June 1, 2025 • 36 mins
Two notable deaths this week create a fascinating connection to America's past: Phil Robertson of Duck Dynasty and Harrison Ruffin Tyler, the grandson of America's 10th president John Tyler.
• Phil Robertson's testimony of transformation from troubled life to a Christian that impacted millions
• Harrison Tyler was the direct grandson (not great or great-great) of President John Tyler who was born in 1790
• This remarkable connection possible because both John Tyler and his son had children very late in life
• President Tyler's grandson Harrison lived until 2024, showing how brief American history truly is
• America's entire history from founding to present can fit within just four long lifespans
• Harrison Tyler led a meaningful life as chemical engineer, businessman, and preservationist
• John Tyler established crucial precedent of presidential succession when William Henry Harrison died
• Reflecting on our connection to history helps us understand our place in America's ongoing story
• Important to consider historical context when examining figures from America's past
He heals those who have broken hearts and takes care of their wounds. - Psalm 147:3
Over Opinionated is hosted by an average blue-collar worker that was born and raised in Middle Appalachia. Growing up, Josh Scott was always told he was “Over Opinionated” and thus the Over Opinionated Podcast was born. In this Podcast, He will be taking a look at Politics, Religion, world events and news, sports, and another topic I might find interesting to talk about on the show. With special guests, Bible Verses, and more you will never know what to expect next.
Thank you all for your patience while I have been working on the audio technical difficulties.
If you would like to support this podcast, please consider donating to the show at Over opinionated | Patreon The money that is donated will be used to help upgrade the quality of the podcast. Donations are NOT required at all. if you are unable to donate, just keep me in your prayers, it helps so much more than money ever could.
Thank you for your time. Please enjoy and if you like the podcast feel free to check out my other episodes listed on my page. God Bless you All.
- Josh Scott, Host of Over Opinionated.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Okay, everybody, welcome back to Overopinionated.
This is probably going to be ashort little podcast.
I want to talk about somethingthat I think is very interesting
, kind of cool in a way.
But I'm going to give you allthat, and after this podcast I
am going to get into the life ofDavid as we analyze King
(00:24):
David's life.
I know it sounds like you keepputting it off, but when this
came up, if I focused part of iton this and then part of it on
the life of David, I don't thinkit would have went very well.
So I'm just going to split itup into two, maybe two smaller
podcasts, and then we'll getinto the life of King David,
starting in 1 Samuel 15-16.
(00:50):
But before we get into today'spodcast, getting there heavy,
I'm going to start us off byreading us the Lord's Prayer and
the Apostles' Creed, as Ialways do.
Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done on earth as itis in heaven.
Also, I'm going to read theApostles' Creed.
(01:11):
I think it's good to have areminder.
The Apostles' Creed is notscripture, but I really do
(01:33):
believe everything in it isbacked up in the scripture, the
Apostles' Creed.
I believe in God, the FatherAlmighty, maker of heaven and
earth, and in Jesus Christ.
His only Son, our Lord, whichwas conceived by the Holy Ghost,
born of the Virgin Mary,suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead and buried.
(01:56):
He descended into hell.
The third day he arose from thedead.
He ascended into heaven and satat the right hand of God, the
Father Almighty.
From.
Therefore, he shall come tojudge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost,the Holy Catholic Church, the
communion of the saints, theforgiveness of sins, the
(02:17):
resurrection of the body and thelife everlasting.
Remember, many people interprethell as just a grave.
It's a little debated, but theHoly Catholic Church just means
the universal church that youand I are part of, not the Roman
Catholic Church.
(02:37):
Catholic just means universal.
Well, this past week there hasbeen two deaths and I'm sad
about them that have reallystood out to me that I wanted to
address in this podcast.
One would be a late reality TVstar, phil Robertson.
(03:00):
Also, he did a lot in theministry.
His denomination was the Churchof Christ.
I have some disagreements withthe Church of Christ, but I
definitely think he's a bornagain believer.
I had the privilege of seeinghim give a testimony at Liberty
University.
It was either in 2015 or 2014,I can't remember, but it was a
(03:24):
men's conference and he came andhe stole the show.
It was absolutely amazingwatching him.
He brought his duck call.
He had his Bible.
It was taped up.
You could tell that he read alot in that Bible and he
probably only read from oneBible.
I'm a little bit different.
I read from multiple differentBibles, but that one was barely
(03:45):
hanging on.
But that's not a bad sign.
I wanted to play you all a clipof his testimony but my audio
would not allow that and Iapologize.
Just if you type in the YouTubePhil Robertson testimony,
you'll get an amazing testimonyabout how he ran away from the
Lord for many years, got savedat 28,.
(04:06):
A heavy drinker and a cheater,an adulterer, that God totally
turned his life around After heaccepted Christ totally turned
his life around.
He reached millions of peoplefor his show.
(04:26):
So I really do look up to himin that way.
He actually he has a story thatif you didn't know it was true,
you'd think it's crazy, but heactually started football at
Louisiana Tech over PittsburghSteeler Terry Bradshaw, who
(04:47):
would go on to be a Hall ofFamer for my favorite Pittsburgh
Steelers football team and wonfour Super Bowls.
So Phil Robertson has startedover Terry Bradshaw when he was
playing and then gave it upbecause his love of the outdoors
.
God definitely used him.
In our prayer with the Robertsonfamily as they go through this
(05:11):
hard time.
Death is a horrible thing, butwhen you're going to go and
we're all going to go if theLord doesn't come back before
it's our time, you want atestimony like his.
You want a testimony not thatyou have to do a bunch of, not
(05:32):
that you have to have the worstresume possible of being a
sinner before you get saved, butjust a total redemption and
love that Christ had for thatman and that he had for Christ
is amazing.
I also want to talk about thedeath of someone else and it
(05:54):
might sound strange at facevalue Of the 10th President of
the United States.
John Tyler passed away at 95years old or sorry, 96 years old
in Richmond, virginia today.
Harrison Ruffin Tyler, he is notthe great-grandson, he is not
(06:20):
the great-great-grandson, he isthe grandson of 10th President
John Tyler.
I'm going to read you anarticle about his life.
I'm going to read you guys anarticle.
It's always good to pull up thearticle.
I'm not a great reader, so gety'all pull up the article.
You can find it at theRichmonder Harrison Ruffin Tyler
(06:42):
, grandson of the 10th Presidentof the United States and
longtime Richmonder, dies at 96.
Since 2020, harrison Tyler wasthe last surviving link to a
vanished America.
The Richmond resident andchemical engineer, a man who
founded water treatment companyChemtreat and from whom William
(07:05):
and Mary History Department isnamed, also had the distinction
of being the grandson of a manwho became US President in 1841.
As long as he lived, much ofthe great sweep of American
(07:26):
history could contain in justfree generations of memory.
But on Memorial Day weekend in2025, tyler died five years
after his last remaining brotherDuring the executive decor of
the Sherwood Forest PlantationFoundation, which operates the
(07:48):
Tyler's Familyel Tyler and SusieRufkin.
His father was the son ofPresident John Tyler and
(08:14):
President of William and Maryfor more than three decades.
His mother came from anotherVirginia family of long lineage
and adorned of supportingslavery and succession.
How a man living in the 21stcentury managed to become the
grandson of one born in the 18this due to one factor Father who
(08:38):
had children late in life.
President, john Tyler was 70,I'm sorry, was 63 when Lionel
Tyler was born.
Lionel was 75 when Harrisonentered the world.
So you're having PresidentTyler was 63 when his son Lionel
was born and then Lionel was 75when Harrison was born.
(09:01):
So they were having babiespretty late when Harrison was
born.
So they were having babiespretty late.
And that's why someone lastweek just died that was related
to the 10th President of theUnited States because how late
they were having children.
The connection landed HarrisTyler attended throughout his
(09:24):
life.
At age 8, he was invited to theWhite House to meet President
Franklin D Roosevelt.
He's been featured in numerousstories throughout his life,
particularly as he rose in ageand the idea that a grandson of
a pre-Civil War president couldstill be among us became ever
(09:44):
more fascinating.
But Tyler was more than hisfamily.
After attending St ChristopherSchool in Richmond, he graduated
William Mary Lady Astor paidfor his $5,000 tuition, although
he had never met.
That's nice.
(10:04):
Imagine tuition only being$5,000 tuition although he had
never met.
That's nice.
Imagine tuition only being$5,000.
Going all the way for schooland graduating.
That's a different world.
And then Virginia Tech, wherehe studied chemical engineering.
In 1968, he and businesspartner Will P Simmons founded
the industrial water treatmentcompany Chemtreat, and Glenn
(10:28):
Allen serviced the big-ticketclients like Phil Morris and
Kraft in 1989.
The pair became transfer ownersof the company to an employee
who archives a controllinginterest in 2000.
When Tyler and Simmons retired,the company eventually bought
(10:51):
by the Dancer Company.
In his later years, tyler alsobecame a preservationist
preservationist.
In 1975, he acquired theSherwoods Forest Plantations
(11:12):
from relatives and restored itwith his wife, frances Plain
Tyler.
The property, which is open tothe public and operation by the
foundation, today boasts notonly the longest farmhouse in
America.
They boast not only the longestfarmhouse in America, but a
ghost known as the Gray Lady,who has been hired rocking in
(11:37):
one of the house's rooms forover 200 years.
In 1996, tyler bought andfinanced the preservation of
Fort Pocahontas, a Civil Warartwork near Shirley Forest that
had been built by blacksoldiers of the Union, us
Colonel Colored Troops, and in2001, he donated thousands of
papers and books, as well as $5million, to William and Mary's
(11:59):
Historical Department, which wasrenamed in his honor in 2021.
At the time of his death, tylerhad been living in the Richmond
area nursing home, where he hadbeen cared for since a dementia
diagnosis.
His wife died in 2019 and he is, and he is survived by three
children and a number ofgrandchildren.
(12:22):
I think that's amazing.
I hate that he has passed away.
I hate that his last few dayswere in a nursing home as well,
but the 10th grandson I'm sorry,not the 10th the grandson of
the 10th president of the UnitedStates, john Tyler, passed away
(12:45):
.
I think May 27th was the dateand he was born in 1928.
That's truly, truly amazing.
That makes you feel like itkind of shows you that we're not
as separated from our past aswe believe.
(13:09):
Obviously, john Tyler's beengone for a while.
I actually want to read you guysa little bit about John Tyler,
his grandfather.
Now, he never met hisgrandfather and the sad thing
about him having a child so late, and I'll be honest, I don't
know how much of his father heknew, but I have to.
(13:31):
I'm sure he knew his father.
Probably not a whole lot, sincehis father had him in his 70s.
Then um harrison lived to be 96years old and his brother, his
twin brother, lived to be closeto 90 years old, if he wasn't 90
, I think he was 89, but I thinkhe was 90.
(13:54):
So they both lived long lives.
So I want to read you guys alittle bit about President John
Tyler.
He was born March 28th in 1790.
