Parts 28-34: The Truth and Mythology of America's Presidents Series

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The Truth and Mythology of America's Presidents Series - Season 6, Episode 5

In our 5th episode for Season 6 we continue our deep dive into understanding U.S. Presidents through the analytical lens of "The Wave 1981". We start the discussion with the introductory song "From the Ashes, We Rise!" and dig into understanding Presidents through the lens of "The Wave 1981":

Part 28: Theodore Roosevelt and the Progressive Paradox

Part 29: William Howard Taft and the Counter-Revolution

Part 30: Woodrow Wilson and the Mask of Idealism

Part 31: Warren G. Harding and the Illusion of Normalcy

Part 32: Calvin Coolidge and the Gospel of Business

Part 33: Herbert Hoover and the Collapse of Faith

Part 34: Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Battle for the Soul of Democracy

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
We've seen the tide turn before,from liberty to fear, from truth
to control. But this is not the end.
This is our call to stand the rise to rebuild.
Because democracy is not a gift,it's a choice.
Every day, in child's gas by tyrant's hand, where truth was
drowned beneath the sand We heard the cry from far and wide,

(00:21):
a silent scream. The stars get high from
Epstein's dark unsealed decay tobump it.
Laws that strip away. The mask has slipped, the right
exposed, the halls of power now deposed.
But through the noise a spark remained.
A voice not bought, not bent, Unchained.
A Cam and date not borne from gold but fire, justice stories

(00:41):
to run the ashes we rise like the dawn breaking lies with the
wave. As our guide we reclaim what
survived, not just for one but for all.
We, the people here, the cultureof the wall.
We unite. But we born in the light.
From 4 cries ringing out afar toblood red lines in Kandahar.

(01:05):
Authoritarians fed the flame, but millions rose and spoke our
name. The firewall built from every
voice. Survivors made the noblest
choice to lead, to speak, to build a new.
A global dream long overdue. The truth they feared.
We now declare the world's not theirs.
We all must care. From cave to Flint, from Gaza

(01:26):
shore, no realms peace anymore. From the ashes we rise.
It's like the dawn breaking lieswith the wave.
There's our guide. We reclaim what survive not just
for one life for all. We the people here, the call to
the wall, we unite. Or we born in the light and

(01:58):
about left to right. It's about right and wrong.
The wave taught us how it happened, slowly, subtly, and
all at once. But we've learned, we've seen,
and we've chosen. Never again.
From the ashes we rise. No more heart, for more lies
With the weather within our stride we unite the world wide

(02:19):
tie. A new leader, Fortune Flay.
Not for power, for the name of every voice that dares to fight.
Gobri, born in the light. We have a fire.
We are the wave, and this time we choose the light.

(02:51):
We are the wave, and this time we choose the light.

(03:34):
We've learned, we've seen, and we've chosen.
Never again. From the ashes we rise.
No more hate, no more lies with the wave.
Taught us how it happens slowly,subtly, than all at once.
But we've learned, we've seen, and we've chosen.

(03:55):
Never again. Welcome to the Deep Dive, where
we take a stack of sources, articles, research, and our own
notes and extract the most important Nuggets of knowledge
and insight for you. That's right.
Today we're plunging into a topic that resonates with the
deepest human yearnings and I believe holds crucial lessons

(04:16):
for us all. Think about that inherent
universal longing for freedom, for liberty, for equality.
It's like a timeless, motivatingmelody, an educational song that
echoes through history, inspiring people from all walks
of life across generations to rise up when these fundamental
ideals are threatened. It's a song that teaches us

(04:38):
about the resilience of the human spirit and about the
constant vigilance required to protect those ideals against the
creeping shadows of authoritarianism or even, you
know, outright fascism. Indeed, what's truly fascinating
is how these concepts aren't just abstract ideals we study in
textbooks. They are tangible forces that
actively shape the course of nations.

(04:58):
Right. They really define whether
societies thrive in liberty or succumb to control.
Precisely today, we're embarkingon a journey through a pivotal
period of American history, examining parts 28 through 34 of
the Truth and Mythology of America's President series.
OK. Our mission is to explore the
intricate, often challenging dance between presidential

(05:20):
power, societal conformity, and the powerful forces of
resistance that have emerged throughout significant periods
of American history. And to help us unpack this
complex historical landscape, we're going to use a truly
powerful and frankly unsettling lens.
The 1981 film The Wave. Ah.
Yes, the wave. For those unfamiliar, The Wave

(05:41):
is a fictionalized account of a real life experiment in a high
school history class that spiraled into a chilling
demonstration of how easily groups can be drawn into
authoritarian systems. Even with seemingly noble
intentions, which is the scary part.
Exactly. It's a sobering look at human
behavior under pressure. Precisely the film's insights
into group dynamics, how quicklypeople can fall in line, the
intoxicating allure of charismatic leadership, and the

(06:03):
subtle yet immense pressures of compliance offer surprising and
often unsettling parallels. To presidential actions and
public reactions throughout American history, you mean?
Yes, by viewing these narrativesthrough the prism of the wave,
we aim to provide you with profound insights into how these
patterns can not only deepen your understanding of the past,
but crucially, equip you to critically analyze the

(06:26):
complexities of the present moment.
So this isn't just a history lesson.
No, not at all. It's an analytical discussion
designed to help you connect thedots and understand the enduring
currents of power and resistanceto Theodore Roosevelt, The
Progressive paradox, and the centralization of power.
Part 28. OK, so to kick us off, we're
diving into the era of Theodore Roosevelt, often hailed as

(06:47):
America's first celebrity president.
Right TRA huge personality. This was a man of immense
charisma, a reformer who seemed to embody the very spirit of
progress and vigorous action. But beneath that energetic
exterior, he was also a figure who profoundly expanded the
executive branch, leaving a complex legacy that still shapes
the presidency today. How did he, how did he go about

(07:10):
this? Well, Roosevelt was a master of
public persuasion and executive action.
He famously dubbed the presidency the bully pulpit.
Ah. Yes, the bully pulpit.
Right. Transforming it into an
unprecedented platform from which he could directly appeal
to the American people, bypassing traditional political
structures. Really.
Using public opinion as a tool. As a powerful new tool in the

(07:31):
presidential arsenal, exactly. This was a radical shift from
previous presidents, who saw their role primarily as
administrators. Right, more passive.
Much more. And he wasn't shy about wielding
executive orders, often bypassing Congress entirely to
push through his agenda, whetherit was setting aside national
parks or regulating industries. And underlying all of this was a

(07:52):
strong belief in a well, a paternalistic government.
Yes, exactly. One that he saw as an active,
guiding force in American life, capable of correcting societal
ills and ensuring fairness, evenif it meant concentrating power
in the White House. He believed in a strong federal
hand to manage and direct the nation's destiny.

