Posts Tagged ‘world war II’
Henry Kissinger Part 1: Meteoric Rise
Professor Philip Nash joins us for Part 1 of our examination of the life and loves of Henry Kissinger, perhaps the most influential American foreign policy figure of the later Cold War. We look at his origins, his education, his move into governing circles, and his meteoric rise to power in the 1970s. An amazing…
Read More“It’s a Wonderful Life” 1947 Radio Drama
Listeners have asked me to post the 1947 Lux Radio Drama version of “It’s a Wonderful Life,” starring Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed. Enjoy this great story in a different format! — Buzzkill Bookshelf Michael Willian, The Essential It’s a Wonderful Life – 75th Anniversary Edition: A Scene-by-Scene Guide to the Classic Film To celebrate…
Read More“It’s a Wonderful Life” Myths and Urban Legends: 2023 Encore!
Imagine being tortured by wartime memories. Explosions, death, mutilated bodies (some of them friends of yours), all the screaming. Now, imagine them coming from a very confined and dangerous place. I’ve always thought that being in a warplane or submarine would add the extra stress of being trapped, and not even being able to contemplate…
Read MorePearl Harbor 2023 Encore
Did FDR know about the attack ahead of time? And who was the attack more devastating for – the United States or Japan? Professor Phil Nash joins us to explain the myths and misconceptions about the December 7th, 1941 attack, as well as the complexities of the cultural importance of the attack since then. You’ll…
Read MoreCoffee with Hitler: Civilized Diplomacy?
“How might the British have handled Hitler differently?” remains one of history’s greatest “what ifs.” Dr. Charles Spicer tells us the astounding story of how a handful of amateur British intelligence agents wined, dined, and befriended the leading Nazis between the wars. With support from royalty, aristocracy, politicians, and businessmen, they hoped to use the…
Read MoreUndelivered Speeches and What They Can Tell Us About History
For almost every delivered speech, there exists an undelivered opposite. These “second speeches” provide alternative histories of what could have been if not for schedule changes, changes of heart, or momentous turns of events. Listen as political speechwriter and analyst Jeff Nussbaum explains why studying these speeches is so vital in helping understand what actually…
Read MoreOppenheimer: the Man, the Myth, the Movie
The blockbuster film, Oppenheimer, is sweeping the cinema world, and has become an historical event in itself. Professor Philip Nash discusses the life and work of J. Robert Oppenheimer, and we analyze his significance. We also review the film. Most importantly, we show how all of this is _extremely_ relevant to today’s fraught political and…
Read MoreThe Atomic Bombs: Flashback Friday 2023
The recent Oppenheimer film has prompted interest in the events surrounding the building and dropping of the atomic bombs. This Flashback Friday episode addresses whether there was an actual decision to use atomic bombs in World War II. If not, what were the questions and issues about using the bomb? Why did the US choose…
Read MoreLawyers in Japanese-American Concentration Camps during World War II
The US government placed white lawyers at Japanese-American concentration camps during World War II. These lawyers were given contradictory instructions: provide legal counsel to the prisoners, and keep the place running. Within that job description are a vast array of tasks, and an enormous amount of discretion they can use for good or for ill.…
Read MoreJulius Streicher: Piece of Sh*t Saturday
Julius Streicher was the founder and publisher of the virulently antisemitic newspaper “Der Stürmer” – a central element of the Nazi propaganda machine. He was such a Piece of Sh*t that many Nazis thought he was too extreme. Professor Philip Nash explains why Steicher was so vile, and why he was very important in fostering…
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