Whistlestop: Presidential History and Trivia
John Dickerson of Slate’s Political Gabfest revisits a moment from the American carnival of politics. Hear about the grand speeches, emergency strategies, baby kissing, and backstabbing that make each presidential cycle so fascinating.
All Episodes
The Presidency as a Consumer Experience (Part 2)
August 28th, 2019
45:49
This episode of Whistlestop travels to October 19, 2016 as Florida Republican Senator Marco Rubio, the defeated GOP aspirant for the presidency, is …
The Presidency as a Consumer Experience (Part 1)
June 6th, 2019
29:56
This episode of Whistlestop travels to October 12, 2012 when Democratic candidate Barack Obama was declared the loser at the first Presidential debate against Mitt Romney and Twitter won.
Whistlestop is Slate’s podcast …
Whistlestop is Slate’s podcast …
Avoiding A Great Re-Recession
May 23rd, 2019
44:06
This episode of Whistlestop travels to March 12, 2008 as President George W. Bush goes over the text of his speech to address the financial crisis in …
Introducing Charged: A True Punishment Story
April 18th, 2019
29:58
For two and a half years, Emily Bazelon has been following people through a special court in New York designed to be a speedy machine for the harsh …
The Making of the American Presidency (Part 4)
March 27th, 2019
1:01:37
This episode of Whistlestop travels to December 23, 1783 when the commander in chief of the Continental Army sat before the president of the Confederation Congress and prepared to step away from the job.
Whistlestop is …
Whistlestop is …
The Making of the American Presidency (Part 3)
March 13th, 2019
40:16
This episode of Whistlestop travels to March 4, 2019 when Senator Rand Paul quoted from Montesquieu on Twitter: “When the legislative and executive …
The Making of the American Presidency (Part 2)
February 27th, 2019
36:52
This episode of Whistlestop travels to June 1st, 1787 when America’s founders faced a challenge: the nation couldn’t depend on the good will of the …
The Making of the American Presidency (Part 1)
February 14th, 2019
26:41
This episode of Whistlestop travels to the spring of 1787 when fifty-five men of property and elite status argued in Philadelphia at the Constitutional Convention for what President John Adams called "the greatest …
A ’90s-Style Government Shutdown (Part 2)
January 30th, 2019
31:03
This episode of Whistlestop travels to November 7, 1995, when a long and uncomfortable plane ride helped fire up Speaker Gingrich to deliver a dramatic set of budget demands that President Bill Clinton did not expect.
…
…
A ‘90’s Style Government Shutdown (Part 1)
January 16th, 2019
33:13
This episode of Whistlestop travels to April 1995 as President Bill Clinton and Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich battle to define American democracy.
Whistlestop is Slate's podcast about presidential history. Hosted by
Whistlestop is Slate's podcast about presidential history. Hosted by
If a Wall Falls
December 12th, 2018
47:32
This episode of Whistlestop travels back to November 9, 1989, when East and West Berliners took sledgehammers to the Berlin Wall and President H.W. George Bush refrained from making grandiose statements about …
Tip and the Gip Part 2, Social Security
November 28th, 2018
49:38
This episode of Whistlestop travels back to December 16, 1981 when President Ronald Reagan signs Executive Order 12335, creating the National Commission on Social Security Reform.
Whistlestop is Slate's podcast about …
Whistlestop is Slate's podcast about …
Tip and the Gip Part 1
November 14th, 2018
48:40
This episode of Whistlestop visits 1981 when Republican President Ronald Reagan, after surviving an assassination attempt, received a warm visit from the Democratic Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill.
