Places and Profiles Podcast with Adam Camac

This is the podcast that uses storytelling, history, and current events to explore the issues, stories, and people that have shaped different places into what they are today. The Places and Profiles Podcast is hosted by Adam Camac with new episodes published every Thursday.

27. The Life and Legacy of One of the Most Unusual US Presidents with Matt Briney 09/28/2024

27. The Life and Legacy of One of the Most Unusual US Presidents with Matt Briney Matt Briney, Chief Communications Officer at the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, joins host Adam Camac to discuss the life and legacy of President Theodore Roosevelt. The show notes page for this episode can be found at . 1:28 - The guest’s interest in Theodore Roosevelt and why Theodore Roosevelt is one of the guest’s favorite presidents 2:27 - Theodore Roosevelt’s early life, family background, and early political career 4:23 - How Theodore Roosevelt was different from most of the other people in New York politics and how having a different outlook and persona helped him rise up the ranks of New York politics 6:42 - Class expectations and distinctions of the era, how Theodore Roosevelt bucked the trend and behaved in unexpected ways for someone of his background and class 8:54 - How Theodore Roosevelt ends up becoming Assistant Secretary of the Navy under President William McKinley and how the short time during which he held that role was significant in his ultimate rise to becoming president 11:02 - Leading the Rough Riders in Cuba during the Spanish-American War 15:49 - How leading the Rough Riders helped Theodore Roosevelt continue to rise up the political ranks and helped him become Governor of New York pretty quickly afterwards 17:43 - Theodore Roosevelt’s brief tenure as Governor of New York, how he ended up being William McKinley’s vice presidential running mate during McKinley’s successful reelection campaign for president in 1900 20:59 - Theodore Roosevelt’s six months as vice president until he became president following William McKinley being assassinated in September of 1901 22:45 - How the country reacted to the assassination of William McKinley 25:02 - An overview of Theodore Roosevelt’s time as president, key policies, how he was the first modern president in a lot of ways 30:13 - Theodore Roosevelt as a trust buster, how his policies differed from his predecessors in this area 32:54 - The regulation of railroads and the Pure Food and Drug Act and the establishment of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) during Roosevelt’s time as president 35:27 - The construction of the Panama Canal, winning a Nobel Peace Prize for brokering the end of the Russo-Japanese War, the Great White Fleet, and other key events and aspects of Theodore Roosevelt’s foreign policy 39:10 - The Roosevelt Corollary 40:47 - Theodore Roosevelt’s involvement with rule changes and safety concerns in college football 43:20 - Theodore Roosevelt’s relationship with his successor as president and former protege, William Howard Taft 45:58 - The assassination attempt against Theodore Roosevelt during his 1912 campaign for president as the Bull Moose (Progressive) Party candidate, how the assassination attempt affected him 47:58 - Theodore Roosevelt’s “Man in the Arena” speech 51:30 - Theodore Roosevelt’s spouses and children, his time living in North Dakota and how that shaped who he became 54:57 - The seven years of Theodore Roosevelt’s life between his unsuccessful run for president in 1912 and his untimely passing in 1919 57:09 - Important things to understand about Theodore Roosevelt’s legacy 59:33 - Other notable Theodore Roosevelt stories 1:01:04 - Resources for learning about Theodore Roosevelt and the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library /episode/index/show/cd893eed-5ed0-4fa3-85b3-581e966b6cfe/id/33244552

