unPresidented

Niel ranks every President not in the 2024 election, 1-44. Jusef gives his top 10 best and worst presidents. The two recap the highs and lows of episodes and presidents, while also reflecting on the changes to the pod over the years. This is the last episode for an indefinite period. Thank you to all our listeners who followed us along for the ride, and to those of you that are new here years after this episode dropped! Keywords: Presidents American Presidents America USA United States Politics History Biography Biographical Republicans Democrats Political Parties Senator House of Representatives Constitution American Anthem White House American Flag

We've made it to the end, the finale, our first and last President of Unpresidented. George Washington, a man whose face is time and again used as a grand symbol for American democracy — whether it's on currency, state flags, or statues throughout the 50 states. If you want to have a basic understanding of the American presidency, you have to start with Washington's actions while in office. Two term limits, farewell addresses, cabinet meetings, and so many more precedents that are ingrained into the office became institutional traditions from Washington's decisions rather than the framers of the Constitution. Being the first to take an office of novel and rare significance is much harder than to follow in anyone's footsteps. The humility and care that Washington took into the presidency arguably was one of the most important actions of any individual in ensuring the same nation he helped govern stands today. Still, the events of his presidency are not as popularized as the character of Washington himself (especially in his years fighting in the revolution), as well as his unique dissatisfaction with being a British colonial growing into adulthood. Niel and Jusef first explore the real person — George Washington —then dive into the decisions that actually made his presidency successful even in a 2024 lens. Our journey of presidents ends here. We are back with one more episode to talk more in depth about our podcast as a whole, so we hope you join us for our final send off. Thank you to all our listeners who were part of the journey with us at any point in the last 2 1/2 years — its been a lot of fun. Keywords: Presidents American Presidents America USA United States Politics History Biography Biographical Republicans Democrats Political Parties Senator House of Representatives Constitution American Anthem White House American Flag

Picking up where we left off in Part 1 — Lincoln at the start of the Civil War (and mainly throughout) was having a rough time managing the crisis. A lack of enthusiasm to fight and aggressive-minded generals, as well as a suspension of habeas corpus put him on an uneasy path in trying to win re-election. While his administration had mostly solved the nation's financial crisis, they suffered heavy losses on the battlefields with little progress to show for it. Until 1863, the country looked like it was on a path to becoming permanently split. That all changed with Lincoln issuing the Emancipation Proclamation — for the first time, all black men were given freedom in all rebel states, which further weakened the south as more former slavers escaped and made their way north. Lincoln's Proclamation completely turned around the war effort and gave it a deeper meaning that finally more closely aligned the nation's founding principles of civil liberties for all people with what it was now fighting for. The problem that we have with Lincoln though, is that emancipation and the 13th amendment, his signature achievements, never were ambitions of his. Instead, they became convenient policy choices only after he tried to appease southern slaveholders for years. Jusef and Niel discuss if Lincoln should be celebrated as much as he still is today, as well as reaffirm what has become clear from them now studying almost all of the American Presidents — they all are deeply deeply flawed, and arguably more so if they have a greater legacy. x Keywords: Presidents American Presidents America USA United States Politics History Biography Biographical Republicans Democrats Political Parties Senator House of Representatives Constitution American Anthem White House American Flag

When Lincoln comes into office, he is walking into a disaster beyond the seriousness of what even Hoover had to deal with. Several states had already seceded from the Union, with more considering joining the Confederacy. The nation, losing tariff revenue from secession, was also on the brink of financial collapse. The issue of slavery had officially split the country in two, and with southern leaders quick to set up a government and organize an army, the possibilities of reunifying seemed like a slim feat for Lincoln to pull off. As everyone knows, he does just that, and achieves something greater than any presidential accomplishment in history — abolishing slavery in the US. Jusef and Niel discuss if Lincoln's plans at the beginning of his term were to try to eliminate slavery, or did other factors force him to issue the emancipation proclamation later on. Is Lincoln's legacy too great to humanize, and can any president come close to matching his accomplishments? Keywords: Presidents American Presidents America USA United States Politics History Biography Biographical Republicans Democrats Political Parties Senator House of Representatives Constitution American Anthem White House American Flag

Keywords: Presidents American Presidents America USA United States Politics History Biography Biographical Republicans Democrats Political Parties Senator House of Representatives Constitution American Anthem White House American Flag

Keywords: Presidents American Presidents America USA United States Politics History Biography Biographical Republicans Democrats Political Parties Senator House of Representatives Constitution American Anthem White House American Flag

We pick up part two with Teddy's transformative presidential years, and later discuss how his success becomes his own worst enemy during his post-presidency. While he is unmatched as an icon, Niel and Jusef consider if his reluctance to let go of power significantly tarnishes his legacy. TEDDYYY! Keywords: Presidents American Presidents America USA United States Politics History Biography Biographical Republicans Democrats Political Parties Senator House of Representatives Constitution American Anthem White House American Flag

TEDDYYYYY! Keywords: Presidents American Presidents America USA United States Politics History Biography Biographical Republicans Democrats Political Parties Senator House of Representatives Constitution American Anthem White House American Flag

Keywords: Presidents American Presidents America USA United States Politics History Biography Biographical Republicans Democrats Political Parties Senator House of Representatives Constitution American Anthem White House American Flag

