Presidential Potpourri

Christopher Stark
  • 5.0 (2)
  • History

A snippet of each president's character - good and bad. 

  1. 3d ago

    The Tragic Presidency of Franklin Pierce

    References for Franklin Pierce  Holt, M. F. (2010). Franklin Pierce. Times Books Ginsberg, G. (2021). First Friends: The powerful, unsung (and unelected) people who shaped our presidents. Grand Central Publishing.  Finkelman, P. (2011). Millard Fillmore: The American Presidents Series: The 13th President, 1850–1853. Henry Holt and Company. Rayback, R. J. (1959). Millard Fillmore: Biography of a president. Henry Stewart. Woo, I. (2023). Master slave husband wife: An epic journey from slavery to freedom. Simon & Schuster Bauer, K. J. (1985). Zachary Taylor: Soldier, planter, statesman of the old Southwest. Louisiana State University Press.  Eisenhower, J. S. D. (2008). Zachary Taylor (A. M. Schlesinger Jr., Ed.). Times Books. Merry, R. W. (2009). A country of vast designs: James K. Polk, the Mexican War and the Conquest of the American Continent. Simon & Schuster. Seigenthaler, J. (2004). James K. Polk (A. M. Schlesinger Jr., Ed.). Times Books. Bernstein, P. L. (2005). Wedding of the waters: The Erie Canal and the making of a great nation. W. W. Norton & Company Blight, D. W. (2018). Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom. Simon & Schuster. Meacham, J. (2026). American struggle: Democracy, dissent, and the pursuit of a more perfect union: An anthology. Random House Dickey, J. D. (2014). Empire of mud: The secret history of Washington, DC. Lyons Press Boulard, G. (2015). The worst president: The story of James Buchanan. iUniverse.  Baker, J. H. (2004). James Buchanan (A. M. Schlesinger, Jr., Ed.). Times Books. Winik, J. (2006). April 1865: The Month That Saved America. Harper Perennial Franklin Pierce | Presidents of the United States (POTUS) 1852 United States presidential election. (2026, October 15). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1852_United_States_presidential_election Woolley, J., & Peters, G. (n.d.). 1856. The American Presidency Project. https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/statistics/elections/1856  Wikipedia contributors. (2026, October 26). Kansas–Nebraska Act. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. wikipedia.org https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kansas%E2%80%93Nebraska_Act  U.S. Senate Historical Office. (n.d.). The Kansas-Nebraska Act. U.S. Senate. https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/minute/Kansas_Nebraska_Act.htm  Quitt, M. H. (2020, September 11). The Compromise of 1850. Bill of Rights Institute. https://billofrightsinstitute.org/essays/the-compromise-of-1850/  Jane Pierce. (2026, October 11). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Pierce https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Pierce  White House Historical Association. (n.d.). Jane Pierce. https://www.whitehousehistory.org/bios/jane-pierce   Did each President care about the country more than his own interests?

