+ Episode 1: Abraham Lincoln

In this episode, we spoke with historians Edna Greene Medford and Eric Foner about Abraham Lincoln and his colossal importance in any discussion of race, citizenship, and the presidency. Our conversations with our guests illuminated Lincoln's complicated and evolving legacy.

We've provided an episode transcript, primary and secondary sources, and other materials for those who want to dive deeper into the story of Abraham Lincoln and race.

Further Readings

Books:

• Lerone Bennett Jr., Forced into Glory: Abraham Lincoln's White Dream (Johnson Publishing Company, 2000)

• David Blight, Race and Reunion (Harvard University Press, 2002)

• Andrew Buni, Robert L. Vann of the Pittsburgh Courier: Politics and Black Journalism (University of Pittsburgh Press, 1974)

• Eric Foner, The Fiery Trial: Abraham Lincoln and American Slavery (W.W. Norton & Company, 2010)

• Henry Louis Gates, Lincoln on Race and Slavery (Princeton University Press, 2011)

• Edna Greene Medford, Lincoln and Emancipation (Southern Illinois University Press, 2015)

Primary Resources

• Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass Primary Resources (Digital Public Library of America)

• Emancipation Proclamation (Abraham Lincoln, Natoinal Archives,1863)

• Frederick Douglass’ Speech at the Unveiling of the Freedmen’s Monument in Lincoln Park, Washington, DC. (Frederick Douglass, Digital Public Library of America, 1876)

• House Divided Speech (Abraham Lincoln, National Parks Services, 1858)

• Letter from Abraham Lincoln to Alexander Stephens (Abraham Lincoln, University of Georgia Special Collections and Libraraies, 1865)

• Lincoln’s 2nd Inaugural Address (Abraham Lincoln, National Parks Service, 1865)

• Notable quotes from Abraham Lincoln on slavery

• 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments (National Archives, 1865-1870)

Other Resources

• Abraham Lincoln Museums - An Overview (Jay Wertz, HistoryNet)

• Abraham Lincoln's Presidential Library

• "Eric Foner: Colbert and the Daily Show 'An Opportunity Not to be Missed" (Eric Foner, Columbian College of Arts and Sciences: History News Network)

• Ford’s Theatre - Digital Exhibits on Lincoln’s Assasination and Legacy

• Lincoln’s Home (National Park Service)

• Newspaper of Record (Documentary, Directed by Kenneth Love and Written by Bill Doorley, 2009)

• Presidential Historians Survey (C-SPAN. 2017)

• Purpose of the Lincoln Memorial (National Parks Service)

+ Episode 2: Andrew Johnson

In this episode, we spoke with historians Jon Meacham and Lesley Gordon about Andrew Johnson's contentious and consequential presidency. Our conversations with our guests highlighted the ways Johnson undermined Abraham Lincoln's plans for Reconstruction and revisited the steps that ultimately led to Johnson's impeachment.

We've provided an episode transcript, primary and secondary sources, and other materials for those who want to dive deeper into the story of Andrew Johnson and race.

Further Readings

Books

• Michael Fellman, Lesley Gordon, and Daniel Sutherland This Terrible War: The Civil War and Its Aftermath (Pearson, 2014)

• Eric L. McKitrick, Andrew Johnson and Reconstruction (Oxford University Press, 1988)

• Jon Meacham, Timothy Naftali, Peter Baker, and Jeffrey A. Engel, Impeachment: An American History (Modern Library, 2018)

• David O. Stewart, Impeached: The Trial of President Andrew Johnson and the Fight for Lincoln's Legacy (Simon & Schuster, 2009)

Primary Resources

• Johnson's Vice Presidential Inaugural Address (Andrew Johnson, Ball State University Digital media Repository, 1865)

• Reply of the Colored Delegation to the President (Frederick Douglass, Teaching American History, 1866)

• The Freedman's Bureau Acts (United States Senate, 1865-1866)

• Transcript, Meeting between President Andrew Johnson and a Delegation of African-Americans (The Civil War Research Engine at Dickson College, 1866)

• 14th and the 15th Amendments (National Archives, 1868-1870)

Other Resources

• Andrew Johnson, The Impeached President Who Wanted A White Man's Government (Article, Travis Dorman, Knoxville News Sentinel, 2020)

• Andrew Johnson: The Most-Criticized President Ever? (Article, National Constitution Center, Constitution Daily. 2019)

• National Historic Sites: Andrew Johnson (National Parks Service)

• President Andrew Johnson Museum at Tusculum University

• Presidential Historian Jon Meacham Speaks at DNC 2020 (ABC News, 2020)

• The Miller Center on Andrew Johnson (UVA, 2021)

+ Episode 4: Ulysses S. Grant

In this episode, we spoke with historian Hilary Green and National Park Service ranger Nick Sacco about the many sides of U.S. Army General turned president, Ulysses S. Grant. Our conversations with our guests examined how Grant’s military experience shaped his thinking about Reconstruction.

We've provided an episode transcript, primary and secondary sources, and other materials for those who want to dive deeper into the story of Ulysses S. Grant and race.

