Dave Does History

On March 30, 1981, a bullet changed history—and a jar of peanut butter changed my life.

In this episode of Dave Does History, I take you back to the surreal day President Reagan was shot, seen not from a D.C. press room, but through the eyes of a seventeen-year-old navigating high school, Navy dreams, and a cantankerous grandfather with strong opinions and crunchy peanut butter ambitions. This isn’t just political history—it’s personal.

From kitchen-table arguments to constitutional awakenings, join me for a firsthand account of the day America held its breath, and I began to understand the weight of an oath.

On this episode of Dave Does History, we turn our attention to a man many have forgotten—but whose actions echo through every peaceful transfer of presidential power in American history.

John Tyler, the tenth President of the United States, never won the office by vote, yet he forever changed the presidency. From Virginia aristocrat to accidental Commander-in-Chief, Tyler’s term was riddled with political isolation, constitutional crisis, and bold action.

So buckle up as we explore the life, rise, and legacy of a president dubbed “His Accidency”—but who may just have been one of the most consequential leaders we rarely remember.

In this episode of Dave Does History, we saddle up and ride west—far west—to the rugged terrain of New Mexico in 1862.

While most folks picture Civil War battles back east, there was a fiery clash in the high desert that proved just as pivotal. Known as the “Gettysburg of the West,” the Battle of Glorieta Pass was a bold Confederate gamble to seize the Southwest—and its gold.

But what unfolded in those narrow canyons changed the course of the war out west. Join us as we uncover the forgotten fight that ended Dixie’s dreams of a desert empire.

In the wake of the Civil War, America faced a new battle—not for territory, but for the soul of the republic.

The Civil Rights Act of 1866 aimed to secure basic rights for newly freed African Americans, but President Andrew Johnson had other ideas. His veto of the bill ignited a fierce showdown with Congress, laying bare the deep rifts in post-war America.

Today we explore the Act’s introduction, Johnson’s controversial veto, the unprecedented congressional override, and the legacy that still echoes today.

At Dave Does History, we dig into the clash that redefined Reconstruction—and the presidency itself.

On this episode of Dave Does History, we are heading back to 1351 for one of the most curious, chivalrous, and downright cinematic episodes of the Hundred Years’ War—the Combat of the Thirty.

Picture it: thirty knights loyal to England, thirty to France, meeting under a lone oak tree in Brittany for a fight to the death—not for land, not for gold, but for honor.

Or so the story goes. Was it a noble duel or a public relations stunt wrapped in chainmail?

Join me as we pull back the curtain on a battle that became legend—bloody, bold, and unforgettable.

This morning on Dave Does History, we head back to 1805 for a political showdown that nearly shattered the balance of power in America.

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Chase—a signer of the Declaration and a fiery Federalist—stood trial in the Senate, impeached by Jefferson’s allies for partisan bluster from the bench. But was it justice, or just politics?

Today we unpack how a bitter feud between Jefferson and the Federalist judiciary sparked the only impeachment of a Supreme Court Justice—and why his acquittal may have saved the independence of the American courts.

It’s history with lessons for us today, only on Bill Mick Live.

Born Erik Weisz in 1874, Harry Houdini became the most famous escape artist in history—and one of the most fascinating figures of the early 20th century.

In this episode of Dave Does History, we explore the real man behind the myths: from his daring milk can and water torture cell escapes to his battles with spiritualists, his short-lived film career, and even his aviation adventures.

Houdini was more than a magician—he was a showman, a skeptic, and a symbol of defiance.

Join us as we unlock the life, the legacy, and the final mystery of Harry Houdini.

In this episode of Dave Does History, we ride back to a moment that quietly transformed the modern world—March 23, 1857—when a bearded mechanic named Elisha Otis cut the rope and changed the skyline forever.

Long before skyscrapers kissed the clouds, one man's bold demonstration made it possible to go up without fear of coming down.

Join us as we explore how a wooden platform, a steel spring, and a bit of showmanship launched a revolution in architecture, business, and daily life. It is the story of the elevator—and the man who gave the world permission to rise.

On this episode of Dave Does History, we head back to 1765, when Parliament passed a law that lit the fuse of American rebellion—the Stamp Act.

It was more than a tax on paper; it was a bold assertion of control over the colonies. What followed was outrage, protest, and the first sparks of unity among the American people. Join me as we unpack the motives behind Britain’s decision, the colonists’ fierce response, and how a simple stamp became a symbol of tyranny—and resistance.

This is the story of how liberty found its voice in the face of imperial overreach.

In March of 1943, Nazi Germany was on the defensive. The catastrophe at Stalingrad had shattered the myth of Hitler’s invincibility, and inside the German military, resistance was brewing.

Among those who saw Hitler as a threat to Germany’s survival was Rudolf-Christoph von Gersdorff, a decorated officer willing to sacrifice himself to end the dictator’s reign.

On March 21, 1943, during a Heroes’ Memorial Day event in Berlin, he attempted a daring suicide bombing. But as history shows, timing is everything.

Today on Dave Does History, we uncover the story of a failed assassination and what might have been.