  2. Oct 26

    Decade of Decline: Millard Fillmore and the Compromise of 1850

    References for Millard Fillmore  Finkelman, P. (2011). Millard Fillmore: The American Presidents Series: The 13th President, 1850–1853. Henry Holt and Company. Rayback, R. J. (1959). Millard Fillmore: Biography of a president. Henry Stewart. Woo, I. (2023). Master slave husband wife: An epic journey from slavery to freedom. Simon & Schuster Bauer, K. J. (1985). Zachary Taylor: Soldier, planter, statesman of the old Southwest. Louisiana State University Press.  Eisenhower, J. S. D. (2008). Zachary Taylor (A. M. Schlesinger Jr., Ed.). Times Books. Merry, R. W. (2009). A country of vast designs: James K. Polk, the Mexican War and the Conquest of the American Continent. Simon & Schuster. Seigenthaler, J. (2004). James K. Polk (A. M. Schlesinger Jr., Ed.). Times Books. Holt, M. F. (2010). Franklin Pierce. Times Books Ginsberg, G. (2021). First Friends: The powerful, unsung (and unelected) people who shaped our presidents. Grand Central Publishing. Bernstein, P. L. (2005). Wedding of the waters: The Erie Canal and the making of a great nation. W. W. Norton & Company Blight, D. W. (2018). Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom. Simon & Schuster. Meacham, J. (2026). American struggle: Democracy, dissent, and the pursuit of a more perfect union: An anthology. Random House Dickey, J. D. (2014). Empire of mud: The secret history of Washington, DC. Lyons Press Boulard, G. (2015). The worst president: The story of James Buchanan. iUniverse.  Baker, J. H. (2004). James Buchanan (A. M. Schlesinger, Jr., Ed.). Times Books. Winik, J. (2006). April 1865: The Month That Saved America. Harper Perennial Summers, R. S. (n.d.). Presidential heights. Presidents of the United States (POTUS). https://potus.com/presidential-facts/presidential-heights/ Cohen, M. (2024, December 31). A presidency (almost) lost in the mail. The Correspondence of Zachary Taylor and Millard Fillmore. https://edspace.american.edu/taylorandfillmore/a-presidency-almost-lost-in-the-mail 1848 United States presidential election. (2026, October 15). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1848_United_States_presidential_election  Woolley, J., & Peters, G. (n.d.). 1856. The American Presidency Project. https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/statistics/elections/1856  Quitt, M. H. (2020, September 11). The Compromise of 1850. Bill of Rights Institute. https://billofrightsinstitute.org/essays/the-compromise-of-1850/      Did each President care about the country more than his own interests?

  3. Oct 21

    Who the Heck was Zachary Taylor?

    References for Zachary Taylor  Bauer, K. J. (1985). Zachary Taylor: Soldier, planter, statesman of the old Southwest. Louisiana State University Press.  Eisenhower, J. S. D. (2008). Zachary Taylor (A. M. Schlesinger Jr., Ed.). Times Books. Merry, R. W. (2009). A country of vast designs: James K. Polk, the Mexican War and the Conquest of the American Continent. Simon & Schuster. Seigenthaler, J. (2004). James K. Polk (A. M. Schlesinger Jr., Ed.). Times Books. Boulard, G. (2015). The worst president: The story of James Buchanan. iUniverse.  Baker, J. H. (2004). James Buchanan (A. M. Schlesinger, Jr., Ed.). Times Books. Blight, D. W. (2018). Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom. Simon & Schuster. Woo, I. (2023). Master slave husband wife: An epic journey from slavery to freedom. Simon & Schuster Meacham, J. (2026). American struggle: Democracy, dissent, and the pursuit of a more perfect union: An anthology. Random House Dickey, J. D. (2014). Empire of mud: The secret history of Washington, DC. Lyons Press Winik, J. (2006). April 1865: The Month That Saved America. Harper Perennial The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. (n.d.). When was the term Manifest Destiny coined? Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/question/When-was-the-term-Manifest-Destiny-coined  Summers, R. S. (n.d.). Presidential heights. Presidents of the United States (POTUS). https://potus.com/presidential-facts/presidential-heights/ National Museum of American History. (n.d.). Mexican war. Smithsonian Institution. https://americanhistory.si.edu/explore/exhibitions/price-of-freedom/online/mexican-war Andrews, E. (2025, May 28). 10 things you may not know about the Mexican-American War. History. https://www.history.com/articles/10-things-you-may-not-know-about-the-mexican-american-war Cohen, M. (2024, December 31). A presidency (almost) lost in the mail. The Correspondence of Zachary Taylor and Millard Fillmore. https://edspace.american.edu/taylorandfillmore/a-presidency-almost-lost-in-the-mail Marcy. (2009, December 18). Zachary Taylor Presidential Dollar. COINage Magazine. https://www.coinagemag.com/16/   In-text citation: (Marcy, 2009)  Searles, H. (2023, August 11). Zachary Taylor - facts. American History Central. https://www.americanhistorycentral.com/entries/zachary-taylor-facts/  1848 United States presidential election. (2026, October 15). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1848_United_States_presidential_election  Did each President care about the country more than his own interests?

