Harrison Podcast

In honor of the 177th anniversary of William Henry Harrison’s inauguration, I am reposting my two-part analysis of Harrison’s inaugural speech. In part two of the analysis (with 8,400+ words, of course there’s a part two), we find out more about what Harrison had in mind for the nation that he had anticipated leading for … Continue reading REBROADCAST – 11 – Essentially, Radically Changed: The Inauguration Speech Part 2 →

In honor of the 177th anniversary of William Henry Harrison’s inauguration as president, I am reposting my two-part analysis of his inauguration speech, to date the longest US presidential inauguration speech. To save folks the trouble, I read the 8,400+ words myself and found some quite important and even surprising aspects to this little-studied speech. … Continue reading REBROADCAST – 10 – The Bout to Take the General Out: The Inauguration Speech Part 1 →

As the world rings in a new year, I bring you this episode originally released on New Year’s Day 2017 for a look back on early American traditions with a focus on a New Year’s tradition from days gone by: the Presidential New Year’s Day Reception. From the very beginning to the last one in … Continue reading REBROADCAST – 024 – The New Year’s Levee →

Though never personal, throughout the course of the early 19th century, Andrew Jackson and William Henry Harrison found their lives intertwined for decades, through war and peace. Though they often found themselves in competition, there were also some rare instances where they could be found on the same side, and the story of their relationship … Continue reading 047 – Old Hickory and Old Tip →

Join me on a tour of Fort Hill, the home of John C Calhoun who served as the 7th vice president. Even more so than many of Harrison and Clay’s other contemporaries, Calhoun leaves a difficult legacy for students of history to consider as his concepts of nullification, states’ rights, and slavery as a ‘positive … Continue reading 046 – Fort Hill and Beethoven’s Crazy Racist Cousin →

Though progressing into his seventh decade of life, Henry Clay was pulled back into the public sphere as the nation’s new president, James K Polk, led the nation into war with Mexico. Despite ill health and personal issues, Clay aimed one more time for the Executive Mansion and instead found himself being called to the … Continue reading 045 – The Compromiser’s Last Bow →

John Tyler’s unexpected ascendancy to the presidency causes both Whigs and Democrats to think and rethink their strategies for the 1844 presidential election. Presumptive candidates Henry Clay and Martin Van Buren prepare to lead their respective parties into the general campaign, but for both, complications arise that threaten their political futures as the ambitious new … Continue reading 044 – GTH: How Texas Kept Clay From the White House →

He may have lost in 1832, but that didn’t mean that Henry Clay lost his desire for the presidency. As 1836 and 1840 neared, each time, the gentleman from Kentucky had to decide whether to go for the gold once more. However, he would find the way in both contests littered with other Whig contenders … Continue reading 043 – With Friends Like These →

After the defeat in 1828, the pro-Adams camp forms a new political party, the National Republicans, which turns to the willing and eager Henry Clay to lead them against Andrew Jackson and to carry the party banner towards victory in 1832. However, Clay will find that the presidential politics of the Jackson era are not … Continue reading 042 – Years of Striving →

After four years of the Adams administration, the voters go to the polls once more in 1828 as Andrew Jackson once more challenges the man from Massachusetts. However, the President’s supporters, including his Secretary of State Henry Clay, soon learn that the nature of politics has greatly changed since 1824, and if they hope to … Continue reading 041 – The Jacksonians Strike Back →

The State Department under Henry Clay attempts to make its pivot to a focus on Latin America, but in its engagement with other nations in the Western Hemisphere, the nation’s diplomatic office stumbles and at times falls completely short. Clay struggles to deal with overzealous diplomats, turbulent situations on the ground, and British intrigues to … Continue reading 040 – Like a Not So Good Neighbor →

Before delving into the Adams administration’s foreign policy in Latin America, this episode takes us on a very high level overview of the Latin American Wars of Independence. From the Rio de la Plata to Mexico City, and from Quito to Rio de Janeiro, we explore the hows and whys various Spanish and Portuguese Americans … Continue reading 039 – South of the Border →

In honor of my one year anniversary of podcasting, I did this special episode to run simultaneously on the Presidencies of the United States to share a little bit about how I got started podcasting, some information about our audience, and a chance for you to be entered into a drawing for a gift card … Continue reading One Year Anniversary Special Episode →

Henry Clay takes over the State Department and finds he has big shoes to fill coming in after John Quincy Adams. As he assumes his duties, he is forced to deal with personal tragedy, poor health, and difficult diplomatic negotiations. Though scoring some wins abroad as new treaties are entered into, Clay only meets with … Continue reading 038 – The Nation’s Chief Diplomat →

