1?crid=L315PVLL3J2L&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.-E3QKrGDabl1MEQhDFXfDiAf1i3chIWZtimU1Wa5ACYPFPes6SrBW6IMznU-Z4JGEWKU1tG0ltvkfVA3c43iceQK2hPLcfFN0857atN47MRzgiQbWWejpf1lFZACDNIJD7vTrpkYx4dUBVumX4tDu9U_d5OEUtmqEquArUUCeaSG4W0E1qfdQofNZ5lUyb0Uz3nkRdznI_Wl4GH6dUOBHOZG-ywlhrBMLzx8lCFbde8.2vMeIvP6rFODd_nmPj5i_X_2gYO5TFb04RiDDLOA39A&dib_tag=se&keywords=fail+to+the+chief&qid=1729532703&sprefix=fail+to+the+chief%2Caps%2C92&sr=8-1 VOLUME 2: https://www.amazon.com/Fail-Chief-1932-2020-Thom-Woodley-ebook/dp/B09159ZDBF/ref=sr_1_2?crid=L315PVLL3J2L&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.-E3QKrGDabl1MEQhDFXfDiAf1i3chIWZtimU1Wa5ACYPFPes6SrBW6IMznU-Z4JGEWKU1tG0ltvkfVA3c43iceQK2hPLcfFN0857atN47MRzgiQbWWejpf1lFZACDNIJD7vTrpkYx4dUBVumX4tDu9U_d5OEUtmqEquArUUCeaSG4W0E1qfdQofNZ5lUyb0Uz3nkRdznI_Wl4GH6dUOBHOZG-ywlhrBMLzx8lCFbde8.2vMeIvP6rFODd_nmPj5i_X_2gYO5TFb04RiDDLOA39A&dib_tag=se&keywords=fail+to+the+chief&qid=1729532703&sprefix=fail+to+the+chief%2Caps%2C92&sr=8-2  

    President YER A DIRTY COMMIE, oh sorry, Joseph McCarthy

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 21, 2024 6:05


    We're continuning to dig into other would-be Julius Caesar presidents of American history. The men who never were nominated, and maybe never even ran, but who could have been either the great Man of the People who'd lead us to glory.... or terrible Imperators who tore us apart. I'll be posting a bunch of these throughout this week. Today - red-scare master himself, and secert alcoholic windbag, Joseph McCarthy. 

    BONUS: President Roosevelt... ELEANOR, that is.

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 21, 2024 5:20


    We're continuning to dig into other would-be Julius Caesar presidents of American history. The men who never were nominated, and maybe never even ran, but who could have been either the great Man of the People who'd lead us to glory.... or terrible Imperators who tore us apart. I'll be posting a bunch of these throughout this week. Today - the REAL Pres. Roosevelt. Eleanor. 

    BONUS: President Charles Lindbergh??

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 19, 2024 5:46


    We're continuning to dig into other would-be Julius Caesar presidents of American history. The men who never were nominated, and maybe never even ran, but who could have been either the great Man of the People who'd lead us to glory.... or terrible Imperators who tore us apart. I'll be posting a bunch of these throughout this week. This week, famous aviator and Nazi sympathizer Charles 'Lindy' Lindbergh. Yay. 

    BONUS: President Ford - Henry Ford???

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 19, 2024 6:26


    We're continuning to dig into other would-be Julius Caesar presidents of American history. The men who never were nominated, and maybe never even ran, but who could have been either the great Man of the People who'd lead us to glory.... or terrible Imperators who tore us apart. I'll be posting a bunch of these throughout this week. Today - the Model T of presidents.... CEO (and rabid anti-Semite) Henry Ford. 

    BONUS: President Citizen Kane - William Randolph Hearst

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2024 8:55


    We're continuning to dig into other would-be Julius Caesar presidents of American history. The men who never were nominated, and maybe never even ran, but who could have been either the great Man of the People who'd lead us to glory.... or terrible Imperators who tore us apart. I'll be posting a bunch of these throughout this week. Today - the man who inspired Citizen Kane, legendary megalomaniacal newspaper publisher and 'yellow journalist,' William Randolph Hearst!

