Tag Archives: John Fenno

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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1.14 – The Second Inaugural

August 6, 201701 - George WashingtonAbraham Venable, Alexander Hamilton, Election of 1792, Fisher Ames, Frederick Muhlenberg, Gazette of the United States, George Beckwith, George Hammond, George Washington, Great Britain, James Madison, James Monroe, James Reynolds, John Beckley, John Fenno, Maria Reynolds, Martha Washington, Mount Vernon, National Gazette, Oliver Wolcott Jr, Philip Freneau, Thomas Jefferson, Washington DC, William Branch Gilespresidencies

Year(s) Discussed: 1791-1793

The lead up to Washington’s second inaugural ended up being much more dramatic than anyone could have imagined as personal conflicts threatened the construction of the Federal City, Hamilton’s affair with Maria Reynolds threatened to be made public knowledge, and Representative William Branch Giles filed resolutions against Hamilton accusing him of official misconduct and calling for his dismissal. In the middle of all this, a reluctant president turns to his family for support as he prepares himself for what already appears will be a more turbulent four years ahead than his first term had been. Source information can be found at http://presidencies.blubrry.com.

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1.09 – Agitations

May 28, 201701 - George WashingtonAaron Burr, Alexander Hamilton, Chancellor Robert Livingston, Elias Boudinot, Fisher Ames, Gazette of the United States, George Cabot, George Washington, Henry Lee, James Madison, James Monroe, John Adams, John Fenno, John Quincy Adams, John Taylor of Caroline, Maria Reynolds, National Gazette, Native Americans, Oliver Ellsworth, Philip Freneau, Philip Schuyler, Reynolds Affair, Rufus King, Samuel Johnston, State Department, Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Paine, Treasury Department, War Department, William Loughton Smithpresidencies

Year(s) Discussed: 1789-1791

Increasingly during the Washington administration, tensions were beginning to build between pro-administration and anti-administration factions which would ultimately culminate in the development of the First Party System. This episode looks at some of the structural and cultural reasons for these divisions as well as some of the early leaders of the two factions including, of course Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton and Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson. 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: John Fenno

1.18 – Pestilence

1.14 – The Second Inaugural

1.09 – Agitations