"I have tried so hard to do right." Thus ended the extraordinary rise and unprecedented life of Grover Cleveland, 22nd and 24th President of the United States. Nobody had ever served in two non-consecutive terms before, and Cleveland experienced the hard way how harsh things could be during a financial collapse. Learn about the difficult end of his…

Few Presidents had as breezy a time getting to the Executive Mansion, and as horrible a time once he arrived than Chester Alan Arthur, 21st President of the United States. Learn about his difficult Presidency, his failing health, brief post-Presidency, death, and burial, as well as his gravesite in Albany Rural Cemetery! Check out the website at Vi…

Few Presidents had more potential than James Garfield, 20th President of the United States, and nobody was tortured more in the lead-up to his death. Learn about Rutherford's assassination, his shooting, grisly death, and burial, as well as his gravesite in Lake View Cemetery in Cleveland! Check out the website at VisitingthePresidents.com for visu…

Rutherford Hayes' life naturally led to the Presidency...what he did with that office might not have represented that, but he was always capable and upright. Learn about Rutherford's post-Presidency, his activism, his death, and burial, as well as his gravesite! Check out the website at VisitingthePresidents.com for visual aids, links, past episode…

A Visiting the Presidents Bonus! When it comes to Presidential sites, especially birthplaces and gravesites, Louis Picone wrote the book on them...Literally! Join me for a talk with Louis, author of "Where the Presidents Were Born," "The President is Dead!" and "Grant's Tomb," and his ideas about Presidential sites, historical commemorations, and m…

What a rise to the Presidency! What a wild post-Presidency! Few Presidents had a quicker rise to power, and a shocking, tragic demise than Ulysses Grant, 18th President of the United States. Learn about Grant's post-Presidency, including his world tour, his tragic illness and death, burial, and legacy! Check out the website at VisitingthePresidents…

Few Presidents had as many lives as Andrew Johnson, 17th President of the United States, serving in every elected position possible from Tennessee, treated as loyal hero and hated traitor, our first impeached President, and our only to return to the Senate after his term! Learn about Johnson's post-Presidency, his death, burial, and legacy! Check o…

"She won't think anything about it," Abraham Lincoln's last words. Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, was our first assassinated President, and his funeral and burial both had their own adventures (and misadventures)! Learn about Lincoln's final weeks, his murder, burial, and legacy! Check out the website at VisitingthePresidents.com…

BONUS episode featuring my summer of presidential travels as I fit in as many birthplaces, gravesites, homes, and other sites into one history professor's summer break. The third and final leg: join me as I visit Virginia, North and South Carolina, Tennessee, and Arkansas! Check out "How I Spent My Summer of Presidential Travels, 2024, Part 1"! Che…

BONUS episode featuring my summer of presidential travels as I fit in as many birthplaces, gravesites, homes, and other sites into one history professor's summer break. The second of three trips: join me as I visit upstate New York, the Hamptons, Manhattan, Washington DC, and more! Check out "How I Spent My Summer of Presidential Travels, 2024, Par…

BONUS episode featuring my summer of presidential travels as I fit in as many birthplaces, gravesites, homes, and other sites into one history professor's summer break. The first of three trips, join me as I visit Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio! Links to Previous Episodes Mentioned: Birthplaces "Rutherford Hayes and Delawar…

"Oh, Lord God Almighty, as thou wilt!" The final words of James Buchanan, 15th President of the United States, and today regarded as one of the worst. Learn about the end to Buchanan's Presidency, his lonely years after, his death, burial, and other commemorations! Check out the website at VisitingthePresidents.com for visual aids, links, past epis…

Enigmatic to the end, our 14th President, Franklin Pierce, passed away without family present and no last words recorded. Learn about the end of Pierce's Presidency, his tragic post-Presidency, his death, burial, commemorations, and more! Check out the website at VisitingthePresidents.com for visual aids, links, past episodes, recommended reading, …

"The nourishment is palatable," the last words of our oft-forgotten 13th President, Millard Fillmore. Learn about the end of Fillmore's Presidency, his active post-Presidency, including his run at the office again, his death, burial, commemorations, and more! Check out the website at VisitingthePresidents.com for visual aids, links, past episodes, …

"I have tried to discharge my duties faithfully. I regret nothing, but I am sorry that I am about to leave my friends.” The 12th President of the United States, Zachary Taylor was also our second to die in office; like his predecessor, his body will be moved three different times, and even exhumed! Learn about his brief Presidency; his illness and …

"I love you, Sarah, for all eternity, I love you.” So died James Polk, 11th President of the United States, our shortest post-Presidency, and the youngest to die, at the time! Learn about his brief post-Presidency; his illness and death; his funeral, burial, and commemorations, plus his multiple moves! Check out the website at VisitingthePresidents…

"Doctor, I am going. Perhaps it is best.” Our First President to die in a foreign country, John Tyler, 10th President of the United States! Learn about his tumultuous post-Presidency; his illness and death; his funeral, burial, and commemorations, plus his controversial gravesite! Check out the website at VisitingthePresidents.com for visual aids, …

