The John Batchelor Show

LONDINIUM 91 AD. Political Revenge: Comparing Modern American Vendettas to Roman Gore Gaius (John Batchelor) and Germanicus (Michael Vlahos) The conversation focuses on the nature of political revenge, prompted by the revival of Seneca's bloody revenge play Octavia. Gaius expresses astonishment that editorialists appear surprised by Mr. Trump seeking vengeance against those who attempted to jail him, noting that revenge is inherent to the Roman and American empires. Germanicus states he is only surprised that the opposing party refuses to confess to similar actions, citing historical Democratic precedents such as the Palmer raids under Wilson and successful efforts against Richard Nixon. He calls the opposition's outrage a "forked tongue expression," noting the unjustified high-security incarceration of individuals for minor offenses following the 2020 events. Gaius observes that the opposition employs false piety and melodrama—such as claiming democracy faces an existential crisis—in place of historical understanding. Germanicus argues that political bitterness and high levels of lying stem from the opposition's belief that they represent light and truth, leading to the "othering" of the enemy. This dehumanization means that lying becomes perceived as an act of virtue. The hosts conclude that while Roman political revenge sometimes involved preemptively wiping out one's own family, the current American conflict represents a comparatively mild cupcake tyranny. 1883 CATO SUICIDE

LONDINIUM 91 A.D.: The Emperor's Legacy: Debating Trump's Greco-Roman White House Addition Gaius (John Batchelor) and Germanicus (Michael Vlahos) Gaius and Germanicus discuss the proposed 90,000 square foot Greco-Roman casino-style building intended for the White House, which the Washington Post endorsed, calling the current need to erect tents on the South Lawn an embarrassment. Gaius notes that changes to the White House traditionally draw large protests, citing Jefferson and Jackie Kennedy. He compares Mr. Trump, who has no claim to royalty, to the Flavians (Vespasian and Titus), who were business-class provincials yet built the Colosseum, the symbol of Rome. Germanicus explains that it is the prerogative of the emperor to leave a physical legacy, a tradition dating back to Augustus, who transformed Rome from a city of brick to one of marble. He argues that official architecture in Washington, D.C., follows this majestic imperial Greco-Roman tradition, cemented by Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Gaius reveals that the current White House is actually a complete 1950s reproduction, rebuilt under Truman after structural deficiencies were discovered. Finally, they discuss Mr. Trump's desire for a moon landing before leaving office, viewing it as part of his mission to restore American greatness and secure a significant legacy. 1902 ROME

LONDINIUM 91 A.D.: Roman Siege Tactics and Russian Attrition: A Study in Political Vengeance and War Strategy Gaius (John Batchelor) and Germanicus (Michael Vlahos) Gaius and Germanicus open by discussing fresh swan meat in Londinium before moving to the main topic of political vengeance, noting that Romans recognize it while American editorialists are discovering it afresh due to Emperor Trump. They review the war in Ukraine, where Russians are employing a strategy of attrition to achieve the collapse of the Ukrainian army. Germanicus explains that Ukraine's strategy of refusing to retreat has led to disproportionate losses and the encirclement of up to 10,000 soldiers in "cauldrons" near Pokrovsk and Kupyansk. Gaius relates this situation to successful Roman siege tactics used at Carthage and Jerusalem. Historically, the reward for Roman soldiers breaking a siege was to ransack the city, causing the prices of gold and slaves to plummet. Germanicus asserts, however, that the Russians are taking pains to signal that leveling cities is not their way, emphasizing mercy due to the kinship between the two related peoples. The hosts also mention the delay of a summit involving Vladimir Putin and Mr. Trump's proposed Greco-Roman style building at the White House. 80 BCE SULLA SACKS ROME

8. Hoover, FDR, and the Lessons of Wilson's Failure David Pietrusza 1920: The Year of the Six Presidents Herbert Hoover, known as the "great engineer," chose the Republican Party, disliking the Democratic coalition of Southern segregationists and radicals. Hoover was systematic but lacked the public warmth necessary for effective leadership, a deficiency that proved costly during the Great Depression. Franklin D. Roosevelt, becoming governor in 1928, became more empathetic and politically calculating following his polio diagnosis in 1921. He mastered new media like radio to communicate effectively with the public. FDR eventually supported repealing Prohibition, shifting from his earlier focus on modification. Learning from Wilson's failure to pass the Versailles Treaty, FDR ensured the United Nations' success by consulting with Republicans and building a cross-party coalition. 1929 HOOVER PARADE

