Tag Archives: Gilded Age

Benjamin “I’m More than the Guy Between Cleveland Terms” Harrison

Posted on September 17, 2026 by smellincoffee

What do I know about Benjamin Harrison? Well, he was a core part of the Cleveland Hero Sandwich, the thin bit of meat between two enormous Cleveland halves. And his granddaddy was president for a month before dying and giving … Continue reading →

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Destiny of the Republic

Posted on September 12, 2026 by smellincoffee

When put on trial for the assassination of President James Garfield, Charles Guiteau protested that he’d merely shot Garfield: his doctors had killed him. As crazy as Guiteau was — and his membranes were definitely scrambled — he may have … Continue reading →

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The Unexpected President

Posted on September 2, 2026 by smellincoffee

This president reading project has been interesting so far, making me more fully aware of how complex some of the personalities to inhabit the White House have been. Chester A. Arthur, a man I formerly knew only for his muttonchops, … Continue reading →

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James “Death by Lightning” Garfield

Posted on August 25, 2026 by smellincoffee

Back in March, I announced that I was beginning a trio of unknowns — Hayes, Garfield, and Arthur. Then the 1960s took over, but I’m back at it. Who is James Garfield? A teacher, an officer, a forceful Republican — … Continue reading →

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The Say Hayes Kid

Posted on March 30, 2026 by smellincoffee

In my Hail to the Chief series, I am embarking on a Trilogy of Unknowns: Rutherford Hayes, James Garfield, and Chester A. Arthur. The only one I’d recognize in a lineup is Arthur because of his wonderful lambchops: they know … Continue reading →

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Sam Grant

Posted on March 27, 2026 by smellincoffee

Ulysses Grant opens with Josiah Bunting III’s rueful observation that Grant is almost always thought of “General Grant”, never president — despite being the only man between Lincoln and Wilson to serve two consecutive terms. Bunting attributes this to both … Continue reading →

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Red Dead’s History

Posted on February 19, 2025 by smellincoffee

As a student of history who also plays a lot of video games which touch on history, I wonder sometimes what skewed version  of history unread players take from it.  Tore Olsson takes that same question and applies it to … Continue reading →

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The Jungle

Posted on October 8, 2019 by smellincoffee

The Jungle © 1906 Upton Sinclair 475 pages Welcome to The Jungle, but we don’t have fun and games. We have despair, ruin, and death.    The Jungle begins as the story of the Rudkus-Lukoszaite family, who have arrived in America … Continue reading →

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Horses at Work

Posted on December 23, 2015 by smellincoffee

Horses at Work: Harnessing Power in Industrial America© 2008 Ann Norton Greene322 pages The quintessential image of horses in American history is the cowboy, of rough men moving cattle in the wilderness on horseback. But follow the cattle, and their … Continue reading →

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Last Call

Posted on July 1, 2015 by smellincoffee

Last Call: the Rise and Fall of Prohibition © 2010 Daniel Okrent 480 pages “Law and order should not ruin the lives of law-abidin’ people! Like that stupid law of Prohibition they had in the old days. Gangsters had to go … Continue reading →

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