Imperfect Men

On this episode, Cody and Steve talk about Dr. Cornelius, a chimpanzee sympathetic to the plight of astronaut Taylor, played by Charlton Heston...wait, that's not right. No, they talk about Dr. Cornelius Evazan, who messed with Luke Skywalkwer and got Ponda Baba's arm chopped off...no, wait, that's not it either. Who are they talking about, again?Podcast to recommend: Space Rocket History (Space Rocket History Podcast - Welcome to the Space Rocket History podcast)Sources·        Lennon, Donald R. "Harnett, Cornelius, Jr.." NCpedia. Dictionary of North Carolina Biography, University of North Carolina Press. Accessed 1 Apr 2025. <https://www.ncpedia.org/biography/harnett-cornelius-jr>.·        Mulrooney, Margaret M. Race, Place, and Memory: Deep Currents in Wilmington, North Carolina. Tallahassee, FL: U. Press of Florida, 2018.·        Watson, Alan D., et al. Harnett, Hooper, and Howe: Revolutionary Leaders of the Lower Cape Fear. Madison, WI: U. of Wisconsin Press, 1979.·        See pinned post on Bluesky for general sources

On this episode, Steve and Cody discuss the long-lost fourth Hanson brother, John Hanson. No idea if he can carry a tune or not.Podcast to recommend: Not Quite PresidentsSources·        Kremer, J. Bruce. John Hanson of Mulberry Grove. New York City, NY: A&C Boni, 1938.·        Levering, Ralph B. “John Hanson, Public Servant.” Maryland Historical Magazine 71 (Summer 1976), p. 113-33.·        Nelson, Jacob A. John Hanson and the Inseparable Union. Boston, MA: Meador, 1939.·        See pinned post on Bluesky for general sources

This week, Cody and Steve dive into the biggest name on the Declaration (literally) and see if John Hancock lives up to the hype.Podcast to recommend: Our Fake History (Our Fake History – Historical Myths Relished and Ruined!)Sources·        Adams, James Truslow. “Portrait of an Empty Barrel.” Harpers Magazine 161 (p. 425-34), September 1930.·        Barbier, Brooke. King Hancock: The Radical Influence of a Moderate Founding Father. Cambridge, MA: Harvard U. Press, 2023.·        Fowler, William M. Jr. The Baron of Beacon Hill: A Biography of John Hancock. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin, 1980.·        Unger, Harlow Giles. John Hancock: Merchant King and American Patriot. Edison, NJ; Castle Books, 2005.·        See pinned post on Bluesky for general sources

On this episode, Cody and Steve tackle another giant in the American pantheon, the man who had a million things to do, Alexander Hamilton.Sources·        Brookheiser, Richard. Alexander Hamilton: American. New York City, NY: The Free Press, 1999.·        Chernow, Ron. Alexander Hamilton. New York City, NY: Penguin, 2005.·        Freeman, Joanne B. The Essenial Hamilton: Letters and Other Writings. New York City, NY: Library of America, 2017.·        Hendrickson, Robert. Hamilton I (1757-89). New York City, NY: Mason Charter, 1976.·        Randall, Willard Sterne. Alexander Hamilton: A Life. New York City, NY: Harper Collins, 2003.·        See pinned post on Bluesky for general sourcesLinks to suicide prevention and counseling:Suicide prevention resources | AFSPOhio Suicide Prevention Foundation – Ohio's Voice for Suicide PreventionSuicide Prevention - National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

On this episode, Steve and Cody talk about Lyman Hall's ministerial misdeeds, representation in Congress, and about half a dozen other things that have nothing to do with this blip of a Founder.Podcast to recommend: Irish History Podcast (Irish History Podcast)Sources·        Cook, James F. The Governors of Georgia, 1754-2004. Macon, GA: Mercer U. Press, 2005.·        Lockwood, Thornton C. “Lyman Hall.” Society of the Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence. <https://www.dsdi1776.com/signer/lyman-hall/>. Retrieved 3 Feb 2025.·        See pinned post on Bluesky for general sources

On this episode, Cody and Steve discuss the lifetime of failures that is one of the most uniquely named figures of the era, Button Gwinnett.Podcast to recommend: History’s Trainwrecks (History's Trainwrecks)Sources·        Jackson, Harvey. Lachlan McIntosh and the Politics of Revolutionary Georgia. Athens, GA: U. of Georgia Press, 1979.·        McNamara, Jr., Rieman, ed. “Button Gwinnett.” Society of the Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence. 2007, <https://www.dsdi1776.com/signer/button-gwinnett/>. Retrieved 28 Jan 2025.·        See pinned post on Bluesky for general sources

On this episode, Cody and Steve discuss the man who would be okay with us having a king, Nathaniel Gorham.Podcast to recommend: Totalus Rankium Pirates (Totalus Rankium | Ranking all the Roman Emperors and American Presidents)Sources·        Hauptman, Laurence M. Conspiracy of Interests: Iroquois Dispossession and the Rise of New York State. Syracuse, NY; Syracuse U. Press, 2001.·        Morton, Joseph C. Shapers of the Great Debate at the Constitutional Convention of 1787. Santa Barbara, CA: Greenwood, 2006.·        See pinned post on Bluesky for general sources

On this episode, Cody and Steve discuss the Creature from the Exeter Lagoon, Nicholas Gilman, as well as review some fun statistics from the first 50 subjects and answer a few listener questions.Podcast to recommend: Kingdom (Kingdöm: Swedish Rulers – A Flatpack History of Sweden Podcast)Sources·        Wright, Jr., Robert K., and Morris J. MacGregor, Jr. Soldier-Statesmen of the Constitution. Washington, DC: U.S. Army Center of Military History, 1987.·        See pinned post on Bluesky for list of general sources