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Fail to the Chief

71 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 2 years ago - ★★★★★ - 41 ratings

Fail to the Chief is the podcast where comic "historian" Thom Woodley talks about the men who became President... almost. Romp through the losers of presidential history, laugh and marvel at how different life might have been, had America made different choices.
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History Comedy
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Episodes

1984. Walter Mondale, the Loser of 1984.

June 24, 2022 16:53 - 41 minutes - 38.2 MB

Comic historian Thom Woodley looks at Walter Mondale, the landslide Ronald Reagan reelection of 1984, and growing up in the 1980s in general. 

BOB DOLE BOB DOLE BOB DOLE

December 08, 2021 19:32 - 17 minutes - 197 MB Video

Sad to hear of Bob Dole's passing this week. In honor of the man, here is the Bob Dole chapter from my book Fail to the Chief Vol. 2 (available on Amazon!)

UPDATE! and 1992: Ross Perot

September 14, 2021 20:50 - 27 minutes - 24.9 MB

Fail to the Chief THE BOOK? Yes indeed.  Also? Ross Perot. In lo-fi style. Because you've been waiting.  Order the book today: https://www.amazon.com/Fail-Chief-1788-1928-Thom-Woodley/dp/1736697706/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=fail+to+the+chief&qid=1631577684&sr=8-1

1988. Michael Dukakis, a.k.a. Zorba the Clerk.

May 05, 2020 00:49 - 36 minutes - 33.4 MB

Thom Woodley takes you on a tour of presidential losers of the past. In this episode, the George Bush vs. Michael Dukakis election of 1988. 

43. Walter Mondale, the Loser of 1984.

March 31, 2020 10:00 - 41 minutes - 38.2 MB

Comic historian Thom Woodley loves at Walter Mondale, the landslide Ronald Reagan reelection of 1984, and growing up in the 1980s in general. 

BONUS: 1980. John B. Anderson, the Best Candidate You Never Heard Of,

March 17, 2020 10:00 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MB

Thom Woodley digs into the losers of presidential history - in this case, the independent candidacy of former Republican Congressman John B. Anderson (IL-16), who lost to Ronald Reagan but might have been the architect of a much better future. 

1972. George McGovern's McGovernment.

March 04, 2020 01:35 - 44 minutes - 40.4 MB

Thom Woodley takes you through the history of the disastrous 1972 presidential campaign of liberal icon and Nixon opponent, George McGovern. 

1968. Hubert Horatio Humphrey, the Happy Handshaker.

February 04, 2020 11:00 - 43 minutes - 39.7 MB

Thom Woodley discusses the losers of presidential history - this year, the big Democratic loser of the chaotic year of 1968, Vice President Hubert Humphrey, who lost to Richard Nixon in the midst of the Vietnam War. 

1968. George Wallace, Segregator-in-Chief

January 21, 2020 21:15 - 30 minutes - 28.3 MB

Rerelease of a 2015 Episode. Just in time for MLK Day, it's our episode on George Wallace, the 3rd party candidate in the 1968 election. Why wasn't he elected president? And how would he have been in office?

BONUS! The 5th Era of American Politics Review

January 14, 2020 11:00 - 33 minutes - 30.3 MB

In this episode, we explore ALL of the losers of the 5th Period in American Politics (1932-1968), Alf Landon, Wendell Willkie, Thomas Dewey, Adlai Stevenson, Strom Thurmond, Henry Wallace and Barry Goldwater, and find out where they rank among the losers of all American history.  We also talk about some notable other losers of the era: Henry Breckinridge, Cactus Jack Garner, Estes Kefauver, Averell Harriman, Bob Taft, Douglas MacArthur, Nelson Rockefeller and the classic perennial candidat...

1964. In your heart, you know Barry Goldwater's right.

January 07, 2020 11:00 - 40 minutes - 37 MB

Amateur historian host Thom Woodley re-releases his 2016 episode on Barry Goldwater, the very conservative-libertarian Republican losing candidate of the 1964 Lyndon Johnson presidential election. 

NEW: 1952/1956. Adlai Stevenson, the Thinking Man's President.

December 03, 2019 18:26 - 47 minutes - 43.1 MB

This is a repost as there was an error the first time I posted! Comic historian Thom Woodley digs into the record of Adlai Stevenson II, Governor of Illinois and two-time nominee of the Democratic party, who lost big to Dwight Eisenhower. 

