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PODCAST

American History Hotline

Bob Crawford searches for the best historians and experts to answer listener questions about American history — from the Revolutionary War to rock & roll feuds. Got a question? Send it to AmericanHistoryHotline@gmail.com.

history

All Episodes

38:33

Is Thanksgiving a Feast of Lies?! Historian David J....

American History Hotline ·

2025/11/19

We all have that relative that tells us there was actually no green bean casserole at the first Thanksgiving. Yeah, we know, Grandma! But how much do we really know about that first feast between the Pilgrims and the Indians? Well, a lot. But the story most of us learned in school is completely wrong. AuthorDavid J. Silverman, (This Land Is Their Land: The Wampanoag Indians, Plymouth Colony, and the Troubled History of Thanksgiving) joins us to carve up the myths about Turkey Day and serve a nice

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25:02

When Murder Was Legal …ish

American History Hotline ·

2025/11/12

In 1859, Congressman Daniel Sickles murdered Philip Barton Key (son of the man who wrote The Star-Spangled Banner) in a fit of jealous rage just steps from the White House. The resulting trial became America’s first true media circus, and gave rise to the “crime of passion” defense. In short, it basically became legal to kill a man for sleeping with your wife. While this wasn't technically a law, it was the "Unwritten Law" for way longer than you might think. Chris DeRose, author

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35:35

How Did Big Tech Take Over Our Elections?

American History Hotline ·

2025/11/05

You won't see it on the ballot, but it's always the winner in American elections. That's right, we're talking about big tech. From Facebook to Google and AI, technology not only has the power to affect the outcomes of our elections ... it's already doing it! Who could have seen this coming? Well, we're glad you asked, because Roger McNamee has been ringing alarm bells since you were playing Snake on your Nokia. Roger joins Bob to talk about the evolution of technology in politics, from the rise of

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26:44

Why Won't Daylight Saving Time Die?

American History Hotline ·

2025/10/29

Set it and forget it! That's what most Americans want to do with their clocks. They want standard time year-round. So, why are we stuck with Daylight Saving Time? And where did it come from in the first place? Some say it was Benjamin Franklin. But if we Scooby-Doo this thing and pull off the mask to see who's really behind this whole clock caper it's ... (gasp) ... CAPITALISM! Tune in an hour earlier ... or is it later? ... for this episode. GUEST: Chad Orzel, author of the book, A Brief History of

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45:11

Hunting Witches: What Started the Salem Witch Trials?

American History Hotline ·

2025/10/22

Which witch is which? You probably heard a lot of lawyers saying that in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692. That was the year of America's largest witch hunt ever. But what sparked this mass hysteria that led to false accusations, sham justice and wrongful executions? Teenagers, of course. Bob is joined by historian Emerson Baker (A Storm of Witchcraft) to explore how religion, politics, and panic fueled the Salem Witch Trials. A time when no one was above suspicion! Guest: Emerson Baker, author of A

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47:24

Hail to the Cheapskate: How Presidents Made (and...

American History Hotline ·

2025/10/15

How did America’s presidents really make—and manage—their money? Bob Crawford sits down with financial expert and author Megan Gorman to explore the personal finances of presidents from George Washington to Donald Trump. Drawing from her new book, All the Presidents’ Money: How the Men Who Governed America Governed Their Money, Gorman reveals who thrived, who failed, and what their choices say about leadership, power, and legacy. Discover why Thomas Jefferson died in debt,

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36:30

What Was Columbus REALLY Like?

American History Hotline ·

2025/10/08

A complicated man in complicated times? A genocidal enslaving maniac? Or something in between? Bob voyages back in time with biographer Matthew Restall (The Nine Lives of Christopher Columbus) to learn about the REAL Christopher Columbus. Together, they separate the flesh-and-blood navigator from the larger-than-life symbol of European conquest, examining Columbus’s ambitions, his treatment of Indigenous peoples, and how his image has been used for centuries to celebrate—and

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44:08

Blackface's Lasting Legacy in America with Tyrone Howard

American History Hotline ·

2025/10/01

What’s so wrong about a white person painting their face black to entertain a crowd? Well, it helps to understand the history of blackface in America to understand its harmful legacy. Bob and Tyrone Howard trace how 19th-century minstrel shows dehumanized Black Americans, reinforced racist stereotypes, and shaped American culture, politics, and entertainment for generations. They also explore why it's important to learn about the history of slavery, even if it makes you feel guilty or

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39:59

Why Watergate Didn't Bother Lynyrd Skynyrd / Ozzy vs....

American History Hotline ·

2025/09/24

Did Ozzy bite the head off a bat? Is there a political message in Sweet Home Alabama? Bob Crawford sits down with music critic and author Mark Kemp to dissect some rock legends and myths. We'll dive into Lynyrd Skynyrd’s iconic Sweet Home Alabama, unpack the band’s response to Neil Young’s critiques of the South and talk about Ozzy Osbourne's propensity for biting the head off winged creatures. Mark Kemp also helps us understand the intersection of Southern rock and American

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18:14

Dueling in Early America: Hamilton, Burr, and Honor...

American History Hotline ·

2025/09/17

This episode demands satisfaction! Why did Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr meet on the dueling ground—and how common were duels in early America? HistorianLindsay Chervinsky joins Bob Crawford on American History Hotline to explore the surprising history of dueling in the United States. From European traditions to the honor culture of the American South, duels shaped politics, reputation, and even presidential legacies. Learn why Andrew Jackson fought so many duels, how Abraham Lincoln

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26:37

Buffalo Soldiers: The History Behind Bob Marley’s...

