History First

The facts of Abraham Lincoln's assassination are well-known — the president was shot and killed by John Wilkes Booth at Ford's Theatre, on April 14, 1865. But what about the others close to the event? Today, we discuss the assassination attempt of William Seward, why Ulysses S. Grant didn't go to Ford's Theatre that night, and the tragic fate of the young couple who shared the Lincoln's theater box, Henry Rathbone and Clara Harris. 

How have American presidents interacted with the British Royal Family when one of the "Firm" weds? 

Is the presidency romantic? Well, couples throughout history have thought so—multiple people have gotten married at the White House since the beginning of the 19th-century. Curiously, only one president has ever been married there.

When Gerald Ford assumed the presidency following Richard Nixon’s resignation in 1974, he had to decide whether not to pardon his predecessor. Ultimately, Ford decided to pardon Nixon—to the outrage of many. The Ford pardon was so unpopular that it may have even cost him reelection.

So, how did Ford reach his decision? And how do Americans regard Ford’s pardon of Nixon today?

When it comes to Inauguration Days, nothing quite tops Abraham Lincoln’s first inauguration in 1861. By the time Lincoln took the oath of office on March 4th, seven Southern states had seceded from the Union. 

In this episode, we check in with three American presidents—Warren G. Harding, William Howard Taft, and Franklin Roosevelt—who all had an eventful 1921. We'll also discuss what life was like in America 100 years ago. 

If President Trump were to run again in 2024, and win, he would become only the second president to serve two, non-consecutive terms. The first was Grover Cleveland. He won the election of 1884, lost the election of 1888, and returned to the White House after the election of 1892. This made him the 22nd AND 24th president of the United States.

We take a look back at a few awkward Inauguration Days in the 20th-century. We'll discuss the transition from Harry Truman to Dwight D. Eisenhower; Jimmy Carter to Ronald Reagan; and Bill Clinton to George W. Bush

Happy Halloween! Here's a short episode about White House ghosts. Presidents, first ladies, and White House visitors have reported supernatural sightings at the executive mansion. 

At the beginning of the month, President Trump was diagnoses with coronavirus—and questions quickly followed. For several days, the truth about the president’s condition seemed foggy, especially after he went to the hospital.

That got us thinking about other presidents who have hidden health scares. Today, we’re going to talk about two cases—Grover Cleveland and Woodrow Wilson—who went to great lengths to hide the truth about their health from the American people.