7. Harding's Landslide Victory and the Role of Radio David Pietrusza 1920: The Year of the Six Presidents Eugene Debs, the Socialist candidate, ran while imprisoned in Atlanta Penitentiary for speaking against the draft; Wilson refused him clemency. The 1920 election resulted in an overwhelming Republican sweep. Harding's "front porch campaign" was a professional event organized by Albert Lasker, attracting hundreds of thousands of people, including show business figures like Al Jolson. Election results were broadcast via early radio from a Pittsburgh department store roof and by projection onto buildings. Harding won decisively with 15 million votes (60%) and 404 electoral votes. Though deeply mourned when he died in 1923 from a heart attack, Harding had focused on debt reduction and resisted manipulation from advisors. Calvin Coolidge was sworn in by his father in remote Plymouth Notch, Vermont.

6. The Campaign Focuses on the League and Eugene Debs David Pietrusza 1920: The Year of the Six Presidents The campaign featured the Democratic ticket of Cox and Roosevelt against Harding. Though criticized for his "bloviating" speeches, Harding was a charming speaker who avoided trouble. After meeting the frail Woodrow Wilson, Cox was deeply moved and made the League of Nations the central, defining issue for the Democrats—a political miscalculation. Wilson refused to compromise on the League due to a personality flaw that made him unable to accept opposition. Other critical issues included Prohibition, debated as "wet and dry." The segment introduces Eugene Debs, the Socialist candidate, whose platform contained concepts like social security that would later become mainstream policy.

5. The Democratic Convention: Wilson's Downfall and the Rise of Cox and Roosevelt David Pietrusza 1920: The Year of the Six Presidents Meeting in San Francisco in July 1920, the Democrats grappled with Woodrow Wilson's political liability due to his uncompromising League of Nations stance and desire for a third term. Wilson received only a grim demonstration of support, and his cabinet feared he would die if nominated. The two leading contenders were William Gibbs McAdoo, Wilson's son-in-law, and Ohio Governor John Cox. Due to the Democratic two-thirds rule, the convention took many ballots. Cox, a moderate publisher, secured the nomination after 44 ballots. After meeting with Wilson, Cox abandoned his moderate position to strongly support the League. Franklin D. Roosevelt was chosen as Vice President due to his name recognition, Navy service, and New York connections. 1929 HOOVER INAUGURAL

4. The Republican Convention: Harding Emerges from the Smoke-Filled Room David Pietrusza 1920: The Year of the Six Presidents The Republican National Convention in Chicago in June 1920 was hot and chaotic. Leading candidates included Hiram Johnson, Leonard Wood, and Frank Lowden, while Warren Harding was a distant long shot, seeking the presidency partly to boost his reelection campaign for his Senate seat. The balloting quickly established the limits of the frontrunners. Because Republicans required only a majority for nomination, unlike the Democratic two-thirds rule, they were able to pivot to Harding, who was seen as an acceptable compromise. The Republican platform on the League of Nations was deliberately ambiguous, reflecting the deep division between internationalists like Hoover and isolationists like Lodge. 1913 WILSON OPENING DAY

3. The Rise of FDR and Calvin Coolidge's Contrasting Personas David Pietrusza 1920: The Year of the Six Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt, the ambitious Assistant Secretary of the Navy, was considered only for the vice presidency in 1920, often making mistakes on the campaign trail. His marriage to Eleanor had become strained by his long-term affair with Lucy Mercer, transforming into more of a political partnership. This contrasts sharply with Calvin Coolidge, whose marriage was marked by fidelity. Coolidge, Governor of Massachusetts, was admired for his trustworthiness and decisiveness, traits rooted in his remote Vermont upbringing. The segment also introduces Herbert Hoover, the "great engineer" and humanitarian, who served under Wilson and was so popular that both parties considered him for the 1920 nomination; FDR even proposed a Hoover-Roosevelt ticket. 1929 MARCH 4, DEPARTING FOR THE INAUGURATION.

