unPresidented

unPresidented Podcast

Welcome to UnPresidented, a podcast that takes an in-depth look at all the American Presidents trying to understand the challenges they face (within the context of their era), how they were viewed by their peers, and how history looks back on their presidency. My name is Jusef and I am not qualified to explore history or politics - however, luckily my cohost and friend Niel has a bachelor’s in both history and political science to help us navigate these murky waters. Join us as we tackle a new president every other week! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unpresidentedthepodcast

  1. 01/21/2024

    UnPresidented: George Washington

    We’ve made it to the end, the finale, our first and last President of Unpresidented. George Washington, a man whose face is time and again used as a grand symbol for American democracy — whether it’s on currency, state flags, or statues throughout the 50 states. If you want to have a basic understanding of the American presidency, you have to start with Washington’s actions while in office. Two term limits, farewell addresses, cabinet meetings, and so many more precedents that are ingrained into the office became institutional traditions from Washington’s decisions rather than the framers of the Constitution. Being the first to take an office of novel and rare significance is much harder than to follow in anyone’s footsteps. The humility and care that Washington took into the presidency arguably was one of the most important actions of any individual in ensuring the same nation he helped govern stands today. Still, the events of his presidency are not as popularized as the character of Washington himself (especially in his years fighting in the revolution), as well as his unique dissatisfaction with being a British colonial growing into adulthood. Niel and Jusef first explore the real person — George Washington —then dive into the decisions that actually made his presidency successful even in a 2024 lens. Our journey of presidents ends here. We are back with one more episode to talk more in depth about our podcast as a whole, so we hope you join us for our final send off. Thank you to all our listeners who were part of the journey with us at any point in the last 2 1/2 years — its been a lot of fun. Keywords: Presidents American Presidents America USA United States Politics History Biography Biographical Republicans Democrats Political Parties Senator House of Representatives Constitution American Anthem White House American Flag

  2. 12/17/2023

    UnPresidented: Abraham Lincoln Part 2

    Picking up where we left off in Part 1 — Lincoln at the start of the Civil War (and mainly throughout) was having a rough time managing the crisis. A lack of enthusiasm to fight and aggressive-minded generals, as well as a suspension of habeas corpus put him on an uneasy path in trying to win re-election. While his administration had mostly solved the nation’s financial crisis, they suffered heavy losses on the battlefields with little progress to show for it. Until 1863, the country looked like it was on a path to becoming permanently split. That all changed with Lincoln issuing the Emancipation Proclamation — for the first time, all black men were given freedom in all rebel states, which further weakened the south as more former slavers escaped and made their way north. Lincoln’s Proclamation completely turned around the war effort and gave it a deeper meaning that finally more closely aligned the nation’s founding principles of civil liberties for all people with what it was now fighting for. The problem that we have with Lincoln though, is that emancipation and the 13th amendment, his signature achievements, never were ambitions of his. Instead, they became convenient policy choices only after he tried to appease southern slaveholders for years. Jusef and Niel discuss if Lincoln should be celebrated as much as he still is today, as well as reaffirm what has become clear from them now studying almost all of the American Presidents — they all are deeply deeply flawed, and arguably more so if they have a greater legacy. x Keywords: Presidents American Presidents America USA United States Politics History Biography Biographical Republicans Democrats Political Parties Senator House of Representatives Constitution American Anthem White House American Flag

About

Welcome to UnPresidented, a podcast that takes an in-depth look at all the American Presidents trying to understand the challenges they face (within the context of their era), how they were viewed by their peers, and how history looks back on their presidency. My name is Jusef and I am not qualified to explore history or politics - however, luckily my cohost and friend Niel has a bachelor’s in both history and political science to help us navigate these murky waters. Join us as we tackle a new president every other week! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unpresidentedthepodcast