This American President

James A. Garfield is one of America’s most forgotten presidents. Yet behind his tragically brief presidency was one of the most brilliant and remarkable men ever to occupy the White House.

Born into poverty, Garfield rose to become a scholar, Civil War general, congressman, and president. Along the way, he helped revolutionize American politics with his pioneering “front porch campaign,” drawing thousands to his Ohio home in 1880.

In this episode, Jenn Bennie, co-host of Talk With History and co-creator of Walk With History, joins us to explore Garfield’s extraordinary intellect, remarkable career, and unlikely rise to the presidency.

Walk with History

https://walkwithhistory.net

Plus, a special announcement: My new book, Refusing a Crown: How George Washington Changed the World, is now available!

https://www.amazon.com/Refusing-Crown-George-Washington-Changed/dp/1645721280/

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CREDITS
Host: Richard Lim, https://richardmlim.com
Producer: Michael Neal
Cover Art: Nip Rogers, https://www.NipRogers.com

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She survived a deadly explosion aboard a presidential warship, married the president of the United States, transformed herself into one of Washington’s most glamorous and politically savvy first ladies—and eventually sided with the Confederacy during the Civil War.

In this episode, historian Christopher J. Leahy discusses his new book, Presidentess: The Life of First Lady Julia Gardiner Tyler. We explore Julia’s remarkable rise to the White House, her pioneering use of publicity and image, her influence on President John Tyler, and the controversial choices that defined her later life. Along the way, we ask a bigger question: just how much power can a first lady wield without ever holding elected office?

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The Gettysburg Address may be the most famous speech in American history—but did Abraham Lincoln have a speechwriter?

In this episode, Jan Cigliano Hartman discusses her new book, John Hay: The Voice Behind the Legendary Oratory of Abraham Lincoln, arguing that Lincoln's trusted private secretary, John Hay, played a much greater role in developing the president's legendary speeches than most Americans realize. Together, we explore Hay's remarkable partnership with Lincoln, the story behind the Gettysburg Address and other iconic speeches, and why one of the most influential figures of the Civil War has largely been forgotten.

LINCOLN'S SPEECHWRITER: JOHN HAY AND THE FRIENDSHIP THAT INSPIRED AMERICAN ELOQUENCE

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FDGS72WM

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CREDITS
Host: Richard Lim
Producer: Michael Neal
Cover Art: Nip Rogers, https://www.NipRogers.com

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He has been called one of the most consequential presidents in American history—and one of the most complicated. He was described as crude and compassionate, domineering and deeply empathetic. A political force of nature, Lyndon B. Johnson possessed a legendary ability to persuade, cajole, and outmaneuver nearly anyone in his path. He shepherded landmark civil rights legislation through Congress, won one of the greatest landslide victories in American history, and is often regarded as the most effective legislator ever to occupy the White House. Yet by the end of his presidency, the Vietnam War had made him a deeply polarizing figure, besieged by protesters and increasingly isolated.

The president was Lyndon B. Johnson—and Tom Johnson had a front-row seat to it all.

In this episode, Tom Johnson, former aide to LBJ and later publisher of the Los Angeles Times and president of CNN, reflects on his years alongside the 36th president during one of the most turbulent periods in American history. Drawing from his new memoir, Driven: A Life in Public Service and Journalism from LBJ to CNN, Johnson shares what it was really like to work for LBJ amid the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War, and the upheaval of the 1960s.

DRIVEN: A LIFE IN PUBLIC SERVICE AND JOURNALISM FROM LBJ TO CNN

https://www.amazon.com/Driven-Life-Public-Service-Journalism/dp/0820374539

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CREDITS
Host: Richard Lim
Producer: Michael Neal
Cover Art: Nip Rogers, https://www.NipRogers.com

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In the early years of the republic, the United States was a nation in name—but not always in practice. Vast distances and rugged mountains threatened to pull the young country apart.

In this episode, historian Brady Crytzer discusses his new book, The National Road, and explains how George Washington's vision of binding the states together through internal improvements ultimately became America's first great federal highway under Albert Gallatin. We explore how a single road helped transform a fragile republic into a more united nation.

THE NATIONAL ROAD: GEORGE WASHINGTON AND AMERICA'S FIRST HIGHWAY WEST

https://www.amazon.com/National-Road-Washington-Americas-Highway/dp/1635769493/

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Host: Richard Lim
Producer: Michael Neal
Cover Art: Nip Rogers, https://www.NipRogers.com

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Two leaders. Thousands of nuclear weapons. One meeting that changed everything.

In this episode, Michael Russell Gunn, director of Brink of War, explores the extraordinary Reykjavík Summit between Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev—a meeting many believe paved the way for the end of the Cold War. We discuss Reagan's strategy of pursuing a nuclear-free world while preserving America's leverage, the remarkable relationship between the two leaders, and the making of the film starring Jeff Daniels, J.K. Simmons, and Jared Harris.