1948. Henry Wallace, the Secret Soviet Spy candidate?

November 05, 2019 11:00 - 35 minutes - 32.6 MB

Join comic historian Thom Woodley as we talk about Henry Wallace, former Vice President and the 1948 candidate of the Progressive Party... and also maybe, just maybe, a secret Soviet asset. 

1848. Lewis Cass, our first Ugly-American President

October 29, 2019 10:00 - 32 minutes - 29.8 MB

Comic historian Thom Woodley (@thomwoodley) takes you on a tour through the rogues gallery of presidential candidates who didn't quite make it. This episode, Lewis Cass (Democrat, 1848), who lost to Zachary Taylor. 

1948. Strom Thurmond, Dixiecrat.

October 01, 2019 10:00 - 37 minutes - 34.7 MB

Thom Woodley takes you on a tour of the 1948 presidential election, in which 3rd party Democrat Strom Thurmond runs on a platform of segregationist views - and later goes on to rebuild the Republican party in his image. 

1844. Henry Clay (Part 2) [RE-RELEASE]

September 17, 2019 10:00 - 27 minutes - 24.7 MB

Re-release of this 2015 episode; comic historian Thom Woodley takes you through the 1844 election where historical great Henry Clay was defeated by dark horse James K. Polk. 

1944/48. DEWEY DEFEATS TRUMAN (not so much)!

September 03, 2019 10:00 - 43 minutes - 40 MB

Comic historian Thom Woodley investigates the losers of presidential history - this time Thomas E. Dewey, two time Republican nominee, the gangbusting man on the wedding cake who lost to FDR and Harry Truman. 

1836. The Devil in Daniel Webster (re-release)

August 20, 2019 10:00 - 29 minutes - 27 MB

Thom rereleases his episode on presidential loser Daniel Webster, the only man to turn down two separate vice-presidential offers (either of which would have led to his becoming president). 

1940. What if Wendell Willkie Won the World War?

August 06, 2019 10:00 - 48 minutes - 44.4 MB

Every episode, comic historian Thom Woodley dissects one of the losers of presidential elections. This time, the discussion is on Wendell Willkie, a proto-Trump figure: businessman who never served in office, former Democrat, famous for speaking on a controversial issue. What would have happened had a completely nonexperienced man had beaten FDR and been at the helm during WW2??

1836. Hugh Lawson White, Legislative Dracula

July 23, 2019 10:00 - 25 minutes - 23.5 MB

Every episode, Thom Woodley delves into a different Loser of American presidential elections. Enjoy this re-release of diehard conservative (and possible Nesferatu) Hugh Lawson White of Tennessee, one of 1836's Way Too Many Whig candidates. 

1936. Landslide Alf Landon

July 09, 2019 10:00 - 41 minutes - 38.3 MB

in this episode, Thom Woodley discusses the very boring Kansas governor Alf Landon and his landslide loss to Franklin D. Roosevelt. 

BONUS: The 4th Era of American Politics

July 02, 2019 10:00 - 23 minutes - 21.2 MB

It's July 4th, 2019, and Thom is going to quickly recap the 4th period of American history (from McKinley in 1896 through Hoover in 1928), and its presidential losers: William Jennings Bryan, Alton Parker, Eugene Debs, Charles Evans Hughes, James Cox, John W. Davis, Robert La Follette, Burton Wheeler, and Al Smith. In addition he discusses some might-have-been-also-rans: Silver Dick Bland, Champ Clark, Charles Fairbanks, William Randolph Hearst, Leonard Wood, William Gibbs McAdoo, Hiram John...

1832. William Wirt and the Anti-Masons.

June 18, 2019 10:00 - 28 minutes - 26.2 MB

Thom Woodley dives into the groundbreaking third party candidacy of William Wirt and the Anti-Masonic party in this rerelease of a 2015 episode. 

1928. Al Smith, the Happy Warrior

June 04, 2019 10:00 - 40 minutes - 36.8 MB

In this episode, humorist historian Thom Woodley dives into Al Smith, Governor of New York, first Catholic nominee, a man who might have prevented the Depression even though he never even went to high school. 

Ep 29: La la la Loser, La la la La Follette (Re-release)

May 21, 2019 10:00 - 34 minutes - 31.7 MB

Re-release of episode from 2015/2016 about 'Fighting Bob' La Follette, champion of the Progressive Party and bigtime loser of 1924.  

