#lillian cunningham

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Presidential from The Washington Post - Lillian Cunningham hosts weekly (from 11 January 2016 to 9 November 2016) looks at each of the 44 US Presidents.

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Harry Truman: Born to lose

Everybody knew for months that Truman was going to lose to Thomas Dewey, so much so that Dewey took long breaks from campaigning, says Lillian Cunningham on the Washington Post’s Presidential podcast. And by the time Truman left office, he was staggeringly unpopular. But now he’s one of the most-respected and best-loved Presidents in American history.

In the newest episode of the Presidential podcast, biographer David McCullough looks at some of the most difficult calls President Truman made during his time in the White House, including the decisions to drop the atomic bomb, push for civil rights legislation and fire Gen. Douglas MacArthur.

Washington Post polling manager Scott Clement also joins the episode to explain the biggest polling failure in presidential history—when Truman won the 1948 election, despite the many polls that seemed to show he didn’t stand a chance.

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How well do you know your presidential history?

How well do you know your presidential history?

This presidential primary season has been something else! Between the Jerry Springeresque name calling on the campaign trail and both party’s infighting, most of us are aghast at what is happening in this country. In addition, distrust of our politicians is at an all time high and their approval rating at an all time low. If you think this years election cycle is unique, then I invite you to…

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James K. Polk got it done

He served just one term, was elected with four major goals, completed all of them, and died a few months after leaving office.

In a feat basically never before or again accomplished in the White House, President James K. Polk managed to execute nearly every single goal he established for himself at the outset of his term in office. So why is he rarely considered among the great American presidents?

In the newest podcast episode of “Presidential,” we explore that question with historian Amy Greenberg, a professor at Penn State University. Greenberg explains Polk’s key traits—in particular, his intense work ethic and his willingness to lie—that made his one term, from 1845 to 1849, so effective. Yet she also reflects on why “effectiveness” may not be the right gauge for greatness.

Musician John Linnell, of the band They Might Be Giants, also makes a guest appearance to discuss the song he composed about James K. Polk and what inspired him to write it.

Among Polk’s goals were annexing California and Texas. But he had to launch an imperialist war based on lies to do it, which might account for his relative obscurity today. Even in 1846, many Americans considered that beyond the pale.

James K. Polk: Getting it done [Lillian Cunnigham – Presidential – The Washington Post]

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