THE BRINK OF WAR

https://www.angel.com/movies/brink-of-war?

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CREDITS
Host: Richard Lim
Producer: Michael Neal
Cover Art: Nip Rogers, https://www.NipRogers.com

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As America prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday, #1 New York Times bestselling author Eric Metaxas—author of Bonhoeffer, Martin Luther, and Amazing Grace—joins us to discuss his new book, Revolution: The Birth of the Greatest Nation in the History of the World. Together, we revisit the famous—and often forgotten—heroes of the American Revolution and explore why Metaxas believes the indispensable role of Judeo-Christian ideas in America's founding has too often been overlooked.

REVOLUTION: THE BIRTH OF THE GREATEST NATION IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD

https://www.amazon.com/Revolution-Birth-Greatest-Nation-History/dp/1631440888/

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CREDITS
Host: Richard Lim
Producer: Michael Neal
Cover Art: Nip Rogers, https://www.NipRogers.com

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As America approaches its 250th birthday, bestselling author and historian Jane Hampton Cook joins us for a conversation about the people, moments, and ideas that make the American story so remarkable. We discuss why America remains a nation worth celebrating, the most underrated Americans in our history, the historical events we'd most like to witness firsthand, and the era that best represents America's peak. Along the way, we explore what makes America unique and why, nearly 250 years after its founding, its story continues to captivate us.

A GREAT AND GRATEFUL NATION: FROM GRIEVANCE TO GRATITUDE

https://www.amazon.com/Great-Grateful-Nation-Grievance-Gratitude/dp/1617156787/

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CREDITS
Host: Richard Lim
Producer: Michael Neal
Cover Art: Nip Rogers, https://www.NipRogers.com

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We live in an era defined by distrust of institutions, political outsiders, and anti-establishment movements. What can the life of perhaps the ultimate establishment president tell us about America today?

In this episode, I speak with historian Laurence Jurdem about his new book, 41: George H.W. Bush and the End of the American Establishment. We discuss Bush’s rise through the political, diplomatic, and intelligence institutions of his era, why voters eventually turned against the world he represented, and how his presidency—and legacy—look in an age increasingly defined by populism and skepticism toward the establishment.

41: George H. W. Bush and the End of the American Establishment

https://www.amazon.com/41-George-Bush-American-Establishment/dp/B0FXV7V2FP/

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Host: Richard Lim
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Cover Art: Nip Rogers, https://www.NipRogers.com

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Did you know that a young Princess Elizabeth once spent time with a twenty-something John F. Kennedy? Or that Richard Nixon hoped to marry one of his daughters into the British royal family?

In this episode, I speak with bestselling author Susan Page about her new book, The Queen and Her Presidents: The Hidden Hand That Shaped History. We explore Queen Elizabeth II’s remarkable relationships with American presidents from Truman to Biden, her quiet influence on world affairs, and some of the most fascinating stories to emerge from the royal archives—including whether the rumored rivalry between the Queen and Jacqueline Kennedy, famously depicted in The Crown, was actually real.

The Queen and Her Presidents: The Hidden Hand That Shaped History

https://www.amazon.com/Queen-Her-Presidents-Hidden-History/dp/0063397390

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Host: Richard Lim
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Cover Art: Nip Rogers, https://www.NipRogers.com

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Before he became the indispensable man of the American founding, George Washington was a young officer fighting for survival in the wilderness, battling the French, navigating deadly frontier politics, and learning the hard lessons that would forge his character.

In this episode, I speak with Benton Crane, co-founder of Angel Studios, about Young Washington, a major new film focused on George Washington’s early exploits before the Revolution and presidency. We discuss why this story is arriving at the perfect moment ahead of America 250, and how Young Washington could mark the beginning of an ambitious new era of cinematic storytelling about the Founding generation.

YOUNG WASHINGTON

https://www.angel.com/movies/young-washington

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CREDITS
Host: Richard Lim
Producer: Michael Neal
Cover Art: Nip Rogers, https://www.NipRogers.com

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How should Americans evaluate presidential candidates when it comes to nuclear weapons?

In this episode, Dr. Anthony Eames, Director of Scholarly Initiatives at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, returns to the show to examine how presidents from Ronald Reagan to Donald Trump have approached nuclear weapons, deterrence, and arms control. We discuss the end of the Cold War, the challenge of rogue states, and why some presidents—including George W. Bush in Iraq and Donald Trump in Iran—have ultimately chosen military action to stop nuclear threats.

What separates a reckless nuclear policy from a prudent one? And what qualities should Americans look for in a commander-in-chief entrusted with the world’s deadliest weapons?

