Pardon Me?! A Presidential History Podcast

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Comedians Trent Thomson and Marissa Macy gossip their way through U.S. History by examining the personalities, bad behavior, and astrological charts of the nation’s presidents. Join us every other week for hot takes on the country’s highest office and jui

Marissa Macy & Trent Thomson


    • Dec 11, 2023 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 1h 1m AVG DURATION
    • 31 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Pardon Me?! A Presidential History Podcast

    James Buchanan: The Queer One

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2023 89:22


    S2E17 - Oh, how we wish the queerest president wasn't one of our nation's worst! So gay, so terrible, y'all. Trent and Marissa talk out Buchanan's long-term relationship with Rufus King, the many scandals of his administration, and his chronic inaction in the lead up to the Civil War. Plus, gallons of oysters, Russian czarinas, slippery leather pumps, and a D.C. love shack! This is the end of Season Two, but we'll be back in the spring with Lincoln and his (allegedly) beautiful thighs!  Email pardonme.presidentialpod@gmail.com to contact us or issue corrections (with sources, please)!   Produced and Edited by Trent Thomson and Marissa Macy Original music by Noise of Approval Graphic design by Darcey Mckinney   Sources The Worst President – The Story of James Buchanan by Gary Boulard Bosom Friends: The Intimate World of James Buchanan and William Rufus King by Thomas J. Balcerski https://open.spotify.com/episode/3xLd0ePyZ4m0SF2Kw6Nmym?si=ea13bea683c9451f https://constitutioncenter.org/blog/james-buchanan-why-is-he-considered-americas-worst-president#:~:text=Buchanan%20supported%20the%20theory%20that,wedge%20into%20the%20Democratic%20Party. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/president-james-buchanan-directly-influenced-outcome-dred-scott-decision-180962329/ https://www.battlefields.org/learn/topics/john-browns-harpers-ferry-raid

    FLASHCARD: Bleeding Kansas

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2023 37:17


    S2E16 - Tune in as Trent and Marissa break down the infamous Kansas-Nebraska Act and its bloody consequences.  Signed into law by hot loser Franklin Pierce in 1854, it allowed the people themselves to decide whether or not to allow slavery in the territories. What could possibly go wrong? Well, just voter fraud, the beating of a congressman, broadswords, fleeing governors, killing sprees, the death of a political party, the birth of a political party… and the inevitability of civil war.  Email pardonme.presidentialpod@gmail.com to contact us or issue corrections (with sources, please)!   Produced and Edited by Trent Thomson and Marissa Macy Original music by Noise of Approval Graphic design by Darcey Mckinney   Sources Franklin Pierce by Michael F. Holt https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-law-that-ripped-america-in-two-99723670/ https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/kansas-nebraska-act https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/caning-charles-sumner https://www.history.com/topics/19th-century/bleeding-kansas 

    Franklin Pierce: Tragically Hot

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2023 71:20


    S2E15 - Known for being one of our hottest presidents but also one of the worst, the story of Franklin Pierce is full of tragedies, horse accidents, drinking, bad timing, and fainting. President during a time of deepening political divides, Pierce made all the wrong choices and hung out with all the wrong people. Trent and Marissa talk through it all, including the Kansas-Nebraska Act, the Gadsden Purchase, why Nathaniel Hawthorne sucks, and more!    Email pardonme.presidentialpod@gmail.com to contact us or issue corrections (with sources, please)! Produced and Edited by Trent Thomson and Marissa Macy Original music by Noise of Approval Graphic design by Darcey Mckinney   Sources  Franklin Pierce by Michael F. Holt https://millercenter.org/president/pierce/essays/king-1853-vicepresident#:~:text=In%20March%201853%2C%20King%20became,reaching%20his%20home%20in%20Alabama. https://open.spotify.com/episode/36KKuLl9HvQkT1zhcbUOV1?si=d03545ccaced4933 https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=eXjhS8pjy6RXMIHH&v=2X6-eGSd0LA&feature=youtu.be

