Dave Does History

In the latest episode of “Dave Does History” on *Bill Mick Live*, historian Dave Bowman sheds light on one of the more obscure figures in American presidential history: Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd President of the United States. Often overlooked in the grand tapestry of U.S. history, Harrison’s legacy is much more significant than most realize. Bowman’s deep dive into Harrison’s life and presidency reveals a leader whose actions and principles continue to echo through the corridors of American politics.

Dave Bowman opens the discussion with an unexpected reference—a modern country song by the Brothers Osborne titled “Nobody’s Nobody.” The song’s central message, that everyone is important in someone else’s life, serves as a perfect metaphor for Harrison’s place in history. Despite being largely forgotten today, Harrison’s presidency and personal ethos had a lasting impact, making him “somebody” in the annals of American history.

Benjamin Harrison was born on August 20, 1833, into one of America’s “First Families of Virginia,” a lineage of political prominence. His grandfather, William Henry Harrison, had served as the 9th President of the United States, although his tenure lasted just 32 days. Yet, despite his storied lineage, Benjamin Harrison’s life was marked by modesty and service rather than wealth or fame.

Harrison’s early years in Indiana, a region then considered the frontier, shaped his character and worldview. He sold his inheritance to fund his legal career and, as the nation hurtled toward civil war, Harrison found himself drawn into politics. By 1856, he was an early supporter of the Republican Party, campaigning vigorously for its candidates and setting the stage for his future political career.

When the Civil War erupted, Harrison, despite his reservations about military life, was asked to recruit and lead a regiment. His leadership of the 70th Indiana Infantry Regiment, particularly during Sherman’s March to the Sea, earned him the respect and loyalty of his men. Bowman highlights a poignant moment during a harsh winter in 1864 when Harrison, with hot coffee in hand, walked among his troops, urging them to keep going. This act of camaraderie not only endeared him to his soldiers but also secured their lifelong loyalty—loyalty that would serve him well in his political future.

Harrison’s presidency, which began in 1889 after defeating incumbent Grover Cleveland in a fiercely contested election, was marked by his attempts to navigate the challenges of the Gilded Age. His administration dealt with critical issues such as tariff policy, civil rights, veterans’ pensions, and economic surplus management.

Bowman points out that one of the most significant aspects of Harrison’s presidency was his commitment to civil rights. Harrison fought tirelessly to protect the voting rights of African Americans in the South, even though his efforts were ultimately thwarted by Congress. His support for the Federal Elections Bill, which aimed to protect these rights, was a testament to his belief in equality—a belief that would resonate in the Republican Party well into the 20th century.

Harrison’s foreign policy was also notable. While he expanded American influence abroad, particularly through the Pan-American Conference of 1889, he did so without resorting to military force. This approach, Bowman notes, was reflective of Harrison’s stoic view of war, shaped by his experiences during the Civil War. Harrison believed in the importance of peace and diplomacy, setting a precedent for future U.S. foreign policy.

The economic challenges of Harrison’s presidency were significant, particularly the management of a massive federal surplus. The Republican-controlled Congress, often referred to as the “Billion-Dollar Congress,” spent lavishly on veterans’ pensions, infrastructure projects, and the modernization of the U.S. Navy. While these expenditures were intended to support the nation’s growth and honor its veterans, they also led to financial difficulties that contributed to the economic downturn that followed.

After losing his bid for re-election to Grover Cleveland in 1892, Harrison retired quietly to Indianapolis. Unlike many of his successors, he did not seek wealth or fame after leaving office. Instead, he returned to his law practice and continued to serve his community, embodying the same modesty and sense of duty that had defined his life.

It almost seems like ancient history. But it was just seventeen days ago that the world watched as the opening ceremonies of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris either baffled or offended pretty much every one who isn’t…. well… French. Was it a parody of the Last supper painting – itself an inaccurate distortion of the actual Seder event? Or… was it a reenactment of several paintings of the behavior of the Greek god Dionysus? And if it was that, why did so many people not “get it?” while French people seemed to innately understand the whole thing. 

In the aftermath of the Opening Ceremonies, Christians loudly objected while the Mayor of Paris blamed “far right reactionaries” for the outrage over what was, at best, confusing.

So… is there any actual truth in any of this? Anything that we can learn from it all? Is there a cultural divide or was it just satanic Hollywood influence and art nouveau schtick?

In the end, the idea that Americans are confused or have mixed reactions to the happenings in Paris is nothing new. This day in 1792, George Washington was just a few months from being unanimously re-elected as President. Things in American had stabilized after our Constitution had been at last completely ratified the year before. We had thrown off – or more accurately thrown out – our own King. In the previous two years, newspapers had excitedly carried the reports of the French people, like us, rising up against the tyranny of the King. But today in 1972, things would turn dark in Paris. King Louis XVI was arrested and declared an enemy of the people of France.

Americans struggled to keep up with the happenings in Paris. Our focus was on our own mint and post office, politics, the new state of Kentucky, and indeed the first US Navy frigate began her construction. The New York Stock exchange was founded and the first true political party was formed, which strongly opposed the policies of the Federalists.

All those happenings in Paris were a long way off, across the Atlantic, and they were confusing. Weren’t we anti-monarchial? Wasn’t one of the founding principles of the French revolutionaries “liberty,” just like our own revolution had been? Shouldn’t we be supportive of the French people as they had supported us? Or was this French Revolution turning too dark, and apt to give rise to violence and instability – two things the Americans had all but eliminated?