BONUS episode featuring my Christmas break with Presidential travels as I fit in as many birthplaces, gravesites, homes, and other sites into my Visits home between Arizona and Ohio (and New Orleans?). Join me as I Visit Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and Louisiana! Sites Visited Include: Abraham Lincoln and Sinking Spring William Henry Harriso…

"I wish you to understand the true principles of government; I wish them carried out, I ask nothing more.” Our First Presidential Death: William Henry Harrison exited the world just one month after taking office as the 9th President of the United States, a shocking and tragic end to a long life. Learn about Harrison's brief Presidency; his illness …

"There is but one reliance." Martin Van Buren, our 8th President was a career politician, living and breathing politics to the very end. Hear about the end of his Presidency, his life after the office, his death, burial, and commemorations! Check out the website at VisitingthePresidents.com for visual aids, links, past episodes, recommended reading…

"Do not cry; be good children and we shall meet in heaven." Andrew Jackson, our 7th President, lived hard, and died harder, a man who rarely took an easy breath throughout his long life. Hear about his Presidency, his life after the office, his death, burial, and commemorations! Check out the website at VisitingthePresidents.com for visual aids, li…

"This is the last of Earth but I am composed!" Fewer Presidents have had a more difficult Presidency, and given more in their post-Presidency than John Quincy Adams, sixth President of the United States. Hear about his Presidency, his remarkable life after the office, his death, burial, and commemorations! Check out the website at VisitingthePresid…

Another Fourth, another President's death! Hear about the strange afterlife of James Monroe, our first President to die away from his home, and one of the first to be transferred from one state to another! Learn about James Monroe's brief post-Presidency, death, and commemorations! Check out the website at VisitingthePresidents.com for visual aids,…

James Madison, the last of the Founding Presidents to pass, but one supremely focused on his historical legacy. Journey back to Montpelier to check out the simple cemetery with a large obelisk, and what this means for the memory of the Fourth President! Learn about James Madison's long post-presidency, his death, and the ways he is commemorated! Ch…

"Thomas Jefferson surives!"--famous last words. While not true in a corporeal sense, Jefferson's legacy is with us and debated here. Journey back to Monticello to check out the simple cemetery with a large obelisk, and an outsized contribution to our country! Learn about Thomas Jefferson, Third President, and his long post-presidency, his death, an…

"Querulous, bald, blind, crippled, toothless" John Adams! And those are the compliments! We are back in Quincy and checking out the church that holds TWO presidents' graves, as well as their spouses! Learn about John Adams' long post-presidency, his death, and the way he is commemorated! Check out the website at VisitingthePresidents.com for visual…

"First in War, First in Peace, First...President in a Grave?!" We are back and checking out George Washington's precedence-setting end of term, post-Presidency, death, and gravesite! Check out the website at VisitingthePresidents.com for visual aids, links, past episodes, recommended reading, and other information! Episode Page: https://visitingthe…

We are coming back for Season 3 of "Visiting the Presidents," focused on Visiting the Presidents' gravesites! Hear what you can expect from each new episode as well as some things to keep in mind as we explore the end of Presidents' administrations, their transitions, their post-Presidency, deaths, and commemorations! Check out the website at Visit…

BONUS episode featuring my summer of presidential travels as I fit in as many birthplaces, gravesites, homes, and other sites into one history professor's summer break. The second of three trips, join me as I visit New York State and City, Washington, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, St. Louis, and Arizona! Check out "How I Spent My Summer of Presidential…

BONUS episode featuring my summer of presidential travels as I fit in as many birthplaces, gravesites, homes, and other sites into one history professor's summer break. The second of three trips, join me as I visit Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia, and DC! Check out "How I Spent My Summer of Presidential Travels, 2023, Part 1"! Links to P…

BONUS Episode featuring Presidential hauntings and ghost stories from the White House, as well as a short history of how Americans fell in love with hauntings! Check out the website at VisitingthePresidents.com for visual aids, links, past episodes, recommended reading, and other information! Support the show Also, check out “Visiting the President…

BONUS episode featuring my summer of presidential travels as I fit in as many birthplaces, gravesites, homes, and other sites into one history professor's summer break. The first of three trips, join me as I visit Texas, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Mississippi! Links to Previous Episodes Mentioned: Birthplaces "Andrew Johnson and Raleigh" "George W B…

We are recapping the Presidential Homes we Visited in Season 2! I will give out Presidential Home Superlatives, including, Most Improved, Can't Wait to ReVisit, and and Best Gardens, and rank my Top FIFTEEN Favorite Homes! Let's ring out Season 2 with this fun episode and get excited for Season 3! Check out the website at VisitingthePresidents.com …

I am turning this Episode over to my listeners to hear about what sites and episodes you enjoyed hearing the most! I am also laying out what to expect in Season 3! Check out the website at VisitingthePresidents.com for visual aids, links, past episodes, recommended reading, and other information! Support the show Also, check out “Visiting the Presi…

