On this episode of Our American Stories, you’ve heard Christopher Klein tell the story of “How Johnny Carson Saved Twister.” He’s back with another one. Aided by Mark Twain, the former president and Civil War hero raced to complete a literary masterpiece that saved his wife from destitution. 

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On this episode of Our American Stories, here’s historian extraordinaire Stephen Ambrose to tell us a very unlikely World War II story about George McGovern, the liberal, antiwar Democratic presidential candidate from South Dakota who was soundly defeated by President Nixon in the 1972 election. This story is from The Wild Blue: The Men and Boys who Flew the B-24s over Germany.

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Hoat Hoang's childhood in South Vietnam was filled with family and fun times... Until the North Vietnamese communists began to ambush his village. Once Saigon fell to the communists' troops, Hoat and his family fled. Hoat tells the story of their escape and his journey to becoming a surgeon in the U.S.

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On this episode of Our American Stories, here again with his reoccurring series is Hair of the Dog to Paint the Town Red: The Curious Origins of Everyday Sayings and Fun Phrases author, Andrew Thompson, as he continues to share another slice from his ultimate guide to understanding these baffling mini mysteries of the English language.

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On this episode of Our American Stories, from Green Eggs and Ham to How the Grinch Stole Christmas, we’re all familiar with the work of Dr. Seuss. But the story of how he actually became the author we know and love is far from short and simple. Brain Jay Jones, author of “Becoming Dr. Seuss,” is here with the full story of the man behind this pen name.

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Dr. Martin Couney carried a secret with him, but the results are unimpeachable. It was Coney Island in the early 1900’s. Beyond the Four-Legged Woman, the sword swallowers, and “Lionel the Lion-Faced Man,” was an entirely different exhibit: rows of tiny, premature human babies living in glass incubators. Here to tell the story is Dawn Raffel, author of The Strange Case of Dr. Couney: How a Mysterious European Showman Saved Thousands of American Babies. "Fascinating, mysterious and compelling...written with great style and the energy of a can't-put-down thriller." —The Chicago Tribune

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On this episode of Our American Stories, retired U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Michael Schlitz was born in Milan, IL. He enlisted in March 1996 and served in several positions including Rifleman and Platoon Sergeant. While in Baghdad, Iraq on February 27, 2007, Mike and his crew were on a road-clearing mission when their vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device (IED).

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Tommy Dew’s Walking Tour of Charleston, SC, has been praised and recommended by the likes of the Wall Street Journal to TripAdvisor. Tommy is here to share the story of Charleston—from the American Revolution to today.

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On this episode of Our American Stories, the story of United States’ Olympic legend Jesse Owens and Nazi long jumper Luz Long’s friendship demonstrates how sports can unite people even in the toughest circumstances. Here to tell the story is the Jack Miller Center's Editorial Officer and historian, Elliott Drago.

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Patty from Colorado not only has a great Elvis story, but she is very good at telling it!

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