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Presidential Potpourri

Christopher Stark 3 Episodes Oct 11, 2026

A podcast that offers a snippet of each U.S. president's character, highlighting both positive and negative traits. Each episode focuses on a different president, providing a quick look into their personality and legacy. The show aims to give listeners a balanced view, touching on good and bad aspects of the presidents' lives and leadership.

Episodes

James Polk and Manifest Destiny Oct 11, 2026 1256 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). Zac

Tippecanoe and Tyler, Too Oct 5, 2026 1314 First Time: A President Dies in Office References - William Henry Harrison and John TylerCollins, 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 PressLeahy, C. J. (2020). Presiden

Presidents 8-15 perpetuated slavery. Meet #8, Martin Van Buren Sep 28, 2026 1157 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

Do you really know Andrew Jackson? Sep 24, 2026 1117 Do you really know Andrew Jackson? References Meacham, J. (2008). American lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House. Random HouseMoser, H. D. (2018, March 7). Andrew Jackson. Tennessee Encyclopedia. Retrieved September 19, 2026, from http://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entries/andrew-jacksonSmith, M. B. (1906). The first forty years of Washington society: Portrayed by the family letters of Mrs. Samuel

Incredible lives: John Quincy and Louisa Adams Sep 20, 2026 1106 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 BooksNagel, 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 PressMeacham, J. (2008). American lion: And

Interesting lives: James and Elizabeth Monroe Sep 14, 2026 1130 See how James and Elizabeth Monroe rescued the wife of the Marquis de Lafayette References McGrath, T. (2020). James Monroe: A Life. DuttonTraub, J. (2016). John Quincy Adams: Militant spirit. Basic BooksNagel, P. C. (1997). John Quincy Adams: A public life, a private life. Alfred A. Knopf.Brookhiser, R. (2011). James Madison. Basic BooksCost, J. (2021). James Madison: America's first partis

James and Dolley Madison Sep 11, 2026 916 James scored big when Dolley entered his life References Brookhiser, R. (2011). James Madison. Basic BooksCost, 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 PressLarson, E. J. A Magnificent Catastrophe: The Tumultuous Election of 1800, America's First Presidential Campaign. Free Press.

Thomas Jefferson (and Sally Hemings, too) Sep 6, 2026 1110 References 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. Larson, E. J. A Magnificent Catastrophe: The Tumultuous Election of 1800, America's First Presidential Campaign. Free Press. Chervinsky, L. M. (2020). The cabinet: George Washington and the creation

John and Abigail Adams Sep 1, 2026 1193 References McCullough, D. (2001). John Adams. Simon & Schuster. Ellis, J. J. (1993). Passionate sage: The character and legacy of John Adams. W. W. Norton & Company. John Quincy Adams: Militant spirit. Basic Books. [1] Chernow, R. (2010). Washington: A life. Penguin Books. Larson, E. J. A Magnificent Catastrophe: The Tumultuous Election of 1800, America's First Presidential Campaign.

George Washington and the Power of Silence Aug 26, 2026 1172 References Winik, J. (2001). April 1865: The month that saved America. HarperCollins.Chernow, R. (2010). Washington: A life. Penguin Books.Larson, E. J. A Magnificent Catastrophe: The Tumultuous Election of 1800, America's First Presidential Campaign. Free Press.Winik, J. (2007). The great upheaval: America and the birth of the modern world, 1788–1800. HarperCollins.McGrath, T. (2020). James

The Six Characteristics of the Best Presidents Aug 25, 2026 792 An introductory deep dive into the personalities of the American Presidents reveals their character and leadership qualities of the best. Did each President care about the country more than his own interests?

Presidential Potpourri

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