Whistlestop is Slate'
Whistlestop is Slate'
Doing the Midterm Shuffle
October 31st, 2018
46:37
This episode of Whistlestop visits 1982, 1986, 1994, 2006 and 2010 when former sitting U.S. Presidents all scrambled to respond to displeasing …
Taking Aim at the New Guy
October 3rd, 2018
26:24
This episode of Whistlestop travels back to October 18, 1938 when former President Hoover picked on the new President with gusto. Many U.S. …
The Nomination of Judge Bork Part 2
September 5th, 2018
50:09
This episode of Whistlestop travels back to September 15, 1987 and into the Senate Caucus Room where Associate Justice Designee Robert Bork begins his five days of testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
…
…
Special Re-Air: John McCain's Surprise 2000 Primary Win in New Hampshire
August 26th, 2018
40:43
With John McCain's passing, we are republishing this episode about John McCain's surprise win in the 2000 New Hampshire Republican primary.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Bidding of Biden to Boo Bork
August 22nd, 2018
40:37
This episode of Whistlestop travels back to June 26, 1987, when President Reagan learned that the swing vote Justice on the Supreme Court, Justice …
Whistlestop Presents: Slow Burn
August 8th, 2018
37:42
With John Dickerson out on vacation, we're here to bring you something special: Slow Burn. In each episode of this hit Slate podcast, host Leon Neyfakh excavates the strange subplots and forgotten characters of recent …
Kennedy and Communism (Part 3)
July 25th, 2018
40:05
This episode of Whistlestop travels back to June 1961, in the aftermath of President John F. Kennedy’s meeting Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev in Vienna.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Kennedy and Communism (Part 2)
July 11th, 2018
40:43
This episode of Whistlestop travels back to June 1961 when President John F. Kennedy sits down with Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev in Vienna.
…
…
Kennedy and Communism (Part 1 of 2)
June 27th, 2018
33:09
This episode of Whistlestop travels back to June 3, 1961 as President John F. Kennedy prepared to hobble on stage for his first high-stakes summit with a soviet leader.
Whistlestop is Slate's podcast about presidential …
Whistlestop is Slate's podcast about presidential …
Nixon Goes to China (Part 3 of 3)
June 13th, 2018
40:27
This episode of Whistlestop travels back to February 1972, when President Nixon abandoned a much-needed shower in order to rush off and meet Chairman Mao for the first time.
Whistlestop is Slate's podcast about …
Whistlestop is Slate's podcast about …
Nixon Goes to China (Part 2 of 3)
May 30th, 2018
23:46
This episode of Whistlestop travels back to July 10, 1971 when Henry Kissinger is reported to have had a terrible stomach ache while abroad but was …
Nixon Goes to China (Part 1)
May 23rd, 2018
33:34
This episode of Whistlestop travels back to February 21, 1972 when President Nixon, a staunch anti-communist, begins the thawing of relations with China with a personal visit to the country.
Whistlestop is Slate's …
Whistlestop is Slate's …
Roosevelt v. The Gorgon
May 2nd, 2018
37:36
This episode of Whistlestop travels back to Feb 22, 1902, as Theodore Roosevelt prepares to receive the unhappy company of angry executives hoping to …
The Lighthearted Leanings of Leadership
April 19th, 2018
29:37
This episode of Whistlestop travels back to April 30, 2011 when President Obama stepped up to the podium at the White House Correspondents' Dinner to deliver a dig and dig for a laugh.
Whistlestop is Slate’s podcast …
Whistlestop is Slate’s podcast …
Four Score and Seven Years of Presidential Golfing
April 4th, 2018
33:49
This episode of Whistlestop travels back to April 13, 1953 when Washington DC’s baseball team, the Senators, hoped the nation’s new President would …
Griever-in-Chief and Guardian of Common Ground
March 7th, 2018
30:52
This episode of Whistlestop travels back to April 19, 1995 when the Oklahoma City Bombing shocked the nation and the President stepped up to offer …
Retiring for Peace
February 21st, 2018
42:36
When President Johnson delivered his State of the Union speech on January 17, 1968 he surprised those closest to him when he didn’t step down.
Whistlestop is Slate’s podcast about presidential campaign history. Hosted by …
Whistlestop is Slate’s podcast about presidential campaign history. Hosted by …
Carter Withdraws From U.S. Olympics
February 8th, 2018
41:06
America boycotted the Moscow Summer Olympics in 1980 in response to the Russian occupation of Afghanistan. Here on the eve of the next winter Olympiad we’ll have the story of that decision by President Jimmy Carter.