Okay, this man's grandson justdied last week Well, this week,
sorry, just died this week,depend on when you listen to
(14:14):
this podcast and his grandfatherwas born March 29th 1790.
That's incredible.
I understand it's because theyboth had children late, but that
is incredible.
That this man's grandfather,who just now died at age 97, was
(14:37):
born in 1790.
Remember the Constitution was Ithink the Constitution was
ratified in 1789, so one yearafter the Constitution was
ratified in 1789.
So one year after theConstitution was ratified.
That's insane.
He was born March 29, 1790 inCharles City County, virginia.
(14:59):
He passed away on January 18,1862 in the middle of the Civil
War in Richmond, virginia.
He graduated from the Collegeof William and Mary at the age
of 17.
He was a lawyer and politician.
He was married twice, I believehis first wife passed away.
He had 15 children the most ofany US president and his last
(15:25):
child, you know, had Harrison'sson at a late age.
His political career before thepresidency he was a member of
the Virginia House of Delegatesfrom 1811 to 1816, beginning his
political career in the statelegislature.
(15:45):
He was a US representative from1816 to 1821, advocating for
states' rights and limitedgovernment.
He was the governor of Virginiafrom 1825 to 1826, until he
became the senator from Virginiain 1827 to 1836, he opposed
(16:09):
Andrew Jackson, left theDemocratic Party and joined the
Whig Party, and I imagine thatis because of Andrew Jackson
being more forceful with theSouth over tariffs.
I'm probably about certain thatthat's why he left the
Democratic or just became theDemocratic Party before then it
(16:31):
was the Democratic RepublicanParty and joined the Whigs.
I can about guarantee you thatthat's why.
So he was elected vicepresident under William Henry
Harrison in 1840 as a part ofthe Whig Party.
He became the 10th president ofthe United States after Harrison
(16:52):
died just 31 days into his term.
So Harrison served a very shortterm.
He gave a very long speech athis inauguration and got a cold
and died.
That really happened.
And their slogan was tip acanoe and died.
That really happened.
And their slogan was Tippecanoeand Tyler too.
(17:13):
And then John Tyler was theTyler in that Tippecanoe and
Tyler too.
He was the first vice presidentto become president due to the
death of the sitting president,establishing the precedent for
presidential succession, andthat was kind of a controversy
(17:33):
and Tyler put his foot down.
He said no, I am the vicepresident, I am the president
now because the vice presidentwill become the president.
Some members of Congress calledhim the acting vice president
to kind of spite him becausethey didn't like him being the
president.
But it's true, he was thepresident and he established
(17:55):
that precedent that we hold tothis day.
And now it's in an amendmentform, so now we don't have to
worry about it.
Majors, his major accomplishmentis president number one the
annexation of Texas.
In 1845.
He pushed for the annexation ofTexas into the Union, though
(18:20):
finally authorized underpresident James K Polk.
Tyler laid the groundwork forthat.
The Webster Amherst TreatyPresident James K Polk Tyler
laid the groundwork for that.
The Webster Amherst Treatyresolved border issues between
the US and British Canada,particularly in Maine and
Minnesota.
The Florida Admission 1845.
Florida was amended.
(18:41):
They were allowed to come tothe United States as the 27th
state.
During his final days of theadministration he vetoed a lot
of Whig legislation, severalbills proposed by the Whig
controlled Congress, especiallythose to create a new national
(19:02):
bank, which alienated him fromhis own party.
So his own party was upsetabout his veto power.
First presidential impeachmentattempt.
He was the first, although notimpeached.
The House introduced aresolution concerning him,
making him the first seriousdiscussion of a presidential
(19:23):
impeachment in US history.
Although he was never impeachedPost-presidency and the Civil
War involvement Retired to hisplantation in Virginia in 1861.
He was elected to theConfederate House of
Representatives, siding with theSouth there in the Civil War.
He died before taking his seatand was not officially mourned
(19:44):
in Washington DC due to hisConfederate allegiance.
And there's actually a littlebit of a story that when he died
he was an elected congressmanfor the Confederacy, he
supported the Confederacy, heran for the house, for the newly
established house in theConfederate States of America.
(20:07):
And when he died I believebefore he died it wasn't looking
good and he asked PresidentJefferson Davis not to have a
huge funeral, just have a smallfuneral.
But Jefferson Davis didn't carebecause it's good publicity and
(20:27):
because it was a.
It was a good way to promotethe calls of the new country
trying to establish itsindependence.
So he threw this huge funeralum paraded him through the
streets of richmond, goingthrough, going against his
wishes, um, which I think isjust.
I just think it's a funny storyfrom the war.
(20:48):
Continuing reading a little bitabout him.
He died before he was able totake his seat in the Confederate
House of Representatives.
He was not mourned inWashington.
The flag was not flown at halfstaff, flagg was not flown at
(21:09):
half staff and his legacy oftenranked as one of the more
controversial or less efficientpresidents due to clashes with
both parties in the support ofthe Confederacy.
Nevertheless, he played a keyrole in shaping the
constitutional understanding ofpresidential succession, which
is really big.
Actually, he actually does havea big part in how we view the
(21:34):
role of succession in thepresidency debate.
He just does that once thepresident dies, steps down or is
removed from office.
Steps down or is removed fromoffice, um, either by his
cabinet or either by asuccessful impeachment and
removal hearing.
Then the vice president becomesthe president of the United
(21:56):
States.
John Tyler stepped that through.
Even though the annexation ofTexas is political and it had
causes of slavery and the CivilWar, it was a big deal for the
United States to get Texas.
