Tag Archives: Robert Smith

4.04 – East and West

March 27, 202204 - James MadisonAustria, David Erskine, France, George Canning, Great Britain, Illinois Territory, Indiana Territory, James Madison, John Marshall, John Quincy Adams, Napoleon Bonaparte, Ninian Edwards, Robert Smith, Russia, Spain, William Henry Harrisonpresidencies

Year(s) Discussed: 1808-1809

In the first couple of months of his presidency, Madison not only dealt with a domestic political dispute but also managed to negotiate an agreement with the British Minister to the US to resolve issues with Great Britain. Unbeknownst to him, however, the continued instability in Europe would keep peace and prosperity just out of reach for his administration. Sources used for this episode can be found at https://presidencies.blubrry.com.

Featured Image: “David Erskine” by Richard Woodman [c. 1820], courtesy of Wikipedia

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

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4.03 – The Call of My Country

March 13, 202204 - James MadisonAlbert Gallatin, Benjamin Latrobe, Caesar Rodney, Dolley Madison, Election of 1808, George Clinton, Gideon Granger, Henry Dearborn, Isaac Coles, James Madison, John Marshall, Margaret Bayard Smith, Paul Hamilton, Robert Smith, Samuel Smith, Thomas Jefferson, US House, US Senate, US Supreme Court, Washington DC, William Branch Giles, William Duane, William Eustis, Wilson Cary Nicholaspresidencies

Year(s) Discussed: 1809

Though James Madison was seen as being Thomas Jefferson’s successor, it became clear starting with his inauguration that his presidency would be different from his predecessor’s, for better or worse. While the public got to see a more festive social tone as set by Dolley Madison, behind the scenes, the president struggled to get political support for a key Cabinet nomination. Sources used for this episode can be found at http://presidencies.blubrry.com.

Featured Image: “James Madison” by David Erwin [c. 1809-1817], courtesy of Wikipedia

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

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3.38 – Electioneering

November 21, 202103 - Thomas JeffersonAlbert Gallatin, De Witt Clinton, Democratic-Republican Party, Federalists, France, George Clinton, George W Campbell, Great Britain, Henry Dearborn, James Madison, James Monroe, John Quincy Adams, John Randolph of Roanoke, Manuel de Godoy, Napoleon Bonaparte, New York, Portugal, Prussia, Robert Smith, Russia, slavery, Spain, Talleyrand, Thomas Jefferson, William Branch Giles, William Pinkney, Wilson Cary Nicholaspresidencies

Year(s) Discussed: 1806-1808

As the 1808 presidential election neared, the infighting in the Democratic-Republican faction was exacerbated by not one but two challengers to Secretary of State James Madison’s candidacy – Vice President George Clinton and former US Minister to Britain James Monroe. Meanwhile, Napoleon’s constant wars in Europe continued to impact US foreign policy, and the Jefferson administration began a new round of negotiations with British envoy George Rose to seek a resolution to the crisis precipitated by the Chesapeake-Leopard incident while working out how to effectively enforce the Embargo Act. Sources used for this episode can be found at http://presidencies.blubrry.com.

Featured Image: “James Madison” by Gilbert Stuart [c. 1805-1807], courtesy of Wikipedia

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

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3.37 – O Grab Me

October 24, 202103 - Thomas JeffersonAlbert Gallatin, Democratic-Republican Party, Edward Preble, Federalists, France, George Clinton, Great Britain, Henry Dearborn, James Madison, James Monroe, John Quincy Adams, John Randolph of Roanoke, Napoleon Bonaparte, New Orleans, Robert Smith, Spain, Stephen Decatur, Thomas Jefferson, US Navy, William C C Claiborne, William Pinkneypresidencies

Year(s) Discussed: 1806-1808

With a diplomatic resolution to the Chesapeake/Leopard affair looking increasingly unlikely and the threat of war looming, President Jefferson and his administration worked in late 1807 to devise an alternative to war while also preparing for the nation’s defense. Meanwhile, James Monroe’s frustrations continued in London while there was a shift in power in Congress. Sources used for this episode can be found at http://presidencies.blubrry.com.

Featured Image: “O Grab Me cartoon” [c. 1807], courtesy of Wikipedia

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

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3.36 – Trial

October 3, 202103 - Thomas JeffersonAaron Burr, Caesar Rodney, Edmund Randolph, Great Britain, Henry Clay, James Madison, James Monroe, John Marshall, John Randolph of Roanoke, John Wayles Eppes, Robert Smith, Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Mann Randolph, US Navy, US Supreme Court, William Branch Giles, William Pinkney, William Wirtpresidencies

Year(s) Discussed: 1806-1807

Little did the Jefferson administration, while preparing to prosecute the former Vice President of the United States, Aaron Burr, for treason, that they would be faced at the same time with an external challenge that threatened to plunge the nation into war. In mid-1807, the President, his Cabinet, and the nation were all anxious for the latest information from the Burr trial in Richmond as well as whether Great Britain was truly declaring war on the US following the attack on an American naval vessel off the coast of Virginia. Sources used for this episode can be found at http://presidencies.blubrry.com.

Featured Image: “John Marshall” by Rembrandt Peale [c. 1834], courtesy of Wikipedia

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

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3.33 – Glimmers of Hope

August 8, 202103 - Thomas JeffersonAaron Burr, Albert Gallatin, Anthony Merry, Barbary States, David Erskine, Edward Preble, Francisco de Miranda, Gideon Granger, Henry Dearborn, James Madison, James Wilkinson, Jonathan Dayton, Meriwether Lewis, New Orleans, Orleans Territory, Robert Smith, Samuel Smith, Samuel Swartwout, Spain, Stephen Decatur, Texas, Thomas Jefferson, William C C Claiborne, William Clark, William Eaton, William Smith, Zebulon Pikepresidencies

Year(s) Discussed: 1805-1806

With American and Spanish military forces amassing along the western US border and with the commanding general of the Army potentially involved in a secession and/or filibustering plot with the former Vice President, late 1806 was a time of trepidation for President Jefferson and his administration. Before long, though, a few hopeful prospects started to appear including the return of Jefferson’s protege turned continental explorer, Meriwether Lewis. Sources used for this episode can be found at http://presidencies.blubrry.com.