26. The Tragedies, Abuses, Atrocities, and Heroes of the West Virginia Mine Wars with Wess Harris 09/20/2024

26. The Tragedies, Abuses, Atrocities, and Heroes of the West Virginia Mine Wars with Wess Harris Wess Harris, a sociologist, miner, union organizer, author, and editor, joins host Adam Camac to discuss key figures, issues, and events from the West Virginia Mine Wars and the history of coal mining in West Virginia. The show notes page for this episode can be found at . 1:25 - The guest’s background and interest in the West Virginia Mine Wars, the guest’s experiences and background as a miner, union organizer, labor historian, and sociologist 7:26 - Background of West Virginia and Appalachia and their connection to coal mines and unions, why this is so interesting and important to West Virginia and the entire United States 10:41 - Working conditions in coal mines, the sorts of people who worked in coal mines in the early 1900s, how the backgrounds of the coal miners and the conditions in the coal mines led to unions and union organizers playing such a significant role, the scrip economy 14:52 - What the scrip system was and how it worked, some of the particularly nefarious ramifications of the scrip system and some of the problems the scrip system presented, Esau scrip 21:03 - Whether there are any statistics of how many women were affected by the Esau scrip system 22:48 - What the West Virginia Mine Wars were, key figures, battles, and events, how extraction played a role in the West Virginia Mine Wars 28:11 - Abuses and draconian aspects of coal company policies against the mine workers 32:24 - Bill Blizzard, the Battle of Blair Mountain, and the “Red Neck Army” 46:22 - Farmington Mine disaster of 1968, Buffalo Creek flooding disaster of 1972, Upper Big Branch Mine disaster of 2010, black lung disease 56:32 - More about the Upper Big Branch Mine disaster of 2010, US Senator Joe Manchin, Massey Energy CEO and future US Senate candidate Don Blankenship 1:00:29 - Why so much of this history is censored and is thus unknown to the general public 1:03:55 - What the Our Story Traveling Museum is, the guest’s books (“When Miners March” and “Written in Blood”) 1:07:16 - Anything we missed, where to follow the guest’s work, related resources /episode/index/show/cd893eed-5ed0-4fa3-85b3-581e966b6cfe/id/33135092

25. The Truth About Vietnam's History with Christopher Goscha 09/13/2024

25. The Truth About Vietnam's History with Christopher Goscha Christopher Goscha, professor in the Department of History at the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQÀM) and author of "Vietnam: A New History" and "The Road to Dien Bien Phu: A History of the First War for Vietnam," joins host Adam Camac to discuss key events, figures, and influences from the history of Vietnam. The show notes page for this episode can be found at . 1:18 - The guest’s interest in Vietnam, why he has been so interested in Vietnam and its history, how he initially became interested in Vietnam 3:18 - Origins of the term Vietnam, when we start to see the concept of Vietnam develop, where the notion of a place called Vietnam traces its roots back to 5:20 - Key physical features and places to know that have been significant as the modern country of Vietnam has come into being 8:22 - Religion in Vietnam and how religion has taken form there over the centuries, Confucianism in Vietnam 11:06 - Chinese influence in Vietnam over the centuries, imperial domination of Vietnam by the Chinese, how that influenced the eventual country of Vietnam 13:48 - Japanese influence in Vietnam 15:25 - The Nguyen dynasty, who they were, how they influenced what was to come, why they were so significant 18:07 - What brought about French colonization of Vietnam, Tonkin, Annam, and Cochinchina as the northern, central, and southern parts of Vietnam, how the notion of having three separate regions of Vietnam influenced how the French colonized Vietnam, the French conquering all of Vietnam and later forming the Indochinese Union with Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos 21:29 - How World War II influenced Vietnam, Japanese rule and occupation of Vietnam during World War II, how World War II helped lead to the establishment of the modern country of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh and Vietnam declaring its independence coming out of World War II, the creation of the Viet Minh by Ho Chi Minh and the Indochinese Communist Party (ICP) in 1941 28:14 - First Indochina War of 1946-1954, what brought about the war, how the French reentered the picture, the significance of the Battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954 and the end of the First Indochina War 35:13 - The Geneva Conference of 1954, Vietnam being divided into North Vietnam and South Vietnam, how the First Indochina War led to the Vietnam War, American intervention in Vietnam beginning in 1950, the importance of Vietnam to American decisionmakers 41:00 - Overview of the Vietnam War, key figures, groups, sides, and events of the Vietnam War, the essential things to know about the Vietnam War, Ho Chi Minh, Ngo Dinh Diem, the assassinations of Ngo Dinh Diem and John F. Kennedy 45:39 - Key events of the Vietnam War between 1964 and 1975, Lyndon Johnson and the escalation of the Vietnam War, the significance of the Tet Offensive, Richard Nixon’s strategy to end the Vietnam War, Paris Peace Accords of 1973 52:03 - How the end of the Vietnam War and North Vietnam (the Vietnamese communists) conquering South Vietnam affected the people of Vietnam, how the conclusion and aftermath of the war affected the Vietnamese people, the Vietnamese death toll during the Vietnam War, the American death toll during the Vietnam War, the onset of wars between Vietnam and Cambodia and China in the years after the Vietnam War, the effects of the war on the Vietnamese economy 54:56 - Vietnam’s economic and political systems today, reforms in Vietnam’s economy, communism in Vietnam today, Vietnam’s role and place in the modern world 58:19 - Vietnam’s tricky position in the current geopolitical struggle between the United States and China 1:00:54 - More information about the guest’s work /episode/index/show/cd893eed-5ed0-4fa3-85b3-581e966b6cfe/id/33039967