We continue our Nixon journey discussing all the fascinating dynamics of the 1968 election. Even as Nixon's campaign revolutionizes the art of making a presidential run for the next 60 years, he needs every break possible to still win. The events of 1968 dominate today's episode, with Nixon's presidency taking up the last 1/3 of the recording. It turns out the signature moments that dominate Nixon's legacy turn are some of the least interesting parts about him. Keywords: Presidents American Presidents America USA United States Politics History Biography Biographical Republicans Democrats Political Parties Senator House of Representatives Constitution American Anthem White House American Flag

Our season four presidential closer is arguably the most tragic historical figure in American history; Ricard Nixon. Dick had all the strengths to be a great President, along with an impressive record of signing into law some of the country's most important legislation that still exists today. Most Americans know nothing of Nixon's accomplishments though, and for good reasons. The abuse of executive power during Watergate served as a warning to the American public on giving away too much trust to the government, a culture that has grown since and polarizes the nation today. In part one of our Nixon two-parter - Jusef and Neil explore the origins of Nixon's turn towards the darker side of politics and talk through the evolution of Nixon and his political motivations in his pursuit of the presidency. Keywords: Presidents American Presidents America USA United States Politics History Biography Biographical Republicans Democrats Political Parties Senator House of Representatives Constitution American Anthem White House American Flag

Another twist in formatting with this episode! Think of it as a Part Two to the Dead Too Soon Presidents released earlier this season, as we follow up that episode with the successor to Zachary Taylor and the grandson of William Henry Harrison. We decided to put these two in the same episode to close out the last of our Presidents who have a more forgettable reputation in American history. It also served as an opportunity to shed light on how the failure of the Whigs to keep their Party united contrasted with Republicans giving their Party room to incorporate more political ideologies into their coalition. As a result, these Presidents leave behind very different legacies -- Fillmore's term marks the end of the Whigs and Harrison sparks a new era of Progressive politics that inspires the actions of many of his successors. Keywords: Presidents American Presidents America USA United States Politics History Biography Biographical Republicans Democrats Political Parties Senate House of Representatives Constitution American Anthem White House American Flag

Today we close a major chapter of our post-founder presidents era -- covering the most impactful of them all in Andrew Jackson. No one before him, not even Washington and Jefferson, had the cult of personality that Jackson had. A whole new political party (which is now our oldest) was formed just to get him into the presidency. Without him, the Democratic Party does not even come into existence. There have been other presidents who have thrived in their careers from leaning purely into character when you think about people like Teddy, or even Trump, but often what you'll find in common with their rising political popularity is an overlooked populace that has an outsized grievance towards a government that is heavily favoring the rich and wealthy. Jackson's rise is unique when compared to those two, though, because he does much more to create the conditions for someone like him to gain that kind of popularity. If there is one thing that people know or could assume about Jackson, even today, is that he's not really a nice guy, nor did he try to pretend to be. He's someone who held a lot of grudges, he was vengeful and distrustful -- especially of the aristocracy -- and most notably, violent and brutal towards his opponents. It's really how he makes a name for himself nationally through his service in the Tennessee militia and US Army. Niel and Jusef discuss his new approach to presidential politics and its impacts on such a young country, especially when it comes to campaigning. We also explore his decision-making on the two issues that affected way too many presidencies in the 19th century -- the tariff and national bank. Keywords: Presidents American Presidents America USA United States Politics History Biography Biographical Republicans Democrats Political Parties Senate House of Representatives Constitution American Anthem White House American Flag

We are back with another side episode, and here we review some of the familiar stories and people we have all heard about at some point growing up -- folk heroes -- focusing on American ones given we are a podcast centered on American presidents. We chose this topic to explore the stories and tales that have stuck around and have had the ability to unite groups of people, and also try to uncover how folk heroes obtained their exclusive status. While some have particularly dark histories and have been glorified for problematic causes, we more so explore what about these people made them so compelling that their [mostly fictional] stories carried on well beyond their lifetimes. Andrew Jackson is up next in two weeks! Keywords: Presidents American Presidents America USA United States Politics History Biography Biographical Republicans Democrats Political Parties Senate House of Representatives Constitution American Anthem White House American Flag

Three Presidents within 40 years of one another died in office less than two years into their terms. Niel and Jusef explore the implications of these deaths in how they changed the course of American history in a unique time-jump episode. Keywords: Presidents American Presidents America USA United States Politics History Biography Biographical Republicans Democrats Political Parties Senate House of Representatives Constitution American Anthem White House American Flag

Rutherford B Hayes had all the potential to be an exceptional president for post-Civil War America. He had defended runaway slaves in court to obtain their freedom. He served in the army throughout the Civil War. He even fought for expanded measures to guarantee black suffrage as governor of Ohio. Many could have examined his background and concluded he was an ideal fit to replace President Grant and carry on Reconstruction's slow but critical progress/objectives. Instead, all the controversies that unfolded in the 1876 election made Reconstruction even more unpopular and politically difficult to continue. That doesn't mean Hayes had to oversee its end, though. Unfortunately, unlike his predecessor, Hayes makes more politically convenient choices than Grant, and gives up on Reconstruction to focus on the economy and ending political patronage. The Jim Crow era slowly began, and Hayes' legacy will always have to contend with what could have been had he been courageous enough to continue defending civil rights protections for Black Americans across the country Keywords: Presidents American Presidents America USA United States Politics History Biography Biographical Republicans Democrats Political Parties Senate House of Representatives Constitution American Anthem White House American Flag

x Keywords: Presidents American Presidents America USA United States Politics History Biography Biographical Republicans Democrats Political Parties Senate House of Representatives Constitution American Anthem White House American Flag

