American Elections: Wicked Game
Kanal-Details
American Elections: Wicked Game
On February 10th, 1796, Vice President John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail, lamenting the state of discourse in the country. The election was nearing—and becoming heated. Newspapers screamed, factions warred, and John Adams was dismayed with what he called “the wicked Game.” Americans in 2023 can...
Neueste Episoden
64 Episoden
Introducing: Country Over Self
Today, we introduce the podcast Country Over Self: Defining Moments in American History - a short-form history podcast for Americans who want to under...

2024, Trump vs. Harris Part 2: The Body of the People
With Biden out of the race, Trump must now face off against Vice President Kamala Harris. As Harris tries to seize the moment and appeal to the Silent...

2024, Trump vs. Harris Part 1: Incompetent Abilities
In the wake of the infamous events of January 6th, former President Donald Trump fights through a sea of legal troubles to secure his party’s nominati...

2020, Biden vs. Trump: The Soul of America
President Donald Trump faces off with President Obama’s political wingman: Vice President Joe Biden. In a contest defined by partisan rancor, congress...

2016, Clinton vs. Trump: The Omega and the Alpha
Donald J. Trump returns to the political arena. First as a longshot candidate and then as an improbable frontrunner, Trump makes his way through a cro...

2012, Romney vs. Obama: The Rich Boy
As Barack Obama fends off attacks on everything from his foreign policy to the color of his suits, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney defends h...

2008, McCain vs. Obama: Hope and Change
New York Senator and former First Lady Hillary Clinton enters the 2008 election as the presumptive favorite to win the Democratic nomination. But Bara...

2004, Bush vs. Kerry: Do or Die
As President George W. Bush navigates the challenges of his first year in office, he is confronted by one of the gravest, most horrific tragedies ever...

2000, Bush vs. Gore vs. Nader: Gettin’ Snippy
With Bill Clinton’s tenure as president coming to an end, Vice President Al Gore takes up the mantle for the Democrats. Gore tries to distance himself...

1996, Dole vs. Clinton: The Comeback Kid
Bill Clinton bounces back from early problems in his presidency and looks to become the first two-term Democratic president since Franklin Roosevelt....

1992, Bush vs. Clinton vs. Perot: The Baby Boomer and the Independent
President George H.W. Bush tries to shore up his Republican coalition and offer the American people a clear picture of what a second Bush term will lo...

1988, Bush vs. Dukakis: Character Assassinations
Vice President George H. W. Bush is Ronald Reagan’s heir apparent. But in order to defeat Democratic nominee Michael Dukakis, Bush must embrace Reagan...

1984, Mondale vs. Reagan: The Teflon President
With a Republican-controlled Senate and a clear mandate from the American people, Ronald Reagan sets out to show American strength abroad and to reduc...

1980, Carter vs. Reagan: Let’s Make America Great Again
President Jimmy Carter fights to keep the White House in a trial by fire of domestic recession and international turmoil. Carter defends his presidenc...

1976, Ford vs. Carter: Unimpeachable
When Nixon gets caught up in the biggest presidential scandal in American History, he enlists the help of a man with unimpeachable character: Gerald R...

1972, McGovern vs. Nixon: Failure Comes Easy At Times Like This
In a contest largely defined by the Vietnam War, Republican President Richard Nixon fights to keep the White House out of the hands of Democratic nomi...

1968, Nixon vs. Humphrey vs. Wallace: Law and Order
Against the backdrop of the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights Movement, President Johnson declares his intention not to run in the 1968 contest, leavin...

1964, Johnson vs. Goldwater: A Choice, Not An Echo
In the aftermath of JFK’s assassination, Lyndon Johnson fights to shed the mantle of accidental president. But as he strives to carry forward Kennedy’...

1960, Nixon vs. Kennedy: Behind the Curtain
Democrat John F. Kennedy and Republican Richard Nixon fight for the White House on new technological turf: the rise of television sets the stage for a...

1956, Stevenson vs. Eisenhower: A Chance for Peace
In the run up to the 1956 contest, Ike battles severe health issues, an intensifying Cold War and enemies in the Democratic party. But his greatest st...