    BONUS: President (of the USA and the LDS) Joseph Smith

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2024 5:50


    We're continuning to dig into other would-be Julius Caesar presidents of American history. The men who never were nominated, and maybe never even ran, but who could have been either the great Man of the People who'd lead us to glory.... or terrible Imperators who tore us apart. I'll be posting a bunch of these throughout this week. This time it's wannabe politician, Mormon founder and assassination victim Joseph Smith!

    BONUS: President John D. Rockefeller, Wealthiest Prez Ever

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2024 7:32


    We're continuning to dig into other would-be Julius Caesar presidents of American history. The men who never were nominated, and maybe never even ran, but who could have been either the great Man of the People who'd lead us to glory.... or terrible Imperators who tore us apart. I'll be posting a bunch of these throughout this week. Today, one of the original 'robber barons' and the progenitor of a famous political family: John D. Rockefeller, CEO of Standard Oil. 

    BONUS: President Grand Wizard Nathan Bedford Forrest

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2024 6:10


    We're continuning to dig into other would-be Julius Caesar presidents of American history. The men who never were nominated, and maybe never even ran, but who could have been either the great Man of the People who'd lead us to glory.... or terrible Imperators who tore us apart. I'll be posting a bunch of these throughout this week. This episode - war criminal, slave trader, Confederate General, and literal Grand Wizard of the KKK - Nathan Bedford Forrest. 

    BONUS: President General William Tecumseh Sherman

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2024 6:49


    We're continuning to dig into other would-be Julius Caesar presidents of American history. The men who never were nominated, and maybe never even ran, but who could have been either the great Man of the People who'd lead us to glory.... or terrible Imperators who tore us apart. I'll be posting a bunch of these throughout this week. In this case - the 2nd-most-famous Union general and the guy who (gleefully) burnt down Atlanta, but turned down being President: William Tecumseh Sherman. 

    BONUS: the "Dredded" President Roger B. Taney

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2024 5:14


    We're continuning to dig into other would-be Julius Caesar presidents of American history. The men who never were nominated, and maybe never even ran, but who could have been either the great Man of the People who'd lead us to glory.... or terrible Imperators who tore us apart. I'll be posting a bunch of these throughout this week. This time, it's awful Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Roger B. Taney - the conservative racist responsible for helping to kick off the Civil War. 

    BONUS: Yee-haw, it's President Sam Houston!

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2024 4:32


    It's the Ides of October, and that got me thinking about other would-be Julius Caesar presidents of American history. The men who never were nominated, and maybe never even run, but who could have been either the great Man of the People who'd lead us to glory.... or terrible Imperators who tore us apart. I'll be posting a bunch of these throughout this week. This time it's iconoclastic Sam Houston, First President of the short-lived Republic of Texas, and maybe the one man who could have kept the Union together in 1860?

    BONUS: Davey Crockett, President of the Wild Frontier!

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2024 5:47


    It's the Ides of October, and that got me thinking about other would-be Julius Caesar presidents of American history. The men who never were nominated, and maybe never even run, but who could have been either the great Man of the People who'd lead us to glory.... or terrible Imperators who tore us apart. I'll be posting a bunch of these throughout this week. On this episode, King of the Wild Frontier (and Congressman and badass) Davey Crockett!

    BONUS: What's your name, man?? PRESIDENT Alexander Hamilton!!

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2024 7:33


    It's the Ides of October, and that got me thinking about other would-be Julius Caesars of American history. The men who never were nominated, and maybe never even run, but who could have been either the great Man of the People who'd lead us to glory.... or terrible Imperators who tore us apart. I'll be posting a bunch of these throughout this week. Our first is The Man Who Would Not Throw Away his Shot... what's your name man? It's Alexander Hamilton, of course. 

    Ides of October SPECIAL Bonus Episode: President Benjamin Franklin?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2024 8:08


    It's the Ides of October, and that got me thinking about other would-be Julius Caesars of American history. The men who never were nominated, and maybe never even run, but who could have been either the great Man of the People who'd lead us to glory.... or terrible Imperators who tore us apart. I'll be posting a bunch of these throughout this week. Our first is Founding Father, man on the $100 bill, and political "lightning rod": Benjamin Franklin. 