1924. John W. Davis, Pride of West Virginia

May 07, 2019 10:00 - 35 minutes - 32.8 MB

In this episode, Thom dives into one of the most forgotten presidential losers of all time, John W. Davis, 1924 Democratic dark horse nominee. 

1824 and 1832. The Incredible Henry Clay (Part 1)

April 30, 2019 10:00 - 36 minutes - 33 MB

Thom rereleases part 1 of his all-time favorite loser, Henry Clay, the man who ran six times, was nominated thrice, saved the Union thrice, and probably almost destroyed it a few times too. 

1920. America kicks itself in the Cox (James Cox)

April 16, 2019 10:00 - 32 minutes - 30 MB

REISSUE of an episode that came out in the Summer of 2016! Back then I compared James Cox to John Kasich (since both were, you know, governors of Ohio ultimately defeated by men who really had little knowledge of what the president did). But could this short, feisty, intense little man have ALSO prevented the stock market crash and depression? Listen on.

1916. Charles Evans Hughes, the Beard we can Believe in.

April 02, 2019 10:00 - 35 minutes - 32.2 MB

In this episode, Thom looks at one of the best presidential losers of all time, Charles Evans Hughes. He lost to Woodrow Wilson by only about six thousand votes, but it's all good - he went on to serve as both Secretary of State and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, so don't feel too bad. 

BONUS! The Sentencing Speech of Eugene V. Debs

March 26, 2019 10:00 - 10 minutes - 9.51 MB

When Socialist presidential candidate Eugene V. Debs was sentenced for speaking out against World War 1, on September 18, 2018, he gave a stirring speech in support of his beliefs and principles, and in execration of the Espionage Act and the government that had spawned it. I read it here, poorly and quickly, in the streets of NYC!

1900-1920. Eugene V. Debs and the (first) Socialist Revolution

March 19, 2019 10:00 - 39 minutes - 35.9 MB

Did you know that America had socialist candidates before Bernie Sanders? We sure did. In fact, union organizer Eugene Debs ran as the Socialist candidate in five elections - including one from a prison cell. 

1904. The Anonymous Alton B. Parker.

March 05, 2019 11:00 - 36 minutes - 33.7 MB

Thom Woodley explores the candidacy of Judge Alton B. Parker, the most forgotten of all losers - so forgotten that this democratic nominee has never even had a biography written about him. 

1824. William Crawford's Stroke of Bad Luck.

February 26, 2019 11:00 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MB

Learn how the last Democratic-Republican nominee, Georgia's William Crawford, split the party apart and led to the rise of the two party system which ultimately bred hatred in the days leading to the Civil War. 

BONUS! President's Day 2019

February 18, 2019 11:00 - 15 minutes - 14.3 MB

Thom goes through the Top 5 and Bottom 5 Losers so far, and also discuss FAIL TO THE CHIEF... the book???

BONUS! The Cross of Gold Speech by William Jennings Bryan

February 13, 2019 12:14 - 20 minutes - 18.6 MB

Thom reads the 1896 Democratic National Convention 'Cross of Gold' speech of William Jennings Bryan. 

1896, 1900, 1908. William Jennings Bryan, shaper of the Democratic Party.

February 05, 2019 11:00 - 53 minutes - 49.3 MB

Thom Woodley discusses three-time democratic party loser William Jennings Bryan, and what the world would be like had this preacher-in-chief been elected. 

Bonus Episode! Reviewing the 3rd Period of American Politics

January 29, 2019 11:00 - 29 minutes - 27.4 MB

Thom summarizes his rankings for the losers of the period of American history from 1860-1892: Stephen Douglas, John Breckinridge, John Bell, George McClellan, Horatio Seymour, Horace Greeley, Samuel Tilden, Winfield Scott Hancock, James Blaine and James Weaver.  He also discusses some interesting 'nearly also-rans': William Seward, Salmon Chase, Cassius Clay, Roscoe Conkling, Thomas Hendricks, Thomas Bayard, Benjamin 'Beast' Butler, and the various third parties of the era, from the Women'...

1816. The Man who would be (Rufus) King

January 22, 2019 11:00 - 28 minutes - 25.7 MB

In this rerelease, Thom dives into the election of 1816, the last mewling death cry of the Federalist Party and its standardbearer, Rufus King. 

