Starting life off from the humblest beginnings, Andrew Johnson rose from a simple tailor to a statesman. The only Southerner to remain in the Senate following secession, Johnson was chosen by Abraham Lincoln as his vice-president in 1864. Following Lincoln’s assassination a few months later, Johnson found himself hated by many of his fellow Tennesseans and distrusted by the Washington establishment. The first president to be impeached, Johnson was also a brave leader who did his best to heal the nation following the Civil War. Kendra Hinkle, museum specialist at the Andrew Johnson National Historic Site in Greeneville, TN discusses the 17th President.

As part of the series on Tennessee’s three presidents, this episode of History’s Hook focuses on the first of them: Andrew Jackson. Old Hickory, the first populist president changed the face of American politics. Join hosts Tom Price and Dr. Barry Gidcomb as they speak with Marsha Mullin, Vice President of Collections and Research, and chief curator at the Hermitage, The Home of Andrew Jackson, just outside of Nashville.

Tennessee boasts three presidents.  Host Tom Price begins his three part presidential series by interviewing the long-time director of the President James K. Polk Home and Museum, John Holtzapple.  Polk is one of the least-known presidents in American history, but as you will hear, deserves to be remembered as one of the most successful.  His accomplishments include starting the Naval Academy, the modern postal system, and the Independent Treasury System…none of which were his main goals…which he also accomplished in a promised single term of office.

History’s Hook hosts Tom Price and  Jo Ann McClellan discuss the lives of several African-Americans who started life in Maury County, Tennessee and went on to national acclaim in various pursuits.  Included are the stories of renowned chef to the rich and famous, Rufus Estes; Moses McKissack, a brick maker whose descendants include some of the most highly sought-after architects in the world; and Rev. Edmond Kelley, an enslaved man who was able to obtain his own freedom, then that of his wife and children by becoming one of the most influential preachers in the North, all prior to the Civil War. 

Episode#32: Study in Leadership: Major General William Hickman, Part 2Onthis episode, we continue our look at the extraordinary life of a manwho has found great success as a career military man. Major GeneralWilliam Hickman spent 36 years serving his country. Born and raisedin Maury County, Gen. Hickman attended local schools before attendingVanderbilt University. As an ROTC student there, upon graduation, hewas commissioned into the army as a 2ndlieutenant in 1983. Over the next three decades, he rose through theranks holding various field and staff commands including company,battalion, and brigade commands with the 101stAirborne Division. Between 2003-2008, Gen. Hickman served threetours of duty in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Serving inover 30 countries, he joined the Central Command Staff as militaryassistant to General David Patraeus. He became commanding general ofthe JointReadiness Training Center at Fort Polk, Louisiana, Deputy Commanderfor the U.S. Army in the Middle East, and finally, DeputyChief of Staff, Strategic Plans and Policy, NATO’s Allied CommandTransformation. Retiring from the military in 2019 as a majorgeneral, Gen. Hickman is now senioradvisor at Compass Executives Group, assisting businesses in crisismanagement, strategic planning and decision-making, coaching andleader development, and supply chain management. Tom Price and Dr.Barry Gidcomb lead the discussion.

Episode31: Case Study in Leadership: Major General William HickmanOnthis episode, we look at the extraordinary life of a man who hasfound great success as a career military man. Major General WilliamHickman spent 36 years serving his country. Born and raised in MauryCounty, Gen. Hickman attended local schools before attendingVanderbilt University. As an ROTC student there, upon graduation, hewas commissioned into the army as a 2ndlieutenant in 1983. Over the next three decades, he rose through theranks holding various field and staff commands including company,battalion, and brigade commands with the 101stAirborne Division. Between 2003-2008, Gen. Hickman served threetours of duty in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Serving inover 30 countries, he joined the Central Command Staff as militaryassistant to General David Patraeus. He became commanding general ofthe JointReadiness Training Center at Fort Polk, Louisiana, Deputy Commanderfor the U.S. Army in the Middle East, and finally, DeputyChief of Staff, Strategic Plans and Policy, NATO’s Allied CommandTransformation. Retiring from the military in 2019 as a majorgeneral, Gen. Hickman is now senioradvisor at Compass Executives Group, assisting businesses in crisismanagement, strategic planning and decision-making, coaching andleader development, and supply chain management. Tom Price and Dr.Barry Gidcomb lead the discussion.

What does it feel like to be in control of enough firepower to obliterate a continent?  Join host Tom Price as he interviews former ballistic missile sub commander Ronald Ladd. 

After growing up on a farm in rural Maury County, TN, Ron Ladd attended Rice University for math and engineering on a Navy ROTC scholarship.  Following his graduation, he was commissioned as an officer in the navy, where after working for the “Father of the Nuclear Navy,” Admiral Hyman Rickover, he joined the submarine service.  He deployed aboard the attack submarines USS PUFFER (SSN-652) and USS SEAHORSE (SSN-669).  After six years on attack subs, he became the executive officer aboard the ballistic missile sub, USS FRANCIS SCOTT KEY (SSBN-657) before taking command of USS JOHN C. CALHOUN (SSBN-630).  After retiring from the navy, Cmdr. Ladd joined Raytheon Corporation, working on multi-branch detection systems.  After 21 years with Ratheon, he retired back to his family farm in Maury County, Tennessee.  Join host Tom Price, as he speaks with Mr. Ladd about his navy days.

Cemeteries as we know them today came about in the 1830’s. Prior to that, the dead were typically buried in churchyards and backyards. But with this change, the often elaborate planning of cemeteries resembled park settings, where people went to picnic, hunt, have races…and commune with the dead. Cemeteries were filled with benches and in the absence of museums and galleries and botanical gardens, featured beautiful sculptures and horticultural art. Yet during times of pandemic, cemeteries were places where disease and its victims gathered…kept separate from living spaces. These dichotomies both drew people to cemeteries and pushed them away. Join Tom Price and Jo Ann McClellan as they interview Graham Perry, Historic Preservation Specialist with the Tennessee Historical Commission.

Join Tom, Jo Ann McClellan, and Dr. Barry Gidcomb as they collaborate with Columbia State Community College and discuss the award-winning book Beloved by Toni Morrison. Listen as the hosts and guests break down the literary and historical importance of this critically acclaimed book about the effects of enslavement.

Join Tom, Jo Ann McClellan, and Dr. Barry Gidcomb as they collaborate with Columbia State Community College and discuss the award-winning book Beloved by Toni Morrison. Listen as the hosts and guests break down the literary and historical importance of this critically acclaimed book about the effects of enslavement.