Barack Obama is undisputably the most famous president of our modern era, and it's easy to see why. His campaigns (especially in 08) gripped the country's imagination and inspired voter turnout to levels not seen since the 1960s. After decades of neoliberal ideology dominating US domestic and foreign policy, there seemed to be a real reason to hope that we now had a president who would advocate for working families. In Part 1 of our two-parter for Barack Obama, we cover Obama's unlikely rise to the top of American politics and its unique story compared to any president. We also think about the monumental achievement of Obama becoming the first Black president and the extra scrutiny and attention that he received because of it while in office. How much does it matter if Obama under-delivered on his campaign promises when he was the first non-white president to contend with the racism embedded in American political institutions? Thank you for joining us for the start of Season 4! New episodes are out every two weeks! x Keywords: Presidents American Presidents America USA United States Politics History Biography Biographical Republicans Democrats Political Parties Senate House of Representatives Constitution American Anthem White House American Flag

While we would like to believe that the men and women running our country have beliefs that are somewhat grounded in reality, the truth - for better or worst - is that many of our politicians have fallen for beliefs that "we" have deemed outlandish. In today's Unpresidented, Jusef takes us down the weird and occult side of the Whitehouse with names such as Mary Todd Lincon, Nancy Reagan, and Hilary Clinton all subscribing to practices and beliefs one would not associate, in general, with politicians. Keywords: Presidents American Presidents America USA United States Politics History Biography Biographical Republicans Democrats Political Parties Senate House of Representatives Constitution American Anthem White House American Flag --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Keywords: Presidents American Presidents America USA United States Politics History Biography Biographical Republicans Democrats Political Parties Senate House of Representatives Constitution American Anthem White House American Flag --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Despite being the "Father" of the Constitution, James Madison is less glorified in 2022 than all of the other founder presidencies, and it's difficult to understand why. As someone who was there for most significant revolutionary and early American government events, Madison's influence shaped the nation's trajectory arguably more than all his older and more distinguished colleagues. Madison's presidency also encompasses the entire War of 1812 -- ending in a stalemate but boosting American pride to all time highs, and even helping to bring down the two-party system for a whole decade. Still, Madison's legacy today is not one of an effective wartime president, either, but more so a sidekick to Thomas Jefferson. In today's episode, we try to pay Madison his dues and examine how someone who cared so much for preserving a lasting democratic government could be engulfed in war throughout his two terms. Keywords: Presidents American Presidents America USA United States Politics History Biography Biographical Republicans Democrats Political Parties Senate House of Representatives Constitution American Anthem White House American Flag --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

How bad do things actually have to get before a Civil War becomes a possibility? While the US has had plenty of close and controversial elections, 2020 was different. Peacefully transferring power to the President-elect had only ever not happened just one time in the nation's history, which was in 1861 when James Buchanan failed to stop southern states from seceding before Abraham Lincoln took office. Comparing 1860 to 2020 may seem over-dramatic and uncalled for, and indeed the nation has changed incredibly between those 160 years. What is similar, though, are that two sides of the country bitterly dislike each other and do not trust one another, nor agree upon a shared reality for many of the crises the nation faces. One of the core differences that exists now is that there is little personal and financial incentive from elected officials and the news media alike to try to ease tensions, something that you can easily observe every day online. We discuss these implications in today's episode and whether there is anything we can learn from what went wrong from Buchanan's presidency to apply to today. We also examine the global consequences that arise from the nation's divide – something that is far too often overlooked by most Americans. Keywords: Presidents American Presidents America USA United States Politics History Biography Biographical Republicans Democrats Political Parties Senate House of Representatives Constitution American Anthem White House American Flag --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

x Keywords: Presidents American Presidents America USA United States Politics History Biography Biographical Republicans Democrats Political Parties Senate House of Representatives Constitution American Anthem White House American Flag --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Although not a major presidential figure, Martin Van Buren's impact on presidential politics is arguably just as significant as his more famous predecessors. Not many people can claim to be a founder of a modern political party, but Van Buren's efforts to break the brief period of a one party system in American politics changed the landscape of elections that propelled us to where we are today. Van Buren devoted himself to ensuring Jeffersonian principles were defended and secured in the post founders generation, and while he had success in maintaining policies that were Jeffersonian throughout his political career, his presidency did the most damage to them. For arguably the first time during Van Buren's presidency, the American government learns a lesson of how difficult it is to solve an economic crisis when the government is given very limited options to respond to one. Van Buren did not have a good one term, and it wasn't necessarily because of the things he did in office, but more so for his actions before winning the 1836 election. x Keywords: Presidents American Presidents America USA United States Politics History Biography Biographical Republicans Democrats Political Parties Senate House of Representatives Constitution American Anthem White House American Flag --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

x Keywords: Presidents American Presidents America USA United States Politics History Biography Biographical Republicans Democrats Political Parties Senate House of Representatives Constitution American Anthem White House American Flag --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