24. The Truth About the Construction of Mount Rushmore with Sarah Beth Cox 09/06/2024

24. The Truth About the Construction of Mount Rushmore with Sarah Beth Cox Sarah Beth Cox, Lead Park Ranger Interpreter at Mount Rushmore National Memorial, joins host Adam Camac to discuss the history and significance of Mount Rushmore. The show notes page for this episode can be found at . 1:23 - The origins of the idea for Mount Rushmore 2:25 - How Mount Rushmore ended up being the location that was chosen for the carving 3:33 - Where the name Rushmore comes from, who Rushmore was 4:17 - Background on the Black Hills of South Dakota, the area where Mount Rushmore is located, and the connection of the indigenous peoples of the area to the mountain 5:42 - The significance of the area to the indigenous peoples, who the indigenous peoples are living in the area 6:36 - Doane Robinson, Gutzon Borglum, Lincoln Borglum, who they were and their significance to the development and sculpting of Mount Rushmore, other people who were important to the development of the monument 8:55 - The original proposal to have the monument honor heroes from the American West instead of presidents, how and why the monument ended up honoring iconic American presidents instead of figures from the American West 10:40 - How the four presidents who are on Mount Rushmore were selected for inclusion on the monument 12:45 - Whether it is possible to add additional presidents to the monument or otherwise make significant adjustments to the monument 13:58 - The process of actually creating, carving, and sculpting the monument, the timetable and key milestones in the completion of the monument 18:39 - How many people worked on the project at any given time, how many people worked on the project in total across the entirety of its construction 20:36 - The backgrounds of the people who worked on the sculpting and construction of the monument, what the accommodations, conditions, and day-to-day processes were like for the workers once they got there and they started working on the monument 22:40 - Whether there were any deaths during the carving of Mount Rushmore 23:15 - Sources of funding and the amount of money spent on the construction of Mount Rushmore 24:23 - How the availability of funds and funding concerns affected the construction and development of the monument 26:22 - The Crazy Horse Memorial, how it fits into the area, how it compares to Mount Rushmore 28:59 - The impact Mount Rushmore has had on the economy, image, and tourist industry in South Dakota 30:18 - How many people visit Mount Rushmore each year 30:39 - Mount Rushmore in popular culture and movies, Mount Rushmore’s significance and role in American culture 32:32 - When Mount Rushmore began to be used as a measuring stick to measure leaders and presidents, Mount Rushmore’s role as a part of the great American road trip 35:19 - The experience of visiting Mount Rushmore, Mount Rushmore as a unifying location and symbol 37:16 - Resources where you can learn more about Mount Rushmore /episode/index/show/cd893eed-5ed0-4fa3-85b3-581e966b6cfe/id/32939757