Further Readings

Books

• Ron Chernow, Grant (Penguin Publishing Group, 2018)

• Geoffrey Perret, Ulysses S. Grant: Soldier & President (Random House Publishing Group, 2009)

• Ronald C. White, American Ulysses: A Life of Ulysses S. Grant (Random House Publishing Group, 2017)

Primary Resources

• The Complete Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant (Project Gutenberg)

• Grant's First Inaugural Address (Yale Law School, 1869)

• The Papers of Ulysses S. Grant (Mississippi State University, 2008)

• Grant's Second Inaugural Address (Yale Law School, 1873)

Other Resources

• Historic preservation from the Grassroots: A History of Save Grant's White Haven (Nick Saccio, National Parks Service, 2019)

• Interview with Brooks Simpson on U.S. Grant and Reconstruction (U.S. History.org, 2009)

• Profile of Ulysses S. Grant (UVA Miller Center, 2021)

• Ulysses S. Grant Research Guide (Library of Congress)

+ Episode 5: Rutherford B. Hayes

In this episode, we spoke with scholars Alaina E. Roberts and Brooks Simpson about Rutherford B. Hayes and why historians often use his election to mark the moment Reconstruction ended in the South. Our discussions with our guests explored how Hayes’s administration affected the free black community across the country, including those living in Native American territory.

We've provided an episode transcript, primary and secondary sources, and other materials for those who want to dive deeper into the story of Rutherford B. Hayes and race.

Further Readings

Books

• Alaina E. Roberts, I’ve Been Here All the While: Black Freedom on Native Land (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2021)

• Ari Hoogenboom, Rutherford B. Hayes: Warrior & President (University Press of Kansas, 1995)

• Roy Morris, Jr., Fraud of the Century (Simon & Schuster, 2007)

• Brooks Simpson, The Reconstruction Presidents (University Press of Kansas, 1998)

Primary Resources

• Acceptance of the Republican Nomination (Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library, 1876)

• Hayes' Diary and Letters (Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library Digital Collection, 1834-1892)

• Hayes' Inaugural Address (Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library, 1887)

Other Resources

• Disputed Election of 1876 (Article, Shelia Blackford, UVA Miller Center)

• The Long History of American Slavery Reparations (Article, Manisha Sinha, The Wall Street Journal, 2019)

• The Curse of Good Times (Article, Hugh Sidey, Time Magazine, 2001)

• Another Look at the Election of 1876 (Lecture, Michael F. Holt, Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library and Museums, 2006)

• Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library at Spiegel Grove, Ohio

• Exhibit on the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre (Tulsa Historical Society and Museum, 2021)

+ Episode 6: James A. Garfield and Chester A. Arthur

In this episode we heard from historians Todd Arrington and Katie Benton-Cohen about the brief presidency--and lost potential--of James A. Garfield. The guests focused especially on the two presidents’ struggles with civil service reform, immigration, and Native American policy.

We've provided an episode transcript, primary and secondary sources, and other materials for those who want to dive deeper into James Garfield and Chester Arthur and race.

Further Readings

Books

• Todd Arrington, The Last Lincoln Republican: The Presidential Election of 1880 (University Press of Kansas, 2020)

• Justus D. Doenecke, The Presidencies of James A. Garfield and Chester A. Arthur (University Press of Kansas, 1981)

• Scott S. Greenberger, The Unexpected President: The Life and Times of Chester A. Arthur (Da Capo Press, 2017)

• Candice Millard, Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President (Penguin Random House, 2011)

• Ira Rutkow, James A. Garfield (Macmillan Publishers, 2006)

Primary Resources

• Arthur's Inaugural Address (American Presidency Project, 1881)

• Chester A. Arthur Papers (Library of Congress Digital Collection, 1829 - 1886)

• Garfield's Inaugural Address (The Miller Center, UVA, 1881)

• James A. Garfield Papers (Library of Congress, 2021)

Other Resources

• Chester A. Arthur Presidential Library and Museum (Schenectady, New York)

• Chester Arthur House (New York, National Parks Service)

• Chester Arthur Resource Guide (Library of Congress, 2020)

• James A. Garfield National Historic Site (National Park Service, Ohio)

• James A. Garfield Resource Guide (Library of Congress, 2020)

+ Episode 7: Grover Cleveland and Benjamin Harrison

In this episode we spoke to historians Greg Downs and Gordon H. Chang about the consequential presidencies of Grover Cleveland and Benjamin Harrison, who led the nation as African American rights eroded, immigration increased, and Native American rights were threatened.

We've provided an episode transcript, primary and secondary sources, and other materials for those who want to dive deeper into the often overlooked leadership of Grover Cleveland and Benjamin Harrison.

Further Readings

Books

• Charles W. Calhoun, Benjamin Harrison: The 23rd President 1889-1893 (Macmillan Publishers, 2005)

• Henry F. Graff, Grover Cleveland (Macmillan Publishers, 2002)

Primary Resources

• Cleveland's First Inaugural Address (Yale Law School, 1885)

• Grover Cleveland Papers (Library of Congress, 2021)

• Cleveland's Second Inaugural Address (Yale Law School, 1893)

• Public Papers and Addresses of Benjamin Harrison (Government Printing Office, 1893)

• Harrison's Inaugural Address (Yale Law School, 1889)

Other Resources

• Grover Cleveland Resource Guide (Library of Congress, 2020)

• Grover Cleveland Presidential Home (National Parks Service, 2020)

• Benjamin Harrison Resource Guide (Library of Congress, 2020)

• Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site in Indianapolis, Indiana

• Benjamin Harrison Presidential Home in Westland, New Jersey (National Parks Service, 2020)