If you were to look at any list put together by anyone of the greatest American Presidents, would you expect to see Chester Arthur on it? Probably not, but you should. Arthur became the fourth VP to take over after a president died in office, and the second after a president was assassinated. Unlike his predecessors, though, Arthur recognized the importance of maintaining the former administration's policy agenda, and respected the wishes of the American people who elected James Garfield partially for his ambition to accomplish civil service reform. Though Arthur was hardly a saint, he respected the presidency enough to not let partisanship and ideology influence his decision making, a rare achievement in any administration, especially considering he had little incentive to do so. Disappointing his allies who got him as far as the vice-presidency while also angering Garfield loyalists pushing for anti-monopoly legislation to lower tariffs, Arthur is a model for any president who wishes to achieve an apolitical reputation throughout their presidency. Keywords: Presidents American Presidents America USA United States Politics History Biography Biographical Republicans Democrats Political Parties Senate House of Representatives Constitution American Anthem White House American Flag --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Today we focus on Woodrow Wilson's foreign policy decisions, as he keeps the US out of WWI long enough for him to get re-elected to a second term before sending 2 million troops across the Atlantic by 1918. The end of the War provides the opportunity for Wilson to make himself internationally admired, but he comes up short in keeping up his momentum at home in the latter half of his term. Listen in as we wrap up the ups and downs of Woodrow Wilson's legacy -- someone who had the ability to be our greatest president but moralistically fell way short. Keywords: Presidents American Presidents America USA United States Politics History Biography Biographical Republicans Democrats Political Parties Senate House of Representatives Constitution American Anthem White House American Flag --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Woodrow Wilson established himself as one of the most influential and effective Presidents of his time -- becoming one of the most celebrated American figures by the time of his death and quickly attaining a top 5 pedigree on many historians' presidential rankings. Like Thomas Jefferson, though, Wilson is facing a similar backlash to his legacy, as Princeton University (the school where Wilson was once President) removed his name from their colleges and campus building names, with their board of trustees stating "racist thinking and policies make him an inappropriate namesake for a school or college whose scholars, students and alumni must stand firmly against racism in all its forms." In today's episode, Jusef and I discuss the tension in Wilson's legacy and the disappointing moral record that he maintains, while also examining what policies made Wilson so popular for nearly a century. Episode is out now! Keywords: Presidents American Presidents America USA United States Politics History Biography Biographical Republicans Democrats Political Parties Senate House of Representatives Constitution American Anthem White House American Flag --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

We move from one political dynasty to another with the first child of a former to become president themselves 1825. John Quincy Adams was made fully aware from his parents that he had all of the advantages and privileges in the world, and because of that he had no reason to not excel as an exceptional public servant. JQA excelled in almost every political office he was elected/appointed to, leading to a political career that was longer and more successful than even his father. The only political office in which he struggled to thrive under, however, was the presidency. As a brilliant but stubborn and uncompromising man (again, much like his father), along with a controversial election that gave him the presidency – JQA became one of the most ineffective presidents of his era, as he was shut out of enacting any of his agenda from Congress. Andrew Jackson showcased what was to come, as the Democratic Party was formed and quickly became popular enough to compete in Congressional seats throughout the country. JQA unfortunately serves as a disappointing bridge from the founders era into the next 9 presidents that do little to stop the nation from heading towards a Civil War. Keywords: Presidents American Presidents America USA United States Politics History Biography Biographical Republicans Democrats Political Parties Senate House of Representatives Constitution American Anthem White House American Flag --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

The presidency of George W. Bush was supposed to be a return to the Reagan era of compassionate conservatism presidential leadership, as he called on the United States to “act with humility” in foreign affairs and not to engage in the process of “nation-building” in war-torn regions of the world at the 2000 general election debates. What unraveled in our post 9/11 was anything but a return to humility, as our nation would soon be in the midst of two wars, while passing legislation to limit civil liberties domestically in the Patriot Act and creating of a new Department of Homeland Security. The Bush administration also proceeded to open up prisons around the world to torture suspected terrorists – all with the justification to keep Americans and the world at large safe from more terrorist attacks. Was the world any safer at the end of W's presidency than on the day before 09/11 attacks? How are we dealing with the consequences of the Bush Years today? We close our 3 parter Bush series with this final episode focusing on the W. years. Keywords: Presidents American Presidents America USA United States Politics History Biography Biographical Republicans Democrats Political Parties Senate House of Representatives Constitution American Anthem White House American Flag --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

How come we rarely hear about the H.W. presidency? In-office just 30 years ago, we transitioned from out of the Cold War into an entirely new economic and global landscape during his tenure. As one of our most quiet and reserved Presidents in the modern era, H.W. was able to navigate the nation through some of the most sensitive foreign policy decisions with an appropriate amount of caution and care. His impressive list of accomplishments by the third year of his presidency put his approval rating close to 90%. Just one year later, though, Bush goes on to lose re-election in a stunning collapse that is hard to really even fault him for. Our second episode of our Bush series is out now! Keywords: Presidents American Presidents America USA United States Politics History Biography Biographical Republicans Democrats Political Parties Senate House of Representatives Constitution American Anthem White House American Flag --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

We have a new episode out to start season 3 with our first three-parter on the Bush family political dynasty. While each American generation has had its fair share of politically powerful families, none have been able to occupy the white house for 12 years over a 20 year span. Today's episode lays the foundation for how the major political players in the Bush family built their fortune and brand, spanning from the 1910s to 1988 just before H.W. takes office! Keywords: Presidents American Presidents America USA United States Politics History Biography Biographical Republicans Democrats Political Parties Senate House of Representatives Constitution American Anthem White House American Flag --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

How ashamed should we all feel (especially men) that we are living in a time where a woman has still never been President of the United States? Women only represent approximately a quarter of both chambers of Congress, and as of three days ago, Ketanji Brown Jackson was just confirmed as the first black woman to serve on the Supreme Court. The nation credited for kickstarting the modern global order in promoting representational democracy hardly has led the way in achieving real, descriptive poltitical representation domestically. There have been countless women, however, who have tried to change that, and this episode is dedicated to some of their efforts in our final episode of season two. We also dive into the barriers women face when running against male candidates, as well as the particular biases voters have against women who try to make a run for the presidency. xx Keywords: Presidents American Presidents America USA United States Politics History Biography Biographical Republicans Democrats Political Parties Senate House of Representatives Constitution American Anthem White House American Flag --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

One of the most powerful and sustainable ways a country maintains a shared, holistic identity across their varying communities is by prioritizing that its people learn/feel a shared sense of history. At the same time, a country's success rate in achieving this is always changing, as its people's experiences within it vary widely based on their race, gender, income, and education -- especially in the United States. Americans' interpretation and understanding of historical events is far from universal, and that problem is likely to get worse, as more people digest separate sources of content and information about what is going on in the world than ever before. JFK, though, still has a unique grip in uniting Americans -- even in 2022. He is only second to Abraham Lincoln in recent polls of favorability scores for past presidents, and that is especially meaningful when many Americans alive today witnessed his presidency. He remains the rare president that embodies something as close to a shared history as Americans have -- as his political highs, lows, and death were all captured in the very early years of television. By no means did Kennedy have the most "successful" presidency, but it somehow still means more than almost any other, and not just in our imagination. Kennedy's death inspired the passage of foundational legislation in modern American society that grew the size and prosperity of the nation's middle class to new pinnacles, and though we don't know if they would have happened had he lived, the fact that his presidency and death helped push them to reality should not be undervalued. Keywords: Presidents American Presidents America USA United States Politics History Biography Biographical Republicans Democrats Political Parties Senate House of Representatives Constitution American Anthem White House American Flag --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

The expansionist, states rights focused presidencies of Jefferson, Jackson and Polk in the pre-Civil War era were among the most popular during the period. They also brought the horrific conflict that was the Civil War closer to a reality precisely for the same reasons -- expanding claimed US territory and the institution of American slavery with it. As a result, their early presidencies made it essential for southern politicians to adopt the policy preferences of those administrations if they wanted to attain higher offices and political power. In many ways, Andrew Johnson's actions as President were exactly on brand with what southern Democrats embodied. The difference was that Johnson was the first to find himself in a post-slavery society following the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. He sought to quickly re-admit seceded states into the Union, as well as to do little to nothing to enforce civil rights protections for newly freed Black Americans --policies that are not inconceivable for presidents Johnson grew up championing. With this context in mind, in this episode we discuss whether it's fair that Johnson is most often placed as the worst President in American history by historians. Oddly enough, before Johnson is President, he's most well known for standing up to and opposing secession, and continues to serve in the US government even as his home state of Tennessee joins the Confederacy. Could he have been capable of better handling the era of Reconstruction? Or is he better understood as acting as you would expect a institutionalized southern democrat would in these unprecedented circumstances, simply becoming the scapegoat for the accumulation of his predecessors moral and political failures? Keywords: Presidents American Presidents America USA United States Politics History Biography Biographical Republicans Democrats Political Parties Senate House of Representatives Constitution American Anthem White House American Flag --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Jimmy Carter, in many ways, was the true 20th century Presidential anomaly. As one of the most religious and solely local politicians to win a Presidential election -- Carter took pride in embracing his outsider appeal to an American public who had grown accustomed to how institutionalized and predictable the presidency had become. Carter's brand that he cultivated, as a devoutly honest and morally pure figure, however, alienated the American public just as effectively as the lies of Vietnam and Watergate. With a sputtering economic performance and few other domestic accomplishments, Carter showed how his inexperience in dealing in politics on the national stage rendered him incapable of capitalizing on his incumbency advantage. Jimmy Carter's presidency tells a story of an administration that never figured out how to operate effectively, especially when it came to influencing Congress and overall public opinion of the nation's performance. Even in the arena that Carter enjoyed the most success -- foreign policy -- is also where he made his most catastrophic mistakes. As he never became aligned with his party or with any political establishment, Carter had few friends he could count on, and stubbornly crashed out as the only Democratic President of the 20th century not to win re-election, which would continue to haunt the party until the more modern Clinton years came in presidential politics. Keywords: Presidents American Presidents America USA United States Politics History Biography Biographical Republicans Democrats Political Parties Senate House of Representatives Constitution American Anthem White House American Flag --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

