Tag Archives: Samuel Smith

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

3.39 – Sunset and Sunrise

December 13, 202103 - Thomas JeffersonAlbert Gallatin, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, Democratic-Republican Party, East Florida, Election of 1808, Federalists, France, George Campbell, George Clinton, Great Britain, Harrison Gray Otis, James Madison, James Monroe, James Wilkinson, John Adams, John Armstrong Jr, John Jacob Astor, John Quincy Adams, John Randolph of Roanoke, Manuel de Godoy, Martha Jefferson Randolph, Michael Leib, Napoleon Bonaparte, New York, Pennsylvania, Pierre du Pont, Portugal, Rufus King, Sally Hemings, Samuel Harrison Smith, Samuel Smith, Spain, Thomas Jefferson, Timothy Pickering, West Florida, William Branch Giles, Wilson Cary Nicholaspresidencies

Year(s) Discussed: 1807-1809

As the end of Jefferson’s second term neared, the Embargo Act came under increasing criticism at home, Napoleon’s plans for conquest continued apace in Europe, and the nation chose the man who would become the fourth President of the United States. Though the clock had not struck on his presidency, his last months in office would find the man who had been a leader for decades take a step back as his thoughts turned increasingly to his life once he left the President’s House. Sources used for this episode can be found at http://presidencies.blubrry.com.

Featured Image: “Thomas Jefferson, third president of the United States” by Pendleton’s Lithography [c. 1828], courtesy of Wikipedia

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

3.20 – Action and Reaction

July 19, 202003 - Thomas JeffersonAaron Burr, Caesar Rodney, France, Haitian Revolution, Jean-Jacques Dessalines, John Breckinridge, John Quincy Adams, John Randolph of Roanoke, Louisiana, Nathaniel Macon, Samuel Smith, slavery, Spain, Thomas Jefferson, Timothy Pickering, West Florida, William C C Claiborne, Wilson Cary Nicholaspresidencies

Year(s) Discussed: 1801-1804

As Jefferson’s first term entered its final year, numerous developments at home and abroad would start chains of reactions with long-reaching consequences. In the Caribbean, a nation declared its independence that would prove to be of particular concern to white Americans in the southern US. Meanwhile, Congress debated what kind of government to establish for the new lands west of the Mississippi River, and the Senate convened in the first impeachment trial in American history. Sources used for this episode can be found at http://presidencies.blubrry.com.

Featured Image: “Représentation épique de Jean-Jacques Dessalines lors de la Révolution haïtienne de 1804,” courtesy of Wikipedia

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

3.04 – A Deadly Revenge

September 29, 201903 - Thomas JeffersonAlbert Gallatin, Benjamin Stoddert, Chancellor Robert Livingston, Gideon Granger, Henry Dearborn, James Madison, James Monroe, John Adams, Levi Lincoln, Rufus King, Samuel Smith, Thomas Jefferson, Washington DC, William Marbury, William Smithpresidencies

Year(s) Discussed: 1801

Literally and figuratively, the new President worked to get his house in order following his inauguration. With a limited number of positions available and plans to shrink the size of the federal government even further, Jefferson set ground rules for his new administration to determine whether to retain Federalist office holders or oust them in favor of Democratic-Republicans. Despite a nod towards non-partisanship, Jefferson’s decisions were criticized by members of both parties. Sources used for this episode can be found at http://presidencies.blubrry.com.

Featured Image: “Elizur Goodrich,” printed in The Connecticut Quarterly, Jul/Aug/Sep 1898, courtesy of Wikipedia

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

2.24 – The 36th Ballot

June 15, 201902 - John AdamsAaron Burr, Abigail Adams, Albert Gallatin, Alexander Hamilton, Austria, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, Democratic-Republican Party, Election of 1800, Federalists, Fisher Ames, France, James A Bayard, James Madison, James McHenry, James Monroe, John Adams, John Jay, John Marshall, John Quincy Adams, Napoleon Bonaparte, Oliver Wolcott Jr, Rufus King, Samuel Dexter, Samuel Smith, Spain, Theodore Sedgwick, Thomas Jefferson, Thomas McKean, Timothy Pickering, US House, US Senate, William Cranch, William R Davie, William Smithpresidencies

Year(s) Discussed: 1800-1801

The nation had little time to process the news that Adams was defeated in his bid for reelection as a constitutional crisis developed regarding who would succeed him to the post. Meanwhile, the outgoing president only had a few weeks remaining to secure the ratification of the Convention of Mortefontaine, get several federal judges confirmed including a new Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and get a new Treasury Secretary in place. Sources used for this episode can be found at http://presidencies.blubrry.com.

Featured Image: “Front View of the President’s House, in the City of Washington” [c.1807], courtesy of Wikipedia

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

1.32 – Samsons and Solomons

May 13, 201801 - George WashingtonAlbert Gallatin, Alexander Hamilton, Edward Livingston, Fisher Ames, George Washington, James Madison, James McHenry, Jay Treaty, Marquis de Lafayette, Mazzei letter, Oliver Ellsworth, Oliver Wolcott Jr, Samuel Chase, Samuel Smith, slavery, Thomas Jefferson, Timothy Pickering, US Housepresidencies

Year(s) Discussed: 1795-1796

Though finally managing to resolve his personnel issues, Washington and his Cabinet find themselves faced with a host of new problems including a new round of debate over the Jay Treaty and political maneuverings by the Democratic-Republicans as the next presidential election draws ever closer. Source information for this episode can be found at http://presidencies.blubrry.com.

Featured Image: “James McHenry” by H Pollock, courtesy of Wikipedia

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: Samuel Smith

4.03 – The Call of My Country

3.39 – Sunset and Sunrise

3.33 – Glimmers of Hope

3.31 – Waves on the Horizon

3.20 – Action and Reaction

3.06 – To Limited Arms

3.04 – A Deadly Revenge

2.24 – The 36th Ballot

1.32 – Samsons and Solomons