Reframing America

In this bonus episode of Reframing America, host Tony Reitberg explores whether the musical Hamilton serves as effective entertainment or a valuable educational tool for teaching American history, connecting it to the podcast's mission of rethinking history education in high schools.

This episode recounts the story of George Edwin Ellison, the last British soldier killed in World War I just 90 minutes before the armistice, highlighting the tragic symmetry with the first British casualty, John Parr, buried nearby.

This episode explores the political conflict between William Howard Taft and Theodore Roosevelt in 1912 through the perspective of their military aide Archie Butt, using humorous wordplay about Butt's name to frame the historical narrative.

This episode explores how Grover Cleveland unexpectedly became the Democratic nominee for mayor of Buffalo and later president of the United States.

This episode recounts the tragic final days of President James A.

This episode analyzes Harry Truman's personality and legacy, focusing on his daily habits, family life, and personal traits as part of a two-part series on his presidency.

This episode explores a childhood anecdote about Ulysses S.

This episode explores Harry Truman's presidency during World War II, using a Japanese proverb about restraint as a metaphor to contrast his open leadership style.

This episode recounts the tense moments leading up to the Pearl Harbor attack, focusing on the USS Ward's engagement with a Japanese midget submarine and radar detection of incoming aircraft.

This episode explores how Franklin Delano Roosevelt concealed his polio-induced paralysis to project strength as president during the Great Depression, culminating in a revealing moment at a military hospital in 1944.

This episode explores the interconnected presidencies of Martin Van Buren, William Henry Harrison, and John Tyler, focusing on how Tyler became the first vice president to inherit the presidency after Harrison's death.

This episode explores Andrew Jackson's violent duel with Charles Dickinson in 1806, highlighting his ruthless character and how it shaped his path to becoming the seventh U.S.

This episode explores the paradox of Herbert Hoover, who organized an extravagant fundraising dinner during the 1920s to highlight the plight of starving children while being remembered for economic hardship.

This episode explores James Monroe's early life through a dramatic Revolutionary War story and discusses the evolution of holidays like Columbus Day into Indigenous Peoples Day.

This episode explores the 1844 presidential election where dark horse candidate James K.

This episode discusses President James Madison's legacy while connecting it to current political events, specifically the ongoing legal issues surrounding Donald Trump.

This episode explores the tragic train accident that killed President-elect Franklin Pierce's son Benny in 1853 and how this personal tragedy foreshadowed the coming Civil War era.

This episode discusses John Adams' presidency, examining his legacy through David McCullough's biography and questioning his representation in American history.

This episode discusses Thomas Jefferson's presidency while drawing parallels to modern political scandals, particularly involving Donald Trump.

This episode explores the life and career of John Quincy Adams, focusing on a symbolic canal groundbreaking mishap and correcting historical inaccuracies from a previous episode.

This episode recounts a historical incident where a thief attempted to rob President Calvin Coolidge at the Willard Hotel, revealing insights into Coolidge's character and the post-Harding administration era.

This episode explores the aftermath of Abraham Lincoln's assassination through the perspective of Secretary of State William Seward and its impact on America's post-Civil War recovery.

This episode examines George Washington's presidency and legacy, exploring historical what-ifs about the American Revolution and how his image might be viewed differently if the colonists had lost.

This episode explores the presidencies of Zachary Taylor and Millard Fillmore through the lens of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, using the arrest of James Hamlet as a case study.

This episode explores the domestic impacts of World War I in the United States, focusing on the red scare, the Sedition and Espionage Acts, and the creation of government surveillance agencies.

This episode explores the contrasting lives and ideologies of President Andrew Johnson and abolitionist Frederick Douglass, highlighting Johnson's hostility toward racial equality during Reconstruction.

This episode explores Theodore Roosevelt's moral dilemma about whether to fight in the American Civil War, ultimately revealing he paid a surrogate to serve in his place while supporting the war effort from home.

This episode explores Woodrow Wilson's transformative journey from a traumatic childhood experience during the Civil War to becoming the 28th President of the United States, focusing on how early events shaped his presidency and worldview.

This episode offers a collection of lighthearted hot takes about American history and presidents as a fun way to change awkward conversations during Thanksgiving gatherings.

This episode explores a pivotal moment after William McKinley's presidential election victory, revealing his private family prayer session that foreshadows future tragedies including war, illness, and assassination.

In the debut episode, host Tony Rydberg and guests Ryan Rasmussen and Jeff Visner explore who should symbolize America before George Washington, debunking myths about the Revolution and debating figures like Franklin, Hamilton, and Adams.

This episode examines the United States' controversial immigration policies during World War II, particularly its failure to adequately help Jewish refugees fleeing the Holocaust.