23. The People, Events, and Places That Made Country Music with Tracey Laird 09/01/2024

23. The People, Events, and Places That Made Country Music with Tracey Laird Tracey Laird, Professor of Music at Agnes Scott College and author of several books about country music, joins host Adam Camac to discuss the history and cultural significance of country music, key figures and themes in country music history, and how country music has changed and grown over the decades. The show notes page for this episode can be found at . 1:31 - What is country music? When and where did it start? 5:28 - What influenced early country music, types of music that influenced early country music 7:54 - Where country music started, places that played a key role in the early history of country music 12:39 - How other types of music have influenced country music, country music and purity 14:07 - Where the term country music comes from, why this type of music is called country 15:57 - Key artists, figures, and performers from the earliest period of country music, Jimmie Rodgers, the Carter Family, and Jimmie Davis 18:58 - The intersection of country music and politics 21:45 - The significance of the Grand Ole Opry and the Louisiana Hayride, the role of radio during the early days of country music, Elvis Presley and the Louisiana Hayride 29:12 - The role of television in spreading and promoting country music, Glen Campbell and Johnny Cash and their television shows 32:21 - Comparing the sounds and characteristics of the music and cultures of Nashville and Bakersfield, the significance of Nashville and Bakersfield to country music, the roles of Shreveport and Austin in country music 36:46 - Willie Nelson and outlaw country/progressive country, the Austin City Limits television show 40:37 - The singing cowboys of the 1930s and the 1940s, Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, Bob Wills 44:44 - Bluegrass music and Bill Monroe, honkey-tonk country and Hank Williams 48:36 - How the development of rock and roll influenced country music 55:26 - How the tragic plane crash deaths of prominent country music figures, such as Patsy Cline and Jim Reeves, shaped the country music world 57:13 - Prominent female country music artists, including Dolly Parton, Tammy Wynette, and Loretta Lynn, using country music to address controversial topics 1:02:27 - Waylon Jennings and Merle Haggard 1:05:08 - Neotraditional country music and George Strait, Garth Brooks and the rise of stadium country, the influence of hip-hop, rap, and newer pop music on country music 1:12:16 - Final thoughts on the history of country music 1:15:06 - The guest’s work on Dolly Parton, Austin City Limits, and the Louisiana Hayride /episode/index/show/cd893eed-5ed0-4fa3-85b3-581e966b6cfe/id/32850472

22. The Life and Legacy of England's Controversial King Henry VIII with Author Margaret George 04/27/2024

22. The Life and Legacy of England's Controversial King Henry VIII with Author Margaret George Margaret George, author of "The Autobiography of Henry VIII: With Notes by His Fool, Will Somers: A Novel," joins host Adam Camac to discuss the life, legacy, controversies, accomplishments, wives, advisors, and kids of King Henry VIII of England. The show notes page for this episode can be found at . 1:26 - The guest’s interest in King Henry VIII and her decision to write a book about him 3:19 - Overview of how King Henry VIII’s character changed over time and of just how complicated he was as a person 5:50 - War of the Roses, the rule of Henry VII, the death of Henry VII’s oldest son Arthur, and other pieces of context in England and with the English monarchy prior to Henry VIII becoming king in 1509 9:22 - Henry VIII’s involvement in wars and how that shaped his time on the throne 11:37 - Overview of Henry VIII’s six wives and the significance of him wanting to have a male heir to succeed him on the throne 22:29 - Changes in the religious makeup of England and in Henry VIII’s views on religion, how Henry VIII went from defending the Catholic faith early in his reign to later splitting with the Catholic Church and establishing the Church of England 26:26 - Seizing monasteries and land, the Pilgrimage of Grace of 1536-1537, Henry VIII’s moves to further distance England from the Catholic Church and responses and reactions to these moves 29:27 - Key advisors to King Henry VIII, including Thomas Cromwell, Thomas Wolsey, Thomas Cranmer, and Thomas More 35:57 - Who Will Somers was and why he played such a key role in the guest’s book about King Henry VIII 38:46 - Henry VIII’s relationships with his three kids who eventually became monarchs: the future Edward VI, Mary I (Bloody Mary), and Elizabeth I; how Henry VIII’s legacy and influence shaped each of their reigns 44:32 - The power and authority associated with Henry VIII’s reign, how royal power expanded during the 38 years of Henry VIII’s rule 46:41 - How Henry VIII was viewed during his own time, how we should view Henry VIII’s life and legacy today 48:31 - Anything we missed, Henry VIII’s abilities and talents as a musician, what the guest has written that listeners should read /episode/index/show/cd893eed-5ed0-4fa3-85b3-581e966b6cfe/id/31009183

21. Taking a Deep Dive into Mexico's History with Salvador Rueda from the National Museum of History at Chapultepec Castle 04/25/2024