…
…
The 25th Amendment
January 24th, 2018
33:43
This episode of Whistlestop travels back to April 4, 1841, the death of president William Henry Harrison, and a flaw in the Constitution that needed fixing.
Whistlestop is Slate’s podcast about presidential campaign …
Whistlestop is Slate’s podcast about presidential campaign …
Slow Burn: A Podcast About Watergate
December 27th, 2017
24:44
Whistlestop presents a preview of Slow Burn, an eight-episode miniseries about Watergate.
People called her crazy, and to be fair she must have seemed crazy. But she was onto something. How Martha Mitchell, the …
People called her crazy, and to be fair she must have seemed crazy. But she was onto something. How Martha Mitchell, the …
Special Re-Broadcast of The Entanglements of the Mega Rich: Vice President Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller
December 27th, 2017
33:25
Host John Dickerson visits January 11, 2017 and also the campaign of Gerald R. Ford and Nelson Rockefeller. With it came along concerns of economic entanglements that a rich family might not be able to untangle.
…
…
The Air Traffic Take Down
December 13th, 2017
34:41
This episode of Whistlestop travels back to August 3, 1981 when 12,000 air traffic controllers walked off their jobs.
Whistlestop is Slate’s podcast …
Whistlestop is Slate’s podcast …
The Partial Truths of the Presidency
November 29th, 2017
34:14
Presidents FDR, Bush, Obama and others delivered partial truths to the American people. Were they good leaders?
Whistlestop is Slate’s podcast about …
Whistlestop is Slate’s podcast about …
Harry S. Truman's Battles with the Bosses (an encore presentation)
November 15th, 2017
47:56
Whistlestop is Slate’s podcast about presidentialcampaign history. Hosted by our political correspondent and PoliticalGabfest panelist JohnDickerson, …
FDR's Purge
November 1st, 2017
44:16
This episode of Whistlestop travels back to June 24, 1938, to a fireside chat with President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, as he prepared to attempt to purge the congressional leadership in order to push forward the …
At the Heart of the President's Heart
October 18th, 2017
37:22
Whistlestop is Slate's podcast about presidential history. Hosted by political correspondent and Political Gabfest panelist John Dickerson, each …
Responder in Chief
October 4th, 2017
42:57
Whistlestop is Slate's podcast about presidential history. Hosted by political correspondent and Political Gabfest panelist John Dickerson, each …
A High Point in Bipartisan Deal-Making
September 20th, 2017
48:34
Whistlestop is Slate's podcast about presidential history. Hosted by political correspondent and Political Gabfest panelist John Dickerson, each …
Riding the Oratory Train
August 10th, 2017
45:31
This episode of Whistlestop revisits September 25, 1919 and the collapse of grand speeches for peace delivered by President Wilson.
Whistlestop is …
Whistlestop is …
Loyalty Tests and The Bridge of Death
July 26th, 2017
46:20
This episode of Whistlestop revisits July 1979 when President Carter prepared to cut a number of his cabinet members free and start afresh.
…
…
Foreign Collusion and the Dragon Lady
July 12th, 2017
40:13
Whistlestop is Slate's podcast about presidential history. Hosted by John Dickerson, each installment revisits a memorable (or even a forgotten) moment from America's past.
Podcast production and edit by Jocelyn …
Podcast production and edit by Jocelyn …
Lady Lincoln and the Leak
June 28th, 2017
33:12
This episode of Whistlestop revisits an era of mischievous accounting by first lady Mary Todd Lincoln and the work of a leaker who helped distract …
A Powerful Pardon
June 14th, 2017
39:56
This episode of Whistlestop revisits Sunday September 8, 1974 when President Ford announced his pardon of Richard Nixon.
Whistlestop is Slate's …
Whistlestop is Slate's …
Oliver North Master Crafter of the Political Lie
June 1st, 2017
56:01
This episode of Whistlestop travels back to October 5, 1986 when an American plane went down as it was carrying arms to "Contra" guerrillas fighting the communist regime in Nicaragua and the lies about the Iran Contra …
Recording from the Oval
May 17th, 2017
45:40
This episode of Whistlestop travels back to February 1971 when President Nixon asks his Chief of Staff if they can record conversations in the Oval Office for posterity.