(08:12):
So his immense popularity and energetic style made this
expansion of power seem like a natural evolution, perhaps even
necessary for progress. To many, yes.
But it also sounds like a significant centralization of
authority, and this aligns perfectly with the key wave
insight you mentioned. Charismatic leaders blur the
line between liberation and control.

(08:34):
How did Roosevelt embody this blurring?
It's a crucial point. When a leader is as compelling
and popular as Roosevelt was, itbecomes increasingly difficult
for the public to discern where they're empowering vision for a
better society ends. And where their desire for
centralized control truly begins.
Precisely. His actions, like his vigorous

(08:55):
trust busting, were widely popular.
He became known as the Trust Buster who loved Empire right
because he gained fame for attacking massive corporate
monopolies like JP Morgan's Northern Securities Company, a
powerful railroad trust that he successfully broke up.
That sent shock waves didn't. It oh absolutely through the
financial world. It demonstrated his willingness
to challenge Titans of industry and to many, liberated the

(09:17):
economy from their stranglehold.But didn't he also distinguish
between good and bad trusts, which sounds like it gave him
immense power? Exactly this is where the
paradox lies. He attacked bad trusts that he
viewed as exploiting the public,but his distinction between good
trusts and bad trusts was inherently subjective.

(09:38):
Right. Who decides?
He decides it left immense discretion in the hands of the
executive. He, and by extension the federal
government, became the arbiter of acceptable corporate
behavior. So he'd go after some but not
others. Correct.
For instance, he famously chose not to pursue other powerful
corporations like US Steel, arguing they were good trusts

(09:59):
acting responsibly. This established A precedent
that the president, not just thecourts or Congress, held the
ultimate subjective power. Defining acceptable corporate
behavior. Wow.
It blurred the lines, as the wave suggests, between genuinely
liberating the market and simplyshifting control to the
executive. It was a significant
concentration of power. So he dismantled some

(10:20):
concentrations of power in the private sector, but
simultaneously strengthened it in the executive branch.
That's quite a paradox. Absolutely.
And this leads us directly to another wave insight
Authoritarian systems favor order over principle.
OK, how so with TR? You see this clearly in his
unapologetic imperialism. TR wasn't just a domestic

(10:41):
reformer. He was a global player driven by
a belief in America's destiny toexert its influence.
Panama Canal. He engineered the creation of
the Panama Canal, for example, which involved covert regime
change in Panama, backing A Panamanian independence movement
against Colombia to secure the rights to build the canal.
So strategic interest over sovereignty.

(11:03):
Right. Prioritizing national interest
and perceived global order over the sovereignty of another
nation, he dramatically expandedthe Navy building the Great
White Fleet. The Great White Fleet Tour.
Which he then sat on a global tour from 19 O 7 to 19 O 9A
clear and unmistakable display of American military might.
A message to the world. And the Roosevelt Corollary.
And he declared America the hemispheric police force through

(11:25):
the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, asserting the
right to intervene in Latin American affairs if those
nations were deemed unstable or incapable of managing their own
finances. Which often led to military
occupations. It did.
These actions, while framed as bringing order, often came at
the expense of established international principles of non

(11:47):
intervention and national sovereignty, order over
principle. And what about at home?
He was seen as a progressive, pushing for things like
conservation and consumer protection.
But how far did that progress really go, especially on issues
like racial equality? Well, his Square deal was indeed
designed to address pressing domestic issues, aiming to

(12:08):
prevent social unrest, even revolution, perhaps by placating
labor and addressing some abusesof industrialization.
Trying to find a balance. Seeking a balance between
capital and labor? Yes, and his administration
brought some important reforms like the Meat Inspection Act and
the Pure Food and Drug Act. Which were significant.
Very however, these reforms fundamentally maintain the

(12:29):
capitalist system and existing social hierarchies.
While he made a bold and symbolically significant gesture
by inviting Booker T Washington to the White House for dinner.
That caused a huge backlash, right?
Oh, tremendous outrage among white supremacists.
But he notably failed to take significant legislative or
executive action on the horrifying issue of lynching,

(12:50):
which was rampant across the South, or broader segregation.
Which illustrates another crucial wave insight.
Yes, systems tolerate reform until it threatens their core.
Roosevelt's reforms, while progressive on paper and
impactful in certain areas, ultimately upheld the deeply
entrenched racial and class hierarchies of his era.
Pushed for improvement within the framework.

(13:12):
Exactly didn't fundamentally challenge the established order
that benefited the powerful. So what does this all mean for
Theodore Roosevelt's legacy? It sounds complicated.
Theodore Roosevelt's legacy is dual sided, almost
contradictory. On one hand, he established the
modern presidency as a truly dynamic force of personality, an
office that could actively shapepublic opinion and national

(13:34):
policy. A real departure from the 19th
century A. Huge departure.
He provided a template for how anation could pursue progressive
reforms while simultaneously expanding its imperial reach.
It was a paradox, genuine progress achieved through a
significant centralization of power in the executive.
OK. This approach, while perhaps

(13:55):
wielded with a certain restraintand moral compass in his own
hands, also unleashed a powerfultide, a current that inspired
imitators who embrace the rhetoric and the expansion of
presidential power. Without necessarily his vision
or restraint. Exactly as the wave insight
suggests, even noble waves can flood if channeled poorly.
He built the stadium, set the rules for a new game of
presidential power, and then others wanted to play in it,

(14:17):
often without the nuanced understanding of the architect.
3 William Howard Taft, The Constitutionalists Counter
Revolution, Part 29. That's a powerful image.
The architect of the stadium, indeed.
So following TR Supercharged executive machine, we then
encounter William Howard Taft. Taft Yes.
It's fascinating because Taft seems to be the antithesis of

(14:39):
Roosevelt in many ways. He lacked that larger than life
personality and, more importantly, the appetite to
keep riding that wave of executive expansion.
Right, he wanted to slow things down.
Instead, he really applied the brakes consciously, seeking to
return power to Congress and thejudiciary.
What was his vision for the presidency?
Taft vision was markedly different.

(15:01):
He saw the presidency as a narrow legal office emphasizing
judicial process, the rule of law and a strict adherence to
checks and balances. A direct counterpoint to
Roosevelt's bully pulpit. Absolutely.
And his executive activism. Taft believed in a more limited
federal government, focusing on the careful application of law
rather than broad social engineering.

(15:22):
So a constitutionalist approach.Very much so.
It was a direct response to Roosevelt's energetic and
expansive stock, aiming to pull back from what he might have
seen as executive overreach. This embodies the wave insight
that systems were tracked when pushed too far unless inertia
takes hold. Taft tried to retract the powers

(15:43):
that Roosevelt had expanded, butthe momentum of the system
Roosevelt had build was already considerable, and pulling back
proved more challenging than anticipated.
So he was trying to put the genie back in the bottle, so to
speak, but how effective was he in reversing that centralization
of power? Well, it's a complex picture.
Interestingly, Taft quietly busted more trusts than

(16:03):
Roosevelt did. Really more?
Yes, significantly more. He approached trust busting not
as a public spectacle but as a legal process, pursuing cases
rigorously through the courts. So on one hand, he continued the
work of curbing corporate monopolies, but at the same time
he backed tariff increases, notably the Paine Aldrich tariff
of 19 O 9. This tariff, which raised duties

(16:24):
on many imports, was seen by progressives as a betrayal of
Roosevelt's policies. Step backward in their view.
A reversion to pro corporate orthodoxy that benefited big
business at the expense of consumers and farmers.
It deeply alienated the progressive wing of the
Republican Party, who felt he was abandoning the reformist
spirit. So he was doing some of the
trust busting work, but without the public narrative or the

(16:46):
progressive spirit that defined TR, and the tariffs really
seemed to undermine his efforts.Precisely, And this connects to
another powerful wave insight. Authoritarian drift thrives on
the absence of counter narrative.
How does that apply here? Tafts silent, understated
approach. His quiet legalism allowed the
corporate order to reassert itself without significant

(17:08):
public outcry or a strong presidential voice challenging
it. Roosevelt had built that
narrative, yeah. A narrative of active government
intervention for the common good.
Taft, by receding from that public role, left a vacuum that
established interests were quickto fill.
And this led to the party split.Yes, his passivity combined with
unpopular decisions like the tariff, ultimately split the

(17:30):
Republican Party progressives still energized by Roosevelt's
ideas and feeling abandoned by Taft.
Bolted formed the Bull Moose Party.
Right, the Progressive or Bull Moose Party, with Roosevelt
himself challenging Taft for thepresidency in 1912.
This fractured the reform energyand essentially handed the 1912
election to Woodrow Wilson, a Democrat.

(17:52):
That's a classic historical lesson, isn't it?
Disunity among those pushing forreform often leads to a set
back. Absolutely.
And it raises an important question regarding the wave
insight Resistance movements collapse when unity gives way to
ego. How did this fracturing of
reform energy, specifically between Taft and Roosevelt,
impact the political landscape? Well, it demonstrated that even

(18:15):
a powerful desire for change, a broad reform movement, can be
undermined by internal divisionsand personal rivalries.
Roosevelt's decision to challenge Taft, his former
protege. Yeah, that was personal too.
It reflected a deep personal andideological rift that ultimately
benefited those who opposed any progressive reform.
The election became a three-way race, splitting the Republican

(18:36):
vote and allowing Wilson, who won with only 42% of the popular
vote, to secure the presidency. So the lesson is clear.
Without a unified front, even the most compelling resistance
or reform movements can inadvertently pave the way for
an opposing ideology to gain ground.
Unity is critical. And Taft's post presidency life

(18:56):
is also quite telling, becoming Chief Justice of the Supreme
Court the only former president to do so.
Indeed, it's unique for a president to then lead the
judicial branch from the bench. He solidified A conservative
judicial legacy favoring corporate protections and narrow
constitutional interpretations. Which relates to another wave
insight. Yes, authoritarian systems don't

(19:19):
just need power, they need rulesto justify it.
Taft re anchored the system through legalism, ensuring that
the existing power structures had a strong legal foundation.
Law over charismatic leadership.He believed that the law, not
the whims of a charismatic leader, should dictate
governance, and he used his position on the Supreme Court to
uphold a more traditional, limited view of federal power,

(19:40):
particularly in economic matters.
So his legacy. His legacy marked a significant
pause in reform, a pivot back toward elite consensus and
established economic interests, and stands as a cautionary tale
that reform without unity fails.He tried to slow the machine.
But the system had already shifted, and his efforts,
however principled, couldn't fully reverse the tide of

(20:02):
centralized power without a unified vision for Woodrow
Wilson. Idealism, repression and the
Mask of Power, Part 30. From the legalistic quiet of
Taft, we moved to a fascinating and complex figure, Woodrow
Wilson. Wilson.
Yes, very different again. He came into office as a former
professor and academic and initially preached a kind of

(20:23):
democratic idealism, international cooperation and a
new freedom for America. Advocating for policies that
would restore competition and individual liberty.
He seemed to offer a different kind of progress, a more
intellectual, unprincipled 1 maybe.
He did, and this is where it gets particularly unsettling.
The wave insight reminds us the most dangerous waves begin with
good intentions. Wilson's initial vision, full of

(20:45):
high minded ideals about self determination and democracy,
unfortunately curdled into a climate of conformity and
outright repression during his time in office.
Especially once America entered World War One.
Exactly. Domestically, there was sweeping
repression driven by an intense push for national unity.
The Espionage Act of 1917 and the Sedition Act of 1918 were

(21:07):
passed. Criminalizing dissent.
Criminalizing dissent against the war effort or the
government. Imagine everyday citizens risk
jail time simply for criticizingconscription, the Red Cross, or
economic policies in a letter ora private conversation.
That sounds incredibly draconian, a complete
suppression of free speech. It was these acts allowed for

