President Trump's announcement via Twitter that transgender personnel would no longer be allowed to serve in the US armed forces provides an excellent opportunity to take a look at the history of female and trans soldiers who have fought in past US wars. Most people would be surprised to learn that … [Read more...]
Episode 035 Albert Cashier, Transgender Soldier in the American Civil War
Episode 027 JFK at 100 – The Legacy and Memory of a President
In this episode, in recognition of John F. Kennedy's 100 birthday – I know, 100?, Really? – we dive into the life and legacy of the nation's 35th President. Every couple of years, we read about a poll that ranks the presidents of the United States from best to worst. These surveys generally attract … [Read more...]
Hercules Mulligan, Patriot Mentor and Spymaster
Who was Hercules Mulligan? Well, he certainly was a man with one of the great names in American history. Hercules Mulligan – you can’t make up a name like that. But beyond that great name, Hercules Mulligan has existed as a mere footnote for the last 200+ years of American history. That is, until … [Read more...]
When Americans Saw Irish Immigrants as Terrorists
[NOTE - this piece accompanies a similar feature in my podcast, In The Past Lane https://inthepastlane.com/podcast-episode-007-irish-terrorists-spies-and-more/] In case you haven’t noticed, there’s lots of talk about immigration and terrorism these days. Specifically, many Americans are worried … [Read more...]
Episode 007 Irish Terrorists, Spies, and More
With St. Patrick's Day (March 17) being celebrated this week, In The Past Lane takes a look at some fascinating Irish American history. 1. We start with a feature piece on why Americans in the late 19th century associated Irish immigrants with terrorism. That's right, long before 9/11, the Irish … [Read more...]