2. Warren G. Harding: The Available Man and the Ohio Battlefield David Pietrusza 1920: The Year of the Six Presidents Warren G. Harding emerged as the Republican nominee in the 1920 election, a year Republicans anticipated winning. Harding was nobody's first choice, perhaps the fifth or sixth, positioning himself as "the available man" due to his moderate, non-alienating nature. A small-town Ohio publisher, Harding benefited from Ohio's status as the key battleground state; Democrats also nominated an Ohioan, Governor John Cox. Harding avoided the campaign spending issues that plagued his rivals. Notably, Harding's extensive infidelity was known to his wife, Florence, but did not become a public issue during the 1920 campaign, which she tolerated as part of their political partnership. 1922 TAFT, HARDING, ROBERT LINCOLN

1. The Legacy of Woodrow Wilson and the Split over the League of Nations David Pietrusza 1920: The Year of the Six Presidents The 1920 election followed President Woodrow Wilson's debilitating stroke in October 1919, which left him perpetually frail. The core issue became the League of Nations, which Wilson championed but the Republican Party bitterly contested, ultimately causing public skepticism. Wilson held fierce opposition to former President Theodore Roosevelt, who died in January 1919. Roosevelt had detested Wilson's neutrality regarding German aggression. Despite his frail health, Roosevelt would have been the unstoppable Republican candidate had he lived. Wilson reacted to news of Roosevelt's death with shockingly hateful language, revealing the depth of his personal animosity toward his predecessor. 1929 Hoover Inaugural

8. Monuments, Darkness, and Contingency Professor Robert G. Parkinson, Heart of American Darkness: Bewilderment and Horror on the Early Frontier This section highlights the enduring conflict, which extended into the early 20th century through a "monument war" near Logan's Elm in Ohio. The Cresap Society funded a monument to clear their family name, leading locals to erect counter-monuments with the lament's text and a statue of Logan. Parkinson utilizes Joseph Conrad's metaphor of "the flicker" (human systems like patriotism, colonialism, and republics) attempting to illuminate the terrifying, bewildering "darkness" of the world. He notes that the aggressive colonial expansion seemed inevitable, but the specific outcomes were shaped by contingency and the biographies of individuals like Logan and Michael Cresap, whose actions were enabled and celebrated by the new American Republic. 1958

7. The Battle for Logan's Legacy in McGuffey's Reader Professor Robert G. Parkinson, Heart of American Darkness: Bewilderment and Horror on the Early Frontier This section explores the political battle spurred by Logan's Lament. Jefferson used the lament in Notes on the State of Virginia to argue for American superiority against European claims of degeneracy, elevating Logan while condemning Michael Cresap. This triggered a ferocious counter-crusade by Luther Martin, an attorney married into the Cresap family, who defended the Cresaps as heroes and challenged Jefferson's facts. Nevertheless, the lament found widespread cultural traction. Due to its short, poignant nature, Logan's Lament was memorized by American schoolchildren for decades, notably through the McGuffey Readers, reinforcing the theme of the "vanishing Indian."

6. Logan's Murder and Jefferson's Defense of America Professor Robert G. Parkinson, Heart of American Darkness: Bewilderment and Horror on the Early Frontier This section explores the fate of Logan and the cultural impact of his lament. A surveyor learned that Logan was murdered by his nephew, Todkahtos, around 1780 near Lake Erie. Logan was silenced because the Six Nations feared the powerful orator was too persuasive and unpredictable in the volatile Ohio country. The discussion pivots to Thomas Jefferson, who obtained the lament and featured it in his Notes on the State of Virginia. Jefferson used Logan's eloquence to counter the French naturalist Buffon's theory that everything in America was inferior and degenerate, aiming to prove American intellectual superiority in the Enlightenment.