(21:28):
the jailing of thousands of political abundance and critics,
including prominent figures likethe socialist Eugene Debs.
Debs got 10 years for a speech. Ten years in prison for giving
an anti war speech that encourage resistance to the
draft. Newspapers were shuttered, mail
was censored and a climate of fear permeated the nation.
And the Committee on Public Information.
Furthermore, Wilson established the Committee on Public

(21:50):
Information, essentially a massive propaganda machine led
by journalist George Creole. Wow.
This committee unleashed a torrent of pro war propaganda,
shaping public opinion, demonizing Germany and stifling
any opposing viewpoints, ensuring that only the official
narrative prevailed. What's fascinating here is how
Wilson, the idealist on the global stage, advocating for

(22:13):
democracy and self determinationwith his 14 points.
Right, that global vision. Became so authoritarian at home,
overseeing such a dramatic curtailment of civil liberties.
It's a stark contract. It truly is, and it aligns
perfectly with the wave insight.Authoritarianism doesn't always
wear Jack boots. It often wears flags.
Explain that connection. Wilson's actions, while

(22:34):
authoritarian in nature, were clicked in the guise of
patriotism, national security, and the perceived necessity of
winning the war to end all wars and make the world safer.
Democracy. Presented as essential for the
mission abroad. Exactly.
But they severely curtailed civil liberties at home,
ironically undermining the very democratic principles he claimed

(22:54):
to champion. And we also have to talk about
his racial legacy. We absolutely do.
It's catastrophic. Despite his lofty rhetoric about
democracy, his administration actively rolled back civil
rights for black Americans. He resegregated the federal
workforce. Reversing years of progress.
Yes, progress that had allowed black employees to work
alongside white colleagues. It was the deliberate step

(23:15):
backward. And he also famously screened
The Birth of a Nation at the White House, didn't he?
That film glorified the Ku Klux Klan.
He did. He famously screened The Birth
of a Nation, a deeply racist film that glorified the Ku Klux
Klan and depicted Reconstructionas a time of black tyranny, at
the White House in 1915. Giving it presidential
validation. Which was incredibly damaging.

(23:35):
These actions fueled a second KuKlux Klan revival, which soared
in membership and influence during the 1920s and
significantly accelerated Jim Crow segregation.
A system designed to enforce racial hierarchy.
Denying Black Americans everything from voting rights to
basic dignity and access to public services across the
South. So his idealism, which he

(23:57):
preached for the world, clearly did not extend to all Americans,
particularly black Americans at home.
Exactly. This leads to another wave
insight. Idealism without inclusion
becomes exclusion. His internationalism, which
culminated in the ambitious League of Nations, an
organization he envisioned as a forum for collective security

(24:18):
and preventing future wars, failed to include meaningful
protections for minorities within nations or for colonized
peoples globally. So, a conditional exclusionary
vision of democracy. At its core, yes.
And finally, his post war visionfor the League of Nations
collapsed. He refused to compromise with
Senate Republicans led by Henry Cabot Lodge.

(24:39):
Who had concerns about sovereignty?
Legitimate concerns about US sovereignty and entanglement in
foreign conflicts. Wilson, stubbornly believing his
vision was perfect, would not budget his failing health after
a stroke in 1919 led to further political paralysis.
And the US never joined the league.
Never joined, fundamentally dooming its effectiveness from
the start. And this speaks to the idea that
movements rooted in ego cannot survive disagreement, as the

(25:02):
Wave suggests. His inability to compromise
seemed to contribute directly tothe league's downfall.
It certainly did. Was it idealism or personal
stubbornness? It's hard to separate.
But the outcome was a rigidity that ultimately undermined his
grand vision. His conviction became an
obstacle. A major obstacle to practical
politics, Wilson's legacy is undoubtedly complex and

(25:25):
contradictory. He gave the world powerful
rhetoric about self determination and democracy,
which we still echo today. Inspired independence movements.
Countless movements globally. But beneath that rhetoric was an
unwillingness to confront fundamental issues of
inequality, racism and domestic dissent at home.
So what did he leave behind? He left behind a federal

(25:45):
government that had become complicit in racial repression,
the architecture of what would become the national security
state, with its broad powers of surveillance and censorship, and
a chilling playbook. A playbook for using idealism to
silence opposition. Yes, in the name of national
unity he built a progressive mask, but what lay behind it
shaped a century of repression and the erosion of civil

(26:07):
liberties. V Warren G Harding, The Illusion
of Normalcy in Silent Decay, Part 31.
After the intensity and the highminded, if deeply flawed
idealism of Wilson, America seemed to exhale and just want
to settle down. Yeah, a collective sigh of
relief, maybe. That's where Warren G Harding
comes in, campaigning on a promise of normalcy after the
trauma of Warren Wilsonian overreach.

(26:30):
He won by a landslide. Truly tapping into that public
desire for calm and a return to simpler times.
And that desire for calm, for a respite from chaos, is
incredibly potent, isn't it? Especially after the immense
upheaval of World War I and the Progressive Era.
The wave insight is crystal clear here.
People fleeing chaos will followanyone who promises calm, no

(26:51):
matter what they conceal. The public desperately wanted
peace, predictability, and simplicity, and in that desire
they were often willing to accept conformity and often to
suppress dissent themselves, eager to believe in the promise
of stability. Harding's normalcy was designed
to soothe. Exactly to reduce the anxieties
of a nation tired of crusades and big government.

(27:11):
But what it actually entailed was a significant retreat from
justice and accountability and aprofound shift in national
priorities. And a stark silence on racial
violence and labor struggles, which seems to have had real
consequences. Almost a tacit approval of
injustice is Yes, precisely. Normalcy meant a halt to many
progressive reforms that had sought to address social and

(27:32):
economic inequalities. Instead, there was a hard turn
toward aggressively pro corporate policies.
Tax cuts for the wealthy. Deregulation.
Exactly. And yes, a stark silence from
the White House on pressing social issues.
During his presidency, black Americans faced A horrifying
resurgence of Ku Klux Klan terror.
The Klan reached its peak then. Peak membership and political

(27:54):
influence in the 1920s actively engaged in violence and
intimidation. Workers striking for fair wages
and better conditions, like the railroad shopman strike of 1922,
were brutally suppressed. Often with federal help.
Often with federal intervention on the side of employers.
Civil liberties constrained under Wilson remain that way,
often enforced by local authorities against dissenters.