    FLASHCARD: The Know Nothing Party

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2023 37:20


    S2E14 - As the Whig Party dies and the Republican Party begins forming, a party based on bigotry and xenophobia surges in popularity. Trent and Marissa track the secret societies that end up creating the Know Nothing Party, profile its major players, and analyze the impact the party had on American History. Plus, a best-selling book that turns out to be a hoax, Martin Scorcese's Gangs of New York, trains taking jobs, voter fraud, and more!  Email pardonme.presidentialpod@gmail.com to contact us or issue corrections (with sources, please)! Produced and Edited by Trent Thomson and Marissa Macy Original music by Noise of Approval Graphic design by Darcey Mckinney   Sources https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qA5i4AQ7lB8 https://www.jstor.org/stable/25012185?typeAccessWorkflow=login&seq=6 https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/immigrants-conspiracies-and-secret-society-launched-american-nativism-180961915/

    Millard Fillmore: Silly Name, Serious Bigot

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2023 77:23


    S2E13 - A political nobody, Fillmore rose to the presidency when Zachary Taylor died in office, and then promptly screwed everything up! Listen in as Trent and Marissa talk sh*t about this guy's Nativist views, his whiny baby behavior, and his idiotic choices as president. This episode also features an explanation of the Compromise of 1850, appearances from Queen Victoria and the Pope, plus a scandalous spilling of the Masons' secrets!!!   Email pardonme.presidentialpod@gmail.com to contact us or issue corrections (with sources, please)!   Produced and Edited by Trent Thomson and Marissa Macy Original music by Noise of Approval Graphic design by Darcey McKinney   Sources  Millard Fillmore by Paul Finkelman https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/first-families/abigail-powers-fillmore/ https://millercenter.org/president/fillmore

    FLASHCARD: The California Gold Rush

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2023 53:40


    S2E12 - Think you know the Gold Rush? Think again! Trent and Marissa discuss the scams, the schemes, the gambling, the price-gouging, and the really, really long boat rides to California. The Gold Rush and its population boom caused a genocide of the Native Californian Peoples, the destruction of land, the growth of San Francisco and Sacramento, the construction of railroads, a wave of Chinese immigration, and many broken dreams. Email pardonme.presidentialpod@gmail.com to contact us or issue corrections (with sources, please)!   Produced and Edited by Trent Thomson and Marissa Macy Original music by Noise of Approval Graphic design by Darcey Mckinney   Sources  The California Gold Rush and the Coming of the Civil War by Leonard L. Richards https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/goldrush-california/ https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/goldrush-samuel-brannan/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2bpBAXvJew https://open.spotify.com/episode/4ZONGwfOoZxP9CnaWVw9Yn?si=1bf24a0ddd2145e4 https://open.spotify.com/episode/1f44sphaUmOAKlOgjAhJ9O?si=670f5fee2f724a89  

    Zachary Taylor: Death by Cherries

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2023 86:48


    S2E11 - The first man to become president with zero political experience! Like, absolutely none! He was never an elected official, had no party affiliation, and never voted. His wife even prayed that he wouldn't win the election! Join Marissa & Trent as they follow the story of how Zachary Taylor, a run-of-the-mill military man, rose to the highest office in the land. Don't worry, we talk about his tasty treat of ice milk and cherries that killed him! Or did they?!? Email pardonme.presidentialpod@gmail.com to contact us or issue corrections (with sources, please)! Produced and Edited by Trent Thomson and Marissa Macy Original music by Noise of Approval Graphic design by Darcey McKinney   Sources Zachary Taylor by John S.D. Eisenhower https://www.womenhistoryblog.com/2013/02/margaret-taylor.html https://millercenter.org/president/taylor https://www.thezacharytaylorproject.com/zachary-taylor https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZ5W8clGneI https://open.spotify.com/episode/51XyeqPVviuTNahOTPLnVa?si=fe3d9bb06f514574

    FLASHCARD: Texas!

