American History Hotline

iHeartPodcasts

Bob Crawford searches for the best historians and experts to answer listener questions about American history — from the Revolutionary War to rock & roll feuds. Got a question? Send it to AmericanHistoryHotline@gmail.com.

  1. How Did Big Tech Take Over Our Elections?

    4D AGO

    How Did Big Tech Take Over Our Elections?

    You won't see it on the ballot, but it's always the winner in American elections. That's right, we're talking about big tech. From Facebook to Google and AI, technology not only has the power to affect the outcomes of our elections ... it's already doing it!  Who could have seen this coming? Well, we're glad you asked, because Roger McNamee has been ringing alarm bells since you were playing Snake on your Nokia.  Roger joins Bob to talk about the evolution of technology in politics, from the rise of data-driven campaigning in the 1970s to Facebook’s influence on the 2016 election and the new threat of AI. Let's just say our future is beginning to look a lot like an episode of Black Mirror.  GUEST: Roger McNamee, author of  Zucked: Waking Up to the Facebook Catastrophe See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    36 min
  2. Why Won't Daylight Saving Time Die?

    OCT 29

    Why Won't Daylight Saving Time Die?

    Set it and forget it! That's what most Americans want to do with their clocks. They want standard time year-round. So, why are we stuck with Daylight Saving Time? And where did it come from in the first place? Some say it was Benjamin Franklin. But if we Scooby-Doo this thing and pull off the mask to see who's really behind this whole clock caper it's ... (gasp) ... CAPITALISM!  Tune in an hour earlier ... or is it later? ... for this episode.  GUEST: Chad Orzel, author of the book, A Brief History of Timekeeping: The Science of Marking Time, from Stonehenge to Atomic Clocks See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    27 min
  3. Hunting Witches: What Started the Salem Witch Trials?

    OCT 22

    Hunting Witches: What Started the Salem Witch Trials?

    Which witch is which? You probably heard a lot of lawyers saying that in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692. That was the year of America's largest witch hunt ever. But what sparked this mass hysteria that led to false accusations, sham justice and wrongful executions? Teenagers, of course.  Bob is joined by historian Emerson Baker (A Storm of Witchcraft) to explore how religion, politics, and panic fueled the Salem Witch Trials. A time when no one was above suspicion!  Guest: Emerson Baker, author of A Storm of Witchcraft: The Salem Trials and the American Experience See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    45 min
  4. Hail to the Cheapskate: How Presidents Made (and Spent) Their Money

    OCT 15

    Hail to the Cheapskate: How Presidents Made (and Spent) Their Money

    How did America’s presidents really make—and manage—their money? Bob Crawford sits down with financial expert and author Megan Gorman to explore the personal finances of presidents from George Washington to Donald Trump. Drawing from her new book, All the Presidents’ Money: How the Men Who Governed America Governed Their Money, Gorman reveals who thrived, who failed, and what their choices say about leadership, power, and legacy. Discover why Thomas Jefferson died in debt, how Abraham Lincoln overcame his impoverished childhood, why FDR’s polio treatment transformed presidential fundraising, and how modern presidents like Obama, Clinton, and Trump built post-White House fortunes.  Also, do you have to be wealthy to become president? Or has the oligarchy already began?  GUEST: Megan Gorman: All the Presidents’ Money: How the Men Who Governed America Governed Their Money See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    47 min
  5. What Was Columbus REALLY Like?

    OCT 8

    What Was Columbus REALLY Like?

    A complicated man in complicated times? A genocidal enslaving maniac? Or something in between? Bob voyages back in time with biographer Matthew Restall (The Nine Lives of Christopher Columbus) to learn about the REAL Christopher Columbus. Together, they separate the flesh-and-blood navigator from the larger-than-life symbol of European conquest, examining Columbus’s ambitions, his treatment of Indigenous peoples, and how his image has been used for centuries to celebrate—and condemn— colonization.  GUEST: Matthew Restall, author of The Nine Lives of Christopher Columbus   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    37 min
  6. Blackface's Lasting Legacy in America with Tyrone Howard

    OCT 1

    Blackface's Lasting Legacy in America with Tyrone Howard

    What’s so wrong about a white person painting their face black to entertain a crowd? Well, it helps to understand the history of blackface in America to understand its harmful legacy.  Bob and Tyrone Howard trace how 19th-century minstrel shows dehumanized Black Americans, reinforced racist stereotypes, and shaped American culture, politics, and entertainment for generations. They also explore why it's important to learn about the history of slavery, even if it makes you feel guilty or uncomfortable.  If you’ve ever wondered why blackface is offensive, this episode will provide some answers.  GUEST: Tyrone Howard, professor of education in the School of Education and Information Studies at UCLA. Michelle Harris-Perry’s book is Sister Citizen: Shame, Stereotypes, and Black Women in America See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    44 min
  7. Why Watergate Didn't Bother Lynyrd Skynyrd / Ozzy vs. Winged Creatures

    SEP 24

    Why Watergate Didn't Bother Lynyrd Skynyrd / Ozzy vs. Winged Creatures

    Did Ozzy bite the head off a bat? Is there a political message in Sweet Home Alabama? Bob Crawford sits down with music critic and author Mark Kemp to dissect some rock legends and myths. We'll dive into Lynyrd Skynyrd’s iconic Sweet Home Alabama, unpack the band’s response to Neil Young’s critiques of the South and talk about Ozzy Osbourne's propensity for biting the head off winged creatures. Mark Kemp also helps us understand the intersection of Southern rock and American politics of the1970s, including Lynyrd Skynyrd's references to controversial figures like George Wallace, the Confederate flag and the Watergate scandal.  Discover the real stories behind the music (and some fake ones). RIP Ozzy and Ronnie Van Zant.  GUEST: Mark Kemp, award-winning music journalist, former Rolling Stone editor, former vice president of music editorial at MTV, and author of the book: Dixie Lullaby: A Story of Music, Race and New Beginnings in a New South.  Correction: In this episode we say that Black Sabbath's first album was Paranoid. In fact, their first album was the self-titled Black Sabbath, which came out in February of 1970. Paranoid came out later that fall.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    41 min
  8. Dueling in Early America: Hamilton, Burr, and Honor Culture with Lindsay Chervinsky

    SEP 17

    Dueling in Early America: Hamilton, Burr, and Honor Culture with Lindsay Chervinsky

    This episode demands satisfaction! Why did Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr meet on the dueling ground—and how common were duels in early America? Historian Lindsay Chervinsky joins Bob Crawford on American History Hotline to explore the surprising history of dueling in the United States. From European traditions to the honor culture of the American South, duels shaped politics, reputation, and even presidential legacies. Learn why Andrew Jackson fought so many duels, how Abraham Lincoln nearly crossed swords, and why Burr’s fatal shot at Hamilton changed his career forever. We also dive into the laws that eventually outlawed dueling, what rap battles and playground fights have in common with “affairs of honor,” and whether challenging someone to a duel today could still land you in jail. We get into all these questions about dueling so grab your second, take 10 paces and hit play.   GUEST: Lindsay Chervinsky, presidential historian and the Executive Director of the George Washington Presidential Library. She is the author of the award-winning book, The Cabinet: George Washington and the Creation of an American Institution, co-editor of Mourning the Presidents: Loss and Legacy in American Culture, and the forthcoming book, Making the Presidency: John Adams and the Precedents That Forged the Republic See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    18 min
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About

Bob Crawford searches for the best historians and experts to answer listener questions about American history — from the Revolutionary War to rock & roll feuds. Got a question? Send it to AmericanHistoryHotline@gmail.com.

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  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    22
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