(28:16):
This connects to another wave insight.
Yes, authoritarianism often thrives when the public seeks
comfort over clarity, the press and the public lulled by
Harding's geniality and the comforting promise of a quiet
return to an imagined past. They looked away.
Largely looked away from these uncomfortable truths, they chose

(28:37):
comfort over confronting the deep seated inequalities and
rising violence. It's almost as if the public was
so eager for calm that they actively avoided looking too
closely. And then there's the scandal.
Here's where it gets really interesting.
Oh yes, the scandals. Harding's administration became
infamous for widespread corruption.
Indeed, it became a byword for malfeasance.

(28:58):
We're talking about the infamousTeapot Dome scandal.
Explain Teapot Dome again the. Truly egregious case where
federal oil reserves in Wyoming and California intended for the
US Navy were secretly leased at bargain prices to private oil
companies without competitive bidding.
And bribes were involved. Massive bribes.
The Secretary of the Interior, Albert Fall, received huge

(29:19):
payouts for these leases. It was a betrayal of public
trust on an unprecedented scale.And that wasn't all, was it?
No. There's also massive graft in
the Veterans Bureau, where fundsmeant for injured soldiers
returning from the war were stolen or mismanaged, defrauding
those who had sacrificed the most.
Unbelievable. And his attorney general, Harry
Doherty, faced accusations of selling pardons and protection

(29:42):
from prosecution, essentially running a criminal enterprise
out of the Justice Department. The sheer scope of it was
staggering. So even if Harding himself
wasn't directly orchestrating these schemes, he clearly
enabled them by his choices and his lack of oversight.
Precisely weak leaders empower strong corruption.
As the Wave Insight powerfully notes, Harding's appointments

(30:04):
often based on personal loyalty rather than competence or
integrity. The Ohio Gang.
Right. His tendency to delegate
extensively and his overall blind eye to the questionable
activities of his Ohio Gang inner circle created an
environment where corruption flourished unchecked.
He wasn't a demagogue then. No, he didn't crave power in the
way a Wilson or Roosevelt might have, but he certainly craved a

(30:26):
peaceful life and the loyalty ofhis friends.
He was more of a passive vessel for silent decay, a genial man
out of his depth. And his sudden death in 1923.
Likely from a heart attack. Cut his presidency short, but
not before leaving a legacy of disillusionment and profound
public distrust in government. Which brings us to another wave
insight. Yes, a powerful one.

(30:48):
The danger isn't always in the tyrant.
It's in the vacancy where resistance should be.
How did Harding's presidency become a cautionary tale of
complicity? Because ignoring it isn't
neutral. Exactly.
It demonstrated that ignoring corruption and inequality for
the sake of comfort isn't neutral, it's an active form of
complicity. His legacy included a government
mired in scandal, a rising tide of racial terror and a chilling

(31:11):
model for smiling through collapse.
Where the veneer of normalcy concealed profound rot and
injustice. Wow 6 Calvin Coolidge, The
Gospel of Business and the QuietRoad to Collapse Part 32 And
that silent decay leads us directly to Calvin Coolidge,
silent cow, who rose to power after the Harding scandals,

(31:34):
promising dignity, restraint, and a return to morality in
government. Right.
The antidote to Harding, seemingly.
One might think this would be a breath of fresh air after the
corruption, A corrective measure.
But there's a different, perhapseven more insidious kind of
quiet danger here, isn't there? There is, and it's a profound
one, often misunderstood precisely because of his quiet
demeanor. While Coolidge didn't actively

(31:55):
suppress thought with force, hissilence itself was a potent
ideology. An ideology?
How so? A rigorous and almost religious
embrace of business at all costs.
As a Wave insight suggests, you have no right to laugh, no right
to think for yourself. You must accept everything.
So, acceptance of unregulated capitalism.
A widespread, almost unquestioning acceptance of

(32:16):
unregulated capitalism as the bedrock of American Society.
His policies were crystal clear.Aggressive slashing of taxes on
the wealthy. Sweeping deregulation of
industry. Meaning fewer rules for
businesses. Fewer government rules, yes, and
the gutting of Labor protections, weakening unions
and worker rights. Wall Street cheered, the rich

(32:37):
grew exponentially richer, and the government under Coolidge
simply shrank back from any meaningful oversight.
Which embodies another ways insight, yes.
When authority refuses to speak,the market speaks louder and for
fewer. His silence allowed the market,
and particularly powerful corporations and financial
institutions, to become the dominant voice in national life.

(32:58):
Often at the expense of the many.
Whose concerns simply went unaddressed.
So rather than addressing the imbalances or injustices, his
approach was to let the market sort it all out.
Which sounds like an abdication of governmental responsibility.
Doesn't. It it does in favor of a purely
economic agenda. It was Coolidge famously
believed that the business of America is business, and that

(33:18):
government should do little acting as a spectator even as
the economy boomed on paper. A theological belief in laissez
faire. Almost.
While corporate profits soared and new industries like
automobiles and radio flourished, workers were often
exploited with low wages and long hours, and farmers fell
deeper and deeper into debt as agricultural prices collapsed.

(33:40):
And he vetoed relief bills. He famously vetoed bills
designed to support struggling veterans, such as the bonus bill
and measures aimed at providing aid to impoverished farmers,
arguing that such interventions were an inappropriate federal
role and would lead to dependency.
Interfering with the natural order.
To him, yes, any government intervention was seen as a
disruption, almost an unnatural act.

(34:02):
This illustrates another wave insight, a system that worships
order above justice breeds inequality beneath the surface.
Explain that. His non interventionist stance,
while presented as creating a stable, orderly business
environment, actually contributed directly to massive
underlying economic inequality and social strain that fester
just beneath the surface of apparent prosperity.

(34:25):
This raises an important question.
What about the dangerous blurring of lines between
democracy and capitalism? Under Coolidge, it sounds like
economic success became synonymous with national virtue.
Precisely. Under Coolidge, corporations
became not just economic entities, but the very standard
bearers of American greatness, symbols of progress and freedom.