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2023 60:19


    S2E10 - As Texans, Marissa and Trent are obligated to share the story of the Lone Star State! Tune in for a wild tale that takes us from colonization to statehood, including mini-biographies of the three men who served as PRESIDENT of Texas (this is a presidential history podcast, after all). This episode is a quick and dirty rundown of Texas, sprinkled with hot takes about coaches as teachers, sharing nachos with America, and desperate straight men.  Email pardonme.presidentialpod@gmail.com to contact us or issue corrections (with sources, please)!   Produced and Edited by Trent Thomson and Marissa Macy Original music by Noise of Approval Graphic design by Darcey McKinney   Sources https://texasourtexas.texaspbs.org/the-eras-of-texas/early-statehood/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwJsazGuICo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpuYHu4NUi8 https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/alamo-republic/ https://www.tsl.texas.gov/treasures/republic/index.html https://www.americanhistorycentral.com/entries/texas-revolution-1835-1836/  

    James K. Polk: Hickory's Pet

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2023 87:02


    S2E09 - Known for accomplishing everything he set out to do as president, Polk is considered one of the most effective presidents in U.S. History. But that won't stop Marissa and Trent from absolutely tearing this self-righteous jerk to shreds! Polk doubled the size of the United States, but with consequences that have rippled through the ages. Join us for a tale that includes botched surgery, Andrew Jackson as matchmaker, a walking log, a war started out of lust, and a hide-and-seek game with cholera.  Email pardonme.presidentialpod@gmail.com to contact us or issue corrections (with sources, please)! Produced and Edited by Trent Thomson and Marissa Macy Original music by Noise of Approval Graphic design by Darcey Mckinney   Sources Polk: The Man Who Transformed the Presidency and America by Walter R. Borneman https://history.state.gov/milestones/1830-1860/oregon-territory https://www.crf-usa.org/bill-of-rights-in-action/bria-20-1-a-president-polk-and-the-taking-of-the-west.html  

    FLASHCARD: The Dorr Rebellion

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 7, 2023 36:24


    S2E08 - Rhode Island might be small but it is packed with massive drama! The Dorr Rebellion is a footnote in history too juicy not to share. Take a really old royal charter, a fight for suffrage, a stubborn governor, and some guy who's willing to stick it to the man, and BAM, we've got a rebellion! And an illegal election! And faulty cannons! And a public relations campaign! And Marissa and Trent not letting go of a mediocre joke! Email pardonme.presidentialpod@gmail.com to contact us or issue corrections (with sources, please)! Produced and Edited by Trent Thomson and Marissa Macy Original music by Noise of Approval Graphic design by Darcey Mckinney   Sources President without a Party: The Life of John Tyler by Christopher J Leahy https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/concepts-african-american-history/rhode-island-constitution-of-1842/ https://daily.jstor.org/the-dorr-rebellion-for-voting-rights/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvSnU0T5Kzg&t=21s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fr5Yo6c4D70 https://www.providencejournal.com/story/opinion/columns/2020/11/21/hidden-ri-history-racism-and-black-suffrage-dorr-rebellion/6318512002/

    John Tyler: Certified Traitor

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2023 90:40


    02E07 - The worse the president, the better the gossip. John Tyler was made vice president under William Henry Harrison almost as an afterthought. Throw in an untimely death, and this Virginia-born brat takes the highest seat in the land. He fathered 15 children, was fiercely oppositional, fell in love while president, and was kicked out of his political party. This episode has everything a gossip-loving presidential history buff could ask for: a secret wedding, a deadly cruise party, a stepmother younger than her stepchildren, and dying as a traitor!   Email pardonme.presidentialpod@gmail.com to contact us or issue corrections (with sources, please)! Produced and Edited by Trent Thomson and Marissa Macy Original music by Noise of Approval Graphic design by Darcey Mckinney   Sources: President without a Party: The Life of John Tyler by Christopher J Leahy John Tyler, the Accidental President by Edward P. Crapol  

    FLASHCARD: The White House Killer

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 10, 2023 33:33


    S2E06 - Marissa and Trent put on their plaid detective hats to solve the mystery of what REALLY killed William Henry Harrison. They follow the clues through porous swamp soil, unfortunately located hills, night soil buckets, and stupid doctors! Listen in for details about 1840s Washington D.C. that will shake you to your core. AND SPOILER ALERT: Harrison wasn't the only presidential victim of this elusive White House killer! Email pardonme.presidentialpod@gmail.com to contact us or issue corrections (with sources, please)! Produced and Edited by Trent Thomson and Marissa Macy Original music by Noise of Approval Graphic design by Darcey Mckinney   Sources:  https://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/01/science/what-really-killed-william-henry-harrison.html https://open.spotify.com/episode/1Ox2zzLXdmiR2YDiNARrZQ?si=Udgt9UnWRyuDmMWRUgC_bw https://academic.oup.com/cid/article/59/7/990/2895539 https://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2019/04/killer-in-the-white-house/

    William Henry Harrison: White House Fraud

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 26, 2023 87:36


    S2E05 - William Henry Harrison is the record holder for the teensiest-weensiest-ittiest-bittiest presidential term at just 31 days. And in this episode, he must face the seering judgements of Marissa and Trent! He was a follower, father of ten children, stealer of lands, and a man who, despite never having lived in a log cabin, was the face of a very log-cabin-heavy political campaign. Although he's the most mediocre guy we've seen in the office so far, his presidential campaign and untimely death had huge repercussions on the course of United States History!  Email pardonme.presidentialpod@gmail.com to contact us or issue corrections (with sources, please)!   Produced and Edited by Trent Thomson and Marissa Macy Original music by Noise of Approval Graphic design by Darcey Mckinney   Sources:  Mr. Jefferson's Hammer: William Henry Harrison and the Origins of American Indian Policy by Robert M. Owens William Henry Harrison by Gail Collins

    FLASHCARD: The Panic of 1837

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 12, 2023 47:12


    S2E04 - The first major financial crisis in the United States? What could possibly be relevant or interesting about that? Well, sweet listener, history likes to repeat itself, especially when it comes to financial crises. Trent and Marissa break down important questions like, “What is money?”, “Is capitalism bad?” and “What were the logistics of buying land with literal, physical gold?” Money talks, but not as much as Trent and Marissa!   Email pardonme.presidentialpod@gmail.com to contact us or issue corrections (with sources, please)!   Produced and Edited by Trent Thomson and Marissa Macy Original music by Noise of Approval Graphic design by Darcey Mckinney   Sources:  https://www.brandeis.edu/magazine/2013/spring/inquiry/depression.html https://www.marketplace.org/2017/04/26/how-panic-1837-predicted-great-recession/  https://historyincharts.com/panic-of-1837-causes/ https://economic-historian.com/2020/11/panic-of-1837/ https://cs.stanford.edu/people/eroberts/cs181/projects/corporate-monopolies/development_rr.html Martin Van Buren by Ted Widmer

    Martin Van Buren: Party Guy

    Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2023 84:22


    S2E03 - You may know him for his sideburns, but Martin Van Buren was so much more! He was a sneaky little fox who schemed and gossiped his way from his Dutch roots in Kinderhook, NY all the way into the highest office in the land. He created the Democratic Party, made the word “OK” popular, and orchestrated many devious dealings behind closed doors. All while wearing the fanciest of outfits! Email pardonme.presidentialpod@gmail.com to contact us or issue corrections (with sources, please)! Produced and Edited by Trent Thomson and Marissa Macy Original music by Noise of Approval Graphic design by Darcey Mckinney   Sources:  Martin Van Buren by Ted Widmer https://www.whitehousehistory.org/the-enslaved-households-of-martin-van-buren

    FLASHCARD: The Petticoat Affair

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2023 49:32


    S2E02 - Ah yes, the White House's first true sex scandal. Listen in to learn how Margaret Eaton, the spicy daughter of a tavern keeper, scandalized the ladies of Washington society, caused a major rift in Andrew Jackson's cabinet, and inadvertently affected the future of the presidency. This episode has it all: gossip, possible infidelity, Italian scam artists, and vice-presidential scheming.    Email pardonme.presidentialpod@gmail.com to contact us or issue corrections (with sources, please)!   Produced and Edited by Trent Thomson and Marissa Macy Original music by Noise of Approval Graphic design by Darcey Mckinney   Sources:  The First Populist: The Defiant Life of Andrew Jackson by David S. Brown The Petticoat Affair : Manners, Mutiny, and Sex in Andrew Jackson's White House by John F. Marszalek https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIHY7_iatbs https://www.womenhistoryblog.com/2013/03/peggy-eaton.html

    Andrew Jackson: A Murderer and A Tyrant

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2023 99:26


    S2E01 - Season Two of Pardon Me?! kicks off with a man that needs no introduction. Honestly, how do you even summarize this guy? Tragic childhood! Countless brushes with death! A scandalous marriage! The Battle of New Orleans! Irritable bowels! The rise of Populism! An unchecked amount of executive power! Truly evil policies regarding the seizure of Native American lands that affect generations! Tune-in for a wild story about a real jerk who is still on our twenty-dollar bill.    Email pardonme.presidentialpod@gmail.com to contact us or issue corrections (with sources, please)!   Produced and Edited by Trent Thomson and Marissa Macy Original music by Noise of Approval Graphic design by Darcey Mckinney   Sources: American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House by Jon Meacham The First Populist: The Defiant Life of Andrew Jackson by David S. Brown Andrew Jackson: Good, Evil, and the Presidency (PBS Documentary) https://thehermitage.com/andrew-jackson-junior/ https://www.neh.gov/humanities/2014/marchapril/feature/hannah-andrew-jacksons-slavehttps://millercenter.org/president/jackson/domestic-affairs

    Season Two Tease!

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2023 8:55


    Season two is right around the corner, and since everyone in class has been on their best behavior, Trent and Marissa are previewing the silly presidential men coming to your podcast feed this year! First episode of season two will be available May 1st, with episodes every other Monday for the rest of 2023.    Email pardonme.presidentialpod@gmail.com to contact us or issue corrections (with sources, please)! Produced and Edited by Trent Thomson and Marissa Macy Original music by Noise of Approval Graphic design by Darcey Mckinney

    FLASHCARD: Election of 1824

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2022 32:31


    S1E13 - We're wrapping up season one with a real banger of an election! 1824 ushered in our boyfriend, John Quincy Adams, to the presidency, but not without heckin' controversy! With only one major party on the ballot, and four candidates splitting up the vote, what could possibly go wrong? Tune in for a breakdown of how this election led to new political parties, campaign tactics, the inevitability of Andrew Jackson, and why we don't think the “corrupt bargain” was all that corrupt.   Email pardonme.presidentialpod@gmail.com to contact us or issue corrections (with sources, please).    Produced and Edited by Trent Thomson and Marissa Macy Original music by Noise of Approval Graphic design by Darcey Mckinney   Sources: https://millercenter.org/president/jqadams/campaigns-and-elections https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8nPsa1Vr1o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjS9b0laRPs https://open.spotify.com/episode/5A94Iu6pVr0GZGiJ6ENZ5U?si=482bd888d0d94cbd  

    John Quincy Adams: Our New Boyfriend

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 21, 2022 93:22


    S1E12 - Is John Quincy Adams a window into our own souls? A product of overbearing parents, John and Abigail Adams, JQA had a lackluster presidency but a truly extraordinary life. He was a well-traveled prodigy child, an aspiring poet, translator of German literature, hobby gardener, metric-system enthusiast, fierce abolitionist, HATER of Andrew Jackson, celebrated orator, statesman, and the only president to serve in the House of Representatives after his presidency. We love him, and if you love a TRUE public servant, then you will too!    Email pardonme.presidentialpod@gmail.com to contact us or issue corrections (with sources, please).    Produced and Edited by Trent Thomson and Marissa Macy Original music by Noise of Approval Graphic design by Darcey Mckinney   Sources: John Quincy Adams: A Public Life, A Private Life by Paul C. Nagel http://www.john-adams-heritage.com/timeline-john-quincy-adams/  

    FLASHCARD: The American Colonization Society

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 7, 2022 34:21


    S1E11 - If you've never heard of the American Colonization Society, then buckle up! Often overlooked in U.S. History, the American Colonization Society colonized land in West Africa (later becoming the nation of Liberia), and then sent over thousands of Black Americans, providing minimal aid and resources. Trent and Marissa discuss the involvement of the U.S. Government (including support from the likes of Madison and Monroe) and the legacy left by the ACS in Liberia (spoiler: it wasn't positive).  One of our sources for this episode was the podcast It's a Continent. Highly recommended for an entertaining and in-depth history of Africa!   Email pardonme.presidentialpod@gmail.com to contact us or issue corrections (with sources, please).  Produced and Edited by Trent Thomson and Marissa Macy Original music by Noise of Approval Graphic design by Darcey Mckinney   Sources: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqJtz9odOag https://history.state.gov/milestones/1830-1860/liberia https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/globalconnections/liberia/essays/history/ https://www.aaihs.org/the-american-colonization-society-200-years-of-the-colonizing-trick/ https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/american-colonization-society-1816-1964/ https://www.history.com/news/slavery-american-colonization-society-liberia https://www.blackpast.org/global-african-history/roberts-joseph-jenkins-1809-1876/ https://teachingamericanhistory.org/document/prejudice-not-natural/

    James Monroe: The Doctrine Dude

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 24, 2022 80:21


    S1E10 - You may know him from the Monroe Doctrine, but he's so much more than his foreign policy reform! Monroe was our fourth Virginia enslaver president (that's 4 out of 5 so far, y'all), the last of the “founding fathers” (after this we promise to shut up about the American Revolution), and our first really outdoorsy president (he would have looooooved REI). Trent and Marissa also unpack the controversial seizure of Florida, the Missouri Compromise, and why July 4th is a scary day for ex-presidents!    Email pardonme.presidentialpod@gmail.com to contact us or issue corrections (with sources, please).    Produced and Edited by Trent Thomson and Marissa Macy Original music by Noise of Approval Graphic design by Darcey Mckinney Sources:  James Monroe: A Life by Tim McGrath The Last Founding Father: James Monroe and a Nation's Call to Greatness by Harlow Giles Unger https://www.loc.gov/collections/james-monroe-papers/articles-and-essays/timeline/

    EP9 - FLASHCARD: War of 1812

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2022 43:24


    Listen in for a quick and dirty summary of the War of 1812. Think it's boring? Think again! Trent and Marissa discuss British impressment, Crybaby William Hull, why cannons are scary, and Miley Cyrus's connection to the National Anthem. There's also an unusual amount of singing on this episode. You're welcome? PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: In this episode, we reference “The 1812 Overture” by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and incorrectly attribute it to the War of 1812. It was inspired by the defense of Russia's capital against the French in that year and was written over sixty years after the fact. There is no relation to the War of 1812 in the United States. We are incredibly sorry for any inconvenience this mistake has caused you and your loved ones. Email pardonme.presidentialpod@gmail.com to contact us or issue corrections (with sources, please).    Produced and Edited by Trent Thomson and Marissa Macy Original music by Noise of Approval Graphic design by Darcey McKinney Sources:  http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/william-hull https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/british-view-war-1812-quite-differently-americans-do-180951852/ https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/brief-overview-war-1812 https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/11/02/what-tecumseh-fought-for

    EP8 - James Madison: Our Smallest President

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2022 81:03


    Once described as “the most unsociable creature in existence,” we suspect James Madison might have been a stack of books inside of a trenchcoat. He was the father of the U.S. Constitution, the BFF of Jefferson, a true lover of politics, and an enslaver who didn't seem to lose any sleep over it. We unpack the Madison legacy, discuss the hotness of Dolly Madison, and explain why the history of the ratification of the U.S. Constitution makes for EXCELLENT dinner party conversation (trust us, we're your friends).   Email pardonme.presidentialpod@gmail.com to contact us or issue corrections (with sources, please).  Produced and Edited by Trent Thomson and Marissa Macy Original music by Noise of Approval Graphic design by Darcey Mckinney   Sources:  James Madison: America's First Politician by Jay Cost  James Madison by Garry Wills “Madison's Gift: Five Partnerships That Built America”  "James Madison - 4th U.S. President & Father of the Constitution" History in Five: "The Political Genius of James Madison" "The Constitution & Madison's 3 Big Ideas" https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/what-the-least-fun-founding-father-can-teach-us-now

    EP7 - FLASHCARD: Lewis & Clark

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 12, 2022 59:03


    Finally, a duo almost as iconic as your humble podcast hosts! Listen in as we recount Lewis & Clark's journey west, which included mercury-filled laxatives, men crying at the ocean, mysterious missing journals, and… *record scratch* a potentially queer relationship??? If you think you know the Lewis & Clark expedition, think again! Email pardonme.presidentialpod@gmail.com to contact us or issue corrections (with sources, please).  Produced and Edited by Trent Thomson and Marissa Macy Original music by Noise of Approval  Graphic design by Darcey Mckinney   Sources:  Lewis & Clark: The Journey of the Corps of Discovery - A Film by Ken Burns My Friend and Companion:  The Intimate Journey of Lewis and Clark by William Benemann https://news.stlpublicradio.org/show/st-louis-on-the-air/2014-04-24/what-did-explorers-lewis-and-clark-do-when-they-got-back-to-st-louis (How to pronounce Sacagawea, we still didn't get it quite right)  

    EP6 - Thomas Jefferson: Monticello Madness

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2022 75:46


    You may know him as the writer of the Declaration of Independence, as the dealmaker behind the Louisiana Purchase, or as the guy on the nickel! But did you know Thomas Jefferson was America's original shopaholic? In this episode, we examine his idealism, hypocrisy, and inability to take a note. We also try to pronounce “House of Burgesses.” And it's embarrassing. Email pardonme.presidentialpod@gmail.com to contact us or issue corrections (with sources, please).  Produced and Edited by Trent Thomson and Marissa Macy Original music by Noise of Approval Graphic design by Darcey Mckinney   Sources American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson by Joseph J. Ellis https://www.monticello.org/jefferson-timeline/ https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/16/us/sally-hemings-exhibit-monticello.html Thomas Jefferson: A Film by Ken Burns

    EP5 - FLASHCARD: John Hancock

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 15, 2022 42:18


    If you think John Hancock is all about the signature, think again! In this flashcard episode (covering president-adjacent topics), we discuss all there is to know about Hancock beyond his “John Hancock.” Expect lavender suits, gout, ships full of wine, and a TV pilot pitch that we really hope gets picked up.  Email pardonme.presidentialpod@gmail.com to contact us or issue corrections (with sources, please).  Produced and Edited by Trent Thomson and Marissa Macy Original Music by Noise of Approval  Graphic Design by Darcey Mckinney   Sources American Rebels: How the Hancock, Adams, and Quincy Families Fanned the Flames of Revolution by Nina Sankovitch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBwRVnUKRpU https://www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/john-hancock/ https://constitutioncenter.org/blog/10-fascinating-facts-about-john-hancock https://superheroes.fandom.com/wiki/John_Hancock https://www.ushistory.org/declaration/signers/hancock.html https://www.americanheritage.com/men-revolution-14-john-hancock#1