It was a big deal for theUnited States to get Florida and
men into the Union.
Regardless of how you feel aboutthe Confederacy, most people
(22:19):
think very negatively about it,and I understand One day I will
have a podcast on that.
I'm a little hesitant becauseof how controversial it is.
At one point, I was concernedabout if it maybe hurt me
politically and it probablywould but I'm more concerned
about how my view of thosethings, how I go about those
(22:39):
things, could hurt someone fromreaching the gospel.
I think slavery is horrible.
I think the way slavery waspracticed in the South was
horrible.
I also believe that the Southhad the right to leave the Union
, and I think, though I thinkslavery is the biggest cause,
yes, but not the only cause, andI think there's a lot more
(23:01):
nuance to the Civil War thanpeople give it credit for.
I believe all people were madein God's image, regardless of
skin color, and this was ahorrible thing that you know.
Throughout, all of humanity,just about people have looked at
other people of different skincolors as lesser.
(23:21):
Some people still do that tothis day, and they shouldn't,
but this was something that hitheads in 1861.
I have no problem with theoutcome of the war, other than
the devastation caused to people, um, who didn't make it home.
(23:48):
You know, um, I don't have toplay this game.
Do I wish they would have wonor not, because I believe God is
sovereign and I don't have toplay a game of well, what if
this didn't happen?
What if Constantinople didn'tfall?
What if this happened?
What if history would have beenmade better?
God is sovereign, god knowswhat he is doing, even if it
(24:12):
looks like we would rather it gothe other way.
I'm a proud American citizen ofthe United States of America.
I'm a proud Virginian.
I'm also not ashamed to discussthis hard topic with nuance.
I don't believe everyone whofought under the Confederate
flag is evil and I don't believethat the Confederacy was wrong
(24:36):
for leaving the Union.
Let me clarify this I don'tbelieve that they were wrong in
exercising their right to leavethe Union, union that they had
the right to do that.
I do believe that the 10thAmendment allows states to leave
this union.
Now the Supreme Court disagreedwith me in a case versus Texas
(24:59):
in 1868.
I simply disagree with theSupreme Court.
That's all that goes to that.
And that ruling was before 1861, when the South left the Union.
So that would not be implicitof could the South leave or not
(25:19):
at that time.
And the way I see it and youcan disagree with me, that's
fine.
That's not my point.
My point isn't to advocate forJohn Tyler or to advocate for
the Confederacy in this.
My point is to show you that wewere two lifespans, two long
(25:43):
lifespans, away from this andthat American history is short.
John Tyler was born in 1790.
And the revolution started andbegan in 1775 and 1776.
We declared independence inJuly 4, 1776.
(26:05):
We declared independence inJuly 4, 1776.
You know a little over two verylong lifespans, oh sorry, three
very, very long lifespans, fourlife.
You could put America's historytogether with four very long
(26:26):
lifespans.
From the foundation of thecountry till now, our country is
250 years old.
We're not that old.
We're a pretty young country.
We're pretty young bucks.
The history of the new world inthe United States compared to
Europe, when you look at Europe,when you look at England very
(26:46):
old, very old history comparedto us, um has a lot more
historical value.
I work in a building right nowwhere they're not allowed to
take certain things down, and Ilove history.
I don't want to get rid ofhistory.
They're not allowed to takecertain things down, like water
(27:07):
fountainsains in certain areas,because that building used to be
a hospital and it was erectedin the 60s.
It was erected like four yearsbefore my dad was born.
That's not super historical.
Okay, it's a 64-year-old waterfountain that no one uses and it
(27:29):
looks bad.
There's an old saying that Ithink is true In America, 100
years is a long time.
In Britain, in the UnitedKingdom, 100 miles is a long
time.
That's true because the UnitedStates is a huge country.
We are a huge country and youlook at Britain, it's not a
(27:51):
super small country, but, man,we're a lot bigger, a whole
whole lot bigger.
Um we're, we're still a youngcountry.
Um we're, we are still veryyoung country in terms of
history.
And, uh, I sometimes think itis good to look back and see
(28:11):
where we are now, where we'vebeen, and try to get us in a
good place of where we're goingto.
That was mainly my whole pointof the episode.
We're a young country.
I thought the story was amazingthat the 10th president of the
United States has a livinggrandson until last week.
(28:31):
And you know, sometimes it'sgood to look back.
I hate that Mr Tyler passedaway and I hate that Phil
Robertson passed away.
I don't know, I didn't researchTyler's religious beliefs.
I hope he was saved.
I really do and pray for hisfamily, too in this hard time.
(28:54):
But you know, I was moreconcerned about looking back in
the past, through history, withhis death, and going back to his
grandfather, through history,with his death, and going back
to his grandfather, who was the10th president of the United
States of America, formergovernor of Virginia, former
member of the House of Delegates, and he's the only president in
(29:17):
American history to be born, Imean to die and be buried under
a flag that wasn't that of theUnited States as the Confederate
States, and I'm sure a lot ofpeople would probably tell me
not to talk about these types ofthings.
I believe in openness andtransparency and honesty.
I believe that's the only wayto go.
(29:38):
I'm not going to shy away fromit.
Hopefully you can see my heartand know that I'm not a horrible
racist person, but I can't makesomeone believe that.
But I'm not going to shy awayfrom my beliefs Now.
Do I form new beliefs over time?
Have I looked at things?
Have I solved them on issues?
Yes, I have, and I've changedmy mind on issues and I'm going
(30:03):
to change my mind again.
If you never change your mindon an issue, that's not always a
good thing.
I'm not saying that you shouldbe unstable and double-minded,
as the book of James tells usnot to be.
