Tag Archives: Congress

4.05 – In the Arena

April 10, 202204 - James MadisonAustria, Congress, Cuba, Dolley Madison, France, Isaac Coles, James Madison, James Wilkinson, John Quincy Adams, John Wayles Eppes, Louisa Catherine Adams, Napoleon Bonaparte, New Orleans, US Senate, West Florida, William Eustis, Zebulon Pikepresidencies

Year(s) Discussed: 1808-1809

A new congressional session provided an opportunity for the President and his wife to make their mark on the Washington political and social scene as they invited guests into the refurbished President’s House. Meanwhile, General James Wilkinson continued with his intrigues down in New Orleans, but rather than establishing a pseudo-dictatorship again, his affairs were more of a personal nature. Over in Europe, Austria rose up once more against the French Empire, and Napoleon had to scramble to avoid defeat. Sources used in this episode can be found at https://www.presidenciespodcast.com.

Featured Images: “Portrait of Dolley Madison, First Lady of the United States” [c. 19th century], courtesy of Wikipedia and “George Canning” [pre-1827], courtesy of Wikipedia

Intro and Outro Music: Selections from “Jefferson and Liberty” as performed by The Itinerant Band

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3.18 – The Boys Are Back in Town

June 1, 202003 - Thomas JeffersonAlbert Gallatin, Alexander Hamilton, Chancellor Robert Livingston, Congress, East Florida, France, Gideon Granger, James Callender, James Madison, James Monroe, John Breckinridge, John Quincy Adams, John Randolph of Roanoke, John Wayles Eppes, Levi Lincoln, Louisiana, Martha Jefferson Randolph, Nathaniel Macon, Robert Smith, Sally Hemings, Samuel Harrison Smith, slavery, Spain, Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Mann Randolph, Timothy Pickering, West Florida, William Branch Giles, William Duane, Wilson Cary Nicholaspresidencies

Year(s) Discussed: 1801-1803

Though the Louisiana Purchase Treaty had been concluded, President Jefferson understood that didn’t mean it was a done deal, and he and his administration got to work in the latter half of 1803 on getting the treaty ratified by the Senate and in pushing through legislation to carry through the purchase. However, they also had to contend with increased criticism in the press and with a gnawing concern in many minds, including that of the President, that there was nothing in the Constitution that said the United States could in fact acquire new territory. Sources used for this episode can be found at http://presidencies.blubrry.com.

Featured Image: “William Plumer, head-and-shoulders portrait, right profile” by Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin [c. 1806], courtesy of Wikipedia

Intro and Outro Music: Selections from “Jefferson and Liberty” as performed by The Itinerant Band

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3.08 – The Enabler-in-Chief

December 1, 201903 - Thomas JeffersonAaron Burr, Arthur St Clair, Charles Lee, Congress, Gideon Granger, James Madison, James Monroe, John Breckinridge, John Marshall, John Taylor of Caroline, Jonathan Dayton, Levi Lincoln, Ohio, Samuel Harrison Smith, Thomas Jefferson, US Supreme Court, William Cranchpresidencies

Year(s) Discussed: 1801-1802

The Democratic-Republican reform agenda moved beyond appointments as the Seventh Congress began its session. From the federal judiciary to the organization of the west, Jefferson wielded the soft power of the presidency in order to move ideas along. However, he would not be the only one working to shape the future of the government and the nation, and there was no guarantee as to whose vision would prevail. Sources used for this episode can be found at http://presidencies.blubrry.com.

Featured Image: “Map of the United States exhibiting post-roads, the situations, connections & distances of the post-offices, stage roads, counties, ports of entry and delivery for foreign vessels, and the principal rivers” by Abraham Bradley Jr [1796], courtesy of Wikipedia

Intro and Outro Music: Selections from “Jefferson and Liberty” as performed by The Itinerant Band

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3.07 – The Door to the West

November 17, 201903 - Thomas JeffersonAndrew Jackson, Barbary States, Congress, Henry Dearborn, Indiana Territory, James Madison, James Wilkinson, Meriwether Lewis, Mississippi Territory, Napoleon Bonaparte, Native Americans, Spain, Thomas Jefferson, US Army, US Navy, William C C Claiborne, William Henry Harrisonpresidencies

Year(s) Discussed: 1798-1801

Jefferson and his administration early on focused their attention on the civilian and military operations in the western frontier of the US and worked through the year leading up to the convening of the first session of the Seventh Congress to determine who would stay and who would go. Meanwhile, despite his concerns about a standing army and navy, Jefferson also worked in his first year in office to establish two key supports for the US military establishment: a military academy and a dry dock. Sources used in this episode can be found at http://presidencies.blubrry.com.