Our First State and Current President go hand-in-hand! Joe Biden, 46th President of the United States: our first President from Delaware, and with an extensive real-estate portfolio! Learn about Joe's political career and time as Vice President; his election and Presidency; his wives, and family; and his homes! Check out the website at VisitingtheP…

Titan of real estate, and 45th President of the United States, we will explore the many homes of Donald Trump! Learn about Donald's career; turn to politics; his wives and family; and his many larger-than-life homes! Check out the website at VisitingthePresidents.com for visual aids, links, past episodes, recommended reading, and other information!…

From Hawaii to Chicago to DC and Martha's Vineyard, we will explore the many homes of Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States! Learn about his meteoric rise; his election and Presidency; his wife, Michelle, and daughters; and his homes! Check out the website at VisitingthePresidents.com for visual aids, links, past episodes, recommended r…

Let's head Deep in the Heart of Texas for the home of George W. Bush, 43rd President of the United States, just outside Crawford! Nowhere could George W be more himself than in the natural setting (and away from Washington)! Learn about George's career; his elections and Presidency; his wife, Laura, and daughters; and his homes! Check out the websi…

In an Empire State of Mind again for the home of Bill Clinton, 42nd President of the United States! How did the confirmed Southern Democrat end up in Yankee territory? Listen as we explore Bill Clinton's political career; his election and Presidency; his wife, Hillary, and daughter; and his homes! Check out the website at VisitingthePresidents.com …

From New England to Texas, the Bushes left a legacy as big as the Texas sky! We will travel to Kennebunkport, Maine, and Houston, Texas, as well as many other homes in between, looking at George HW Bush, 41st President! Learn about George's political career and long resume; his vice presidency, election, and Presidency; his wife, Barbara, and child…

What we've got here is NOT a failure to communicate with the Great Communicator's homes in California! Learn about Ronald Reagan's turn to national politics; his election and Presidency; his wives, Jane Wyman and Nancy Davis Reagan, and children; as well as his homes in Sacramento, Bel Air, and the Rancho del Cielo! Check out the website at Visitin…

Georgia, We've Got You on Our Mind! We are heading back to the sleepy town of Plains, Georgia, and the home of Jimmy Carter, 39th President of the United States. Just across town from his birthplace, learn about Jimmy Carter's home, as well as his political rise; his election and Presidency; his wife, Rosalynn, and children, and more! Check out the…

We are heading across the USA with Gerald Ford, 38th President, and his homes in Alexandria, Virginia; Vail, Colorado; and Rancho Mirage, California. Hear about Gerald's political career; sudden vice presidency and Presidency; his wife, Betty, and family; and his homes! Check out the website at VisitingthePresidents.com for visual aids, links, past…

Heading to the Golden State and the sunny beaches of San Clemente, with La Casa Pacifica, home of Richard Nixon, 37th President! Learn about Richard Nixon's political career; his election defeat and victory; his Presidency; his wife, Pat, and daughters; as well as his various homes! Check out the website at VisitingthePresidents.com for visual aids…

Heading to the Lone Star State and the bigger-than-life Lyndon Johnson and LBJ Ranch! Learn about our 36th President and his political rise; his vice presidency and Presidency; his wife, Lady Bird, and daughters; and his homes! Check out the website at VisitingthePresidents.com for visual aids, links, past episodes, recommended reading, and other i…

Among our most iconic and urbane Presidents, let's look at the many homes of John F Kennedy, 35th President, and his young family! We will explore John's political rise; his election and Presidency; his wife, Jacqueline, and children; and his homes in Cape Cod, Virginia, and Palm Beach! Check out the website at VisitingthePresidents.com for visual …

A man, and general of the world, let's explore the 34th President of the United States, Dwight Eisenhower and his home in Gettysburg! We'll discuss his military career and public life; his turn to politics and election; his Presidency; his wife, Mamie, and son; and his many homes, but especially the farm at Gettysburg! Check out the website at Visi…

Special BONUS Episode bringing you celebrations and festivities from the Ghosts of Presidential Christmases Past and Present, including White House celebrations, parties, decorations, and more! We also explore how Christmas in America has evolved and how the Presidents reflect the holiday and its celebration! Check out the website at VisitingthePre…

You can take Harry S Truman out of Independence, but you can't take the Independence out of Harry S Truman! Learn about the 33rd President's lightning-quick ascension into the top office; his election and administration; his wife, Bess, and daughter; as well as his home at Independence! Check out the website at VisitingthePresidents.com for visual …

Our longest serving President had some wonderful estates to call home, each wonderfully preserved! Let's Visit Franklin Roosevelt and his homes in Warm Springs, Georgia, (the "Little White House"!) and Hyde Park, New York, as well as stops in Manhattan and Campobello Island! Learn about his political rise and struggles to overcome his illness; his …