Henry Clay’s desire for the presidency grows as 1824 nears, but before he can try for that seat, he has to help hold the nation together during the Missouri Crisis and navigate through the perilous waters of personal debt. This episode takes us through James Monroe’s second term of office and the political maneuverings in … Continue reading 037 – The Compromiser is Compromised →

Henry Clay’s return from Europe following the War of 1812 marks a change both in the trajectory of the nation as well as Clay’s relationship with the Republican executive administration starting with James Monroe’s inauguration in 1819. Clay takes on Monroe, John Quincy Adams, and Andrew Jackson as he attempts to exert his influence over … Continue reading 036 – No Fear, No More →

    Ron Shafer, author of The Carnival Campaign, shares his insight into the 1840 presidential campaign, some of the prominent figures and circumstances of the time, and how he feels that William Henry Harrison is the figure from the 1840 campaign that people should know more about. During the course of the interview, Ron … Continue reading 035 – Interview with Ron Shafer →

The Star of the West, Henry Clay, heads east as he is appointed as a peace commissioner and sent to Ghent, Belgium to negotiate with the British to end a war that was not going all that well (except for, of course, in the campaigns led by General William Henry Harrison). Before heading off to … Continue reading 034 – Mr. Speaker to Mr. Diplomat →

Clay’s early career finds him rising from being a self-proclaimed “Mill Boy of the Slashes” to being elected Speaker of the House of Representatives. Along the way, he obtains an education in the law in Richmond before moving to Lexington, Kentucky where he starts a family and sets off on his lengthy political career. In … Continue reading 033 – Harry of the West →

Westward expansion was one of the underlying causes of the American Revolution and played a key role in early American history. In this episode, I give a quick overview of the American push towards the Pacific beginning with the trans-Appalachian west and carrying on to Texas and Oregon. This expansion would ultimately impact not just … Continue reading 032 – Westward Ho →

The time has finally come for President Harrison to meet his maker. However, as with many things, the story of Harrison’s last days is not as clear cut as it’s been made out to be in history. I look at the details of his last illness as well as how 21st century medical knowledge questions … Continue reading 031 – The Death Episode →

We step out of the narrative for this episode and examine what evidence is in the historical record about what other presidents thought of William Henry Harrison. From the first president to the forty-third, Old Tippecanoe elicited much comment from both contemporaries and future generations. Some presidents campaigned for him. Others fought to keep him … Continue reading 030 – Presidents on Harrison →

Though the presidency of William Henry Harrison was short, the emotions of those thirty days ran the gamut. The jubilation and mirth of the inauguration quickly gave way to the frustration of trying to appease supporters with patronage. The stress got to Harrison so much that Andrew and I had to censor him on his … Continue reading 029 – The Thirty Days →

In this episode, we dive into the presidential campaigns of 1836 and 1840 and explore some of the more interesting facets of the election season. From the mode of campaigning to the organization (or lack thereof at times) of the political parties of the time, these two elections are filled with interesting characters and social … Continue reading 028 – Keep the Ball A’Rollin: The Long Path to the White House →

Upon his return to the United States, Harrison found himself beset by both personal and political issues. Through the course of Jackson’s terms in the White House, Harrison would face the death of loved ones and financial strains while at the same time continuing to make a name for himself in the public eye in … Continue reading 027 – Years of Struggle →

We take a close look in this episode at Harrison’s letter to Símon Bolívar of 27 September 1829, completed just prior to Harrison’s return to the United States, in order to understand what it reveals about Harrison’s observations on Colombia and its government as well as about Harrison and what he took from this foray into … Continue reading 026 – The Case of Harrison v Despotism →

Harrison is sent off on a diplomatic mission to Colombia but quickly learns that navigating international politics can sometimes be problematic, particularly in the wake of both the turbulence of the Latin American wars of independence and the Jackson revolution back in the States. Join the General and myself on a journey of nearly 2,500 miles … Continue reading 025 – The Colombian Mission →

As the world rings in a new year, in this week’s episode we look back on early American traditions for New Year’s with a focus on a New Year’s tradition in days gone by: the Presidential New Year’s Day Reception. From the very beginning to the last one in the 20th century, we look at … Continue reading 024 – The New Year’s Levee →

In honor of the holiday season, we have a special episode examining Christmas in early America. Believe me, the story is not always as one would imagine it. The war on Christmas is nothing new and, at times, was carried out by Christians. As the melting pot of America came together and the new nation … Continue reading 023 – Christmas in Early America →

The presidential election of 1824 would change many lives and the course of the nation forever, and William Henry Harrison was not immune to the ripple effects as he returned to Washington, DC for both a career in the Senate and a quest for an even higher position. For family and for honor, Harrison would … Continue reading 022 – Corrupt Bargains and Shallow Minds →