Featured Image: Portion of “The Treaty of Greenville” [c. late 18^th century], courtesy of Wikipedia

Intro and Outro Music: Selections from “Jefferson and Liberty” as performed by The Itinerant Band

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3.06 – To Limited Arms

November 3, 201903 - Thomas JeffersonAaron Burr, Albert Gallatin, Alexander Hamilton, Barbary States, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, Congress, Democratic-Republican Party, Edward Livingston, Federalists, George Clinton, Gideon Granger, James Madison, John Beckley, John Jay, Levi Lincoln, Meriwether Lewis, New York, Robert Smith, Samuel Smith, Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Mann Randolph, US Navy, Washington DCpresidencies

Year(s) Discussed: 1795-1801

Jefferson managed to get a permanent Secretary of the Navy just in time for Commodore Dale’s naval squadron to engage in combat in the Mediterranean. In addition to that key post being filled, the administration was able to make some additional structural decisions during the final months of 1801 in time for the new congressional session in December. Meanwhile, a new opposition was organized by a key Federalist leader to ensure that Jefferson’s first annual message would not go unquestioned. Sources used for this episode can be found at http://presidencies.blubrry.com.

Featured Image: “U.S. Schooner Enterprize Capturing the Tripolitan Corsair Tripoli, 1 August 1801” by William Bainbridge Hoff [1878], courtesy of Wikipedia

Intro and Outro Music: Selections from “Jefferson and Liberty” as performed by The Itinerant Band

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1.18 – Pestilence

October 1, 201701 - George WashingtonAlexander Hamilton, Benjamin Rush, Congress, Edmund Randolph, epidemic, Gazette of the United States, George Washington, Haitian Revolution, Henry Knox, James Madison, John Adams, John Fenno, National Gazette, Oliver Wolcott Jr, Philadelphia, Philip Freneau, Thomas Jefferson, Tobias Lear, US Supreme Courtpresidencies

The Arch Street Wharf by William Birch [c. 1800] (courtesy of Wikipedia)

Year(s) Discussed: 1786-1793

Washington, his household, and his administration struggle to deal with an epidemic of yellow fever as it makes its way through the city of Philadelphia, indiscriminately infecting people from all walks of life including a resident at the President’s House. In addition to the loss of life, the epidemic brings up questions about how best to utilize medical knowledge to the public good, the role of the press, the relationship of individuals to their environment, and the ability and role of the government in a crisis management situation. Source information for this episode can be found at http://presidencies.blubrry.com.

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1.06 – Assumption, Presumption, Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off

April 16, 201701 - George WashingtonAlexander Hamilton, Alexander White, Assumption Plan, Benjamin Franklin, Benjamin Goodhue, Congress, District of Columbia, Edmund Pendleton, Elbridge Gerry, Fisher Ames, George Washington, Henry Knox, James Madison, James Monroe, John Adams, Lund Washington, Pierce Butler, Residency Bill, Richard Bland Lee, Robert Morris, Rufus King, Tench Coxe, Thomas Jeffersonpresidencies

Tench Coxe by Benson John Lossing (c. 1859), courtesy of Wikipedia

Year(s) Discussed: 1790

The new government of the United States comes grinding to a halt in the spring and summer of 1790 as Congress reaches an impasse on both Hamilton’s proposed public credit scheme and the decision of where the new government should be permanently located. Ultimately, a decision is reached on both, but how it came about is rather complicated. If you’ve ever heard of the Compromise of 1790, then you’ll want to listen to this episode as there’s more to the story than has been told over the years. Meanwhile, health concerns plague a couple of major American figures, bringing even more uncertainty to an already unstable time. All the big players are in this one – Jefferson, Hamilton, Madison, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Henry Knox, and, of course, Mr. President. Source information for this episode can be found at http://presidencies.blubrry.com.

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Presidencies of the United States

A journey through presidential history from the beginning to the present day

Tag Archives: Congress

4.05 – In the Arena

3.18 – The Boys Are Back in Town

3.08 – The Enabler-in-Chief

3.07 – The Door to the West

3.06 – To Limited Arms

1.18 – Pestilence

1.06 – Assumption, Presumption, Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off