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/

July 4 marks the birth of the United States, but it is also forever linked to three American presidents. In this episode, Chris and Ray explore the remarkable stories of Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and James Monroe, all of whom died on Independence Day. They also discuss the extraordinary coincidence of Jefferson and Adams passing away just hours apart on the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, and why many Americans at the time believed it was an act of divine providence.

In this episode of History You Didn't Know But Should, Chris and Ray sit down with historian and author Dr. John Garrison Marks.

George Washington is remembered as the "Father of His Country," but his relationship with slavery remains one of the most debated aspects of his life. In this conversation, Dr. Marks discusses how Washington's views evolved, the decision to free those he enslaved in his will, and the centuries long debate over how Americans have remembered his legacy.

Drawing from his new book, Thy Will Be Done: George Washington's Legacy of Slavery and the Fight for American Memory, Dr. Marks takes us beyond the myths and into the historical evidence surrounding one of the most complex figures in American history.

Guest: Dr. John Garrison Marks
Book: Thy Will Be Done: George Washington's Legacy of Slavery and the Fight for American Memory