The Era of Good Feelings was increasingly anything but for William Henry Harrison as he worked as a de facto veteran’s bureau in the House of Representatives and Congress struggled to answer the question of whether Missouri should enter the Union as a slave state or a free state. As Harrison moved closer to home to take … Continue reading 021 – The Era of Ill Feelings →

Harrison concludes his final negotiations with Native Americans before being elected to Congress. In this episode, we discuss how the War of 1812 affected both the settlers and the Native Americans of the old Northwest, how Washington, DC was rebuilding after having been burned by the British, and how Harrison used his new seat in … Continue reading 020 – Mr. Harrison Goes to Washington →

In collaboration with the History of the Ottoman Empire podcast, this episode examines the Ottoman Empire in the 1830s and 1840s including reform efforts initiated by Sultan Mahmud II, early US diplomatic interactions with the Ottoman Empire and the Middle East, and Commodore David Porter, the colorful character who became the first US Minister to the Ottoman Sultanate. … Continue reading 019 – The US and the Ottoman Empire →

Harrison gains the upper hand on British forces in the old Northwest and crosses the border into Canada to take the fight to them. However, political intrigue on the American side will impede military progress, and Harrison will ultimately be forced to defend his honor while his family back at home copes with personal strains. The … Continue reading 018 – To Arms, Eh?: The Defense of Canada and the Death of Tecumseh →

The War of 1812 begins in this episode of the Harrison Podcast, and we examine how Harrison found himself back in the Army and in charge of the military forces of the old Northwest as the British began to make inroads into US territory. Harrison had to hold strong against threats, both internal and external, … Continue reading 017 – The Second American Revolution: This Time, It’s Personal →

In honor of the 205th anniversary of the battle tomorrow, this episode is all about the battle that made Harrison famous – the Battle of Tippecanoe. We discuss the lead-up to the battle, what actually transpired, and what the battle meant for Harrison, the white settlers, and the Native Americans of the Old Northwest. Those … Continue reading 016 – The Battle of Tippecanoe →

We have a very special episode this week as we stage a debate between President Martin Van Buren and General William Henry Harrison in the 1840 presidential campaign. The back and forth gets heated at times, but the two candidates manage to maintain their decorum so that this debate is suitable for all audiences. Gather … Continue reading 015 – The 1840 Presidential Debate →

Harrison begins his transition from the army into public service in this episode and finds love and a new home along the way. However, to avoid the danger of overly romanticizing the story and missing some key historical lessons, this episode does delve into the possibility that Harrison sought female companionship outside of marriage and the detrimental effects that … Continue reading 014 – Courtin’, Cavortin’, and Carryin’ On: Harrison’s Early Public Service →

Harrison takes a rather meandering course from college that leads him first to Richmond then to Philadelphia, through medical training to the army, before he finally marches off to the west where he studies the ways of war from two of the most prominent generals of the time. Along the way, he suffers the loss of … Continue reading 013 – Here and There or Maybe Over There: The Wandering Start of William Henry Harrison →

In this episode, the first in our comprehensive series about Harrison’s life, we follow the life of William Henry Harrison from his birth up until his enrollment at Hampden-Sydney Academy (now College) and explore how the Revolutionary War affected and threatened the young Billy and his family. This episode has a British invasion (though no … Continue reading 012 – The Education of William Henry Harrison →

This week’s episode concludes our discussion on the Inaugural Speech by bringing it all together with topics discussed in previous episodes in order to get a better understanding of the course that old Tip wanted to take the nation in and how he planned to save the nation during his four year presidency that ended … Continue reading 011 – Essentially, Radically Changed: The Inauguration Speech Part 2 →

This week’s episode examines Harrison’s precedent-breaking inaugural address including his direct challenge to Andrew Jackson, his conception of the powers and responsibilities of the president, and his plans for his four year term. It’s an episode not to be missed! A link to the speech as well as other sources used for this episode can be found at … Continue reading 010 – The Bout to Take The General Out: The Inauguration Speech Part 1 →

This week’s episode focuses in on those nearest and dearest to Harrison – his family. We take a brief look at his parents, his wife Anna Symmes Harrison, and their many children. We also take a few moments to discuss his most famous grandson who was also known as the 23rd President of the United … Continue reading 009 – The Harrison Bunch →

We explore the life and legacy of Martin Van Buren, eighth president of the United States. From his beginnings in Kinderhook, NY to his rise to the highest office in the land and later pursuit to return to the presidency, Van Buren’s is a story that spans the antebellum period and leaves us much to … Continue reading 008 – Martin Van Ruin, er Buren →

This week’s episode is devoted to answering questions from listeners. Topics range from Harrison’s health to the historical role of the vice presidency to Harrison’s relationship with Henry Clay to the speed of information in the pre-telegraph age. Sources used for this episode can be found at http://whhpodcast.blubrry.com.