Three-thousand miles. Fourteen states. Seven hundred towns. Two spouses. One Winnebago. Francis Barry and his wife, Laurel, took a trip across the Lincoln Highway from New York to San Francisco during the height of the pandemic, and during the height of the 2020 election. Their project was to figure out America by driving along the route that was first established more than a hundred years ago as a way to show off America. On this episode, we discuss his book, "Back Roads and Better Angels" to find out what makes America tick, what has kept the most diverse country in the world together, even through the toughest of times?

He is on social media at https://x.com/FSBarry

His website is https://www.fsbarry.com/

Information on his book from Steer Forth Press can be found at https://steerforth.com/product/back-roads-and-better-angels-9781586423889/

Support our show at https://patreon.com/axelbankhistory

**A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy**

"Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at

https://twitter.com/axelbankhistory

https://instagram.com/axelbankhistory

https://facebook.com/axelbankhistory

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

George Washington is often given the lionshare of the credit when it comes to establishing the tradition of a peaceful transfer of power in the United States. But in her new book, "Making the Presidency: John Adams and the Precedents that Forged the Republic," Dr. Lindsay Chervinsky argues that the second president also deserves a healthy portion of credit. Adams understood that he could never measure up to Washington, but he did understand that a strong, democratic nation would depend on his ability to consider his country over his party. Dr. Chervinsky shows that while Adams made political mistakes that made him unappealing to elect for a second term, he weathered both foreign and domestic crises in ways that made the presidency, and thus, the young republic, stronger.

Information on Dr. Chervinsky's book can be found at https://www.lindsaychervinsky.com/

We discussed her book, "The Cabinet," on this episode
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/axelbank-reports-history-and-today/id1521053272?i=1000494574017

We discussed her co-edited book, "Mourning the Presidents," on this episode
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/axelbank-reports-history-and-today/id1521053272?i=1000601993613

Support our show at https://patreon.com/axelbankhistory

**A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy**

"Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at

https://twitter.com/axelbankhistory

https://instagram.com/axelbankhistory

https://facebook.com/axelbankhistory

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

From the publisher, Roaring Book Press: Witch Hunt: The Cold War, Joe McCarthy, and the Red Scare provides a gripping account of one of the most tumultuous periods in American history. Authors Dr. Andrea Balis and Elizabeth Levy delve into Senator Joe McCarthy's infamous hunt for communists during the 1950s Red Scare. Originally written for young adult and teen audiences, the book is written in a unique screenplay-style format with rich illustrations and includes interviews with individuals who recalled their childhood experiences of McCarthyism. With meticulous research and attention to detail, The authors shed light on the human stories behind historical events, filling in the critical gaps in historical knowledge, ensuring that the lessons of the past are not forgotten in today's rapidly changing world.

Support our show at https://patreon.com/axelbankhistory

**A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy**

"Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at

https://twitter.com/axelbankhistory

https://instagram.com/axelbankhistory

https://facebook.com/axelbankhistory

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

At the dawn of the 20th Century, the center of city life could be found at department stores. One could find the latest fashion, meet friends for a cup of coffee, mail a letter, and escape the hustle of every day life. Julie Satow shows how three women made department stores not just the place to be, but into an engine of cultural change. She also explores how the women challenged gender norms to build high-flying businesses that would impact World War II, New York City, and the future of consumerism. Julie also shows how social media has changed the lives of writers, who now must focus on being successful in several mediums for their books to become bestsellers.

Her previous appearance on our show, where we discussed her book, "The Plaza" can be found here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/axelbank-reports-history-and-today/id1521053272?i=1000488745167

Information on Julie Satow's book can be found at https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/707784/when-women-ran-fifth-avenue-by-julie-satow/

Julie Satow's website can be found at https://juliesatow.com/

Support our show at https://patreon.com/axelbankhistory

**A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy**

"Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at

https://twitter.com/axelbankhistory

https://instagram.com/axelbankhistory

https://facebook.com/axelbankhistory

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

On this episode, Adam Higginbotham brings us back to the moment that many say they will never forget, but also to a moment that is filled with misconception and myth. When the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded in 1986, seven astronauts lost their lives and NASA was confronted with its biggest failure. Higginbotham shows us how the space program chose to remember those lost, rebuild faith in its mission, and how NASA persisted as a larger reflection of American culture. Higginbotham also explains how our memories of Challenger aren't necessarily what happened. His book is the first in nearly forty years that attempts to present an accurate portrayal of what happened and the impact it has had.