Whistlestop is Slate's podcast about presidential …
Whistlestop is Slate's podcast about presidential …
A Recipe for a Presidential Speech
April 19th, 2017
42:58
This episode of Whistlestop travels to June 11, 1962 when President Kennedy receives an honorary degree from Yale University and delivers the commencement address.
Whistlestop is Slate's podcast about presidential …
Whistlestop is Slate's podcast about presidential …
The Fire of Agnew
April 5th, 2017
52:53
This episode of Whistlestop revisits October 15, 1969 and the divisive words of then Vice President Spiro Agnew.
Whistlestop is Slate's podcast about …
Whistlestop is Slate's podcast about …
The Bricker Amendment and Stories of Migratory Birds
March 22nd, 2017
46:41
Whistlestop is Slate's podcast about presidential history. Hosted by political correspondent and Political Gabfest panelist John Dickerson, each …
The 104-Year-Old Mistake
March 8th, 2017
39:35
Whistlestop is Slate’s podcast about presidential history. Hosted by political correspondent and Political Gabfest panelist John Dickerson, each …
Steely Executive Orders from Presidents Truman and Trump
February 22nd, 2017
53:17
This Whistlestop visits April 24, 1952 when President Truman's executive powers are challenged by the courts.
Whistlestop is Slate’s podcast about …
Whistlestop is Slate’s podcast about …
When a Supreme Court Justice Leaves a Seat Earlier than Expected, June 13, 1968,
February 7th, 2017
58:55
Whistlestop is Slate’s podcast about presidential history. Hosted by political correspondent and Political Gabfest panelist John Dickerson, each …
The Entanglements of the Mega Rich: Vice President Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller
January 25th, 2017
32:10
Host John Dickerson visits January 11, 2017 and also the campaign of Gerald R. Ford and Nelson Rockefeller. With it came along concerns of economic entanglements that a rich family might not be able to untangle.
…
…
The Inauguration of the People's President
January 11th, 2017
53:34
Whistlestop takes a journey to 1829 and the inauguration of President Andrew Jackson, the people's President.
Whistlestop is Slate’s podcast about …
Whistlestop is Slate’s podcast about …
Harry S. Truman's Battles with the Bosses
December 14th, 2016
46:17
Host John Dickerson visits May 24, 1946 and President Harry S. Truman's challenges to labor bosses and his action-hero-style presidency.
Whistlestop is Slate’s podcast about presidential
campaign history. Hosted by our …
Whistlestop is Slate’s podcast about presidential
campaign history. Hosted by our …
Whistlestop: The Presidential Greatness Edition
November 30th, 2016
20:27
Whistlestop is Slate’s podcast about political
history. Hosted by our political correspondent and Political
Gabfest panelist John
Dickerson, each …
history. Hosted by our political correspondent and Political
Gabfest panelist John
Dickerson, each …
October Surprise, the 1964 Edition
November 2nd, 2016
49:33
With this Whistlestop John Dickerson revisits October 7, 1964 and the October surprise of the Johnson-Goldwater Presidential race.
Whistlestop is Slate
Whistlestop is Slate
Debategate
October 19th, 2016
45:21
Whistlestop host John Dickerson revisits October 28, 1980 and the lies, blame and competitive advantage that were swirling around during the Carter-Reagan Debategate scandal.
Whistlestop is Slate’s podcast about …
Whistlestop is Slate’s podcast about …
The Candor of Betty Ford
October 5th, 2016
40:16
With this Whistlestop John Dickerson revisits August 10, 1975 and the candor of Betty Ford.
Whistlestop is Slate’s podcast about presidential
campaign …
Whistlestop is Slate’s podcast about presidential
campaign …
The Birth of Barack
September 21st, 2016
1:06:15
First stop is November 10, 2007, host John Dickerson outlines Barack Obama's ascension to the Presidency.
Whistlestop is Slate’s podcast about …
Whistlestop is Slate’s podcast about …
Goldwater v. Fact Magazine
September 7th, 2016
49:08
John Dickerson tells the tale of the 1960's battle of Barry Goldwater versus Fact Magazine.
Whistlestop is Slate’s podcast about presidential
campaign …
Whistlestop is Slate’s podcast about presidential
campaign …
Whistlestop: Live Book Tour Mashup
August 24th, 2016
59:22
John Dickerson is live on the road in New York and San Francisco sharing snipets and highlights from the newly published Whistlestop book.
Love Slate podcasts? Listen longer with Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, …
Love Slate podcasts? Listen longer with Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, …
Andrew Jackson: The Dangerous Candidate
August 17th, 2016
49:24
Andrew Jackson and Donald Trump cut from the same cloth?
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Keep Your Attack Dog Fed
July 27th, 2016
57:31
One thing Jefferson and Hamilton could agree on: they hated James Callender. The scandalmonger journalist uncovered the first two great sex scandals …
We Want Willkie
July 13th, 2016
54:18
In a shocker, the GOP nominates a businessman who only the year before had been a registered Democrat. John Dickerson explains how the affable Indiana utility executive rose to clinch the nomination at the last minute.
…
…
Stand Up for America
April 12th, 2016
46:45
In 1968, Alabama governor George Wallace appealed to segregationists and blue collar workers during his presidential bid as a third-party candidate. …
Goldwater’s Contested Convention
March 23rd, 2016
33:34
In this episode of Slate's podcast about campaign history, John Dickerson explains how, despite the efforts of many establishment Republicans, Sen. …
The Reagan-Ford Vice-Presidential Dance
February 24th, 2016
39:56
In this episode of Slate's podcast about campaign history, John Dickerson explains how Ronald Reagan almost became Gerald Ford’s vice president and vice-versa.
This episode is brought to you by Squarespace. Start …
This episode is brought to you by Squarespace. Start …
The Straight Talk Express
February 9th, 2016
43:13
In this episode of Slate's podcast about campaign history, John Dickerson explains how retail politics won the day in the 2000 Republican primary in …
The Dean Scream
January 27th, 2016
44:06
After a meteoric rise to the top of the polls, Howard Dean’s presidential bid fizzled in 2004, following his infamous speech in Iowa. On this …
Hurrah and Hokum
December 16th, 2015
36:50
John Dickerson remembers the election of 1840, when both Whigs and Democrats turned out record numbers of voters by appealing to the raw emotions of …
Fighting the Wimp Factor
December 2nd, 2015
42:37
John Dickerson remembers the presidential campaign of 1988, when George Bush’s handlers worked from a playbook known as “The Hazards of Duke” to spin Michael Dukakis as soft on crime, weak on defense, and generally out …
JFK in West Virginia
November 11th, 2015
34:42
In this episode of Slate's podcast about campaign history, John Dickerson tells the story of JFK’s masterful counterattack in his 1960 primary …
Waiting for Mario
October 28th, 2015
47:21
In this episode of Slate's podcast about campaign history, John Dickerson remembers Mario Cuomo’s excruciatingly long and drawn-out process of public indecision about whether to enter the presidential race in 1992.
This …
Feeling Your Pain
October 14th, 2015
46:18
In this episode of Slate's podcast about campaign history, John Dickerson remembers the 1992 presidential debate, in which candidate Bill Clinton convinced Americans that he really cared… about them.
This week's show is …
The Biggest Debate Gaffe Ever
September 30th, 2015
40:53
In this episode of Slate's podcast about campaign history, political correspondent John Dickerson explains why 1976 ushered in the kind of …
Donald Trump vs. Ross Perot
September 16th, 2015
32:23
In this episode of Slate's podcast about campaign history, political correspondent John Dickerson compares the presidential ambitions of two …
Ted Kennedy, Jimmy Carter, and the Battle of the Robot Rule
September 2nd, 2015
50:47
In this episode of Slate's podcast about presidential campaign history, chief political correspondent John Dickerson concludes the tale of the 1980 …
The Worst Answer to "Why Do You Want to Be President?" in Campaign History
July 22nd, 2015
31:04
In this episode of Slate's podcast about presidential campaign history, chief political correspondent John Dickerson remembers when Ted Kennedy …
Bill Clinton, There for You Till the Last Dog Dies
July 8th, 2015
30:35
In this episode of Slate's podcast about presidential campaign history, chief political correspondent John Dickerson revisits Bill Clinton's rise and …
Truman Defeats Dewey, an Upset for the Ages
June 25th, 2015
34:36
In this episode of Slate's podcast about presidential campaign history, chief political correspondent John Dickerson explains how Harry Truman pulled …
One of the Great Train Wrecks of All Time
June 10th, 2015
32:58
In this episode of Slate's podcast about presidential campaign history, chief political correspondent John Dickerson examines George McGovern's hasty …
Ford, Reagan, and the 1976 RNC
May 27th, 2015
32:19
In this episode of Slate's bite-sized podcast about presidential campaign history, chief political correspondent John Dickerson offers up Part Two in …
Ford, Reagan, and the Halloween Massacre
May 13th, 2015
30:29
Thumbing his nose at both courtesy and convention, Ronald Reagan challenged incumbent Gerald Ford for the GOP presidential nomination in 1976. But …
The Mulligan Letters
April 29th, 2015
32:18
In this episode of Slate's bite-sized podcast about presidential campaign history, chief political correspondent John Dickerson brings us a …
Ma, Ma, Where's My Pa?
April 22nd, 2015
31:32
In this episode of Slate's bite-sized podcast about presidential campaign history, chief political correspondent John Dickerson tells the salacious …
Eisenhower, Taft, and the Wizard of Ooze
April 8th, 2015
27:16
In this episode of Slate's bite-sized podcast about presidential campaign history, chief political correspondent John Dickerson recounts part two of …
Eisenhower, Taft, and the Texas Steal
April 1st, 2015
23:47
In this episode of Slate'sbite-sized podcast about presidential campaign history, chief political correspondent John Dickerson remembers the …
Vote for Muskie or He'll Cry
March 18th, 2015
29:07
In this episode of Slate'sbite-sized podcast about presidential campaign history, chief political correspondent John Dickerson remembers the tears …
The Art of Political Umbrage-Taking
March 11th, 2015
24:53
In this episode of Slate's bite-sized podcast about presidential campaign history, chief political correspondent John Dickerson recounts the …
George Romney's "Ghetto Tour"
March 4th, 2015
15:23
In this episode of Slate's bite-sized podcast about presidential campaign history, chief political correspondent John Dickerson recalls Michigan …
Reagan's Nashua Moment
February 23rd, 2015
15:09
In the inaugural episode of Slate's bite-sized podcast about presidential campaign history, chief political correspondent John Dickerson returns to …
Slate's Whistlestop: Coming Feb. 23
February 21st, 2015
3:40
In this bite-sized podcast for fans of presidential campaign history, John Dickerson of Slate’s Political Gabfest revisits a moment from the American …
Loading ...
Listen to Whistlestop: Presidential History and Trivia
RadioPublic
A free podcast app for iPhone and Android
- User-created playlists and collections
- Download episodes while on WiFi to listen without using mobile data
- Stream podcast episodes without waiting for a download
- Queue episodes to create a personal continuous playlist
Or by RSS
https://feeds.megaphone.fm/slateswhistlestop
Connect with listeners
Podcasters use the RadioPublic listener relationship platform to build lasting connections with fans
Yes, let's begin connecting
Find new listeners
- A dedicated website for your podcast
- Web embed players designed to convert visitors to listeners in the RadioPublic apps for iPhone and Android
Understand your audience
- Capture listener activity with affinity scores
- Measure your promotional campaigns and integrate with Google and Facebook analytics
Engage your fanbase
- Deliver timely Calls To Action, including email acquistion for your mailing list
- Share exactly the right moment in an episode via text, email, and social media
Make money
- Tip and transfer funds directly to podcastsers
- Earn money for qualified plays in the RadioPublic apps with Paid Listens
- Copyright © 2019 RadioPublic
- Whistlestop: Presidential History and Trivia 2018 The Slate Group