    BONUS Veepstakes!! Rating the Vice Presidents of American History

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2024 58:31


    We're not just talking about losers anymore! This episode, join amateur historian Thom Woodley on a tour through the vice presidents of history - those mediocre, second-rate men who were a heartbeat away from the presidency. Those who never served as Commander in Chief (or who were nominated as candidate of one of the major parties) gets discussed today - and rated! (Please forgive the audio quality on this one - I was without my pop filter and you can hear every single 'p' nice and close!) I discuss in this episode: George Clinton, Elbridge Gerry, Daniel Tompkins, John Calhoun, Richard Mentor Johnson, George Dallas, William Rufus Devane King, Hannibal Hamlin, Schuyler Colfax, Henry Welson, William Wheeler, Thomas Hendricks, Levi Morton, Adlai Stevenson I, Garrett Hobart, Charles Fairbanks, James Sherman, Thomas Marshall, Charles Dawes, Charles Curtis, John Nance Garner, Alben Barkley, Spiro Agnew, Dan Quayle, Dick Cheney and Mike Pence! (And special mention goes to some interesting THIRD-place runner ups, like David Rice Atchison, John Hay, Samuel Southard and more)... (Tertiary special mention goes to some interesting loser veep candidates - like Sarah Palin, Thomas Eagleton and Curtis Lemay, among some dubious others...)

    Hillary Clinton - First (Nasty) Woman Candidate

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2024 38:02


    Well, we've come to the end. Fail to the Chief started ten years ago in 2014, and now 50 losers later, we are finally at the big boy (girl), the elephant (donkey) in the room = Hillary Clinton.  It took me forever to get here, but thanks for sticking with me. But please still continue to like, follow, subscribe (and of course, listen) because we'll still throw out some goodies! Buy my book(s):  https://www.amazon.com/Fail-Chief-1788-1928-Thom-Woodley-ebook/dp/B08WLD5CMG/ref=sr_1_2?crid=19APH7S49I56Q&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.65f4SSp-4xGm2NQM5KYXYGn4Hodq4Aqqo8w-oKCVCcAPFPes6SrBW6IMznU-Z4JGEWKU1tG0ltvkfVA3c43iceQK2hPLcfFN0857atN47MRR31KulpCVPm7s94h9WyStpllJ2HZ0ZDGgsnFFIb1fLINY0JLWwR8ZuBkTTz7mWGfXjgwjwoBMYSlYkyUC5oXAn6KtGLTzsgJzt8xw7x863TAGEcn-omn2_Me0xg26kPs.Y0JIuaRNDiQAga6-4nn5XvQIU7sb6WfoNfr8FoTc_aY&dib_tag=se&keywords=fail+to+the+chief&qid=1727115557&sprefix=%2Caps%2C118&sr=8-2 And email me if you like the show at failtothechiefpodcast @ gmail !

    Mitt Romney, the first Mormon (and last moderate) candidate

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2024 33:26


    Join amateur historian Thom Woodley as he delves into the losers of presidential history - and today, the man who inspired the podcast in the first place, 2012 loser (to Barack Obama) Governor and Senator Mitt Romney. Why did he lose? Could he have won? What would America be like if so?

    John McCain, War Hero, POW, and big-time Loser.

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 3, 2024 25:06


    This episode, amateur historian Thom Woodley digs into the life and politics of John Sidney McCain, Jr. - Arizona Senator and two-time Republican candidate for president, who lost the 2008 race to Barack Obama. 

    John Kerry, the First Loser of the 21st Century

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 20, 2024 28:24


    Every episode, comic historian Thom Woodley dives deep into a loser of the US presidential elections. This time, it's John Kerry, Senator, Secretary of State, war veteran and protestor, surf rocker, and the only Democrat since 1988 to lose the popular vote (and even THAT's questionable!) What if President Kerry had inherited the Iraq War and Operation Enduring Freeom? What if he'd been man on watch during the 2008 Recession? 