I do think we should learn andgrow.
I believe all people are madein God's image, regardless of
(30:27):
color or where you're from orwhat language you speak.
But I do think sometimes it'seasy to look back in the past
with our modern morals, with ourmodern realities, and say how
awful and evil these Southernerswere and I'm all for condemning
(30:48):
the evils that was in the Southand I have, and I will condemn
that.
But I'm also not going to lookat it.
I'm also not going to judgethem as a 21st century man when
they weren't, when they werealive in the 1800s and the 1700s
, late 1700s and mid-1800s.
(31:13):
That's not fair.
I'm not going to do that.
But my whole point was to showyou that we're not so separated
from our past as we may thinksometimes.
Now that's not to say that weshould just say well, it's me,
look at my family history, Ican't do anything.
No, I mean there's been under.
(31:35):
I do believe there's privileges, absolutely, and a lot of that
comes with class and money andwealth and history that feeds
into that.
I agree with that.
But that doesn't mean thatyou're being kept down today
because of what happenedyesterday.
Necessarily it could mean thatit might be harder for you, I
(31:57):
agree with that, but it doesn'tmean that you can't accomplish
your goals today.
Because don't let the mediagive you the fetus mindset.
Just don't do it.
Don't give them that gratitude.
Don't let the media give youthe fetus mindset.
Just don't do it.
Don't give them that gratitude.
Don't let them divide us, okay,don't let them divide us like
that.
We are one race, the human race,and I just wanted to say that I
(32:22):
think this is an interestingepisode.
Next week I am going to try toget back on King David, but see,
it took us about 30 minutes.
We're normally an hour to45-minute podcast, but it would
have been crazy for me to go offall of this and then go into
the first chapters of David'slife that we see in the Bible.
(32:42):
So I'm not going to do that.
So next week, or halfwaythrough the week, I'm going to
drop the first episode of theLife of David and we're going to
go through it.
We're just going to go throughit chapter by chapter, verse by
verse, the Life of King David,and I felt pretty strongly about
doing that series for a whileand I think we're going to do
biblical character stories wherewe just go through the Bible
(33:05):
each day.
But I want to give you guys theverse of the day and then I'll
let you all go.
Today's verse of the day comesfrom the book of Psalms, the
147th chapter and the thirdverse in the New International
Version.
He heals those who have brokenhearts and takes care of their
(33:26):
wounds.
He heals those who have brokenhearts and takes care of those
wounds.
If you have a wound todaybecause someone has hurt you,
because you've lost a loved one,jesus can heal them.
None of us are getting off ofthis planet unless the Lord
(33:47):
comes back, but we can haveredemption in Jesus.
When we lose loved ones thatare in Jesus, we can have a sigh
of relief and this is also whywe need to spread the gospel and
pray for the lost and keepthose families in your prayers
that lost those two gentlementhis week.
(34:09):
And also this verse could workfor the pains of the past, the
sins of the past of the Southand the United States.
Commonwealth of Virginia.
God can heal those wounds andlet us not be beholden to them.
God bless you all, I hope youhave a great day.
(34:30):
We'll see you here next weekWith the first chapters of the
life of King David.
Okay, everybody, welcome back to Overopinionated.
This is probably going to be ashort little podcast.
I want to talk about somethingthat I think is very interesting
, kind of cool in a way.
But I'm going to give you allthat, and after this podcast I
am going to get into the life ofDavid as we analyze King
(00:24):
David's life.
I know it sounds like you keepputting it off, but when this
came up, if I focused part of iton this and then part of it on
the life of David, I don't thinkit would have went very well.
So I'm just going to split itup into two, maybe two smaller
podcasts, and then we'll getinto the life of King David,
starting in 1 Samuel 15-16.
(00:50):
But before we get into today'spodcast, getting there heavy,
I'm going to start us off byreading us the Lord's Prayer and
the Apostles' Creed, as Ialways do.
Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done on earth as itis in heaven.
Also, I'm going to read theApostles' Creed.
(01:11):
I think it's good to have areminder.
The Apostles' Creed is notscripture, but I really do
(01:33):
believe everything in it isbacked up in the scripture, the
Apostles' Creed.
I believe in God, the FatherAlmighty, maker of heaven and
earth, and in Jesus Christ.
His only Son, our Lord, whichwas conceived by the Holy Ghost,
born of the Virgin Mary,suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead and buried.
(01:56):
He descended into hell.
The third day he arose from thedead.
He ascended into heaven and satat the right hand of God, the
Father Almighty.
From.
Therefore, he shall come tojudge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost,the Holy Catholic Church, the
communion of the saints, theforgiveness of sins, the
(02:17):
resurrection of the body and thelife everlasting.
Remember, many people interprethell as just a grave.
It's a little debated, but theHoly Catholic Church just means
the universal church that youand I are part of, not the Roman
Catholic Church.
(02:37):
Catholic just means universal.
Well, this past week there hasbeen two deaths and I'm sad
about them that have reallystood out to me that I wanted to
address in this podcast.
One would be a late reality TVstar, phil Robertson.
(03:00):
Also, he did a lot in theministry.
His denomination was the Churchof Christ.
I have some disagreements withthe Church of Christ, but I
definitely think he's a bornagain believer.
I had the privilege of seeinghim give a testimony at Liberty
University.
It was either in 2015 or 2014,I can't remember, but it was a
(03:24):
men's conference and he came andhe stole the show.
It was absolutely amazingwatching him.
He brought his duck call.
He had his Bible.
It was taped up.