(34:46):
And advertising played a role. This period saw the rise of
modern advertising, which took on almost a priesthood role,
selling not just products but happiness, status and even
American identity itself, profoundly shaping consumer
culture and national values. Individual enterprise over
collective responsibility. Exactly.
The rhetoric became so pervasive, and when profit

(35:06):
becomes the national faith, the wave insight tells us, dissent
becomes heresy. So doubting the market was
unpatriotic. Doubt about the unbridled power
of corporations or the wisdom ofunchecked markets became
unpatriotic. Labor unions advocating for
workers rights and challenging corporate power were seen as
subversive, almost UN American. Their regulation was sacrilege.

(35:29):
Considered a direct attack on the national creed of business,
this period, often called the Roaring 20s, laid the tracks for
what was to come. Coolidge left office in 1929,
famously stating I do not chooseto run.
Just before the crash. He departed just months before
the stock market crashed, havingignored all the glaring signs of
instability, ballooning credit, rampant speculative bubbles in

(35:52):
the stock market, and the deepening inequality.
Leaving most Americans vulnerable.
With little savings in the name of market freedom, essential
government oversight was completely abandoned.
So he didn't cause the crash, but his quiet enablement, his
unwavering faith in unchecked capitalism, certainly set the
stage for the Great Depression. He certainly laid the tracks for
a catastrophic derailment. As the Wave Insight notes,

(36:15):
authoritarianism doesn't always come with a bang.
Sometimes it hums quietly until the silence breaks.
So Coolidge's quietness wasn't benign.
His quiet enablement of unchecked capital, his
unwavering belief that the market knew best and that
government should simply stand aside created the precise
conditions for the Great Depression.

(36:35):
And his legacy? His legacy left an unchecked
financial elite, a widening gap between rich and poor, and a
severely weakened civic structure that was utterly
unprepared for the cataclysmic crisis that followed.
His silence was far from neutral.
It actively empowered capital and left democracy adrift. 7
Herbert Hoover, The Collapse of Faith and the Tyranny of

(36:59):
Inaction, Part 33. And that quiet enablement by
Coolidge brings us directly to Herbert Hoover, who inherited
the brewing storm and soon the full blown collapse of the Great
Depression. Right.
Hoover walks into the hurricane.Hoover believed deeply in
American individualism, in the power of private charity, and in
moral fortitude as the fundamental solutions to any
crisis. He genuinely thought these core

(37:20):
American values would work. He did, and his story is 1 of
tragic adherence to a deeply beheld but ultimately failing
ideology in the face of unprecedented suffering, The
wave states. We are all part of a movement, a
movement to create a better world.
Hoover saw himself as upholding American ideals.
Indeed, he saw himself as part of a movement to uphold American

(37:42):
ideals of self-reliance. However, he clung to his ideals
of rugged individualism even as the Great Depression brutally
unraveled the lives of millions A.
Tyranny of inaction. His was a tyranny not of avert
force or oppression, but a devastating tyranny of inaction
in the face of widespread human suffering.
He didn't crush dissent with violence.

(38:03):
He simply ignored desperation and clung to a philosophy that
simply wasn't working. An experiment in denial.
His presidency became, in essence, an experiment in
denial. He steadfastly refused direct
federal aid for the unemployed, famously insisting for years
that prosperity was just around the corner.
Even as soup lines grew longer. Even as soup lines lengthened
and entire families lost their homes.
That must have felt like a crueljoke to people facing starvation

(38:26):
and homelessness, a complete disconnect from reality.
It absolutely was, and this highlights a critical wave
insight. Belief in a failing system
becomes a form of authoritarian loyalty, one that demands
sacrifice without solution. Explain that loyalty.
Hoover's unwavering dogma, his unshakeable faith in the self

(38:46):
correcting nature of the market,and the virtue of self-reliance
became a form of political paralysis.
He was so committed to his ideology that he could not or
would not adapt. Even as the crisis deepened.
To the unprecedented scale of the crisis, no.
By 1932, the country was in ruins.
Unemployment exceeded 20%, impacting nearly one in four
American workers. Banks collapse daily, wiping out

(39:08):
life savings. Children starving Hoovervilles.
Children were starving and makeshift shanty towns
derisively called Hoovervilles sprang up in every major city, a
stark testament to the widespread destitution.
And his response to the Bonus Army?
The Bonus Army 10s of thousands of World War One veterans who
marched on Washington in the summer of 1932, begging for
their promised service benefits.And he sent in the military.

(39:31):
He sent in the military, led by General Douglas MacArthur, to
drive them out with tear gas andbayonets.
It's cemented his image as the symbol of elite detachment,
utterly disconnected from the suffering of ordinary Americans.
It's hard to imagine a more potent symbol of a leader
turning their back on their own people.
Prioritizing abstract principlesover basic human needs?

(39:53):
Absolutely. When leaders prioritize ideology
over humanity, they turn their backs on the people they serve,
as the Wave Insight powerfully states.
His inaction was an apathy, though.
No, it was pure dogma. He genuinely feared that direct
government aid would destroy themoral fabric of the nation, that
it would foster dependency and undermine individual initiative.

(40:14):
Markets were sacred. To him, markets were sacred,
almost religious institutions, and any direct government
intervention in the economy was a dangerous heresy that would
lead to socialism. This moral rigidity only worsen
the collapse. Protecting banks but not people.
He preached self-reliance while millions went hungry, protecting
banks and corporations with loans while neglecting the

(40:35):
direct needs of the American people.
So his unwavering belief became a kind of self-imposed tragic
tyranny. A system where suffering was
almost a test of faith? Yes, a system built on
unchallenged belief becomes a cult, and suffering his
sacraments is the wave. So his ideology worsened the
crisis. His moral rigidity, his

(40:55):
unyielding faith in a failing economic theology, worsened the
crisis, prioritizing institutions and an abstract
ideal of economic liberty over the immediate, desperate needs
of individuals. And by 1932?
By the 1932 election, Hoover's credibility was utterly gone.
His policies have been tried andhad failed catastrophically,
paving the way for the dramatic shift embodied by Franklin D

(41:18):
Roosevelt. What was his legacy then?
His legacy was a nation in despair, a broken economic
theology that had been exposed as inadequate, and a cautionary
tale of how rigid ideology can paralyze governance and deep in
human misery. And the wave insight.
The wave insight reminds us whenthe system crumbles, what
replaces it is shaped by what we've learned or failed to

