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/

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

Built atop the ruins of colonial Brunswick Town, Fort Anderson was one of the Confederacy's most important defenses of Wilmington, North Carolina. In this episode of History You Didn't Know But Should, Chris and Ray explore the fort's strategic role, the February 1865 battle that led to its evacuation, and how its fall helped open the way for the Union capture of Wilmington during the final months of the Civil War.

In this episode of History You Didn't Know But Should, Chris and Ray begin a two-part series exploring Brunswick Town, one of colonial North Carolina's most important yet often overlooked communities. Located along the Cape Fear River, Brunswick Town served as a major center of trade, politics, and culture during the colonial era.

Join us as we examine the origins of Brunswick Town, its connections to Native American history, the colonial economy, and the influential people who helped shape early southeastern North Carolina. Discover the story of a community whose legacy extended far beyond the colonial period, eventually becoming the site of Fort Anderson and playing a role in both the American Revolution and the Civil War.

Whether you're a longtime history enthusiast or just discovering North Carolina's past, Brunswick Town is a story you won't want to miss.

In this episode of History You Didn’t Know But Should, Chris and Ray tell the fascinating story of 10 year old Grace Bedell, the young girl who wrote a letter to Republican presidential candidate Abraham Lincoln and suggested he grow a beard. What happened next became one of the most famous image transformations in American political history.

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