Axelbank Reports History and Today Evan Axelbank

How did a suicide help lead to the downfall of one of the most corrupt government officials in American history? In his new book, "Crooked: The Roaring Twenties Tale of a Corrupt Attorney General, A Crusading Senator and the Birth of the American Political Scandal," Nathan Masters describes how Harry Daugherty went too far to protect his friends and the political power structure built by President Warren Harding. Masters argues that while Harding might not have been as corrupt as modern historians often say, his hands-off approach may have created the conditions for inevitable scandals. He features the story of a plucky senator named Burton Wheeler, who had the gall to go after the seemingly-untouchable attorney general. Masters also describes how the flawed media of the age contributed to the scandal, and why the name Harry Daugherty has been largely forgotten.

Nathan Master's website is at https://nathanmasters.me

Information on his book can be found at https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/nathan-masters/crooked/9780306826139/

Support our show at https://patreon.com/axelbankhistory

**A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy**

"Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at

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What do Marilyn Monroe, Superman and... Jules Schulback have him common? Helene Stapinski and Bonnie Siegler say Bonnie's grandfather and the two pop culture icons combine to tell an essential story of the 20th Century in the United States. Jules was walking in Manhattan when he happened upon Marilyn as she filmed the iconic scene for, "The Seven Year Itch." He used his film camera to capture what would become one of the most iconic images of the century, a film that was lost to history until Bonnie found the footage in a closet. After Stapinski wrote an article for the New York Times about how the footage was found after many decades, they discovered that Jules had been rescued by the publisher of the Superman comic series. They later teamed up to write, "The American Way: A True Story of Nazi Escape, Superman and Marilyn Monroe." During our interview, they explain the stories behind their main characters, and why they make for the perfect lens to view the twentieth century.

Helene Stapinski's website can be found at https://helenestapinski.com/

Bonnie Siegler's website can be found at http://www.8point5.com/

Information on their book can be found at https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-American-Way/Helene-Stapinski/9781982171667

The original article by Helene Stapkinski can be found here https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/13/nyregion/marilyn-monroe-skirt-blowing-new-york-film.html?searchResultPosition=1

Support our show at https://patreon.com/axelbankhistory

**A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy**

"Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at

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https://instagram.com/axelbankhistory

Famed television host Anthony Bourdain said, "Nothing is more political than food." In Alex Prud'homme's book, "Dinner with the President: Food, Politics and a History of Breaking Bread at the White House," shows how presidents and First Ladies have used food to craft public policy, play politics and even alter the course of the presidency. Prud'homme explains how even great presidents faltered when it came to who they invited to the White House for a meal, and how they used future meals to dig themselves out of the messes they made. From Jefferson's "Dinner Table Bargain," to Taft's steak obsession, to JFK's brainiac guests, to George W. Bush's ballpark dogs, to Donald Trump's Dominos, Prud'homme explains why you can't understand the presidency without understanding what they eat, who they eat it with, and why eating at the White House is about more than just a meal.

Alex Prud'homme's website can be found here https://alexprudhomme.com

He is on Twitter at https://twitter.com/APrudhommeWords

Information on his book can be found here https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/552098/dinner-with-the-president-by-alex-prudhomme/

Support our show at https://patreon.com/axelbankhistory

**A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy**

"Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at

https://twitter.com/axelbankhistory

https://instagram.com/axelbankhistory

In, "Comet Madness: How the 1910 Return of Halley's Comet Almost Destroyed Civilization," Dr. Richard Goodrich shows how science and society collided in sometimes deadly fashion. He explores how the media and those eager to make a quick buck exacerbated fears over what would happen when the comet became visible from Earth's atmosphere. He explains how a society that was largely uneducated about the universe brought disastrous consequences on itself as people stopped paying their bills, tending their crops and destroyed lives, all because they didn't understand that Halley's comet was harmless.

Information on his book can be found at https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781633888562/Comet-Madness-How-the-1910-Return-of-Halley%27s-Comet-(Almost)-Destroyed-Civilization

His website is: https://www.richardjgoodrich.com/

He is on Twitter at https://twitter.com/rj_goodrich

Support our show at https://patreon.com/axelbankhistory

**A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy**

"Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at

https://twitter.com/axelbankhistory

https://instagram.com/axelbankhistory

Every president, every leader, needs someone who they can trust. Who will tell them what is really happening, as opposed to telling them what they want to hear? In short, they need a confidante. Anna Rosenberg was one of the assistants whom FDR kept closest, not only in terms of policy, but as a friend. However, most biographies on FDR have largely ignored the role the high-ranking official played in helping to carry out the New Deal, win World War II and secure the peace afterwards. In this episode, high school history teacher Christopher Gorham explains how he stumbled on the story of Anna Rosenberg, and why so few contemporary biographers seem to have missed the influence of the first person to receive the presidential medal of freedom.

Information on Christopher's book can be found at https://www.christophercgorham.com

He is on social media at https://twitter.com/ccgorham

Support our show at https://patreon.com/axelbankhistory

**A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy**

"Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at

https://twitter.com/axelbankhistory

https://instagram.com/axelbankhistory

Abraham Lincoln could never have become president if he didn't win over the stalwarts of his own party. But as the 1860 Republican convention neared, he was barely considered an also-ran. The conventional wisdom held that William H. Seward of Auburn, NY would become the nominee. But as big players in the new political party descended on Chicago, a bustling mid-western metropolis of business (and seedy behavior!), the brilliant political tactician unleashed a strategy that would not only make him the nominee, but would make him president during the most consequential period in American history. Achorn traces how Lincoln's right-hand-operatives stunned Chicago and changed America forever.

Ed Achorn's website can be found at https://edachorn.com

He is on social media at https://twitter.com/Ed_Achorn

Our episode with Ed on his book, "The Summer of Beer and Whiskey" can be found here https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/axelbank-reports-history-and-today/id1521053272?i=1000527947063

Our episode with Ed on his book, "Every Drop of Blood" can be found here https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/axelbank-reports-history-and-today/id1521053272?i=1000505150893

Support our show at https://patreon.com/axelbankhistory

**A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy**

"Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at

https://twitter.com/axelbankhistory

https://instagram.com/axelbankhistory