Front Porch Radio - History's Hook

As part of a series on life in the segregation era, History’s Hook hosts, Tom Price and Jo Ann McClellan interview Judge Randolph Baxter who graduated from Carver-Smith Highschool in 1963. He attended Tuskegee University and the University of Akron School of Law. While there he was an ROTC student, Mr. Baxter served his country in the Vietnam War from 1968-1971, achieving the rank of Captain. He was awarded the Bronze Star for Valor, among other unit citations while serving with the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. Upon his return, he completed his Doctor of Jurisprudence at the University of Akron and began a legal career that spanned another forty years. Holding several important positions, he ended his legal career as chief justice of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court. He currently holds the position of President of the AARP in the State of Ohio.

Sarah Polk is considered by many historians to be one of the most influential of the 19th century First Ladies. In a time when the position of first lady had no official capacity, Sarah Polk wielded a power seldom enjoyed by women of her age. Having no children of her own, he immersed herself in her husband’s long political career and became his closest advisor. Some historians, including today’s guest have written that Sarah Polk defined the role of First Lady. Her husband, James K. Polk was the youngest President up to the time, and the youngest to die outside those who have been assassinated. Sarah outlived her husband by 42 years, making her the longest widowed first lady in American History. Join host Tom Price as he continues his series on Tennessee’s first ladies with special guest, Dr. Amy Greenberg, author of Lady First: The World of First Lady Sarah Polk.

Born and raised in Mt. Pleasant, Spence Armstrong went on to a stellar military career which began at the United States Naval Academy, before transferring to the Air Force to become a pilot. While serving, he became an aerospace engineer and test pilot, flying many different aircraft. By the time the Vietnam War started, Armstrong was a veteran pilot with 11 years flight experience. As a major, he flew 102 combat missions in F-105 Thunderchiefs in Southeast Asia in 1967-1968. Moving up the ranks, his commands took him around the world and across the United States and even to the stars, having served as deputy director of space systems and command, control, and communications at NASA. He retired from the Airforce as a Lieutenant General in 1990. General Armstrong spent eleven more years as a senior executive at NASA leading the agency's human resources efforts and programs with academia. Join History’s Hook host, Tom Price in part 2 of his interview Maury County’s highest ranking military officer.

Born and raised in Mt. Pleasant, Spence Armstrong went on to a stellar military career which began at the United States Naval Academy, before transferring to the Air Force to become a pilot. While serving, he became an aerospace engineer and test pilot, flying many different aircraft. By the time the Vietnam War started, Armstrong was a veteran pilot with 11 years flight experience. As a major, he flew 102 combat missions in F-105 Thunderchiefs in Southeast Asia in 1967-1968. Moving up the ranks, his commands took him around the world and across the United States and even to the stars, having served as deputy director of space systems and command, control, and communications at NASA. He retired from the Airforce as a Lieutenant General in 1990. General Armstrong spent eleven more years as a senior executive at NASA leading the agency's human resources efforts and programs with academia. Join History’s Hook host, Tom Price as he interviews Maury County’s highest ranking military officer.

From 1861-1865 Tennessee was a battleground during the American Civil War. For the majority of the war, much of Tennessee was occupied by Union troops. What was it like for Tennesseans to live in occupied territory? Conversely, what was it like for Union troops to live in a seceded state? In this episode, hosts Tom Price and Barry Gidcomb are joined by author and historian Dr. Thomas Flagel who discusses the Union occupation of Tennessee during the Civil War.

On this episode of History’s Hook, hosts Tom Price and Dr. Barry Gidcomb discuss one of the great transformative movements in 19th century America…the Second Great Awakening. This movement brought about a serious upswing in religious thought in America following the Revolutionary War. From this religious awakening came a dramatic increase in membership to various church denominations as well as the genesis of a number of new denominations. The effects of the Second Great Awakening spanned the North American continent and crossed-over into new social and political reforms that helped shape American society. Tom and Barry are joined by Father Chris Bowhay, host of the live radio show “The Circle Unbroken.”

February 25, 1946 was a pivotal day in the history of the country, but no one knew it at the time. Gladys Stephenson and her son James had a disagreement with a local store over their treatment, and an altercation ensued that sparked a serious racial conflict in a community that had a history of strained race relations. The governor called out the National Guard, blood was shed, and people died. More than 100 African Americans were jailed. The subsequent court case featured some of the finest trial lawyers in the country. The incident, remembered as the Columbia Race Riot, was the first such event following World War 2, and marked the first step in the American Civil Rights Movement. Hosts Tom Price and Jo Ann McClellan are joined by historian Dr. Gail O’Brien, author of the book The Color of the Law which talks about his pivotal event in American History.

For four generations, the Finney/Kennedy family have been reporting the news in Tennessee. The editors of both local and state newspapers, they have also been involved in politics and radio reporting. Join History’s Hook host Tom Price as he interviews Delk Kennedy and Elizabeth Blackstone about their family’s ties to media and politics in Tennessee.

February 25, 1946 was a pivotal day in the history of the country, but no one knew it at the time. Gladys Stephenson and her son James had a disagreement with a local store over their treatment, and an altercation ensued that sparked a serious racial conflict in a community that had a history of strained race relations. The governor called out the National Guard, blood was shed, and people died. More than 100 African Americans were jailed. The subsequent court case featured some of the finest trial lawyers in the country. The incident, remembered as the Columbia Race Riot, was the first such event following World War 2, and marked the first step in the American Civil Rights Movement. Hosts Tom Price and Jo Ann McClellan are joined by historian Dr. Gail O’Brien, author of the book The Color of the Law which talks about his pivotal event in American History.

Elias Polk was born into slavery North Carolina, but grew up in Tennessee. The majority of his life was spent serving James K. Polk who would eventually become the 11th President. His life, however, spanned some eighty years, through emancipation, where Elias became politically active in Tennessee. Join Tom, Barry, and Jo Ann and listen to Elias’ story as told by author and historian Zacharie Kinslow.

From 1846-1848, the United States waged a war against Mexico. In a year and a half, the United States fought across Northern and Central Mexico to “the Halls of the Montezumas” finally capturing Mexico City. A treaty was signed that brought five hundred thousand square miles of territory into the possession of the United States. For the first time, the United States became a truly continental nation. Join hosts, Tom Price and Dr. Barry Gidcomb as they interview author and historian Dr. Timothy Johnson on the subject.

As part of the series on Tennessee’s three presidents, this episode of History’s Hook focuses on the first of them: Andrew Jackson. Old Hickory, the first populist president changed the face of American politics. Join hosts Tom Price and Dr. Barry Gidcomb as they speak with Marsha Mullin, Vice President of Collections and Research, and chief curator at the Hermitage, The Home of Andrew Jackson, just outside of Nashville.

The Vietnam War was a long, costly and divisive conflict that pitted the communist government of North Vietnam, backed by its communist allies against South Vietnam and its principal ally, the United States. The conflict was intensified by the ongoing Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union. More than 3 million people (including over 58,000 Americans) were killed in the Vietnam War, and more than half of the dead were Vietnamese civilians. Join special guest, Dr. Bill Andrews as he talks about his experiences as a young officer in Vietnam.

In 1912, Booker T. Washington of the Tuskegee Institute and Julius Rosenwald, philanthropist and president of Sears Roebuck, built state-of-the art schools for African-American children across the South. The effort has been called the most important initiative to advance black education in the early 20th century. At its height, there were some 5300 Rosenwald schools in 15 states that educated more than 600,000 African American children. Join hosts Tom Price and Jo Ann McClellan with special guest Dr. Mary Hoffschwelle, professor of history at Middle Tennessee State University.