1952, Stevenson vs. Eisenhower: The Fund Crisis
Dwight “Ike” Eisenhower takes on a determined Democratic party united behind the popular Illinois governor, Adlai Stevenson. But in the run up to the...

1948, Dewey vs. Truman: The Gangbuster
In the wake of World War II, as President Truman fights to establish a new peace, Republican Governor Thomas Dewey gears up for a second run at the Wh...

1944, Dewey vs. Roosevelt: The Last Stand
As World War II rages on, FDR is in the political fight of his life against a young political newcomer, Republican Thomas Dewey. Riding the wave of Re...

1940, Willkie vs. Roosevelt: Storm on the Horizon
Against the backdrop of World War II, FDR’s position of neutrality is threatened as he seeks to become the first president to serve three terms in off...

1936, Landon vs. Roosevelt: New Deal on Trial
As FDR pushes his progressive agenda, Republicans turn to a progressive candidate of their own: Kansas Governor Al Landon. Landon and the Republicans...

1932, Hoover vs. Roosevelt vs. Smith: Two Governors
As President Hoover and the Republicans scramble to rescue the country from the Great Depression, Democratic nominee Franklin Delano Roosevelt strives...

1928, Hoover vs. Smith: Master of Emergencies
In the wake of an unprecedented natural disaster, Commerce Secretary Herbert Hoover lives up to his reputation as a Master of Emergencies and solidifi...

1924, Coolidge vs. Davis vs. La Follette: Silence is Golden
After the death of Warren G Harding, Vice President Calvin Coolidge inherits a booming economy, but he also inherits one of the biggest political scan...

1920, Harding vs. Cox vs. Debs: A Return to Normal
In the aftermath of a bloody world war and a catastrophic global pandemic, the Democrats shun President Woodrow Wilson and dash his hopes to be the fi...

1916, Hughes vs. Wilson: He Kept Us Out of War!
As war brews overseas in Europe, Democratic President Woodrow Wilson strives to keep America out of the war and to keep his prospects for a second ter...

1912, Wilson vs. Taft v. Roosevelt: The Bull Moose
Teddy Roosevelt comes out of retirement and returns to the political fold to unseat his longtime political friend and ally, President William Howard T...

1908, Taft vs. Bryan: A Significant Loser
Teddy Roosevelt’s hand-picked successor, Republican William Howard Taft, faces off against Democrat William Jennings Bryan. In his third and final pre...

1904, Parker vs. Roosevelt: Rough Rider
In the aftermath of President McKinley’s assassination at the hands of an anarchist, Vice President Teddy Roosevelt, a man known for his physical and...

1900, McKinley vs. Bryan: The Rise and Fall of Empires
In a tumultuous period defined by change, innovation, expansion and war, the stage is set for a rematch between incumbent Republican William McKinley...

1896, Bryan vs. McKinley: The Battle of the Standard Bearers
In the wake of the greatest economic depression in the country’s history so far, the Democrats battle it out over the future of monetary policy. In th...

1892, Harrison vs. Weaver vs. Cleveland: The Centennial President
Benjamin Harrison, the Centennial President, survives a deadly strike, an international conflict, and the massacre at Wounded Knee. On the campaign tr...

1888, Cleveland vs. Harrison: Tariffs and Truths
Social unrest rocks the nation as labor riots, economic anxiety and widespread racial violence threaten Grover Cleveland’s chances for a second term....

1884, Blaine vs. Cleveland: Tell the Truth
In an era known for corruption in politics, two presidential candidates strive for honesty and transparency: Republican James Blaine and Democrat Grov...

1880, Hancock vs. Garfield: Maelstrom
After Rutherford B Hayes steps aside, James Garfield rises to become the Republican nominee. To win the White House, Garfield fights to unite his part...

1876, Tilden vs. Hayes: Faustian Bargain
Fed up with the scandals of the Grant Administration, Republicans find a new leader in Rutherford B Hayes. To keep the White House Republican, Hayes w...