23.) Benjamin Harrison 1889-1893

[Abridged] Presidential Histories

English - November 22, 2021 08:00 - 49 minutes - 34 MB
History presidential history presidents american u.s.a. u.s. united states political politics Homepage Download Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed

Previous Episode: 22.A.) Mugwumps, scandals, and the stunning campaign of 1884, an interview with Ted Kohn

Next Episode: 23.A.) How Benjamin Harrison won his way to defeat, an interview with Charles Calhoun

When it comes to politicians, promises made + promises kept is supposed to = reelection, right? For Benjamin Harrison and the 51st GOP Congress, this common sense equation failed in a major way. After passing more legislation than almost any Congress in U.S. history, Harrison and the GOP majority were sent packing in one of the most lopsided congressional wipeouts ever. Why?

Follow along as Harrison serves in the Civil War, enters politics, wins the White House, and passes a raft of major legislation - some of which we still live under today - only for the voters to reward him by punching his pink slip. Oh, and he'll acquire the country's first overseas territory, too. Imperialism, here we come!

Bibliography
1. Benjamin Harrison – Charles W. Calhoun
2. Grover Cleveland – Henry F. Graff
3. The President and the Assassin: McKinley, Terror, and Empire at the Dawn of the American Century – Scott Miller
4. T.R. the last Romantic – H.R. Brands

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