Join host Tom Price and former Cold War NSA spy Bob Jones, as they explore the world of espionage in Europe in the early 1950’s. Mr. Jones will tell his harrowing stories of intelligence gathering against America’s enemies and allies as the United States and the Soviet Union vied for global domination.

To assist the formerly enslaved in their transition to freedom, the federal government inaugurated a program called the Freedmen’s Bureau. Created in March of 1865, its initial purpose was to "direct… provisions, clothing, and fuel, as may be deemed needful for the immediate and temporary shelter and supply of destitute and suffering refugees and freedmen and their wives and children." Over the next several years, the Freedmen’s Bureau’s purpose would greatly expand to serve the needs of the African American community. One of the bureau’s most successful endeavors was in the area of education. Freedmen’s schools cropped up all over the south, allowing African Americans to gain an education for the first time. History’s Hook hosts Tom Price and Jo Ann McClellan, with special guest Dr. Antoinette van Zelm, explore the Freedmen’s Bureau and Freedmen’s Schools in Tennessee.

Starting life off from the humblest beginnings, Andrew Johnson rose from a simple tailor to a statesman. The only Southerner to remain in the Senate following secession, Johnson was chosen by Abraham Lincoln as his vice-president in 1864. Following Lincoln’s assassination a few months later, Johnson found himself hated by many of his fellow Tennesseans and distrusted by the Washington establishment. The first president to be impeached, Johnson was also a brave leader who did his best to heal the nation following the Civil War. Kendra Hinkle, museum specialist at the Andrew Johnson National Historic Site in Greeneville, TN discusses the 17th President.

Tennessee boasts three presidents. Host Tom Price begins his three part presidential series by interviewing the long-time director of the President James K. Polk Home and Museum, John Holtzapple. Polk is one of the least-known presidents in American history, but as you will hear, deserves to be remembered as one of the most successful. His accomplishments include starting the Naval Academy, the modern postal system, and the Independent Treasury System…none of which were his main goals…which he also accomplished in a promised single term of office.

In 1954, Mr. Bob Jones was just 21 years old, but already an experienced spy for the American National Security Agency. One of the very first NSA field agents, his missions frequently brought him to Europe where he was tasked with gathering information about America’s allies as well as its enemies. His is a story full of intrigue, violence, and espionage. Mr. Jones has recorded his incredible story in a short book titled, “Room 204: Story of a Cold War Spy.”

In the summer of 1977, forty-two people perished in the worst jail fire in Tennessee’s history. The tragedy garnered national news attention and led to many new laws pertaining to jail safety. Author Cindy Tinsley talks about the tragedy, heroism, and how her research culminated in a book, “Tragedy in Small Town Tennessee.”

History’s Hook hosts Tom Price and Jo Ann McClellan discuss the lives of several African-Americans who started life in Maury County, Tennessee and went on to national acclaim in various pursuits. Included are the stories of renowned chef to the rich and famous, Rufus Estes; Moses McKissack, a brick maker whose descendants include some of the most highly sought-after architects in the world; and Rev. Edmond Kelley, an enslaved man who was able to obtain his own freedom, then that of his wife and children by becoming one of the most influential preachers in the North, all prior to the Civil War.

History’s Hook’s hosts, Tom Price and Dr. Barry Gidcomb welcome Tony Turnbow, author of “The Natchez Trace in the War of 1812” which was published in The Journal of Mississippi History and most recently, the full length book published by Time Tunnel Media titled, Hardened to Hickory: The Missing Chapter in Andrew Jackson’s Life. The Natchez Trace is a 444 mile route between Nashville, Tennessee and Natchez, Mississippi. The road has been the backdrop to some incredible history including military campaigns, economic expansion in the West, and even the murder of explorer Meriwether Lewis!

History’s Hook’s hosts, Tom Price, Jo Ann McClellan and Dr. Barry Gidcomb introduce listeners to the premise of the show and talk about their backgrounds and interests and discuss what makes history important today.