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As a military general, Washington lost more battles than he won, obsessed over his salary, and launched a mission that exploded into an international war. So, naturally, he was cast as a hero and catapulted into the presidency. What could go wrong?
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He arrived at the White House without experience or a clue… But that didn’t stop Grant from secretly doubling his salary and accepting extravagant gifts from Wall Street. Meanwhile, his administration extorted, bribed, and stole millions of tax dollars away from Americans living through a depression they basically caused. And still, people said a more honest, generous man never lived.
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He pardoned a disgraced president, was nearly gunned down by a member of the Manson Family, and once taped a polarizing SNL introduction… And yet, Gerald Ford’s legacy is largely that of a nice guy — not a scandal magnet. How exactly did the moderate everyman survive the White House?
To view this episode’s full list of sources, please visit parcast.com/verypresidential
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He was the follow-up act no one wanted: Johnson took office after Lincoln was assassinated, and spent his presidency making every sloppy, chaotic move he was capable of. Everything he did — from empowering ex-Confederates to spearheading a deranged speaking tour to calling for a Congressman to be hanged — led to disaster, death, and ultimately his own disgrace.
To view this episode’s full list of sources, please visit parcast.com/verypresidential
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He was a paranoid president who wiretapped the White House, kept actual lists of enemies, popped pills, shoved aides, and might've secretly been in love with his best friend. Nixon’s always going to be tied to the Watergate scandal, but there’s so much more to know about so-called “Tricky Dick.”
To view this episode’s full list of sources, please visit parcast.com/verypresidential
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FDR was president for over a decade — plenty of time to curate a rotating cast of love interests, including the Princess of Norway and his own daughter-in-law. But if the White House living arrangements were made somewhat awkward by his constant need for companionship, FDR didn’t seem to notice. He was busy handling crisis after crisis… and manufacturing a few of his own, too.
To view this episode’s full list of sources, please visit parcast.com/verypresidential
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He wanted to be a low-key VP, and instead became one of the most disliked presidents in history. John Tyler was booted from his own party, burned in effigy on the White House lawn, and rejected even in death by America’s most prominent politicians.
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The youngest president to ever take office was full of tough-guy machismo, and famous for his vigor. Where’d he pour all that energy? Breaking up his brother’s marriage, getting off the grid for wild excursions, and trophy hunting to his heart’s content.
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He rang in his presidency with a legendary kick-off party that ended with free-for-all punch bowls on the White House lawn. But really, the celebration marked the beginning of an absolutely disastrous two terms. Violence, racism and chauvinism were in Jackson’s blood—from deadly duels to Native American massacres to the demonic death march he directed across the country.
To view this episode’s full list of sources, please visit parcast.com/verypresidential
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He promised his dying wife he would never remarry, then turned around and forced 14-year-old Sally Hemings—whose family he enslaved—to be his concubine. Slavery, a murder conspiracy, his own personal Burn Book… Thomas Jefferson may have been a Founding Father, but he was as dirty as they get.
To view this episode’s full list of sources, please visit parcast.com/verypresidential
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Seemingly every politician has dalliances they (try to) keep in the dark, but Warren G. Harding took his affairs to another level—writing wildly steamy letters, meeting in coat closets, even once getting caught by New York City’s Vice Squad in a hotel room with a young fangirl. And while he was busy getting busy, his administration was running a full-blown criminal empire… That is, until the president mysteriously dropped dead.
To view this episode’s full list of sources, please visit parcast.com/verypresidential
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Was Woodrow Wilson even really president while he was president? After using hush money to help get elected to a second term, his health became so fragile that someone else was rumored to be calling all the shots… and some consider her to be the first woman to ever hold the highest office.
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A wicked assault, a bride 27 years his junior, a secret surgery at sea... Cleveland's extracurriculars ranged from creepy to straight-up criminal. His reputation for decency and honesty wasn't ironclad after all.
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LBJ was catapulted into the presidency by tragic circumstances, but his goal was clear. On a diet consisting of women, cigarettes, and booze, he would outwork and outlast anyone who opposed him.
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The youngest president ever elected had a golden boy aura, but his legacy is down-right salacious. Sex, drugs, near-fatal illnesses… JFK was a womanizer whose ego almost started a nuclear war.
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When we talk about “presidential conduct,” we usually mean dignity and leadership. We don’t usually talk about the all-night ragers, blackmail schemes, and drug-induced decisions made in very important meetings! But maybe we should talk about all of that… and in the new Spotify Original from Parcast, Very Presidential with Ashley Flowers, we are! Every Tuesday through the 2020 election, Ashley Flowers is looking at 15 of our most badly-behaved presidents to shine a light on what was really going on in the White House. It’s a lot wilder than anything you learned in history class, and the scariest part is, it’s all true.
Check out Very Presidential with Ashley Flowers every Tuesday starting August 11th! Listen free on Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!
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