Episode #271: First in War, First in Peace, First in Iowa

John Delaney once had the spotlight all to himself.  At the time a three-term congressman from Maryland, he was the first to declare his candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination.  That was back in the summer of 2017.  Now, nearly two years later, there are 15, maybe 16 candidates running.  But back then, he was in a Class of One, and he spoke to us about his reasons for running and odds of succeeding. Steve Farnsworth of the University of Mary Washington and author of “Presidential Communication and Character,” talks about how the past four presidents — Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump — have adapted to the new ways of communicating with the public. And, it was 102 years ago this week when Jeannette Rankin, a Republican from Montana, became the first woman in history sworn into Congress.  House historian Matt Wasniewski says there was much more about Rankin than being the first that made her unique. Finally, James K. Polk biographer Robert Merry explains why he thinks the 11th president may be the most successful one-termer in the nation’s history. Photo via Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun/TNS Music used in this podcast: Hey Brother by Avicii Do You Believe in Magic by The Lovin’ Spoonful I’ve Gotta Get a Message to You by the Bee Gees War by Edwin Starr Bury Me Deep by Ivan & Alyosha