Featured Image: “James Wilkinson” by Charles Willson Peale [c. 1797], courtesy of Wikipedia

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

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3.31 – Waves on the Horizon

June 30, 202103 - Thomas JeffersonAaron Burr, Albert Gallatin, Andrew Jackson, Anthony Merry, Barnabas Bidwell, Burr Conspiracy, Federalists, France, Francisco de Miranda, George Clinton, Gideon Granger, Great Britain, Haitian Revolution, Henry Dearborn, James Madison, James Monroe, James Wilkinson, John Armstrong Jr, John Quincy Adams, John Randolph of Roanoke, Jonathan Dayton, Levi Lincoln, Louisiana, Mississippi Territory, Nathaniel Macon, Orleans Territory, Robert Smith, Samuel Smith, Spain, Texas, Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Mann Randolph, US House, US Senate, West Florida, William C C Claiborne, William Henry Harrison, William Pinkneypresidencies

Year(s) Discussed: 1804-1806

As tensions between the US and Spain increase over West Florida and the border with Tejas, Aaron Burr travels to the west and back again to meet with folks across the nation as his plot progresses. Meanwhile, supporters of Jefferson in Congress attempt to move against Rep. John Randolph of Roanoke, and a House Ways and Means Committee meeting gets so raucous that a duel seems to be in the making. Sources used for this episode can be found at http://presidencies.blubrry.com.

Featured Image: “A new chart of the Atlantic or Western Ocean” by William Heather [c. 1797], courtesy of Wikipedia

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

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3.29 – A Winter to Remember

May 2, 202103 - Thomas JeffersonAaron Burr, Albert Gallatin, Andrew Jackson, Benjamin Latrobe, Burr Conspiracy, Charles Pinckney, Dolley Madison, East Florida, Edward Livingston, France, Great Britain, Indiana Territory, James Madison, James Monroe, James Wilkinson, John Breckinridge, Jonathan Dayton, Louisiana Territory, Martha Jefferson Randolph, Meriwether Lewis, Michigan Territory, New Orleans, Robert Smith, Spain, Talleyrand, Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Mann Randolph, West Florida, William Clark, William Henry Harrison, William Hullpresidencies

Year(s) Discussed: 1804-1805

President Jefferson had much to celebrate in the latter half of 1805 as he finally secured a new Attorney General, envoys arrived from distant lands in the east and the west, and his daughter and her family joined him in the President’s House for the winter. Little did he know, though, that difficult negotiations in Madrid and the machinations of the former Vice President, Aaron Burr, would soon lead to difficulties for his administration. Sources used for this episode can be found at http://presidencies.blubrry.com.

Featured Images: “Tchong-tas-sáb-bee, Black Dog, Second Chief” by George Catlin [c. 1834], courtesy of Wikipedia and “John Breckinridge” [c. 1891], courtesy of Wikipedia

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

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3.28 – The Calming Seas

March 21, 202103 - Thomas JeffersonAlbert Gallatin, Anthony Wayne, Barbary States, Edward Preble, Henry Dearborn, James Madison, Robert Smith, State Department, Thomas Jefferson, Timothy Pickering, Tobias Lear, US Navy, William Eatonpresidencies

Year(s) Discussed: 1803-1805

With the war with Tripoli continuing to drag on year after year, Jefferson and his administration had to determine whether the best course to bring it to a conclusion lay with opening up a new front by partnering with foreign agents or through engaging in a new round of diplomacy. Meanwhile, a change in the command of the US naval squadron in the Mediterranean took the wind out of the sails of what had been an energetic force. Sources used for this episode can be found at http://presidencies.blubrry.com.

Featured Image: “Attack on Derna” by Charles Waterhouse, courtesy of Wikipedia

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

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3.27 – Second Term, Same as the Worst

February 27, 202103 - Thomas JeffersonAaron Burr, Albert Gallatin, Anthony Merry, Barbary States, France, George Clinton, Gideon Granger, Great Britain, Henry Dearborn, Indiana Territory, Isaac Coles, James Wilkinson, John Breckinridge, Levi Lincoln, Louisiana Territory, Mexico, Native Americans, Orleans Territory, Robert Smith, Spain, Texas, Thomas Jefferson, William Armistead Burwell, William Henry Harrisonpresidencies

Year(s) Discussed: 1803-1805

Jefferson’s second inauguration may have been a non-event, but on numerous fronts, various tensions were building in early 1805 that threatened to make his second term one to remember. Cabinet members plotted to further their own ambitions while Aaron Burr schemed with foreign powers and domestic discontents in order to return to prominence. Meanwhile, unbeknownst to the president, one of his appointments would put a double agent in place to potentially break the recently acquired Louisiana Purchase away from the US. Sources used for this episode can be found at http://presidencies.blubrry.com.

Featured Image: “Thomas Jefferson” by Matthew Harris Jouett, courtesy of Wikipedia

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Presidencies of the United States

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

Tag Archives: Robert Smith

4.04 – East and West

4.03 – The Call of My Country

3.38 – Electioneering

3.37 – O Grab Me

3.36 – Trial

3.33 – Glimmers of Hope

3.31 – Waves on the Horizon

3.29 – A Winter to Remember

3.28 – The Calming Seas

3.27 – Second Term, Same as the Worst