You could tell that he read alot in that Bible and he
probably only read from oneBible.
I'm a little bit different.
I read from multiple differentBibles, but that one was barely
(03:45):
hanging on.
But that's not a bad sign.
I wanted to play you all a clipof his testimony but my audio
would not allow that and Iapologize.
Just if you type in the YouTubePhil Robertson testimony,
you'll get an amazing testimonyabout how he ran away from the
Lord for many years, got savedat 28,.
(04:06):
A heavy drinker and a cheater,an adulterer, that God totally
turned his life around After heaccepted Christ totally turned
his life around.
He reached millions of peoplefor his show.
(04:26):
So I really do look up to himin that way.
He actually he has a story thatif you didn't know it was true,
you'd think it's crazy, but heactually started football at
Louisiana Tech over PittsburghSteeler Terry Bradshaw, who
(04:47):
would go on to be a Hall ofFamer for my favorite Pittsburgh
Steelers football team and wonfour Super Bowls.
So Phil Robertson has startedover Terry Bradshaw when he was
playing and then gave it upbecause his love of the outdoors
.
God definitely used him.
In our prayer with the Robertsonfamily as they go through this
(05:11):
hard time.
Death is a horrible thing, butwhen you're going to go and
we're all going to go if theLord doesn't come back before
it's our time, you want atestimony like his.
You want a testimony not thatyou have to do a bunch of, not
(05:32):
that you have to have the worstresume possible of being a
sinner before you get saved, butjust a total redemption and
love that Christ had for thatman and that he had for Christ
is amazing.
I also want to talk about thedeath of someone else and it
(05:54):
might sound strange at facevalue Of the 10th President of
the United States.
John Tyler passed away at 95years old or sorry, 96 years old
in Richmond, virginia today.
Harrison Ruffin Tyler, he is notthe great-grandson, he is not
(06:20):
the great-great-grandson, he isthe grandson of 10th President
John Tyler.
I'm going to read you anarticle about his life.
I'm going to read you guys anarticle.
It's always good to pull up thearticle.
I'm not a great reader, so gety'all pull up the article.
You can find it at theRichmonder Harrison Ruffin Tyler
(06:42):
, grandson of the 10th Presidentof the United States and
longtime Richmonder, dies at 96.
Since 2020, harrison Tyler wasthe last surviving link to a
vanished America.
The Richmond resident andchemical engineer, a man who
founded water treatment companyChemtreat and from whom William
(07:05):
and Mary History Department isnamed, also had the distinction
of being the grandson of a manwho became US President in 1841.
As long as he lived, much ofthe great sweep of American
(07:26):
history could contain in justfree generations of memory.
But on Memorial Day weekend in2025, tyler died five years
after his last remaining brotherDuring the executive decor of
the Sherwood Forest PlantationFoundation, which operates the
(07:48):
Tyler's Familyel Tyler and SusieRufkin.
His father was the son ofPresident John Tyler and
(08:14):
President of William and Maryfor more than three decades.
His mother came from anotherVirginia family of long lineage
and adorned of supportingslavery and succession.
How a man living in the 21stcentury managed to become the
grandson of one born in the 18this due to one factor Father who
(08:38):
had children late in life.
President, john Tyler was 70,I'm sorry, was 63 when Lionel
Tyler was born.
Lionel was 75 when Harrisonentered the world.
So you're having PresidentTyler was 63 when his son Lionel
was born and then Lionel was 75when Harrison was born.
(09:01):
So they were having babiespretty late when Harrison was
born.
So they were having babiespretty late.
And that's why someone lastweek just died that was related
to the 10th President of theUnited States because how late
they were having children.
The connection landed HarrisTyler attended throughout his
(09:24):
life.
At age 8, he was invited to theWhite House to meet President
Franklin D Roosevelt.
He's been featured in numerousstories throughout his life,
particularly as he rose in ageand the idea that a grandson of
a pre-Civil War president couldstill be among us became ever
(09:44):
more fascinating.
But Tyler was more than hisfamily.
After attending St ChristopherSchool in Richmond, he graduated
William Mary Lady Astor paidfor his $5,000 tuition, although
he had never met.
That's nice.
(10:04):
Imagine tuition only being$5,000 tuition although he had
never met.
That's nice.
Imagine tuition only being$5,000.
Going all the way for schooland graduating.
That's a different world.
And then Virginia Tech, wherehe studied chemical engineering.
In 1968, he and businesspartner Will P Simmons founded
the industrial water treatmentcompany Chemtreat, and Glenn
(10:28):
Allen serviced the big-ticketclients like Phil Morris and
Kraft in 1989.
The pair became transfer ownersof the company to an employee
who archives a controllinginterest in 2000.
When Tyler and Simmons retired,the company eventually bought
(10:51):
by the Dancer Company.
In his later years, tyler alsobecame a preservationist
preservationist.
In 1975, he acquired theSherwoods Forest Plantations
(11:12):
from relatives and restored itwith his wife, frances Plain
Tyler.
The property, which is open tothe public and operation by the
foundation, today boasts notonly the longest farmhouse in
America.
They boast not only the longestfarmhouse in America, but a
ghost known as the Gray Lady,who has been hired rocking in
(11:37):
one of the house's rooms forover 200 years.
In 1996, tyler bought andfinanced the preservation of
Fort Pocahontas, a Civil Warartwork near Shirley Forest that
had been built by blacksoldiers of the Union, us
Colonel Colored Troops, and in2001, he donated thousands of
papers and books, as well as $5million, to William and Mary's
(11:59):
Historical Department, which wasrenamed in his honor in 2021.
