The Buck Starts Here - Presidents, Policies, Hilarious History

Kyle and Eric are joined by art aficionado Rae to dive into the surprisingly dramatic world of Gilbert Stuart’s portraiture—yes, the guy behindthat George Washington portrait you see everywhere. They uncover the juicy details behind Stuart’s creative genius (and financial chaos), the careful crafting of Washington’s image to fit America’s budding identity, and even some macabre tidbits about grave robbing in the name of art.

But that's not all—this episode introduces thevery first POTUS Rating Scale, where the hosts boldly rank the presidents, starting with Washington. Spoiler alert: the father of our country sets the bar pretty high, but does get a perfect score?

With plenty of  banter and unexpected twists, the conversation wraps up by celebrating the enduring legacy of art, leadership, and why Washington’s face deserves all the glory (and maybe even some shade).

Key Takeaways:

• Gilbert Stuart’s portraits made Washington iconic and set artistic benchmarks.

• Washington’s image was a PR masterpiece, crafting America’s cultural identity.

• Stuart’s life was a roller coaster of creative brilliance and financial disasters.

• The Enlightenment brought realism (and a little science) to art.

• Grave robbing, surprisingly, has a history in the art world.

• Portraits were the 18th-century equivalent of Instagram: status, style, and legacy.

• Washington’s leadership set the gold standard—but how does he rank on the POTUS scale?

• Art and architecture preserve cultural identity and reflect human ingenuity.

Stick around for the final POTUS rating—and enjoy an episode packed with art, history, and fun—because even the Founding Fathers deserve a little constructive criticism.

Credits:

Rae’s Substack

Fife and Drum music:

"Fife and Drum" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/

Gilbert Stuart:https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gilbert_Stuart_by_Sarah_Goodridge,_c._1825,_watercolor_on_ivory,_from_the_National_Portrait_Gallery_-_NPG-NPG_92_120detStuart-000002.jpg

Declaration of Independence Painting:https://nypl.getarchive.net/media/the-declaration-of-independence-277574

Landsdowne Portrait:https://flickr.com/photos/hragvartanian/2442423789

Arnolfini Wedding Portrait: Jan van Eyck, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

 Portrait of a lady:Lawrence Kilburn (1720-1775), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Salon de Madame Geoffrin:Anicet Charles Gabriel Lemonnier, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Pigments:https://www.rawpixel.com/image/5927129/photo-image-public-domain-celebration-free

Cincinnatus:Louvre Museum, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons

The Skater:National Gallery of Art, CC0, via WikimediaCommons

Spencer Family: Frederick R. Spencer, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons

Lady Ashburton: Gilbert Stuart, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Gilbert Stuart self portrait: Gilbert Stuart, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Cathering Brass Yates: Gilbert Stuart, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Gilbert Stuart grave: Biruitorul, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Athenaeum portraits George and Martha: Gilbert Stuart, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Painting of the Treaty of Paris:Benjamin West, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

John Quincy Adams: Creator:Phillip Haas, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Smithsonian Gallery:https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/

Mummy brown: Geni, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Kyle and Eric dive into some of the most intriguing—and often overlooked—moments of early American history. They explore the State of Franklin, a rogue attempt at statehood that lasted four tumultuous years, the Yazoo land scandal that redefined political corruption, and the Jay Treaty, a deeply unpopular but pivotal step in repairing U.S.-British relations after the Revolutionary War.

Along the way, they unravel the complexities of economic recovery, the cultural dynamics of post-Revolution diplomacy, and the messy politics of a fledgling nation finding its footing. From shady land deals to tense trade negotiations, this episode is packed with scandal, strategy, and the seeds of modern governance.

• Learn why the State of Franklin almost—but didn’t—make it onto your map.

• Dive into the Yazoo land scandal and its spicy corruption drama.

• Get the scoop on the Jay Treaty: hated, but critical for America’s trade and diplomacy.

• Discover how early politics shaped the tangled web of economics and governance.

• Realize that cronyism isn’t just a 21st-century problem—it’s been around since day one.

Grab your powdered wig and get ready to geek out. It’s history, but with more sass and way fewer boring textbooks.

Credits:"Fife and Drum" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License⁠http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/⁠

State of Franklin picture

Bennett1203, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Jay’s Treaty:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:PreliminaryTreatyOfParisPainting.jpg

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cd/Jay%27s-treaty.jpgSee page for author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-jcc-ushistory1os/chapter/competing-visions-federalists-and-democratic-republicans/

Chris Light, CC BY-SA 4.0 , viaWikimedia Commons

https://boudewijnhuijgens.getarchive.net/amp/media/united-states-senate-to-john-jay-june-1795-instructions-to-john-jay-from-the

What do counterfeiting scandals, the Coinage Act, and George Washington’s tricky dance with the French Revolution have in common? They’re all shaping up to be the juiciest parts of this episode! Kyle and Eric dig into the early chaos of America’s currency crisis—when counterfeiters were thriving and the Coinage Act swooped in to save the day. But that’s just the beginning.

As the French Revolution exploded across the Atlantic, Washington was stuck between a guillotine and a hard place. Should America back its French allies or stay out of the fray? His decision not to support the French revolutionists redefined America’s foreign policy forever and solidified the U.S.-British relationship—though not without drama.

• How a counterfeiting epidemic led to the creation of the Coinage Act.

• Why Washington, once an aspiring British general, became the ultimate revolutionary.

• The surprising connection between the French and American Revolutions.

• Washington’s choice to dodge international conflicts and its long-term impact.

• The evolving U.S.-British dynamic post-presidency.

• How Washington’s decisions laid the groundwork for a rule-based world order.

With plenty of insights and eye-opening history, Kyle and Eric prove there’s more to Washington than just wooden teeth and cherry trees. Hit play and let’s make history fun again!

Fife and Drum music:

"Fife and Drum" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

What do you get when you mix a land-surveying farm kid, a reluctant revolutionary, and a no-nonsense general with a knack for leading a country itching to implode? George Washington, of course! In this episode ofThe Buck Starts Here, Kyle and Eric unravel the myth and the man behind the powdered wig. From his scrappy beginnings on a small farm to becoming the glue that held a fledgling nation together, Washington’s story is packed with grit, genius, and just the right amount of drama to keep you hooked.

But Washington’s story isn’t all battles and glory. The hosts examine his economic struggles as a farmer, his decision to leave the military for civilian life, and the mounting discontent with Britain that sowed the seeds of revolution. They also reveal the real challenges he faced as a leader with no party backing, tasked with holding together a young nation on the brink of collapse.

Kyle and Eric mix history with sharp insights and a dash of irreverence to unpack how Washington’s leadership style—marked by humility and a focus on service—shaped the presidency and set traditions still in place today. And they won’t stop there; this episode sets the stage for an even deeper dive into Washington’s presidency next week.

Music: "Fife and Drum" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Most history podcasts tell you what the presidents did—The Buck Starts Here digs into why they did it (and what they totally screwed up along the way).

History is weird. We’re here to talk about it.

Music: