The 4th annual Friendsgiving episode is now available!

Presidencies of the United States

This podcast is devoted to exploring presidential history from the founding of the office in 1789 on through the present day. I plan to take a systematic approach to both the people and the events that have shaped and reshaped each administration and the office in general.

Recent Episodes

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Friendsgiving 4.0: The Voyage to History
Nov. 24, 2025

Friendsgiving 4.0: The Voyage to History

History: the final frontier. These are the voyages of four podcasting friends. Their ongoing mission: to explore strange moments in history, to seek out historical narratives to share with their listeners, to boldly go where no podcasters have gone before! That's right, it's time for the annual Fri…
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Interview with Charles Ferguson, Presidential Seclusion
Nov. 19, 2025

Interview with Charles Ferguson, Presidential Seclusion

Year(s) Discussed: 1935-2025 How presidents utilize the facilities put at their disposal can reveal much about the individual and their approach to the office. In my conversation with Charles Ferguson about his new book, Presidential Seclusion: The Power of Camp David, we explore tales from the …
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Interview with Howard Gillette, Greater Philadelphia Region
Nov. 9, 2025

Interview with Howard Gillette, Greater Philadelphia Region

Year(s) Discussed: 1682-2025 Philadelphia is at the heart of American history from before there was even a United States, but how did this region come to play such a large role in the Revolution and Early Republic periods and what influence has it had in building the present-day nation? Historia…
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VPOTUS 006.2 - Daniel D Tompkins Part Two
Nov. 2, 2025

VPOTUS 006.2 - Daniel D Tompkins Part Two

Tenure of Office: March 4, 1817 - March 4, 1825 Despite talking about resigning shortly after he took office, Daniel D Tompkins managed to serve out two full terms as Vice President. His tenure, however, was filled with financial difficulties and fighting the state of New York and the federal g…
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VPOTUS 006.1 - Daniel D Tompkins Part One
Oct. 21, 2025

VPOTUS 006.1 - Daniel D Tompkins Part One

Tenure of Office: March 4, 1817 - March 4, 1825 The only 19th century Vice President to serve two full terms (spoiler alert), in this episode, we cover Daniel D Tompkins's political rise in New York and transformation from the Clinton political machine's "Farmer's Boy" to a wartime governor who …
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Interview with Megan Gorman, All the Presidents' Money
Oct. 12, 2025

Interview with Megan Gorman, All the Presidents' Money

Year(s) Discussed: 1789-2025 The president is responsible for administering the federal budget, but how have our chief executives handled their personal finances? My guest for this episode researched each and every one to find out. Listen to my conversation with Megan Gorman, author of All the P…
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