21. Taking a Deep Dive into Mexico's History with Salvador Rueda from the National Museum of History at Chapultepec Castle Salvador Rueda, Director of the National Museum of History at Chapultepec Castle in Mexico City, joins host Adam Camac to discuss key figures, issues, and events from the history of Mexico. The show notes page for this episode can be found at . 1:26 - The history of Chapultepec Castle 5:43 - What is covered at the National Museum of History at Chapultepec Castle in Mexico City 6:05 - The Spanish Empire’s conquest of the Aztecs and of Mexico 10:18 - Life during the years when the Spanish ruled Mexico 12:49 - Problems during Spanish rule that led to Mexicans wanting to become independent from Spain 15:44 - Father Hidalgo, the Grito de Dolores, and the start of the Mexican War of Independence 19:29 - How Mexico eventually won the war with Spain and gained their independence 21:34 - Agustín de Iturbide as the first leader of Mexico and briefly as Emperor of Mexico, who he was and his significance during the early years of Mexico 24:29 - The dictatorship of Santa Anna and how Santa Anna’s time in power led to reforms and calls for change in Mexico 27:47 - How the Mexican people reacted to Santa Anna’s time in power, what changes the Mexican people wanted because of Santa Anna 29:58 - The second French invasion in Mexico, what happened with it, why Benito Juarez became important during that time 36:11 - Emperor Maximilian and Empress Carlotta living at Chapultepec Castle during the second French invasion 37:39 - Mexican Revolution of 1910-1920, what caused the Mexican Revolution, what the Mexican people were upset about 44:02 - Pancho Villa’s role in the Mexican Revolution 46:22 - Other people and groups of people to know from the Mexican Revolution 47:12 - Who Emiliano Zapata was 49:27 - Why people should visit Mexico City and Chapultepec Castle in particular /episode/index/show/cd893eed-5ed0-4fa3-85b3-581e966b6cfe/id/30991853

20. The Real History of Chicago with Peter Alter 04/19/2024

20. The Real History of Chicago with Peter Alter Peter Alter, Chief Historian at the Chicago History Museum, joins host Adam Camac to discuss key figures, issues, and events from the history of Chicago. The show notes page for this episode can be found at . 1:15 - The origins of the city of Chicago, where the name Chicago comes from, the founding of the city of Chicago 5:03 - The initial growth of Chicago, what Chicago looked like as of 1871 when the Great Chicago Fire occurred 9:12 - Truths and myths about the Great Chicago Fire 15:32 - Chicago World’s Fair of 1893 (World's Columbian Exposition) 18:57 - 1886 Haymarket Affair, 1894 Pullman Strike, Union Stockyards and the Chicago meatpacking industry, Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle, labor history of Chicago and working class struggles 25:01 - European immigrant groups to Chicago, including Poles, Serbs, Greeks, etc., the Great Migration within the US beginning in the 1910s 30:34 - Jane Addams and the establishment of Hull House in 1889, Chicago’s initial development as a transportation and railroad hub in the 1800s 37:42 - How the Great Migration affected Chicago, race riots, the development of the South Side of Chicago, the Chicago Black Renaissance 43:20 - Chicago during Prohibition and the 1920s, Chicago as a center for illegal activities and gangster violence during the Prohibition era, Al Capone and Bugs Moran and their association with Chicago, St. Valentine’s Day Massacre of 1929 49:04 - Chicago’s connection to the Manhattan Project and role during World War II 52:13 - The Daley family and the Democratic Party machine in Chicago, the 1968 Democratic National Convention 1:00:34 - The role of professional sports in Chicago and how professional sports have affected the way Chicago has been viewed (including the Cubs breaking their World Series curse in 2016, the 1985 Bears, the Michael Jordan/Scottie Pippen championship teams of the 1990s, and more) 1:04:25 - Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower), Lake Michigan, iconic downtown Marshall Fields location, State Street, Michigan Avenue, Millennium Park, The Bean (Cloud Gate), Lake Shore Drive, Wrigley Field, and other Chicago landmarks 1:08:36 - Windy City, Second City, and other nicknames for Chicago 1:12:40 - Related and recommended resources /episode/index/show/cd893eed-5ed0-4fa3-85b3-581e966b6cfe/id/30907668