  4. Oct 11

    James Polk and Manifest Destiny

    James Polk References  Merry, R. W. (2009). A country of vast designs: James K. Polk, the Mexican War and the Conquest of the American Continent. Simon & Schuster. Seigenthaler, J. (2004). James K. Polk (A. M. Schlesinger Jr., Ed.). Times Books. Bauer, K. J. (1985). Zachary Taylor: Soldier, planter, statesman of the old Southwest. Louisiana State University Press.  Eisenhower, J. S. D. (2008). Zachary Taylor (A. M. Schlesinger Jr., Ed.). Times Books. Leahy, C. J. (2020). President without a party: The life of John Tyler. LSU Press May, G. (2008). John Tyler: The 10th president, 1841–1845 (A. M. Schlesinger Jr. & S. Wilentz, Eds.). Henry Holt and Company.  Widmer, T. (2005). Martin Van Buren: The American Presidents Series: The 8th president, 1837–1841. Times Books. Boulard, G. (2015). The worst president: The story of James Buchanan. iUniverse.  Baker, J. H. (2004). James Buchanan (A. M. Schlesinger, Jr., Ed.). Times Books. Meacham, J. (2008). American lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House. Random House Moser, H. D. (2018, March 7). Andrew Jackson. Tennessee Encyclopedia. Retrieved September 19, 2026, from http://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entries/andrew-jackson Meacham, J. (2026). American struggle: Democracy, dissent, and the pursuit of a more perfect union: An anthology. Random House Blight, D. W. (2018). Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom. Simon & Schuster. Dickey, J. D. (2014). Empire of mud: The secret history of Washington, DC. Lyons Press Winik, J. (2006). April 1865: The Month That Saved America. Harper Perennial Tyler, R. (2021, June 8). Was James K. Polk a great president? Considering the war with Mexico. Teaching American History: https://teachingamericanhistory.org/was-james-k-polk-a-great-president-considering-the-war-with-mexico/ President James K. Polk Home and Museum. (n.d.). History of James K. Polk: https://jameskpolk.com/history/james-k-polk/ Pinheiro, J. C. (n.d.). James K. Polk. Miller Center of Public Affairs, University of Virginia. https://millercenter.org/president/polk The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. (n.d.). When was the term Manifest Destiny coined? Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/question/When-was-the-term-Manifest-Destiny-coined  Kestenbaum, L. (2025, February 17). 1844 Democratic National Convention. The Political Graveyard. https://politicalgraveyard.com/parties/D/1844/index.html  Library of Congress. (n.d.). John Tyler timeline. https://www.loc.gov/collections/john-tyler-papers/articles-and-essays/timelinehttps://www.si.edu/object/john-tyler%3Anpg_NPG.70.23  Summers, R. S. (n.d.). Presidential heights. Presidents of the United States (POTUS). https://potus.com/presidential-facts/presidential-heights/ National Museum of American History. (n.d.). Mexican war. Smithsonian Institution. https://americanhistory.si.edu/explore/exhibitions/price-of-freedom/online/mexican-war Andrews, E. (2025, May 28). 10 things you may not know about the Mexican-American War. History. https://www.history.com/articles/10-things-you-may-not-know-about-the-mexican-american-war Miller Center. (n.d.). James K. Polk: Key events. University of Virginia. https://millercenter.org/president/james-k-polk/key-events Shapell Manuscript Foundation. (n.d.). President James K. Polk says he is doing better, just needs to rest - and dies one month later [Manuscript]. https://www.shapell.org/manuscript/president-james-k-polk-says-he-just-needs-a-rest-and-dies-one-month-later/    Did each President care about the country more than his own interests?