American History Hotline ·

2025/09/10

Buffalo Soldier, dreadlock RastaThere was a Buffalo SoldierIn the heart of AmericaStolen from Africa, brought to AmericaFighting on arrival, fighting for survival Most people know the phrase Buffalo Soldier from Bob Marley’s famous reggae song—but what’s the real history behind it? On this episode of American History Hotline, host Bob Crawford talks with Cale E. Carter IIto uncover the true story of the Buffalo Soldiers. Discover who these Black regiments were, how they earned

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40:16

Why Do Third Parties Fail?

American History Hotline ·

2025/09/03

Spoilers ahead! No, not those type of spoilers. We're talking about third party presidential candidates and the reasons third parties can't get a footing in American politics. So, why do third parties fail? And could the current toxicity of both major American political parties create an opening for a centrist third party? GUEST: Michael Cullinane, professor of U.S. History and the Lowman Walton Chair of Theodore Roosevelt Studies at Dickinson State University in North Dakota. He’s also author

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21:34

Episode Title Redacted: From the Files of the CIA

American History Hotline ·

2025/08/29

Who was America's most successful spy? What happens to a spy that's captured? How can you tell if your child is lying? We interrogate a former member of the CIA to get some info about American intelligence. GUEST: Brittany Butler, former targeting officer within CIA’s Directorate of Operations, Counterterrorism Center. Author ofThe Syndicate Spy: A Juliet Arroway Novel.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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29:12

Arsenic and Cyanide: The Dark Side of Victorian...

American History Hotline ·

2025/08/27

Why did so many women in the 1800s turn to poison to solve their problems? (Sorry husbands). Poisons like mercury, arsenic and strychnine were so cheap and readily available in the Victorian Era that it was called the "Golden Age of Poisoning." Besides being readily available, there were very few tests to detect murder by poison. Combine this with a society where women were powerless and poison becomes "the great equalizer for women in the 19th Century," as science historian Daniel Kevles wrote. But

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47:54

Peter Sagal: Is the Electoral College "America's...

American History Hotline ·

2025/08/20

The U.S. Constitution has inspired countless countries to adopt democracy, but NONE have adopted the electoral college. What's up with that? Turns out, if American's National Parks are "the best idea we ever had. Absolutely American, absolutely democratic, they reflect us at our best rather than our worst," as author Wallace Stegner wrote, then the electoral college might be America's worst idea. To figure out if the electoral college is trash, and to break down the origins, pros, cons and future

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34:26

Why Haven't We Returned to the Moon in 50+ Years?

American History Hotline ·

2025/08/13

The Moon. We hit it and quit it. But after more than 50 years is it time to rekindle the relationship? We'll explore the reasons we stopped going to the moon and why NOW is the right time to go back (we see you, Artemis). Also, how does a return to the moon get us closer to landing humans on Mars? And how do we overcome some of the logistical and psychological challenges of traveling 35 million miles to our neighboring planet? GUEST: Andrew Chaikin, author of the book A Man on the Moon. Check out

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34:07

America's Favorite Fighting Frenchman: Lafayette

American History Hotline ·

2025/08/06

Why did a French-born aristocrat volunteer (without pay) to fight for the Americans during the Revolutionary War? And what happened when the Marquis de Lafayette returned to France to fight in its revolution?And is his name really Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier de La Fayette?! This episode is all about Lafayette, including his Era's Tour return to America decades after the revolution. GUEST: Lloyd Kramer, historian and author of the book Lafayette in Two Worlds: Public Cultures and

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26:19

Was Disease the Biggest Killer in the Civil War?

American History Hotline ·

2025/07/30

"War is 99 parts diarrhea and one part glory." Walt Whitman had a point when he wrote this. Diseases like dysentery, typhus, and malaria were responsible for 2/3 of the deaths in the Civil War. So, how did illness kill more soldiers on the battlefield than cannons and bayonets? It helps to look at the living conditions and atrocious medical practices in field hospitals during the deadliest war in American history. And it didn't help that sexually transmitted diseases like syphilis were rampant among

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31:11

Did George Washington Cut Down a Cherry Tree and Tell...

American History Hotline ·

2025/07/23

Sir Mix-a-Lot can't lie about liking big butts. And George Washington can't lie about cutting down cherry trees. Or can he? According to Washington biographer Alexis Coe, this is "the greatest fan fiction ever told" (the tree thing! Mix-a-Lot truly loves big butts). It turns out America's first president is a lightning rod for myths and misinformation. So, we're putting in our wooden teeth (or are they not wood?) and taking a bite of the reality sandwich as we sort truth from fiction in George

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35:34

Would Lincoln Be a Republican Today?

American History Hotline ·

2025/07/16

It's Lincoln's party and he'll cry if he wants to. We trace the evolution of America's major political parties to understand how they've changed since Honest Abe was the Republican standard-bearer. And if he were running for election in 2028, which party would he belong to? GUEST:Julian Zelizer, New York Timesbest-selling author and Professor of History and Public Affairs at Princeton University. Hepublishes a Substack newsletter calledThe Long View. Check out his book: In Defense of Partisanship.

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24 results

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