
Just a Number: Kennedy, Reagan, and the “Age Question” in 2020
The youngest candidate running for president in 2020 is 37. The oldest is 77. So what role has age played in past campaigns?
26 Maalis 201912min

The President and the Radio: FDR’s First Fireside Chat
On this day in 1933 FDR gave the first of his fireside chats. It *completely* transformed how presidents communicate with the country.
12 Maalis 20196min

Pete Buttigieg, Franklin Roosevelt, and Reshaping the Supreme Court
Is changing the size of the Supreme Court a radical idea? The short answer is no. We take a look at the history of the Court’s changing size, and how this may be an issue in 2020.
6 Maalis 20195min

From the Sidelines: The Role of Former Political Stars in New Campaigns
Those who have run for either successfully or not, play a curious role during new campaigns.
1 Maalis 20198min

The Life and Death of John Quincy Adams
This weekend marked the death of John Quincy Adams in 1848. JQA led a dramatic life, closely interwoven with the early years of a young United States.
25 Helmi 20198min

New Kids in Town: Nixon, Kennedy, and the 116th Congress
The 80th Congress saw the start of Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy’s political careers. We take a look at their parallel divergent paths, and wonder about presidential potential in the freshmen of t...
21 Helmi 20195min

George Washington and the Myth of Wooden Teeth
Today we celebrate George Washington’s birthday. Name a fact, any fact about him—first President? Revolutionary War General? Something about a cherry tree? Wooden teeth? Ah—wooden teeth. Today we debu...
18 Helmi 20193min

The 25th Amendment: What Is It and What Does It Do?
It took the United States a long time to formally add an amendment to the Constitution outlining the path of succession. So, what does the 25th amendment do?
14 Helmi 20193min

















