Agents, double-agents, spies, secret messages, codes, cyphers are the words that evoke the world of intelligence gathering, a necessary tool for the success of any army. George Washington knew better than anyone the value of knowing what your enemy's plans were and to prevent them, if at all possible, from learning your own plans. Amazingly there are still many sites associated with the Culper Spy Ring that you can visit. Bill Bleyer, journalist and historian, tells us about his book, George Washington's Long Island Spy Ring: A History and Tour Guide.

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"Listen my children, and you shall hear, of the midnight ride of Paul Revere." With this one line, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow ensured the legacy of 18th-century Boston silversmith, mechanic and entrepreneur, Paul Revere. The poem, published in January of 1861 in the Atlantic Monthly magazine was simply entitled "Paul Revere's Ride," and purports to detail the ride of Paul Revere to warn Middlesex county farmers and minute men about the approach of Regular Army soldiers to capture a cache of weapons and supplies hidden in Concord, Massachusetts. However, that dramatic ride was just one of dozens of rides that Paul Revere was hired to do on behalf of the people of Massachusetts. Join Professor Bob Allison in conversation with Tegan Kehoe, the Research and Adult Programs Director of the historic Paul Revere House on the many rides of Paul Revere.

https://www.paulreverehouse.org/

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The "Whiskey Rebellion," as Alexander Hamilton called it, was the first major test of the new government's power to control its territory. The Whiskey Tax of 1791 taxed smaller producers of whiskey, and required all stills to be registered. The response of farmers in the west--many of them veterans of the Revolution--was at times violent, and President Washington responded by leading an army of 13,000 men--mocked at the "watermelon army"-- to subdue the rebellion. We talk about this story with Brady Crytzer, author of The Whiskey Rebellion; A Distilled History of an American Crisis.

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We see him as the artist who gave us the iconic imagery of our nation's founding. He saw himself as a historian. John Trumbull, soldier, spy, and artist was the son of a Connecticut Governor, a scion of the first-families of New England. Join Professor Robert Allison in conversation with award-winning author Richard Brookhiser on his book Glorious Lessons; John Trumbull, the Painter of the American Revolution.

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Mount Vernon's historical status was secured by George Washington's ownership, but its full history cannot be told without examining the other people who lived here. Sarah Johnson, first living enslaved at Mount Vernon and later emancipated, saw the change in Mount Vernon from family home to national treasure. We discuss this story with Scott E. Casper, author of Sarah Johnson's Mount Vernon: The Forgotten History of an American Shrine. And we also discuss Scott Casper's favorite place, the American Antiquarian Society and its amazing collections and programs.

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Ben and William Frank became part of the Second Rhode Island Regiment in 1777. AFter figinting in the Battle of Rhode Island, Ben switched sides, joined with the British, and wound up in Nova Scotia after the war. His descendant Shirley Green, a Toledo police officer and now director of the Toledo Police Museum, wrote about the Frank Brothers in her terrific book, Revolutionary Blacks: Discovering the Frank Brothers, Freeborn Men of Color, Soldiers of Independence. We talk with her about the Frank brothers and their story.

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As we approach our 200th episode we talk with Gordon Wood on his first book, The Creation of the American Republic, 1776 - 1787 which ranks among the most important books ever written about the American Revolutionary period and the formation of the American Republic. Join us as to hear about what the founders got right, what they got wrong, and how it continues to influence and evolve in America today.

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June 2024 marks the 250th Anniversary of General & Governor Thomas Gage's attempt to move the Massachusetts government to Salem. Join us as we learn how this important seaport town reacted to 2 regiments of Redcoats moving into town. Join us as we speak with Emily Murphy of the Salem Maritime National Historic Site on the impact of Gage's plan to run Massachusetts from Salem and how Salem Maritime is planning to mark the occasion on June 15 & 16, 2024 in Salem, Massachusetts.

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