19. Exploring Utah's Mormon Legacy with Paul Reeve 04/17/2024

19. Exploring Utah's Mormon Legacy with Paul Reeve Dr. Paul Reeve, Simmons Chair of Mormon Studies at the University of Utah, joins host Adam Camac to discuss the origins and history of Mormonism in Utah, how life in Utah has been shaped by Mormonism, and how the influence of Mormonism can be seen in Utah today. The show notes page for this episode can be found at . 1:32 - The founding of Mormonism, Mormonism as it developed in upstate New York, the origins of Mormonism and how Mormonism came about, Joseph Smith 3:48 - What the Second Great Awakening was and how it was connected to the founding of Mormonism 7:09 - Whether the terms Mormonism, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and LDS Church are all the same or if there are differences and distinctions between these terms 11:10 - The LDS Church and its place in Christianity, why some outsiders view it as a non-Christian cult while others view it as a Christian faith 16:39 - What caused early followers of the LDS Church to leave Upstate New York, go to Illinois, and then later settle in Utah and start spreading their religion across the American West 25:11 - Polygamy and its connection to the LDS Church, how views on polygamy have changed within the LDS Church over the years 34:10 - Brigham Young, who he was, and what his legacy is 38:03 - Utah War or Mormon War of 1857-1858, Mountain Meadows Massacre 44:36 - Members of the LDS Church getting married and having kids at younger ages, the health code for followers of the LDS Church 50:50 - Role of mission trips and proselytization efforts and how they factor into the LDS mission and the lives of LDS Church members 53:46 - The connection between the LDS Church and the Republican Party, how the Republican Party changed from previously being the anti-Mormon party of the 1800s to being extremely popular among Mormons today, why so many LDS Church members vote for Republican candidates, why LDS Church members tend to prefer more moderate Republican candidates 1:01:59 - Statistics that demonstrate how common LDS membership is in Utah and neighboring states in the American West and how influential and significant the LDS Church is in Utah in the present day 1:04:49 - Mormons in other states in the American West besides Utah, what leadership within the LDS Church looks like, who Russell M. Nelson (the current leader of the LDS Church) is 1:09:25 - Why people who become president of the LDS Church tend to be older than leaders in a lot of other areas of society 1:11:22 - Related and recommended resources /episode/index/show/cd893eed-5ed0-4fa3-85b3-581e966b6cfe/id/30859498

[4/10/24] 18. The Life and Legacy of President James K. Polk with Rachel Helvering 04/11/2024

[4/10/24] 18. The Life and Legacy of President James K. Polk with Rachel Helvering Rachel Helvering, Executive Director of The President James K. Polk Home and Museum, joins host Adam Camac to discuss the life and legacy of President James K. Polk. The show notes page for this episode can be found at . 1:20 - The guest’s background and connection to President James K. Polk, why the guest has an interest in President Polk 2:41 - Early life and family background of President Polk, his upbringing, how he initially finds his way into politics 6:14 - How President Polk’s wife Sarah compliments him and how she is able to later help her husband’s political career 8:34 - Polk’s political career prior to becoming president 11:39 - Relationship between Andrew Jackson and James K. Polk, how Jackson served as a mentor to Polk, what this relationship meant in the context of the Democratic Party at the time 14:14 - Polk’s time as Governor of Tennessee 16:30 - Polk’s pivot to his unlikely 1844 presidential campaign 18:35 - Polk’s unlikely path to surprising victories for the Democratic nomination and in the general election, the role the issue of Texas annexation played in Polk’s victory 22:15 - How the boundaries of the United States changed during Polk’s presidency with Texas, Oregon, and the Mexican Cession 25:56 - Polk’s approach to slavery as a politician, Polk’s personal connections to slavery 28:59 - What to know about the four years of Polk’s presidency 32:57 - How Sarah Polk transformed the position of First Lady and made it into what it is today, how unusual and different she was as First Lady 35:56 - How the stature of the United States on the global stage changed and how the United States was viewed from abroad during Polk’s presidency 38:01 - How historians in general view Polk’s presidency and how they compare him to other presidents 40:21 - Why Polk died so quickly after leaving the White House, goals he might have had that he never had the opportunity to achieve after leaving office, what happened to Sarah during the remaining 42 years of her life after her husband passed away 45:15 - Anything we missed about the Polks and their significance 46:14 - Recommended and related resources /episode/index/show/cd893eed-5ed0-4fa3-85b3-581e966b6cfe/id/30776833