"In the annals of the American Revolution, no group played a more consequential role than the Marbleheaders. At the right time in the right place, they repeatedly altered the course of events, and their story shines new light on our understanding of the Revolution. As acclaimed historian Patrick K. O�Donnell dramatically recounts, beginning nearly a decade before the war started, and in the midst of a raging virus that divided the town politically, Marbleheaders such as Elbridge Gerry and Azor Orne spearheaded the break with Britain and shaped the nascent United States by playing a crucial role governing, building alliances, seizing British ships, forging critical supply lines, and establishing the origins of the US Navy." (H/T Amazon)

Today we talk about the early days of the beginning of our republic. We focus on one particular group named The Marbleheaders. We talk with the author of the new book "The Indispensables: The Diverse Soldier-Mariners Who Shaped the Country, Formed the Navy, and Rowed Washington Across the Delaware." An interesting part of the story is the unity that this group experienced, while being ethnically diverse - Represented were White, Black, Hispanic, and Native American men. Participants: Patrick K. O'Donnell, Dan Elmendorf