In this episode of History You Didn’t Know But Should, Ray sits down with historian Dr. Scott Billingsley to explore deism and the religious beliefs of America’s Founders. What exactly was deism in the eighteenth century? How influential was it during the founding era? And how accurately does the label “deist” describe figures such as Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and George Washington?

Dr. Billingsley helps us separate historical evidence from some of the assumptions that have developed around the Founders and their faith. It’s a fascinating look at one of the most debated, and frequently misunderstood, aspects of the American Founding.

In this episode of History You Didn't Know But Should, Chris and Ray revisit one of the strangest moments of Richard Nixon's presidency: his unexpected early morning visit to the Lincoln Memorial on May 9, 1970. Just days after the Kent State shootings and amid growing protests over the Vietnam War, Nixon left the White House and found himself talking with student demonstrators gathered at the memorial. What followed was an unusual, sometimes awkward, and revealing encounter between a president and a generation increasingly divided over the war.

In this episode of History You Didn’t Know But Should, Chris and Ray sit down with historian Dave Taylor, creator of LincolnConspirators.com and founder of Lincoln Assassination Tours, to explore one of the most dramatic events in American history: the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln and the 12-day manhunt for John Wilkes Booth.

What motivated Booth to assassinate Lincoln? Who were his fellow conspirators, and how extensive was the plot? Was Booth following a carefully planned escape route, or was he improvising as the manhunt closed in? Did he really expect to be welcomed as a hero in the South? And just how close did federal authorities come to catching him before the final confrontation at Garrett’s Farm?

Dave takes us through Booth’s escape from Ford’s Theatre, the people and places that aided him along the way, the massive search to find Lincoln’s assassin, and the events that ultimately brought Booth’s 12 days on the run to an end.

To learn more about Dave Taylor and his work:

LincolnConspirators.com
https://lincolnconspirators.com

Lincoln Assassination Tours
https://lincolnassassinationtours.com/