    EP4 - John Adams: Founding Zaddy

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2022 81:44


    Welcome to the John Adams Fan Club! We can't get enough of this guy, so we hope you're ready to hear all about why John Adams is the best founding father. His relationship with Abigail? Legendary. Doing the right thing even when it was unpopular? Iconic. Securing Dutch loans against all odds? Work it, babe.    Email pardonme.presidentialpod@gmail.com to contact us or issue corrections (with sources, please).   Produced and Edited by Trent Thomson and Marissa Macy Original Music by Noise of Approval  Graphic Design by Darcey McKinney   Sources: John Adams by David McCullough American Rebels: How the Hancock, Adams, and Quincy Families Fanned the Flames of Revolution by Nina Sankovitch Passionate Sage: The Character and Legacy of John Adams by Joseph J. Ellis John Adams Under Fire: The Founding Father's Fight for Justice in the Boston Massacre Murder Trial by Dan Abrams & David Fisher https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/john-adams-event-timeline  

    EP3 - FLASHCARD: Ona Judge

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2022 32:48


    Between presidents, we will be discussing a person, place, or event related to the presidents. Think of it like the supplemental material at the end of a chapter in your U.S. History textbook. This episode, we discuss the life of Ona Judge, who escaped enslavement under the Washingtons and was pursued by them for years.  Email pardonme.presidentialpod@gmail.com to contact us or issue corrections (with sources, please). Produced and edited by Trent Thomson and Marissa Macy Original music by Noise of Approval Graphic Design by Darcey McKinney Sources: Never Caught: The Washingtons' Relentless Pursuit of Their Runaway Slave, Ona Judge by Erica Armstrong Dunbar Lecture by Erica Armstrong Dunbar on her book: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipnmqh0w-mw https://www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/ona-judge/

    history washington relentless pursuit flashcards ona judge erica armstrong dunbar
    EP2 - George Washington: Hey, He's No Saint!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 4, 2022 68:40


    The myth, the legend, the teeth, the dysentery. Trent shares his theory about the U.S. as a multi-level marketing scheme, and Marissa refuses to give this so-called hero the benefit of the doubt. Tune in for mules, accidental wars, and a really annoyed wife. Email pardonme.presidentialpod@gmail.com to contact us or issue corrections (with sources, please).   Produced and edited by Trent Thomson and Marissa Macy Original music by Noise of Approval Graphic Design by Darcey McKinney Sources: You Never Forget Your First by Alexis Coe (Highly Recommended) https://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/ https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/george-washington-event-timeline

    EP1 - The ”Real” First Presidents and the Articles of Confederation

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 4, 2022 48:58


    Welcome to the inaugural episode of Pardon Me?! If you thought you'd find George Washington here, think again! Trent and Marissa get into why the Articles of Confederation was a mess, the parade of men who could have, technically, sort-of, been considered president before Washington, and break down why we're even doing this podcast in the first place.   Email pardonme.presidentialpod@gmail.com to contact us or issue corrections (with sources, please). Produced and Edited by Trent Thomson and Marissa Macy Original music by Noise of Approval  Graphic design by Darcey McKinney   Sources: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/SMAN-107/pdf/SMAN-107-pg935.pdf https://www.nps.gov/subjects/americanrevolution/timeline.htm https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/01-02-02-0006-0009-0001 https://www.historynet.com/the-patriot-who-refused-to-sign-the-declaration-of-independence.htm https://www.constitutionfacts.com/us-articles-of-confederation/about-the-signers/ https://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-resources/spotlight-primary-source/george-washington-and-newburgh-conspiracy-1783 https://www.loc.gov/collections/continental-congress-and-constitutional-convention-from-1774-to-1789/articles-and-essays/to-form-a-more-perfect-union/identifying-defects-in-the-constitution/ https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/hall-of-presidents-before-washington https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2020/12/15/fact-check-barack-obama-first-black-u-s-president/3909214001/

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