Tag: politics
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Crooked by Nathan Masters
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Crooked: Thank God politicians aren’t criminals like this anymore. Quick synopsis: The story of a corrupt Attorney General and the senator who tried to bring him. Fact for Non-History People: How about this for graft? During World War I, Wright-Martin Aircraft Corporation overcharged the government by $2 million dollars. They never…
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Star Spangled Scandal by Chris DeRose
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Star Spangled Scandal: A famous dad does not make you bulletproof. Quick synopsis: The murder of Philip Baron Key by Daniel Sickles in 1859 right in front of the White House. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Philip Barton Key was the son of Francis Scott Key, the writer of the…
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Empire of Sin by Gary Krist
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Empire of Sin: Never had a title been so apt. Quick synopsis: The story of New Orleans in the early 1900s. Honestly, not that far off from NOLA today. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Guess which city had the first legal red-light district in the country? Yup, you got it.…
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A Shot in the Moonlight by Ben Montgomery
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for A Shot in the Moonlight: It’s amazing how racism and stupidity always go together. Quick synopsis: The story of George Dinning, who survived being shot in the head to ultimately sue his mob. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Bennet H. Young, who helped Dinning sue the mob, once took part…
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A Most Wicked Conspiracy by Paul Starobin
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for A Most Wicked Conspiracy: I should have been a gold miner in the 1900s. Quick synopsis: The story of how a crooked politician tried to steal the gold right out from miners in Nome, Alaska around 1900. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Gold was literally just sitting around waiting to…
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The Zealot and the Emancipator by H.W. Brands
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Zealot and the Emancipator: The Civil War era was crazy. Glad politics got so much better since then. Quick synopsis: A dual biography of John Brown and Abraham Lincoln. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: John Brown was seriously deranged, and we all are pretty clear about that today. But…
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Antarctica by David Day
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Antarctica: I really want to go here. Someone want to make a donation? Quick synopsis: The story of Antarctica from the 1770s to today. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Antarctica is a desert. It hasn’t rained there in 2 million years. Go ahead, check my work. Fun Fact for History…
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The Unexpected President by Scott Greenberg
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Unexpected President: May be the last time a politician pulled a sincere 180. Quick synopsis: The life of President Chester A. Arthur. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Arthur had fresh flowers placed at the portrait of his deceased wife every day he was president. He never remarried. Fun Fact…
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Floodpath by Jon Wilkman
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Floodpath: Came for the flood, got too much else. Quick synopsis: The story of the St. Francis Dam flood. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Mulholland Drive in L.A. is named after the designer and builder of the St. Francis Dam. He was alive when the flood happened and killed scores…