It may seem odd to us today, but today in 1792, the French revolution was every bit as divisive and confusing to Americans as the Opening Ceremonies of the 2024 Olympics would be two hundred and thirty two years later. Almost to the day… “Claire… it’s French…”

On the bright morning of August 6, 1945 (Japan time), a solitary B-29 floated gently over the city of Hiroshima. It was not an unusual sight, nor was it unexpected. In many ways Hiroshima had been either lucky or protected during the devastating air raids that had recently set many Japanese cities on fire. There were rumors that Hiroshima had some special protection because of some secret relationship to FDR, or perhaps it was the emperor himself whose steady hand protected the city. In any case, Hiroshima had thus far been exempted from the fire bombing that had already killed hundreds of thousands around the rest of the nation.

The reason for Hiroshima’s fortune, and the reason it was would soon come to an end, was less about secret relationships than it was about silence. As the B-29 released its single bomb it banks away suddenly with its engines roaring loudly enough to be heard on the ground. The 155 degree banking turn seems an odd tactic, but it had been seen in recent weeks on a regular enough basis that it generated no special attention.

In those final seconds, the real reason that Hiroshima had thus far been spared became blindingly obvious.

And the world changed forever…

On this weeks gripping episode of “Dave Does History” on the Bill Mick Live Show,  historian Dave Bowman takes us back to the harrowing final voyage of the USS Indianapolis during World War II. We  explore the top-secret mission that led to the ship’s fateful journey, the catastrophic torpedo attack by a Japanese submarine, and the horrific ordeal faced by the surviving crew members in shark-infested waters.

The episode also touches on the infamous court-martial of Captain McVay and the eventual discovery of the shipwreck. Join us for a detailed and emotional retelling of one of the most tragic maritime disasters in U.S. Naval history.

In this compelling episode of “Bill Mick Live,” Dave Bowman delves into the historical intricacies of political assassinations, focusing on the death of Tiberius Gracchus in 133 BCE. Dave explores the turbulent period of the Late Roman Republic, drawing striking parallels between ancient Rome and contemporary political climates. As he dissects the motives and consequences of Gracchus’ assassination, Dave presents a thought-provoking hypothesis on how republics on the brink of collapse often resort to political violence and assassinations. Tune in for a riveting historical analysis that questions the future of modern republics and the lessons we can learn from the past. Don’t miss this episode of “Dave Does History” on Bill Mick Live!

In this episode of Dave Does History on Bill Mick Live, historian Dave Bowman takes listeners on a deep dive into the War of 1812, examining the complex causes and significant consequences of the conflict. The discussion covers the war’s origins, including British impressment of American sailors, trade restrictions, and territorial disputes involving Native American tribes. Bowman explains how the war fostered a sense of national unity and identity, despite initial American setbacks such as the surrender at the Siege of Detroit. Key battles, including the naval victory at Lake Erie and the Battle of New Orleans, are highlighted for their strategic importance and impact on American morale. The episode also addresses the burning of Washington, D.C., and the eventual peace established by the Treaty of Ghent. Through this detailed exploration, Bowman illustrates the war’s profound influence on America’s diplomatic and military strategies, as well as its cultural legacy, including the inspiration for “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

On February 22, 1770, eleven year old Christopher Seider was killed in the streets of Boston. He is generally considered by historians to be the first person to die in the American Revolution.

The British Taxes imposed in 1767 under the Townsend Acts led a firestorm of Colonial protests, particularly - and to no one's surprise - in Boston. The Colonials had boycotted British imports since the implementation of the Acts, but it mean that Boston (and other) merchants were struggling to make any profit at all selling American made goods of rougher and lesser quality. In early 1770, one Boston merchant, Theophilus Lille, announced - very publically - that he had had enough and was breaking the boycott and would sell British goods. The resulting riot ended with the death of Seider, who would draw his final breath in the surgery of Dr. Joseph Warren.

Two weeks later, snowballs hurled by angry Colonials would lead to shots being fire and the next five Americans will fall in the Revolution.

Dr. Joseph Warren, seeing that much more was now at stake than a mere political disagreement, would become a vocal advocate for the ideas of the growing American Revolution. 

And he would become one of the first of the fallen...

The enigma machine was supposed to be Nazi Germany’s unbreakable code machine. It’s network carried the bulk of the German secret communications from the 1920’s through the end of WWII in May of 1945. The machines carried by German Naval units, including U-Boats, were a complex gizmo of gears and wheels and keys, that required the correct plug in board to produce the encrypted messages that controlled the communications of the German Wolfpacks and other military units. The German military believed that the Enigma code was utterly unbreakable.

During the course of the war, two Nazi U-boats were captured with their Enigma machines intact. First by the British in May of 1941, provided the allies with the information that would come to be known as “Ultra.” This intelligence, derived from reading Enigma messages, helped the Allies turn the tide of the Battle of the Atlantic (it is also the source of the controversial film, U-571).

By June of 1944, the Germans had updated their codes with newer machines and better codes, which while penetrated, were becoming more secure again.  On June 4, 1944, Task Group 22.3, led by Captain Daniel Gallery of the USN, detected a German U-boat off the Cape Verde Islands.

The U-505 was not a “lucky boat” in the strictest of sense, although until this day she had always managed to survive the predicaments in which found herself. This day… would change history…