(41:38):
confront. Hoover's collapse was not just
economic, it was a profound moral and philosophical failure
of leadership that demanded A radical re evaluation. 8th
Franklin D Roosevelt, The Battlefor the Soul of Democracy, Part
34. And it was into that profound
despair and that broken Republicthat Franklin D Roosevelt

(42:00):
stepped. FDR arise.
This was a moment of global crisis.
Fascism was spreading across Europe like wildfire, promising
order and prosperity through authoritarian rule.
While capitalism seemed to be collapsing here.
Fostering a dangerous sense of hopelessness, FDR rose to power
and rather than abandoning democracy or retreating into
ideological dogma, he famously declared in his first inaugural

(42:22):
address. The only thing we have to fear
is fear itself. Exactly.
He didn't just seek to mend the economy.
He fundamentally reimagined democracy, positioning it as the
antidote to fear, despair and the allure of tyranny.
It was a critical moment. In 1933, the American economy
was truly in freefall. One in four Americans were
unemployed. Banks were failing daily.
People had lost their homes, their farms, their life savings.

(42:45):
A loss of wealth, but also faith.
The nation had lost not just itswealth, but its moral authority
and belief in itself. FDR declared it a war, stating
explicitly that democracy itselfmust fight for its survival.
Against economic collapse and internal erosion of faith.
And this is precisely where FDR becomes such a crucial figure in
understanding the dynamics of power and resistance, and

(43:08):
perhaps the most powerful counterexample to the
authoritarian tendencies we've discussed.
Absolutely, the wave insight emphasizes.
People don't abandoned democracybecause they hate freedom.
They abandon it when freedom stops working.
Roosevelt refused to let that happen.
He understood the crisis was deeper than just economics.
Yes, it was a crisis of faith indemocratic institutions.

(43:28):
He brilliantly channeled that widespread fear and despair into
civic renewal, rather than letting it devolve into
authoritarian conformity or complete societal collapse.
And the New Deal wasn't just economic.
What's fascinating here is how FDR's New Deal was not just an
economic program, though it certainly was that, implementing
massive federal spending to stimulate recovery.

(43:48):
It was profoundly spiritual and psychological.
How so? Like the Civilian Conservation
Corps CCC putting young men to work on environmental projects,
or the Works Progress Administration WPA employing
millions in public works and arts projects.
They weren't just about jobs. No, they were designed to
rebuild trust in institutions, restore dignity to a populace

(44:11):
that felt utterly abandoned and humiliated, and reinstall a
sense of shared purpose in a broken nation.
And things like Social Security,FDIC.
The establishment of Social Security, providing a safety net
for the elderly and unemployed, and radical bank reforms like
the FDIC, which ensured bank deposits were critical in
rebuilding confidence in the financial system.
It sounds like it was about reconnecting people to the idea

(44:33):
that their government could and should work for them.
Exactly that democracy could be a force for good in their daily
lives. It was a massive reconstruction
of the social contract, a redefinition of government's
role in society. And the wave insight here.
The wave insight states resistance to authoritarianism
isn't just rejection, it is construction of something

(44:54):
better, fairer and inclusive. The New Deal exemplified this by
actively building programs and institutions that were more
inclusive. Offering shared purpose.
Expanding democracy's reach. Yes, and FDR's true genius,
beyond his groundbreaking policies, was his mastery of
communication. His fireside chats were
revolutionary. Speaking directly to people over

(45:16):
the radio. Directly to millions of
Americans live into their homes.His calm, conversational and
empathetic voice replaced national panic with a renewed
sense of purpose and a clear explanation of what the
government was doing and why. Not just PR.
No, it was a psychological counterinsurgency against fear
itself, the very fuel that authoritarian rule thrives on.
He didn't crush dissent, he explained reality.

(45:39):
He didn't command obedience. He conversed with the people.
Making them feel seen and hurt. Valued as participants in the
national effort. That's a crucial distinction.
Authoritarian movements often begin when people feel unseen
and unheard, praying on that alienation.
While democracy survives when itlistens, as the wave suggests.
And he had to face the ultimate test on the global stage with

(45:59):
World War 2. Indeed, even as he reshaped
America at home, he faced the existential threat of fascism
abroad. In 1941, even before the US
entered the war, he declared theFour Freedoms.
Freedom of speech, Worship from want, from fear.
Yes, this wasn't just wartime rhetoric.
It was a powerful democratic manifesto, positioning democracy

(46:22):
as a defiant and robust ideologyfundamentally opposed to the
rising tide of tyranny globally.However, we have to acknowledge
the contradictions. It's vital.
Despite his expansive ideals, the internment of Japanese
Americans during the war stands as a stark stain on his record.
Over a 120,000 people incarcerated without due
process. Forcibly removed from their
homes and incarcerated based purely on their ancestry.

(46:45):
It was a grave injustice. And segregation persisted.
New Deal exclusions. Southern segregation endured,
and many crucial New Deal programs unfortunately excluded
Black Americans from full benefits, particularly in the
South, perpetuating racial inequalities and systemic
injustices. So even democracies, champions
can stumble, can be imperfect. That can.

(47:07):
But what matters is whether the ideals they champion are
expansive and critically self correcting.
Is there a built in mechanism for course correction?
That's. The essence of it, true
democratic ideals, while sometimes imperfectly applied by
their champions due to societal pressures or personal biases,
must be expansive enough to allow for self correction and

(47:29):
continued progress. Democracy allows for challenging
injustices eventually. The very mechanisms of
democracy, when functional, allow for the eventual
challenging and rectification ofsuch injustices.
FD Rs legacy is undoubtedly complicated by these
contradictions. But in a dark time.
In one of the darkest moments ofthe 20th century, he proved the
democracy could adapt, inspire and fight back against internal

(47:52):
collapse and external threats. What did he leave behind?
He left behind a revitalized Republic, a vision of government
as a servant to its people, actively working for their
well-being, not a ruler imposingits will.
And he solidified a spiritual defense against fear and
tyranny. Reminding America that democracy
requires participation. Constant participation, courage

(48:16):
and a willingness to evolve. Lessons from the deep dive.
So what does this all mean? When we bring together the
insights from these presidencies, it's quite a
journey. It really is a lot to unpack.
We've seen Theodore Roosevelt's expansion of executive power,
sometimes blurring the lines between liberation and control
through charisma and action. Then William Howard Taft's
legalistic restraint, which, despite good intentions,