1896. James B. Weaver, the People's Person of Choice.

January 15, 2019 11:00 - 33 minutes - 30.8 MB

You've probably never heard of James B. Weaver, but he's the first successful populist (leftist) candidate in American history. His 1896 third party run won five states and helped to change the landscape of politics from then on. In this episode, Thom Woodley tells you about his life, his politics, and maybe, just maybe, you'll come out a 'b.weaver'. 

1884. The Plumed Knight of Maine, James G. Blaine

January 01, 2019 13:00 - 34 minutes - 31.5 MB

James G. Blaine combined the politicking of Paul Ryan, the NYC elitist foibles of Hillary Clinton, and the plutocratic corruption of Donald Trump. And he almost became president in 1884.  Hear comic historian Thom Woodley go into what kept this scandal-ridden, political wunderkind out of the White House. 

1812. De wit and de wisdom of Dewitt Clinton.

December 18, 2018 11:27 - 26 minutes - 24 MB

When he ran for president in the midst of our most-forgotten major war, Dewitt Clinton was serving as both lieutenant governor of New York and Mayor of New York City - and he was both a Democratic-Republican and a Federalist. It was confusing times. How exactly did this canal-digging, city-building Magnus Apollo of a man lose to short, shriveled, sickly James Madison? Listen in to find out. 

1880. The Superb Winfield Scott Hancock.

December 04, 2018 11:23 - 35 minutes - 32.4 MB

We're back, with a new episode the first Tuesday of every month! This episode, Thom explores the election of 1880, which Civil War hero Winfield Scott Hancock lost to political partisan James Garfield. 

1804/1808. C.C. Pinckney, the Plantation President (Re-Release)

November 27, 2018 15:14 - 29 minutes - 26.9 MB

Thom Woodley dives into the history of Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, two-time federalist loser (1804 and 1808).  New episodes coming the first tuesday of every month!

1800. Aaron Burr, our First Supervillain

November 13, 2018 19:57 - 41 minutes - 39.7 MB

Special Re-Release! Thom Woodley dives deep into the life of the very first presidential loser (and star of the stage) Aaron Burr. Not just the bad guy in Hamilton... he very much played the bad guy in real life. But also the good guy! Because it's history and history is confusing.  Enjoy and let us know by reaching out to us on @failtothechief on Instagram if you are interested in us continuing to re-edit and re-release old episodes (or just get to the new stuff already?). 

1876. Samuel Tilden and the Ruther-Fraud of the Century

August 30, 2017 21:47 - 36 minutes - 33.7 MB

Comic historian Thom Woodley dissects the back stories, politics and failures of the men who lost presidential elections. In this episode, epic 1876 loser Samuel Tilden, who had the election stolen right from under his beaklike nose.  

1872. Horace Greeley and the Lamestream Media

May 25, 2017 16:13 - 38 minutes - 35.6 MB

Join comic historian Thom Woodley as he investigates the losers of presidential history. In this episode, Liberal Republican candidate and New York Tribune founder-editor Horace Greeley. He lost to Ulysses Grant, was a titan of media, and a journalistic icon, as well as a brilliant genius and possible lunatic. (History politics presidents worst comedy)

1868. Horatio Seymour, the Man who Wouldn't be President (please??)

April 15, 2017 19:44 - 37 minutes - 207 MB Video

Join comic historian Thom Woodley on a tour through the losers of presidential history - this time Horatio Seymour, Governor of New York, who lost the election of 1868 to Ulysses S. Grant, and has the distinction of being the loser who most sincerely did NOT want to become president. 

1864. George McClellan, the Trump of the Civil War

March 12, 2017 18:42 - 37 minutes - 51.1 MB

Join comic historian Thom Woodley on a discussion of the very Trumplike candidate to lose against Abraham Lincoln in the middle of the Civil War. 

President's Day 2017 Special Announcement

February 20, 2017 15:22 - 7 minutes - 3.72 MB

We're back. 

Barry Goldwater: the Ted Cruz of 1964

June 29, 2016 11:13 - 39 minutes - 53.9 MB

Join humorist historian Thom Woodley as he discusses the men who lost presidential elections. This time he talks about conservative icon and uber-loser Barry Goldwater.  Please subscribe and rate us on iTunes! And follow us at @failtothechief.