Adam Higginbotham's website can be found at https://www.adamhigginbotham.com/

He is on social media at https://twitter.com/HigginbothamA

Information on his book from Simon & Schuster can be found at https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Midnight-in-Chernobyl/Adam-Higginbotham/9781501134630

Support our show at https://patreon.com/axelbankhistory

**A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy**

"Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at

https://twitter.com/axelbankhistory

https://instagram.com/axelbankhistory

https://facebook.com/axelbankhistory

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Teddy Roosevelt is thought of as the quintessentially masculine American president. He is known for going to war, for fighting buffalo with his bare hands, and sailing down the River of Doubt. But as Edward O'Keefe, the CEO of the Teddy Roosevelt Presidential Library explains, TR is more a product of the women in his life than the men. His mother, sisters and wives played critical roles in his formative years, his early political career and his presidency. From the mother who soothed his nearly-deadly sicknesses, to the sisters who became co-strategists and governors, to the wives who influenced his progressive ideas and the future of First Ladies, TR would have been a different person had the women in his life not been strong, brilliant people. We also chatted about the future of the TR presidential library, and how it will shape not only TR's legacy, but our own understanding of America.

Edward O'Keefe is on social media at https://twitter.com/edwardokeefe?lang=en

Information on Edward O'Keefe's book from Simon & Schuster is available at https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Loves-of-Theodore-Roosevelt/Edward-F-OKeefe/9781982145682

Information on the TR presidential library can be found at https://www.trlibrary.com/

Support our show at https://patreon.com/axelbankhistory

**A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy**

"Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at

https://twitter.com/axelbankhistory

https://instagram.com/axelbankhistory

https://facebook.com/axelbankhistory

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Paul Sparrow argues that Franklin Roosevelt is the quintessential American president, not just of the 20th Century, but in all of American history. FDR's ability to rally the nation from the Great Depression, and then carry it into a devastating but essential World War showed not just his talent, but his understanding of the stakes the country faced. Sparrow argues that FDR is democracy's greatest champion, and that he became that way by understanding the key to rallying the American people was by finding the right words to urge the country to embrace the cause of freedom around the world. In this episode, Sparrow shows how FDR took on the isolationist Charles Lindbergh to urge America to fight its most important battle since the Civil War.

For information on Paul's book, head to https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Awakening-the-Spirit-of-America/Paul-M-Sparrow/9781639366675

For Paul's social media feed, head to https://twitter.com/PaulMSparrow1

His website is available at https://paulsparrow-fdr.com/

Support our show at https://patreon.com/axelbankhistory

**A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy**

"Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at

https://twitter.com/axelbankhistory

https://instagram.com/axelbankhistory

https://facebook.com/axelbankhistory

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

What does it mean to have "free time" and is it ever enough? In "Free Time: The History of an Elusive Ideal," Dr. Gary Cross explains how free time is both precious and deceptive. Why are people on vacation already searching the web for their next one? What counts as free time? Does technology help or hurt our experience with time spent away from work? Dr. Cross joins us to answer these questions, and to explain how the concept of "free time" began. We all want free time, but does it help our physical and mental selves in the ways we assume?

Information on Gary Cross' book can be found at https://nyupress.org/9781479813070/free-time/

Support our show at https://patreon.com/axelbankhistory

**A portion of every contribution is given to a charity for children's literacy**

"Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at

https://twitter.com/axelbankhistory

https://instagram.com/axelbankhistory

https://facebook.com/axelbankhistory

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify