Presidential Fight Club

Presidential Fight Club

Historians have ranked U.S. presidents on leadership, economic management, and pursuing justice, but they have never asked themselves which one could beat up all the others. This show will change that. Hosted by two history professors—James Early and Scott Rank—this is an NCAA-style tournament in which all presidents fight each other one-on-one until there is one champion. You'll see Barack Obama fight William Howard Taft (who literally weights twice as much), Abraham Lincoln try to knock the wooden teeth out of George Washington, and several other rumbles among the commander-in-chiefs. James and Scott narrate each of these 44 fights by comparing the physical abilities of each president, military experience, and special abilities that would help them win. Did they have combat training? Were they generals? Were they ex-wrestlers? The presidents are also ranked how well they would do in hand-to-hand combat at about the age of 35 (no, FDR won’t be fighting as a polio-riddled man in a wheelchair).

Episodes

June 5, 2018 2 mins
A few announcements about the series before we dive into the fight.

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Welcome to Presidential Fight Club: A battle royale among all 44 men who served as the U.S. president. This podcast is hosted by two history professors: Scott Rank and James Early. We are going to narrate each of the one-on-one fights between presidents in 44 short podcast episodes.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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John Adams vs. John Quincy Adams. Stats of Fighters: Name: John Adams Height: 5’7 1/2 Weight: 175 Military experience: None Special abilities: Supreme self-assurance. Name: John Quincy Adams Height: 5’7 1/2 Weight: 175 Military experience: None Special abilities: Extreme versatility. He was the man of the house at age eight when his father left and the Revolutionary War happened right outside his house.

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Millard Fillmore vs. Martin Van Buren. Stats of Fighters: Name: Millard Fillmore Height: 5’9 Weight: 165 Military experience: Major, New York State Militia; Served in New York Militia in 1820s and 1830s; Organized Union Continentals home guard unit during the Civil War. Name: Martin Van Buren Height: 5’6 Weight: 165 Military experience: None Special abilities: Master manipulator. He was known as the “little magician” or the “red fo...

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Stats of Fighters: Name: Calvin Coolidge Height: 5’10 Weight: 150 Military experience: None Special abilities: Extreme caution. Coolidge would not make any hasty moves in a fight. Name: Chester A. Arthur Height: 6’2 Weight: 225 Military experience: Brigadier General, Quartermaster General and Inspector General of the New York Militia before and during the Civil War. Special abilities: Master manipulator. He was a fixture in America...

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Teddy Roosevelt vs. John Adams. Stats of Fighters: Name: Theodore Roosevelt Height: 5’10 Weight: 220 Military experience: Colonel, U.S. Army. Special abilities: Being the world’s most interesting man. Roosevelt was a champion intramural boxer in college, practiced judo while president, worked as a rancher in the Dakota territories and got in fist-fights with cowboys. Name: John Adams Height: 5’7 1/2 Weight: 175 Military experience:...

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Franklin Pierce vs. Millard Fillmore. Stats of Fighters: Name: Franklin Pierce Height: 5’10 Weight: 145 Military experience: Brigadier General; New Hampshire Militia, 1831–46; Mexican–American War; commanded Infantry Brigade at Battle of Contreras, Battle of Churubusco, and the Assault on Mexico City. Special abilities: Stone-cold ruthlessness. Pierce fought at the end of the Mexican-American War and led a brigade despite being thr...

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Kennedy vs. Chester A. Arthur. Stats of Fighters: Name: John F. Kennedy Height: 6’0 Weight: 175 Military experience: Lieutenant (navy). Served in combat during World War II. Special abilities: Incredible endurance under extreme pain. Kennedy suffered Addison’s disease his entire life, causing terrible physical suffering in his joints and abdomen. Name: Chester A. Arthur Height: 6’2 Weight: 225 Military experience: Brigadier General...

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June 14, 2018 8 mins
FDR vs. Donald Trump. Stats of Fighters: Name: Franklin D. Roosevelt Height: 6’2 Weight: 190 Military experience: None Special abilities: Fearlessness. Lyndon Johnson said FDR was “the only person I knew, anywhere, who was not afraid.” Name: Donald Trump Height: 6’2 Weight: 235 Military experience: None Special abilities: Actual ring experience. He is the only president with actual experience in the professional wrestling ring. In ...

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Teddy Roosevelt vs. Franklin Pierce. Stats of Fighters: Name: Theodore Roosevelt Height: 5’10 Weight: 220 Military experience: Colonel, U.S. Army.New York National Guard, 1882 to 1886, captain and company commander. Spanish–American War service as second in command and then commander of the 1st United States Volunteer Cavalry (Rough Riders). Special abilities: Being the world’s most interesting man. Roosevelt was a champion intramu...

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Kennedy vs. FDR. Stats of Fighters Name: John F. Kennedy Height: 6’0 Weight: 175 Military experience: Lieutenant (navy). Served in combat during World War II. Received the Navy and Marine Corps Medal and the Purple Heart. Special abilities: Incredible endurance under extreme pain. Kennedy suffered Addison’s disease his entire life, causing terrible physical suffering in his joints and abdomen. The left side of his body was smaller ...

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June 17, 2018 8 mins
The winner of this fight advances to the Final Four. Listen to the previous matches in the NE Regional tournament to see which two presidents will square off to claim victory in the regional championship!

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Woodrow Wilson vs. James Buchanan

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Andrew Johnson vs. James Madison

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John Tyler vs. James K. Polk

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Andrew Jackson vs. James Buchanan

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James Monroe vs. Andrew Johnson

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George Washington vs. John Tyler

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Jimmy Carter vs. Thomas Jefferson

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SE Regional Semifinal 1- Andrew Jackson vs. James Monroe

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