  5. Oct 5

    Tippecanoe and Tyler, Too

    First Time: A President Dies in Office  References - William Henry Harrison and John Tyler Collins, G. (2012). William Henry Harrison (A. M. Schlesinger, Jr. & S. Wilentz, Eds.). Times Books; Henry Holt and Company. [1, 2, 3] Owens, R. M. (2007). Mr. Jefferson's hammer: William Henry Harrison and the origins of American Indian policy. University of Oklahoma Press Leahy, C. J. (2020). President without a party: The life of John Tyler. LSU Press May, G. (2008). John Tyler: The 10th president, 1841–1845 (A. M. Schlesinger Jr. & S. Wilentz, Eds.). Henry Holt and Company.  Widmer, T. (2005). Martin Van Buren: The American Presidents Series: The 8th president, 1837–1841. Times Books. (2024). Martin Van Buren: America's first politician. Oxford University Press. [1, 2] Bernstein, P. L. (2005). Wedding of the waters: The Erie canal and the making of a great nation. W. W. Norton & Company. Blight, D. W. (2018). Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom. Simon & Schuster. Meacham, J. (2008). American lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House. Random House Moser, H. D. (2018, March 7). Andrew Jackson. Tennessee Encyclopedia. Retrieved September 19, 2026, from http://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entries/andrew-jackson Smith, M. B. (1906). The first forty years of Washington society: Portrayed by the family letters of Mrs. Samuel Harrison Smith (Margaret Bayard) (G. Hunt, Ed.). [The First Forty Years of Washington Society]. C. Scribner's Sons Merry, R. W. (2009). A country of vast designs: James K. Polk, the Mexican War, and the conquest of the American continent. Simon & Schuster. [1, 2] Traub, J. (2016). John Quincy Adams: Militant spirit. Basic Books Nagel, P. C. (1997). John Quincy Adams: A public life, a private life. Alfred A. Knopf. Meacham, J. (2026). American struggle: Democracy, dissent, and the pursuit of a more perfect union: An anthology. Random House Dickey, J. D. (2014). Empire of mud: The secret history of Washington, DC. Lyons Press Winik, J. (2006). April 1865: The Month That Saved America. Harper Perennial Letitia Tyler » National First Ladies Greenway Plantation. (2026, September 5). In Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenway_Plantation  Virginia Museum of History & Culture. (n.d.). Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad Company, 1837–1983 (Collection No. Mss3 R4152 b FA2) [Finding aid]. https://virginiahistory.org/research/research-resources/finding-aids/richmond-fredericksburg-and-potomac-railroad-company-1837-1983  Library of Congress. (n.d.). John Tyler timeline. https://www.loc.gov/collections/john-tyler-papers/articles-and-essays/timelinehttps://www.si.edu/object/john-tyler%3Anpg_NPG.70.23  Pusey, A. (2019, April 1). April 6, 1841: John Tyler inaugurates precedential succession. ABA Journal.https://www.abajournal.com/magazine/article/precedents-1841-tyler-succeeds-harrison  Miller Center. (n.d.). John Tyler: Key events. https://millercenter.org/president/john-tyler/key-events Leahy, C. J. (n.d.). President Tyler. Sherwood Forest. https://www.sherwoodforest.org/president-tyler  Blackman, A. (2005, October). Fatal cruise of the Princeton. Naval History Magazine, 19(5). https://www.usni.org/magazines/naval-history-magazine/2005/october/fatal-cruise-princeton  Did each President care about the country more than his own interests?

  6. Sep 28

    Presidents 8-15 perpetuated slavery. Meet #8, Martin Van Buren

    Presidents 8-15 perpetuated slavery. Meet #8, Martin Van Buren  References  Widmer, T. (2005). Martin Van Buren: The American Presidents Series: The 8th president, 1837–1841. Times Books. (2024). Martin Van Buren: America's first politician. Oxford University Press. [1, 2] White House. (n.d.). Hannah Hoes Van Buren. whitehouse.gov  Bernstein, P. L. (2005). Wedding of the waters: The Erie canal and the making of a great nation. W. W. Norton & Company. Blight, D. W. (2018). Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom. Simon & Schuster. Meacham, J. (2008). American lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House. Random House Moser, H. D. (2018, March 7). Andrew Jackson. Tennessee Encyclopedia. Retrieved September 19, 2026, from http://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entries/andrew-jackson Smith, M. B. (1906). The first forty years of Washington society: Portrayed by the family letters of Mrs. Samuel Harrison Smith (Margaret Bayard) (G. Hunt, Ed.). [The First Forty Years of Washington Society]. C. Scribner's Sons Merry, R. W. (2009). A country of vast designs: James K. Polk, the Mexican War, and the conquest of the American continent. Simon & Schuster. [1, 2] Traub, J. (2016). John Quincy Adams: Militant spirit. Basic Books Nagel, P. C. (1997). John Quincy Adams: A public life, a private life. Alfred A. Knopf. Meacham, J. (2026). American struggle: Democracy, dissent, and the pursuit of a more perfect union: An anthology. Random House Dickey, J. D. (2014). Empire of mud: The secret history of Washington, DC. Lyons Press Leahy, C. J. (2020). President without a party: The life of John Tyler. LSU Press Did each President care about the country more than his own interests?