. Michael Cresap's Transformation into a Patriot Hero Professor Robert G. Parkinson, Heart of American Darkness: Bewilderment and Horror on the Early Frontier This section details the transformation of Michael Cresap from a figure blamed for frontier atrocities to a Patriot hero. Although blamed by Logan and British officials for the violence, Cresap answered the Continental Congress's call for riflemen, marching to Boston. These riflemen were lauded as "America's secret weapons" but were difficult to manage, causing George Washington to wish they hadn't come. Suffering from malaria, Cresap collapsed shortly after arriving and later died in New York City in October 1775. Patriot leaders, needing heroes to fight the British and rumored native alliances, emphasized Cresap's violent experience and volunteerism as core American traits. He was given a massive public funeral in New York.

4. Logan's Vengeance and Lord Dunmore's War Professor Robert G. Parkinson, Heart of American Darkness: Bewilderment and Horror on the Early Frontier This section focuses on the multiple "bewildering" conflicts on the frontier as the Revolution began. Following the Yellow Creek Massacre, Logan, the former diplomat, became an avenger, killing nearly 20 people and deliberately slaughtering children in revenge for his family's deaths. This period coincided with Lord Dunmore's War, launched by the Virginia governor to assert colonial land claims against Native Americans, especially the Shawnee. When the Native Americans sought peace, Logan delivered his famous lament through translator John Gibson (who was related by marriage to Logan's murdered sister). The lament served as Logan's announcement that his personal vengeance was satisfied, ending his period of warfare.

3. Tribal Politics and the Yellow Creek Massacre Professor Robert G. Parkinson, Heart of American Darkness: Bewilderment and Horror on the Early Frontier This section details the Yellow Creek Massacre. The frontier conflicts are described as tribal, involving native groups and colonial groups (Virginians, Pennsylvanians) battling over land, especially after the British left Fort Pitt. The massacre happened on April 30, 1774, at Baker's Bottom, targeting a band of Mingo natives. Logan's family, including his brother, sister, and mother, attempted diplomacy at a tavern but were ambushed and murdered by a group of men, including Daniel Greathouse, though none were named Cresap. Michael Cresap, later blamed in Logan's Lament, was absent. The violence was brutal; Logan's sister was killed after pleading for her infant son's life.

2. Washington, Land Speculation, and the Heart of American Darkness Professor Robert G. Parkinson, Heart of American Darkness: Bewilderment and Horror on the Early Frontier This section explores the theme of "bewilderment" on the American frontier, drawing parallels to Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness. The conversation notes the intense confusion and tribal conflicts involving colonials, Native Americans, the French, and the British. A key focus is George Washington's role as a land speculator and partner in the Ohio Company. The company sought vast lands near the Forks of the Ohio (Pittsburgh). The Cresap family patriarch, Thomas Cresap, and his oldest son, Daniel, were original partners, making the Cresaps well-known to Washington and integral to the colonial advance that escalated tensions with the French.

. Logan's Lament and the Mingo/Cresap Frontier Conflict Professor Robert G. Parkinson, Heart of American Darkness: Bewilderment and Horror on the Early Frontier Professor Robert G. Parkinson's book Heart of American Darkness focuses on Logan's Lament, a famous 1775 document where Mingo chief Logan laments the 1774 murder of his family by "Colonel Cresap." Parkinson notes this is a misidentification; the actual killer was not a Cresap, though the Cresap family were powerful land speculators. Logan's father, Shikellamy, was an Oneida diplomat who partnered with James Logan, William Penn's secretary, establishing the origin of the Logan name. The frontier was characterized by shifting colonial borders (e.g., Maryland/Pennsylvania disputes) and escalating conflict with indigenous people. 1954

8. Greenland's Final Days: The Mystery of Herjolfsnes and the Fifteenth-Century End Eleanor Barraclough Embers of the Hands: Hidden Histories of the Viking Age The final chapter focuses on the end of Norse settlement in Greenland, begun by Eric the Red around 985 AD. Herjolfsnes, one of the last settlements, preserved the clothes and bodies of the final generations in its graveyard, dating into the early fifteenth century. The garments were patched, coarse woolen pieces reflecting the declining status and isolation caused partly by climate change. One woman's dress tore when she was buried—a poignant detail. The Norse interacted with the Inuit, who may have carved figures depicting Norse dress. The final reports include a man burned for seducing a married woman through witchcraft in 1407 and a wedding in 1408. The ultimate fate of the last few inhabitants remains an unsolved mystery. 1949