In this episode of Unpresidented, we move on from the do-nothing president to the man responsible for taking more land than any other US leader in history. James K. Polk's fierce persistence and vital political connections fed him a steady, stable political career, driven to fulfilling his political party's aspirations. When his name entered the fray at the 1844 Democratic Convention, no one thought they were gambling away the nation's future by considering Polk to take the nomination. Unlike his mentor, Andrew Jackson, Polk was coming into a nomination as a highly experienced, seasoned politician, who was less vulnerable to making impulsive decisions. Polk's presidency, though, became one of the most consequential in US history, and possibly the most when just considering one-term presidents. Though he leaves office as a hero, he also leaves the nation with irreparable problems in its power structures, that seal an inevitable Civil War in just 12 years time. X Keywords: Presidents American Presidents America USA United States Politics History Biography Biographical Republicans Democrats Political Parties Senate House of Representatives Constitution American Anthem White House American Flag --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

There are many Presidents who have passionately advocated for putting as many limits as possible on government intervention into Americans' lives. Platforms of fewer taxes, regulations, and safety nets have been spearheaded by Presidents like Thomas Jefferson, Grover Cleveland, and Ronald Reagan -- spanning across almost 200 years of Presidential history. Calvin Coolidge could be fairly considered the most passionate of this group for conservative policies, but also the one who found the most economic success within their implementation, at least during their actual Presidential years. The economy took off during his time in office, and for a brief period, Coolidge looked like a genius. The Great Depression that follows immediately after Coolidge leaves office is probably the reason why you hardly hear about him today. It's hard to ignore the emergency conditions that Hoover immediately had to try to handle upon taking over Coolidge, and you could an argument that he is the most responsible for the Depression of anyone. At the same time, for better and worse, the Republican Party of the past 50 years still very much romanticizes many of Coolidge's Roaring 20s policies, and represents an icon of character and moral values. Is Coolidge a redeemable President like Grant that we are too quick to judge, or are we justified to lambast his Presidential years as ones filled with irresponsible greed? X Keywords: Presidents American Presidents America USA United States Politics History Biography Biographical Republicans Democrats Political Parties Senate House of Representatives Constitution American Anthem White House American Flag --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Former living American Presidents just might the most exclusive and bewildering clubs to be a part of. What do Presidents do after they are done being arguably the most powerful person on Earth? They have classified knowledge and expertise on all the most pressing issues of our time -- then somehow, they have to return to normal, public life as ordinary citizens. In this special side-episode of Unpresidented, we dive into how various Presidents over time have decided to move forward with their lives and what kind of power they actually possess when they are no longer in office. The life of a former President has changed drastically over time, and there is a lot to distinguish from the era of modern post-presidents and the Presidents who came in the nation's first 150 years. It turns out, being a former President today is extremely lucrative and profitable, but that wasn't always the case. What has happened to spark this change, and is it ethical for Presidents to profit so much off of their former Presidential brand? Should there be more oversight on Post-Presidential actions? Give it a listen and let us know what you think in our poll questions below! Keywords: Presidents American Presidents America USA United States Politics History Biography Biographical Republicans Democrats Political Parties Senate House of Representatives Constitution American Anthem White House American Flag --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Bill Clinton, the politician, was everything 90s America needed him to be - a genuine centrist not afraid to feed a new era of Republican Congressional dominance with right of center policies, but also ambitious enough to attempt to pass his own Medicare for All bill that came much closer to becoming law than versions that are proposed today. The Clinton name and what it represents as it exists in 2021, though, is one of the most polarizing and lambasted in modern politics. Bill, along with Hillary Clinton, were the leaders of the Democratic Party for 25 years, yet neither played any significant role in the most recent 2020 Democratic Convention. In this episode, we dive into why Americans today either cannot stand the Clintons or yearn for the nostalgia of the 90s Clinton era. Was Bill Clinton actually a good President, or a talented politician who could easily maneuver his administration into achieving short term successes? Clinton left office as the most popular president to exit the Presidency since FDR, yet 20 years later he already has a battered legacy. What does that tell us about what our society is like today vs the Clinton years? Keywords: Presidents American Presidents America USA United States Politics History Biography Biographical Republicans Democrats Political Parties Senate House of Representatives Constitution American Anthem White House American Flag --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Historical revisionism can be tricky, especially when it's being employed on American Presidents. Whether a President leaves office with a lot of popularity or in disgrace, a common trend for most Presidents long after they are done serving their terms seems to soften among historians and the overall populace. George W. Bush, for example, left office with approval ratings below 40 percent, yet just 13 years later, is viewed favorably now by the majority of Americans. Surprisingly enough, Ulysses S Grant, a Civil War hero, is one of the few exceptions to this trend, as his popularity after he left office plummeted and stayed low throughout the entire 20th century. In this episode, we unpack why that was the case, especially considering Grant was way ahead of his time on the most polarizing issues of his generation. Building on the Jefferson episode, how should we expect the favorability of certain Presidents to trend going forward as our society continues to socially develop? How is it possible for Grant to be transitioning to a top 20 President 150 years later, and what kinds of qualities will make a President more popular as we move deeper into the 21st century? We tackle these questions and the unique pros and cons for having a noble, but also hands-off personality like Grant as President. Keywords: Presidents American Presidents America USA United States Politics History Biography Biographical Republicans Democrats Political Parties Senate House of Representatives Constitution American Anthem White House American Flag --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Thomas Jefferson used to be characterized by most of the American public as an undeniable hero of American history for almost 200 years after he left the Presidency. Having been instrumental to the nation's founding as well as its expansion -- Jefferson's legacy, even as a slave holder, seemed to be on its way to remaining as untarnished as any historical figure could be. In this episode of Unpresidented, we find out how that legacy of Jefferson has collapsed in the past 25 years. The retelling and takeaways of Jefferson's life have developed tremendously in concert with how our society has developed, so much that our conversations of Jefferson today question if he should be celebrated at all. We tap into what Jefferson did during his life to make him such a controversial figure, and if the current conversations ridiculing him are fair to how he chose to live his life personally and politically. Keywords: Presidents American Presidents America USA United States Politics History Biography Biographical Republicans Democrats Political Parties Senate House of Representatives Constitution American Anthem White House American Flag --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Even though Gerald Ford had only two and a half years as President, he had a great opportunity to be just as impactful as his post-WWII predecessors. The qualities that got him to the Vice-Presidency -- such as his laid-back demeanor, eagerness to avoid direct confrontation on difficult issues, and his overall compromising nature, though, is arguably what got in the way of him becoming an effective President. Unfortunately, a nation coming out of the year-long shock of Watergate needed more closure than what Ford was willing to offer. The 1970s brought more unprecedented issues to the US, such as how to deal with an economy falling into a recession while experiencing rising prices due to its dependency on imported gas and oil. At the same time, the country's middle class is reaching its peak of power and wealth, the poverty rate is falling, giant diplomatic gains are being made with the USSR and China, and 1976 brings bi-centennial celebrations across the nation that are ideal circumstances for any incumbent President heading for a general election. What factors, then, caused Ford to somehow lose in 1976, especially when his party just four years earlier won 49 out of 50 states in a historic landslide? Was Ford another President that just inherited unlucky circumstances? Or were the poor outcomes that came out of his Presidency exactly what we would expect from someone who was the only person to be both VP and President without ever being elected to either office? Keywords: Presidents American Presidents America USA United States Politics History Biography Biographical Republicans Democrats Political Parties Senate House of Representatives Constitution American Anthem White House American Flag --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

