With Election Day and the question of who will be the next president upon us, on this week’s show we will explore the history of Presidential Elections and how they were impacted by events in New York City. My guest is Kevin Draper, Director of New York Historical Tours.

Tune in for this fascinating conversation at TalkRadio.nyc

Show Notes

Segment 1

Jeff introduces his first guest, Kevin Draper, director of New York Historical Tours. Jeff asks Kevin where he grew up and how he got into the tour guide business. Kevin recalls being interested in New York history at a very young age, which led him to study history in college and create his tour guide business. Jeff and Kevin discuss what happened in the election of 1856 and New York’s place in the election before the civil war. Kevin recounts Abraham Lincoln’s speech at Cooper Union in New York before he was elected in 1860. Jeff asks if NY Republicans helped Lincoln get elected, which they did since they agreed with Lincoln’s anti-slavery views.

Segment 2

Jeff asks why support for Lincoln in NY wasn’t more significant, which was due to many New Yorkers still being pro-slavery. In Lincoln’s second election, his numbers went down even more in New York because of fear that Lincoln would lose the Civil War. Jeff then brings up the election of 1880 for Vice President Chester Arthur, a native New Yorker. They then talk about Teddy Roosevelt, who was on the ticket for William McKinley’s second term as president. 

Segment 3

Kevin begins by talking about some of the private tours he offers during the pandemic and how COVID-19 has affected his business. Jeff asks Kevin how New York reacted to Roosevelt’s more progressive policies, which tended to be looked down upon by the upper classes. They discuss why Roosevelt didn't run for a third term, which his advisors disagreed with because he did not serve two full terms. Jeff mentions NY Governor Al Smith, who ran for president in 1920 but did not win the election despite being beloved by New Yorkers. He was unpopular because he was against prohibition and a champion for the working class. 

Segment 4

Jeff brings up Franklin Roosevelt and why he was supported for re-election in 1936, which comes from his response to getting America out of the Great Depression. Jeff asks why the Republican party nominated Governor Thomas Dewey to run against Roosevelt in the 1940s. Dewey appealed to many people because he tended to be partisan and fears of Roosevelt’s failing health. Jeff and Kevin discuss Nelson Rockefeller, who ran for president but ended up as vice president. He was unsuccessful as a politician because of his progressive policies regarding abortion that were unpopular at the time. Ultimately he could not connect with the republican party of the time. ‍