Dead Presidents Podcast

14 Franklin Pierce & Top 5 Would Be Presidents

Franklin Pierce was a Democratic congressman, party leader, Mexican-American war hero, and #1 on our list of Top 5 Drunkest Presidents. He was nominated as a compromise candidate in 1852 and, taking office in the wake of a terrible family tragedy, promised not to let slavery re-emerge as a national issue after the sectional crisis of 1850. But when Senator Stephen Douglas came calling with a plan to organize the Kansas-Nebraska territory, Pierce dove headlong into a new sectional crisis and sparked a violent prelude to the coming Civil War. Also: Our list of Top 5 Would Be Presidents looks at some of the most interesting failed presidential candidates and speculates about what might've been had they occupied the White House.  

Presidential War #9 - George W. Bush Is Worse Than Hitler At Painting (with Jeremy Lese)

Guest Jeremy Lese joins us for another game of Presidential War, in which discussion topics include George W. Bush's popularity, FDR's effect on the presidency, George Washington's partying habits, JFK's legendary good looks, and Frances Cleveland's accomplishments as our youngest First Lady. Also: James K. Polk battles his Secretary of State James Buchanan to avoid getting picked last in a game of presidential flag football.

13 Millard Fillmore & Top 5 Embarrassing Political Blunders

Millard Fillmore was a compromise vice presidential nominee who backed into the White House upon Zachary Taylor's sudden death. The nation was in the middle of a sectional crisis and a bitterly-divided Congress was about to send Fillmore some legislation cobbled together in a desperate bid to avert civil war.  His signing of the controversial Fugitive Slave Act may have helped resolve the crisis, but it would become a dark cloud that plagued his presidency. Tasked with holding together not just a fracturing Union but his own fracturing Whig Party, Fillmore did his best to reconcile the increasingly irreconcilable elements of antebellum America.  Also: Our Top 5 Embarrassing Political Blunders counts down some of the biggest bonehead moves and unforced errors by which presidents have shot themselves in the foot.

Presidential War #8 - Nobel Piece of Prize (with Dave Ranallo)

Presidential aficionado Dave Ranallo joins us for an epic game of Presidential War. Topics include Andrew Jackson's popularity with the people, Dolley Madison's exceptional First Lady tenure, and Ronald Reagan's relationship with a Democrat-controlled Congress. Also: We decide whether we'd prefer a mustache ride from Grover Cleveland or Chester Arthur, and whether a drunken Franklin Pierce could best a drunken Dick Nixon on the flag football field. 

12 Zachary Taylor & Top 5 Embarrassing Personal Moments

Zachary Taylor was a career army officer elevated to the presidency by his heroic generalship in the Mexican-American War. He had no political experience and had never even voted before. How would he approach the sectional crisis over the question of slavery's expansion into the vast territory acquired from Mexico? His stance would come as a surprise to his fellow slaveowners. Also: Our Top 5 Embarrassing Personal Moments counts down the most humiliating non-political bloopers in presidential history.

Presidential War #7 - Who Wants To Meet James Buchanan? (with Elliott Burns)

Our first-ever guest Elliott Burns joins us for another exciting game of Presidential War. Discussion topics include James Madison's relationship with Congress, James Monroe's military accomplishments, and Grover Cleveland's partying habits. Also: JFK tries to survive fisticuffs with heavyweight William Howard Taft and two modern Democratic feminists are objectified in the First Lady Looks category.   

11 James K. Polk & Top 5 Embarrassing Presidential Brothers

The original "Dark Horse" candidate, James K. Polk was a Jackson prodigy catapulted to the presidency due to his ardent support for territorial expansion. He promised to serve only one term and accomplished every major goal he set for his administration, including the addition of over a million square miles of land to the United States. It's no surprise that the term "Manifest Destiny" was coined during his presidency. Also: Our Top 5 Embarrassing Presidential Brothers counts down the biggest fraternal headaches and details the various ways in which they tried to cash in on their big bro's presidency.

Presidential War #6 - Legs for Radio

Discussion topics include FDR's media mastery, the record of war presidents Woodrow Wilson and George W. Bush, and whether it's too soon to make historical judgments about recent presidents. Also: Thomas Jefferson faces John Adams in flag football and George Washington gets into a fistfight with Franklin Pierce. Will Pierce go into a liquor-fueled rage befitting his placement atop our list of Drunkest Presidents?

10 John Tyler & Top 5 Troubled First Ladies

We chronicle the life of "His Accidency" John Tyler, the first vice president to take over upon the president's death. Tyler refused to be an "Acting President" figurehead and butted heads with his own Whig Party as he aggressively and unapologetically pursued his own agenda, both politically and romantically. Also: Our countdown of the Top 5 Troubled First Ladies features lots of dead children, dead husbands, and influential astrologers.

Presidential War #5 - Assassinated by God

Discussion topics include the immortal words of Abe Lincoln, the questionable appointments of Ulysses S. Grant, and the people's love for Grover Cleveland. Also: Jimmy Carter gets drawn in the category where he shines brightest and, at the game's conclusion, someone gets flagged for excessive celebration.