In this episode of Unpresidented, we discuss what factors have made William McKinley's Presidency become more favorable among historians the further time has gone on. Why is McKinley considered an underrated President in 2021 with such a controversial record on occupying and ruling over newly, forcibly acquired territories? Should McKinley accomplishments of occupation and American imperial expansion be glorified? McKinley certainly wasn't a bad President in the traditional sense of leading a breakdown in the American economy and presiding over a recession. In fact, the American economy fares very well in his tenure, but that should not be the takeaway from a Presidency that could've changed the way millions of people lived by instilling democracy in other parts of the world. Instead, the US moves in the other direction and continues the oppression its European counterparts started in its new territories like Puerto Rico and Guam. xx Keywords: Presidents American Presidents America USA United States Politics History Biography Biographical Republicans Democrats Political Parties Senate House of Representatives Constitution American Anthem White House American Flag --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Maps! New decade, new census, same problems. In this episode of UnPresidented, we take a break from diving into individual Presidents to explore another pillar of American political power -- redistricting. The process of redrawing Congressional districts due to a shift in state populations only happens once every ten years, but the process for who gets to decide how new maps are drawn is controversial, and objectively anti-democratic. We explore the rise in popularity in the practice of gerrymandering, and how the census can now make or break modern day Presidencies. How can Congressional candidates be held accountable by constituents if they can handpick which constituents get to vote in their election? Is there any way to actually solve the problem of gerrymandering? We close out our first of 5 seasons of UnPresidented with an unusual, and hopefully nice change of pace with a current affairs side-episode. We will be back with Season 2 of UnPresidented in one month! Keywords: Presidents American Presidents America USA United States Politics History Biography Biographical Republicans Democrats Political Parties Senate House of Representatives Constitution American Anthem White House American Flag --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

The country's newest, youngest President in 1852 was put in office to be a symbol of compromise between the north and south. The expansion of the US and its railroads also forced the country to confront how it was going to move forward on slavery. Franklin Pierce, a northernor but southern sympathizer, seemed like a great choice to guide the nation back to a steady harmony geographically. On this episode of UnPresidented, we discuss the compromises that kept the nation from engaging in a Civil War for so long, and how they were all doomed to fail. While Pierce's Presidency is disappointing on all fronts, we get a clear understanding of how the Civil war becomes unavoidable through the [in]actions of Pierce, and reflect on how poor the political generation that proceeds the founders are. xx Keywords: Presidents American Presidents America USA United States Politics History Biography Biographical Republicans Democrats Political Parties Senate House of Representatives Constitution American Anthem White House American Flag --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Many of the most notable and covered Presidencies focus on so many of the individualistic aspects of a President themselves by detailing their unique rise to the top of American politics. Harry Truman, though, is the rare exception as someone with a remarkably proficient and newsworthy Presidency, but having such little fanfare invested into what he truly was like as a person. This episode of UnPresidented follows suit in diving deeper into the Presidential years of a President more than any other episode so far, as the decision-making of a President never has been more consequential than when Truman took office. Becoming President after the most popular President in US history dies during the worst war in human history is hard enough. Combine that with the global acknowledgment that the US is now one of the only two global superpowers to lead global decision-making after the war, and it's easy to see how important it was that Roosevelt's successor was up to the job. We explore the many ways in which he was in foreign affairs, but less so domestically. The successes of Truman's Presidency over time are becoming more appreciated the further out we get from 1945, and we explore how it can be considered one of the most successful when put in proper context. xx xx Keywords: Presidents American Presidents America USA United States Politics History Biography Biographical Republicans Democrats Political Parties Senate House of Representatives Constitution American Anthem White House American Flag --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

John Tyler Who are the Whigs, and how does John Tyler, a former Democratic-Republican and low-level House member, find himself on their ticket in the 1840 election? In this episode of Unpresidented, we explore the wild, uncertain politics that emerge out of the Founders Era. Figures like Hamilton, Jefferson and Madison are replaced by a less remembered generation such as John Calhoun, Andrew Jackson, and William Henry Harrison -- that splits up the Democratic-Republican Party into a new era of partisan divide. John Tyler emerging as President within this new group of political leaders, though, assures the newly formed Democratic Party the upper-hand in the new two-party fight, as he has no interest in working with a supermajority in Congress that expects him to happily sign their legislation. American parties, then, actually figure out that picking a good VP, or even just an obedient VP to the Party is actually important, as the nation finds themselves with their first President to assume office after the death of another President. How does the nation react in this constitutional crisis, as it was unclear if the VP was the rightful successor to the President at the time? Even though Tyler is able to establish a successful, critical precedent, his Presidency is anything but a success. Keywords: Presidents American Presidents America USA United States Politics History Biography Biographical Republicans Democrats Political Parties Senate House of Representatives Constitution American Anthem White House American Flag --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Ronald Reagan Part 2 By 1967, the transition to passionate conservative for Ronald Reagan was complete, and the new governor of California finally secured a distinguished office to bring his brand of conservatism into the mainstream of California politics. Translating that success into victory for a general Presidential election, though, was going to be far more difficult. How do you get a country to embrace the message “that government is not the solution, it's the problem,” right off the back of LBJ's Great Society legislation breakthroughs? Both Republicans and Democrats, at this point, had embraced expanding the size of the Federal Government, was Reagan truly unique in wanting to reverse that trend? In this episode of Unpresidented, we examine Reagan's determination and persistence to finally secure the Presidency after going through two losing campaigns in 1968 and 1976, and what societal factors made his brand more appealing as the nation approached the 1980s. We also discuss the volatile highs and lows of his Presidency, and how he was able to keep his popularity consistently high after having one of the worst first two years in office. Two episodes of Reagan still feel underwhelming in covering all of the implications of his Presidency and career, as his legacy lives on in much of the culture and politics that we see today. Keywords: Presidents American Presidents America USA United States Politics History Biography Biographical Republicans Democrats Political Parties Senate House of Representatives Constitution American Anthem White House American Flag --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Ronald Reagan Part 1 Conservatism, in the most true sense of its political meaning, could have never emerged with such immense popularity in the US without a brilliant (political) actor like President Ronald Reagan. His career provides the whole political framework for conservative politicians today on how to frame issues to encourage popular support for cuts to government programs, reduced regulations, reduced gun control, and more tax cuts. Whether you are a fan of more conservative policies or not, Reagan's polarizing embrace of such strongly conservative political values still has a foothold on the whole policy agenda of the modern Republican Party -- much in the same way as FDR for the Democratic Party. In Part 1 of our conversation on President Ronald Reagan, we try to make sense of how he transitions from an admirer of FDR (even as one of the most influential actors in Hollywood) to campaigning for a candidate like Walter Mondale. As Reagan's jump into the political arena comes at the height of the most progressive economic era in American history, what specifically motivates him to switch his party affiliation from a Democrat to a Republican? Much of Reagan's political dominance can be attributed to his easy-going nature and confidence for public speaking and in engagement with American media, so why did he choose to use his talents to lift far-right conservatism out of irrelevance in American politics? We reason that Reagan could have been a successful politician without an extreme approach, and in doing so we explore the motivations behind Reagan's transformation to wrap up Part 1. Keywords: Presidents American Presidents America USA United States Politics History Biography Biographical Republicans Democrats Political Parties Senate House of Representatives Constitution American Anthem White House American Flag --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Herbert Hoover How can we ever fairly assess a President like Herbert Hoover? While there are plenty of pros and cons to this President, it is tricky to know of any one who would have thrived, or even survived to obtain a second term while first taking office in 1929. At the same time, there are few Presidential candidates in history who could have beaten Hoover, who had such an untarnished reputation for the 1929 election as well. In this episode of UnPresidented, we take a look at what happened in the American economy in the buildup to 1929 to make Hoover the perfect candidate to take over the Presidency following the decade of the Roaring 20s -- a time where industrialization and technological advancement were reaching all-time highs in the US up until that point. We also explore how much Hoover can be blamed for the steepest collapse the US has ever seen (far worse than in 2008 and 2020). In being fair to Hoover's severe limitations at the time to pull the country out of economic devastation, we recognize there are more interesting conversations to have about what causes an event like the Great Depression to happen in the first place, and also what Hoover could have actually done to ease the suffering of millions at home. Being well known as a humanitarian figure before stepping into a career in politics, why did Hoover struggle so much to use the power of the Federal Government to provide more safety nets to ease the suffering of millions? Was Hoover's Presidency a necessary evil to globalize the world economy? In this episode, we shed light on how much our world has changed as a result of Hoover's 4 years in office -- for better and for worse. Keywords: Presidents American Presidents America USA United States Politics History Biography Biographical Republicans Democrats Political Parties Senate House of Representatives Constitution American Anthem White House American Flag --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app