    BONUS! Reviewing the 6th Period of American Politics (1968-2004)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 8, 2024 47:41


    This is the (lightly comedic) history podcast where we talk about the losers of presidential races. In this one, we're discussing ALL your favorite losers of the 6th period of American history (1968-2004), including:  Hubert HUMPHREY! George WALLACE! Robert F. KENNEDY! Eugene MCCARTHY! Nelson ROCKEFELLER! Charlene MITCHELL! George MCGOVERN! Shirley CHISHOLM! John SCHMITZ! Patsy MINK! Ed MUSKIE! Gerald FORD! Jerry BROWN! Jimmy CARTER! Teddy KENNEDY! John ANDERSON! Walter MONDALE! Gary HART! Jesse JACKSON! Michael DUKAKIS! George H.W. BUSH! Ross PEROT! Pat BUCHANAN! Bob DOLE! Al GORE! and Ralph NADER!!

    RE-VISIT: Al Gore, the Loser who Won in 2000

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2024 40:36


    Welcome to FAIL TO THE CHIEF, the podcast where we rate and rank the losers of presidential history. I'm kicking this podcast off again, and starting with the beginning of the 21st century. [If you want to hear about the losers of the 20th century, and the 19th and the 18th, go ahead and listen to the archives OR, you can buy my book: Volume 1 (1800 through 1928): Volume 2 (1932 through 2020)  I'm starting today with an episode on a loser I've already talked about: Al Gore! The loser slash winner of the contentious 2000 election. I originally posted Al Gore as one of my very first episodes, and in the intervening almost decade, well, it's safe to say a lot has happened...

    Biden dropping out - NOT unprecedented!! (Also, hi, we're back!?!)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2024 30:13


    Hey hey! We're BACK after a 2-year hiatus, to talk about the upcoming 2024 election, and wrap out the remaining losers. And what better occasion than the UNPRECEDENTED DROPPING OUT of our sitting Commander in Chief of the Fall presidential race.  Well, actually? It's not that unprecedented. We have elections like 1968, 1952, and others like 1924 and 1892 to look at for some context. In this episode, we talk through what we can learn from this unique moment in time - and what (if anything) we can expect from this year's cockamamie election...

    1984. Walter Mondale, the Loser of 1984.

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 24, 2022 41:41


    Comic historian Thom Woodley looks at Walter Mondale, the landslide Ronald Reagan reelection of 1984, and growing up in the 1980s in general. 

    BOB DOLE BOB DOLE BOB DOLE

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2021 17:50


    Sad to hear of Bob Dole's passing this week. In honor of the man, here is the Bob Dole chapter from my book Fail to the Chief Vol. 2 (available on Amazon!)

    UPDATE! and 1992: Ross Perot

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2021 27:10


    Fail to the Chief THE BOOK? Yes indeed.  Also? Ross Perot. In lo-fi style. Because you've been waiting.  Order the book today: https://www.amazon.com/Fail-Chief-1788-1928-Thom-Woodley/dp/1736697706/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=fail+to+the+chief&qid=1631577684&sr=8-1

    fail ross perot thom woodley
    1988. Michael Dukakis, a.k.a. Zorba the Clerk.

    Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2020 36:24


    Thom Woodley takes you on a tour of presidential losers of the past. In this episode, the George Bush vs. Michael Dukakis election of 1988. 

    BONUS: 1980. John B. Anderson, the Best Candidate You Never Heard Of,

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2020 29:14


    Thom Woodley digs into the losers of presidential history - in this case, the independent candidacy of former Republican Congressman John B. Anderson (IL-16), who lost to Ronald Reagan but might have been the architect of a much better future. 

    1972. George McGovern's McGovernment.

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 3, 2020 44:00


    Thom Woodley takes you through the history of the disastrous 1972 presidential campaign of liberal icon and Nixon opponent, George McGovern. 

    george mcgovern thom woodley
    1968. Hubert Horatio Humphrey, the Happy Handshaker.