At the time of his death, tylerhad been living in the Richmond
area nursing home, where he hadbeen cared for since a dementia
diagnosis.
His wife died in 2019 and he is, and he is survived by three
children and a number ofgrandchildren.
(12:22):
I think that's amazing.
I hate that he has passed away.
I hate that his last few dayswere in a nursing home as well,
but the 10th grandson I'm sorry,not the 10th the grandson of
the 10th president of the UnitedStates, john Tyler, passed away
(12:45):
.
I think May 27th was the dateand he was born in 1928.
That's truly, truly amazing.
That makes you feel like itkind of shows you that we're not
as separated from our past aswe believe.
(13:09):
Obviously, john Tyler's beengone for a while.
I actually want to read you guysa little bit about John Tyler,
his grandfather.
Now, he never met hisgrandfather and the sad thing
about him having a child so late, and I'll be honest, I don't
know how much of his father heknew, but I have to.
(13:31):
I'm sure he knew his father.
Probably not a whole lot, sincehis father had him in his 70s.
Then um harrison lived to be 96years old and his brother, his
twin brother, lived to be closeto 90 years old, if he wasn't 90
, I think he was 89, but I thinkhe was 90.
(13:54):
So they both lived long lives.
So I want to read you guys alittle bit about President John
Tyler.
He was born March 28th in 1790.
Okay, this man's grandson justdied last week Well, this week,
sorry, just died this week,depend on when you listen to
(14:14):
this podcast and his grandfatherwas born March 29th 1790.
That's incredible.
I understand it's because theyboth had children late, but that
is incredible.
That this man's grandfather,who just now died at age 97, was
(14:37):
born in 1790.
Remember the Constitution was Ithink the Constitution was
ratified in 1789, so one yearafter the Constitution was
ratified in 1789.
So one year after theConstitution was ratified.
That's insane.
He was born March 29, 1790 inCharles City County, virginia.
(14:59):
He passed away on January 18,1862 in the middle of the Civil
War in Richmond, virginia.
He graduated from the Collegeof William and Mary at the age
of 17.
He was a lawyer and politician.
He was married twice, I believehis first wife passed away.
He had 15 children the most ofany US president and his last
(15:25):
child, you know, had Harrison'sson at a late age.
His political career before thepresidency he was a member of
the Virginia House of Delegatesfrom 1811 to 1816, beginning his
political career in the statelegislature.
(15:45):
He was a US representative from1816 to 1821, advocating for
states' rights and limitedgovernment.
He was the governor of Virginiafrom 1825 to 1826, until he
became the senator from Virginiain 1827 to 1836, he opposed
(16:09):
Andrew Jackson, left theDemocratic Party and joined the
Whig Party, and I imagine thatis because of Andrew Jackson
being more forceful with theSouth over tariffs.
I'm probably about certain thatthat's why he left the
Democratic or just became theDemocratic Party before then it
(16:31):
was the Democratic RepublicanParty and joined the Whigs.
I can about guarantee you thatthat's why.
So he was elected vicepresident under William Henry
Harrison in 1840 as a part ofthe Whig Party.
He became the 10th president ofthe United States after Harrison
(16:52):
died just 31 days into his term.
So Harrison served a very shortterm.
He gave a very long speech athis inauguration and got a cold
and died.
That really happened.
And their slogan was tip acanoe and died.
That really happened.
And their slogan was Tippecanoeand Tyler too.
(17:13):
And then John Tyler was theTyler in that Tippecanoe and
Tyler too.
He was the first vice presidentto become president due to the
death of the sitting president,establishing the precedent for
presidential succession, andthat was kind of a controversy
(17:33):
and Tyler put his foot down.
He said no, I am the vicepresident, I am the president
now because the vice presidentwill become the president.
Some members of Congress calledhim the acting vice president
to kind of spite him becausethey didn't like him being the
president.
But it's true, he was thepresident and he established
(17:55):
that precedent that we hold tothis day.
And now it's in an amendmentform, so now we don't have to
worry about it.
Majors, his major accomplishmentis president number one the
annexation of Texas.
In 1845.
He pushed for the annexation ofTexas into the Union, though
(18:20):
finally authorized underpresident James K Polk.
Tyler laid the groundwork forthat.
The Webster Amherst TreatyPresident James K Polk Tyler
laid the groundwork for that.
The Webster Amherst Treatyresolved border issues between
the US and British Canada,particularly in Maine and
Minnesota.
The Florida Admission 1845.
Florida was amended.
(18:41):
They were allowed to come tothe United States as the 27th
state.
During his final days of theadministration he vetoed a lot
of Whig legislation, severalbills proposed by the Whig
controlled Congress, especiallythose to create a new national
(19:02):
bank, which alienated him fromhis own party.
So his own party was upsetabout his veto power.
First presidential impeachmentattempt.
He was the first, although notimpeached.
The House introduced aresolution concerning him,
making him the first seriousdiscussion of a presidential
(19:23):
impeachment in US history.
Although he was never impeachedPost-presidency and the Civil
War involvement Retired to hisplantation in Virginia in 1861.
He was elected to theConfederate House of
Representatives, siding with theSouth there in the Civil War.
He died before taking his seatand was not officially mourned
(19:44):
in Washington DC due to hisConfederate allegiance.
And there's actually a littlebit of a story that when he died
he was an elected congressmanfor the Confederacy, he
supported the Confederacy, heran for the house, for the newly
established house in theConfederate States of America.
(20:07):
And when he died I believebefore he died it wasn't looking
good and he asked PresidentJefferson Davis not to have a
huge funeral, just have a smallfuneral.