(48:38):
inadvertently allowed old power structures to reassert
themselves. Because of that lack of counter
narrative and fractured reform. Exactly, then, Woodrow Wilson's
journey from democratic idealismto sweeping domestic repression,
showing how noble intentions cancurdle when fear takes over.
Warren G Harding's promise of normalcy, that mass silent decay
and corruption, showing how seeking comfort can lead to

(49:00):
complicity. Followed by Calvin Coolidge's
quiet embrace of business as gospel, laying the tracks for
economic collapse through unchecked enablement of capital.
And Herbert Hoover's paralyzed inaction, a tyranny of ideology
that tragically prioritized dogma over human suffering,
leading to despair. And finally, Franklin D
Roosevelt's battle for democratic renewal, showing how

(49:22):
hope, active government and communication can channel fear
into civic engagement and rebuild a nation.
Wow, so the patterns are there. What's truly striking are the
recurring wave insights throughout these distinct
historical periods, the seductive allure of order, the
insidious dangers of unexamined beliefs and ideologies, the.
Critical importance of vigilant civic engagement.

(49:44):
And the constant ongoing battle for the very soul of democracy
itself. These historical patterns reveal
how democracy can be challenged not just by overt tyrants.
But also by complacency, by narrow ideologies, and, maybe
most dangerously, by the absenceof vigilant act of resistance
from the populace. Absolutely understanding these
historical currents provides a vital road map for recognizing

(50:07):
challenges to freedom and liberty in any era, urging you
to draw your own connections to the complexities of the present
moment. This isn't just history, it's a
living lesson exactly shaping the future.
This deep dive into history isn't just about understanding
the past as a collection of dusty facts.
It's about equipping you with vital knowledge for the future.

(50:27):
Yeah, that's the goal. The lessons we've we've
extracted today are incredibly relevant and we strongly
encourage you to take these insights and discuss them with
others. Talk about it.
Share it. Share what you've learned,
debate the nuances, challenge your own assumptions, and help
spread this understanding both in person and online.
Historical awareness is a powerful tool.

(50:47):
It really is. And if we connect this to the
bigger picture, it's about more than just discussion.
It's about empowering you to take action.
Be part of the future you want to see.
Exactly actively resisting any slide toward authoritarianism.
A truly invaluable place to start is by exploring the
teachings and resources from alfeinstein.org.

(51:08):
Einstein.org. Yes, we specifically recommend
Gene Sharp's Seminole work From Dictatorship to Democracy, which
is freely available on their website.
OK, from dictatorship to democracy.
This incredible book outlines practical strategies for
nonviolent revolution, drawing on historical examples to
demonstrate how millions of people around the world have

(51:29):
successfully taken back their freedom and reshaped their
societies through collective nonviolent action.
So this isn't just theory, it's a proven path.
It is so if you're feeling move to act, consider exploring or
even joining existing nonviolentmovements.
Groups like 5051 Indivisible or No Kings offer different

(51:51):
approaches to grassroots organizing and resistance.
Or you can start your own. Or if those don't quite fit,
remember you can always build your own local resistance
movement. Every action, no matter how
small, contributes to shaping the world we want to live.
In empowering people to take back their freedom through
nonviolent revolution. Just as millions have done
before. It's about being proactive, not

(52:11):
reactive. It's about being part of the
future you want to see, not the one that others might impose.
Well said, and if you found thisdeep dive useful, if it sparked
something in you, please take a moment to like, share, and
subscribe to our show. Yeah, that really helps us out.
Your support helps us reach morepeople and our goal is to get to
1,000,000 subscribers to empowereven more individuals with this

(52:33):
vital understanding of history and it's crucial ongoing
lessons. So as you go about your day,
consider this provocative thought for the listener to
ponder. OK, what structures, systems, or
silences in your own world mightbe quietly democratic
principles? And what is your role in shaping
the current rather than simply letting the tide carry you?

(52:54):
That's a powerful question for all of us to consider.
Remember, understanding history isn't just about the past, it's
the crucial first step towards actively shaping the future.
We've seen the tide turn before,from liberty to fear, from truth
to control. But this is not the end.
This is our call to stand your eyes, to rebuild.
Because democracy is not a gift,it's a choice.

(53:16):
Every day, in shiles cast by tyrant's hand, where truth was
drowned beneath the sand, we heard the cry from far and wide,
a silent scream. The stars get high from
Epstein's dark, unsealed decay to bump it.
Laws that strip away the mask has slipped, the right exposed,
the halls of power now deposed. But through the noise, a spark

(53:38):
remained. A voice not thought, not bent,
Unchained. A cannon take, not born from
gold, but fire. Just as stories to run the
ashes, we rise like the dawn breaking lies with the way.
There's our guide. We reclaim what survived, not
just for one, but for all. We, the people here, the culture

(53:59):
of the world, we unite. But we born in the light before
cries ringing out afar to blood red lines.
In Kandahar, authoritarians fed the flame, but millions rose and
spoke our name. The firewall built from every
voice. Survivors made the noblest
choice to leave, to speak, to build a new, a global dream long

(54:22):
overdue. The truth they feared.
We now declare the world's not theirs.
We all must care. From cave to Flint, from Gaza
shore, no whelms. Peace anymore.
From the ashes we rise. It's like the dawn breaking lies
with the wave. As our guide we reclaim and
survive, not just for one life for all.

(54:44):
We, the people here, the call tothe wall, we unite, or we born
in the light and about left to right, it's about
right and wrong. The wave taught us how it

(55:05):
happened, slowly, subtly, than all at once.
But we've learned, we've seen, and we've chosen.
Never again. From the ashes we rise, no more
heart for more lies. With the will in our stride, we
unite the world Wide tide, a newleader, Fortune, flame.

(55:26):
Not for power, for the name of every voice that dares to find
the reborn in the light. We are.
We are the Wave, and this time we choose the light.

(55:54):
We are the Wave, and this time we choose the light.

(56:38):
We've learned, we've seen, then we've chosen ever again.
From the ashes we arise. No more hate, no more lies with
the wave. Taught us how it happens slowly,
subtly than all at once. But we've learned, we've seen,
and we've chosen. Never again.