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2020 43:14


    Thom Woodley discusses the losers of presidential history - this year, the big Democratic loser of the chaotic year of 1968, Vice President Hubert Humphrey, who lost to Richard Nixon in the midst of the Vietnam War. 

    1968. George Wallace, Segregator-in-Chief

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2020 30:51


    Rerelease of a 2015 Episode. Just in time for MLK Day, it's our episode on George Wallace, the 3rd party candidate in the 1968 election. Why wasn't he elected president? And how would he have been in office?

    BONUS! The 5th Era of American Politics Review

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2020 33:05


    In this episode, we explore ALL of the losers of the 5th Period in American Politics (1932-1968), Alf Landon, Wendell Willkie, Thomas Dewey, Adlai Stevenson, Strom Thurmond, Henry Wallace and Barry Goldwater, and find out where they rank among the losers of all American history.  We also talk about some notable other losers of the era: Henry Breckinridge, Cactus Jack Garner, Estes Kefauver, Averell Harriman, Bob Taft, Douglas MacArthur, Nelson Rockefeller and the classic perennial candidate of them all, Harold Stassen.   

    1964. In your heart, you know Barry Goldwater's right.

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 7, 2020 40:26


    Amateur historian host Thom Woodley re-releases his 2016 episode on Barry Goldwater, the very conservative-libertarian Republican losing candidate of the 1964 Lyndon Johnson presidential election. 

    NEW: 1952/1956. Adlai Stevenson, the Thinking Man's President.

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2019 47:00


    This is a repost as there was an error the first time I posted! Comic historian Thom Woodley digs into the record of Adlai Stevenson II, Governor of Illinois and two-time nominee of the Democratic party, who lost big to Dwight Eisenhower. 

    1948. Henry Wallace, the Secret Soviet Spy candidate?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2019 35:35


    Join comic historian Thom Woodley as we talk about Henry Wallace, former Vice President and the 1948 candidate of the Progressive Party... and also maybe, just maybe, a secret Soviet asset. 

    1848. Lewis Cass, our first Ugly-American President

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2019 32:30


    Comic historian Thom Woodley (@thomwoodley) takes you on a tour through the rogues gallery of presidential candidates who didn't quite make it. This episode, Lewis Cass (Democrat, 1848), who lost to Zachary Taylor. 

    1948. Strom Thurmond, Dixiecrat.

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2019 37:51


    Thom Woodley takes you on a tour of the 1948 presidential election, in which 3rd party Democrat Strom Thurmond runs on a platform of segregationist views - and later goes on to rebuild the Republican party in his image. 

    1844. Henry Clay (Part 2) [RE-RELEASE]

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2019 27:01


    Re-release of this 2015 episode; comic historian Thom Woodley takes you through the 1844 election where historical great Henry Clay was defeated by dark horse James K. Polk. 

    1944/48. DEWEY DEFEATS TRUMAN (not so much)!

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 3, 2019 43:34


    Comic historian Thom Woodley investigates the losers of presidential history - this time Thomas E. Dewey, two time Republican nominee, the gangbusting man on the wedding cake who lost to FDR and Harry Truman. 

    republicans comic franklin delano roosevelt dewey harry s truman dewey defeats truman thomas e dewey thom woodley
    1836. The Devil in Daniel Webster (re-release)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 20, 2019 29:32


    Thom rereleases his episode on presidential loser Daniel Webster, the only man to turn down two separate vice-presidential offers (either of which would have led to his becoming president). 

    1940. What if Wendell Willkie Won the World War?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 6, 2019 48:26


    Every episode, comic historian Thom Woodley dissects one of the losers of presidential elections. This time, the discussion is on Wendell Willkie, a proto-Trump figure: businessman who never served in office, former Democrat, famous for speaking on a controversial issue. What would have happened had a completely nonexperienced man had beaten FDR and been at the helm during WW2??

    1836. Hugh Lawson White, Legislative Dracula

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2019 25:42


    Every episode, Thom Woodley delves into a different Loser of American presidential elections. Enjoy this re-release of diehard conservative (and possible Nesferatu) Hugh Lawson White of Tennessee, one of 1836's Way Too Many Whig candidates. 

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