  7. Sep 24

    Do you really know Andrew Jackson?

    Do you really know Andrew Jackson?  References  Meacham, J. (2008). American lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House. Random House Moser, H. D. (2018, March 7). Andrew Jackson. Tennessee Encyclopedia. Retrieved September 19, 2026, from http://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entries/andrew-jackson Smith, M. B. (1906). The first forty years of Washington society: Portrayed by the family letters of Mrs. Samuel Harrison Smith (Margaret Bayard) (G. Hunt, Ed.). [The First Forty Years of Washington Society]. C. Scribner's Sons (2024). Martin Van Buren: America's first politician. Oxford University Press. [1, 2] Merry, R. W. (2009). A country of vast designs: James K. Polk, the Mexican War, and the conquest of the American continent. Simon & Schuster. [1, 2] Traub, J. (2016). John Quincy Adams: Militant spirit. Basic Books Nagel, P. C. (1997). John Quincy Adams: A public life, a private life. Alfred A. Knopf. McGrath, T. (2020). James Monroe: A Life. Dutton Meacham, J. (2026). American struggle: Democracy, dissent, and the pursuit of a more perfect union: An anthology. Random House Dickey, J. D. (2014). Empire of mud: The secret history of Washington, DC. Lyons Press Thomas, L. (2016). Louisa: The extraordinary life of Mrs. Adams. Penguin Press Leahy, C. J. (2020). President without a party: The life of John Tyler. LSU Press   Did each President care about the country more than his own interests?

  8. Sep 20

    Incredible lives: John Quincy and Louisa Adams

    JQA Battles Slaveocracy, Louisa takes the most adventurous trip of any first lady and a little about the Corrupt Bargain  References  Traub, J. (2016). John Quincy Adams: Militant spirit. Basic Books Nagel, P. C. (1997). John Quincy Adams: A public life, a private life. Alfred A. Knopf. Thomas, L. (2016). Louisa: The extraordinary life of Mrs. Adams. Penguin Press Meacham, J. (2008). American lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House. Random House McGrath, T. (2020). James Monroe: A Life. Dutton Brookhiser, R. (2011). James Madison. Basic Books Cost, J. (2021). James Madison: America's first partisan. Basic Books. Gutzman, K. R. C. (2012). James Madison and the making of America. St. Martin's Press Larson, E. J. A Magnificent Catastrophe: The Tumultuous Election of 1800, America's First Presidential Campaign. Free Press. Meacham, J. (2012). Thomas Jefferson: The art of power. Random House. Gordon-Reed, A. (1997). Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings: An American controversy. University Press of Virginia. Chervinsky, L. M. (2020). The cabinet: George Washington and the creation of an American institution. Harvard University Press. McCullough, D. (2001). John Adams. Simon & Schuster. Ellis, J. J. (1993). Passionate sage: The character and legacy of John Adams. W. W. Norton & Company. Chernow, R. (2010). Washington: A life. Penguin Books. Winik, J. (2007). The great upheaval: America and the birth of the modern world, 1788–1800. HarperCollins. Dickey, J. D. (2014). Empire of mud: The secret history of Washington, DC. Lyons Press Smith, M. B. (1906). The first forty years of Washington society: Portrayed by the family letters of Mrs. Samuel Harrison Smith (Margaret Bayard) (G. Hunt, Ed.). [The First Forty Years of Washington Society]. C. Scribner's Sons Did each President care about the country more than his own interests?

See All (14)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

A snippet of each president's character - good and bad. 

Information

  • Creator
    Christopher Stark
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    14
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Presidential Potpourri
  • Show Website
    Presidential Potpourri