A Voice in Their Own Destiny: Reagan, Thatcher, and Public Diplomacy in the Nuclear 1980s

https://www.amazon.com/Voice-Their-Own-Destiny-Diplomacy/dp/1625347103/

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Host: Richard Lim
Producer: Michael Neal
Cover Art: Nip Rogers, https://www.NipRogers.com

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What does the First Lady actually do—and how did the role become so influential?

Our host Richard Lim sits down with Anita McBride—former Chief of Staff to Laura Bush, Executive-in-Residence at American University’s School of Public Affairs, and Director of the First Ladies Initiative—to break down the evolution of one of the most visible roles in American life. From Dolley Madison to Eleanor Roosevelt to today, how have First Ladies shaped the presidency from behind the scenes—and sometimes far beyond it? And looking ahead: they discuss what happens if there’s ever a First Gentleman?

This episode is a sharp, inside look at power, politics, and the changing role of America’s “unofficial” partner in the presidency.

Remember the First Ladies: The Legacies of America's History-Making Women

https://www.amazon.com/Remember-First-Ladies-Legacies-History-Making/dp/B0CMZM1KHF

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Host: Richard Lim
Producer: Michael Neal
Cover Art: Nip Rogers, https://www.NipRogers.com

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How have American presidents managed the most destructive weapons ever created?

In this episode, Dr. Anthony Eames, Director of Scholarly Initiatives at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, joins me to examine the history of nuclear weapons through the decisions of U.S. presidents—from Truman and Eisenhower to Reagan and beyond. We discuss the logic of deterrence, the rise of arms control treaties, and the moments when the world came dangerously close to nuclear war.

How have presidents managed this extraordinary power—and what lessons still matter today?

A Voice in Their Own Destiny: Reagan, Thatcher, and Public Diplomacy in the Nuclear 1980s

https://www.amazon.com/Voice-Their-Own-Destiny-Diplomacy/dp/1625347103/

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Host: Richard Lim
Producer: Michael Neal
Cover Art: Nip Rogers, https://www.NipRogers.com

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What if today’s leading voices took a fresh look at the lives of America’s presidents and first ladies—searching for lessons that still speak to the challenges we face now? That’s the idea behind In Pursuit, a new initiative to discover history’s greatest lessons by revisiting America’s first 250 years and distilling insights that can inspire and inform our future.

Bringing together former presidents and first ladies alongside historians, scholars, and cultural leaders, In Pursuit offers clear, accessible reflections on leadership, character, and civic responsibility—grounded in history, but aimed squarely at the present moment.

In this episode, Dr. Colleen J. Shogan shares how this ambitious project came to life—and why revisiting the American story may be essential to shaping its next chapter.

In Pursuit

https://www.inpursuit.org

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Host: Richard Lim
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Artist: Nip Rogers, www.NipRogers.com

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What American president would take a demotion and become a congressman after leaving the White House? The answer is John Quincy Adams. In this episode, we interview Bob Crawford, bassist for The Avett Brothers, about his new book on America's sixth president.

America's Founding Son: John Quincy Adams, from President to Political Maverick

https://www.amazon.com/Americas-Founding-Son-President-Political/dp/1638932603

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Host: Richard Lim
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President Trump has ordered strikes on Iran. In this episode, scholar Randall Fowler discusses how we got to this critical moment. He examines the history of U.S.–Iran relations — from the 1953 coup and the 1979 Islamic Revolution to sanctions, nuclear diplomacy, and today’s military action — with a focus on how each American president shaped the path to this moment.

More Than a Doctrine: The Eisenhower Era in the Middle East

https://www.amazon.com/More-Than-Doctrine-Eisenhower-Middle/dp/1612349978

Securing the Prize: Presidential Metaphor and US Intervention in the Persian Gulf

https://www.amazon.com/Securing-Prize-Presidential-Metaphor-Intervention/dp/1643365509/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0

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On January 3, 2026, the United States captured Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, ending his corrupt reign over the South American country. What led President Donald Trump to order this dramatic intervention?
Franklin Camargo is Venezuelan-American political commentator who fled his native country in 2019. In this episode, Camargo discusses his remarkable journey, the capture of Maduro, and what Venezuelans really think about America.

https://www.prageru.com/presenters/franklin-camargo

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FDR is often ranked by historians as one of the two or three greatest presidents. In recent years, he sometimes lands at the top spot. In this episode, Professor David T. Beito explores whether that ranking is deserved.

FDR: A NEW POLITICAL LIFE

https://www.amazon.com/FDR-Political-David-T-Beito/dp/1637700695

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If J.D. Vance gets elected to the White House in 2028, he will be the first president in over a century to have facial hair. In this episode, Theodore Pappas discusses the surprising history of hair and the American presidency.

COMBING THROUGH THE WHITE HOUSE: HAIR AND ITS SHOCKING IMPACT ON THE POLITICS, PRIVATE LIVES, AND LEGACIES OF THE PRESIDENTS

https://www.amazon.com/Combing-Through-White-House-Presidents/dp/1400246156

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