Tag Archives: William Smith

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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3.04 – 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

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2.25 – Adams Post-Presidency

July 4, 201902 - John AdamsAbigail Adams, Alexander Hamilton, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Stoddert, Charles Francis Adams, Democratic-Republican Party, Federalists, James Madison, John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Louisa Catherine Adams, Mary Cranch, Richard Cranch, Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Paine, William Smithpresidencies

Year(s) Discussed: 1801-1826

After leaving the presidency, John Adams searched for a path ahead. In the process, he dealt with emotions that had been building for years, rebuilt some bridges that had been burned in political battles, suffered numerous personal heartaches, and bore witness to a quarter century more of the nation’s history. Sources used for this episode can be found at http://presidencies.blubrry.com.

Featured Image: “Portrait of John Adams” by Samuel Morse [c. 1816], courtesy of Wikipedia

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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

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2.10 – Checkmate: Hamilton

December 2, 201802 - John AdamsAbigail Adams, Alexander Hamilton, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, Elbridge Gerry, France, George Washington, Henry Knox, James McHenry, John Adams, Napoleon Bonaparte, Oliver Wolcott Jr, Talleyrand, Timothy Pickering, William Smithpresidencies

Year(s) Discussed: 1798

Adams quickly comes to regret his naming George Washington as commander-in-chief of the US Army when Washington decides to appoint Alexander Hamilton as his second in command. As the threat of war looms, the President and his commanding general end up in a back and forth that threatens the preparedness of the Army. Meanwhile, Elbridge Gerry’s mission to France makes little headway as Talleyrand and Napoleon focus on plans to reestablish France as a major colonial power. Sources used for this episode can be found at http://presidencies.blubrry.com.

Featured Image: “Alexander Hamilton” by William J Weaver, courtesy of Wikipedia

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Presidencies of the United States

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

Tag Archives: William Smith

3.33 – Glimmers of Hope

3.04 – A Deadly Revenge

2.25 – Adams Post-Presidency

2.24 – The 36th Ballot

2.10 – Checkmate: Hamilton