But Jefferson Davis didn't carebecause it's good publicity and
(20:27):
because it was a.
It was a good way to promotethe calls of the new country
trying to establish itsindependence.
So he threw this huge funeralum paraded him through the
streets of richmond, goingthrough, going against his
wishes, um, which I think isjust.
I just think it's a funny storyfrom the war.
(20:48):
Continuing reading a little bitabout him.
He died before he was able totake his seat in the Confederate
House of Representatives.
He was not mourned inWashington.
The flag was not flown at halfstaff, flagg was not flown at
(21:09):
half staff and his legacy oftenranked as one of the more
controversial or less efficientpresidents due to clashes with
both parties in the support ofthe Confederacy.
Nevertheless, he played a keyrole in shaping the
constitutional understanding ofpresidential succession, which
is really big.
Actually, he actually does havea big part in how we view the
(21:34):
role of succession in thepresidency debate.
He just does that once thepresident dies, steps down or is
removed from office.
Steps down or is removed fromoffice, um, either by his
cabinet or either by asuccessful impeachment and
removal hearing.
Then the vice president becomesthe president of the United
(21:56):
States.
John Tyler stepped that through.
Even though the annexation ofTexas is political and it had
causes of slavery and the CivilWar, it was a big deal for the
United States to get Texas.
It was a big deal for theUnited States to get Florida and
men into the Union.
Regardless of how you feel aboutthe Confederacy, most people
(22:19):
think very negatively about it,and I understand One day I will
have a podcast on that.
I'm a little hesitant becauseof how controversial it is.
At one point, I was concernedabout if it maybe hurt me
politically and it probablywould but I'm more concerned
about how my view of thosethings, how I go about those
(22:39):
things, could hurt someone fromreaching the gospel.
I think slavery is horrible.
I think the way slavery waspracticed in the South was
horrible.
I also believe that the Southhad the right to leave the Union
, and I think, though I thinkslavery is the biggest cause,
yes, but not the only cause, andI think there's a lot more
(23:01):
nuance to the Civil War thanpeople give it credit for.
I believe all people were madein God's image, regardless of
skin color, and this was ahorrible thing that you know.
Throughout, all of humanity,just about people have looked at
other people of different skincolors as lesser.
(23:21):
Some people still do that tothis day, and they shouldn't,
but this was something that hitheads in 1861.
I have no problem with theoutcome of the war, other than
the devastation caused to people, um, who didn't make it home.
(23:48):
You know, um, I don't have toplay this game.
Do I wish they would have wonor not, because I believe God is
sovereign and I don't have toplay a game of well, what if
this didn't happen?
What if Constantinople didn'tfall?
What if this happened?
What if history would have beenmade better?
God is sovereign, god knowswhat he is doing, even if it
(24:12):
looks like we would rather it gothe other way.
I'm a proud American citizen ofthe United States of America.
I'm a proud Virginian.
I'm also not ashamed to discussthis hard topic with nuance.
I don't believe everyone whofought under the Confederate
flag is evil and I don't believethat the Confederacy was wrong
(24:36):
for leaving the Union.
Let me clarify this I don'tbelieve that they were wrong in
exercising their right to leavethe Union, union that they had
the right to do that.
I do believe that the 10thAmendment allows states to leave
this union.
Now the Supreme Court disagreedwith me in a case versus Texas
(24:59):
in 1868.
I simply disagree with theSupreme Court.
That's all that goes to that.
And that ruling was before 1861, when the South left the Union.
So that would not be implicitof could the South leave or not
(25:19):
at that time.
And the way I see it and youcan disagree with me, that's
fine.
That's not my point.
My point isn't to advocate forJohn Tyler or to advocate for
the Confederacy in this.
My point is to show you that wewere two lifespans, two long
(25:43):
lifespans, away from this andthat American history is short.
John Tyler was born in 1790.
And the revolution started andbegan in 1775 and 1776.
We declared independence inJuly 4, 1776.
(26:05):
We declared independence inJuly 4, 1776.
You know a little over two verylong lifespans, oh sorry, three
very, very long lifespans, fourlife.
You could put America's historytogether with four very long
(26:26):
lifespans.
From the foundation of thecountry till now, our country is
250 years old.
We're not that old.
We're a pretty young country.
We're pretty young bucks.
The history of the new world inthe United States compared to
Europe, when you look at Europe,when you look at England very
(26:46):
old, very old history comparedto us, um has a lot more
historical value.
I work in a building right nowwhere they're not allowed to
take certain things down, and Ilove history.
I don't want to get rid ofhistory.
They're not allowed to takecertain things down, like water
(27:07):
fountainsains in certain areas,because that building used to be
a hospital and it was erectedin the 60s.
It was erected like four yearsbefore my dad was born.
That's not super historical.
Okay, it's a 64-year-old waterfountain that no one uses and it
(27:29):
looks bad.
There's an old saying that Ithink is true In America, 100
years is a long time.
In Britain, in the UnitedKingdom, 100 miles is a long
time.
That's true because the UnitedStates is a huge country.
We are a huge country and youlook at Britain, it's not a
(27:51):
super small country, but, man,we're a lot bigger, a whole
whole lot bigger.
Um we're, we're still a youngcountry.
Um we're, we are still veryyoung country in terms of
history.
And, uh, I sometimes think itis good to look back and see
(28:11):
where we are now, where we'vebeen, and try to get us in a
good place of where we're goingto.
That was mainly my whole pointof the episode.
We're a young country.
I thought the story was amazingthat the 10th president of the
United States has a livinggrandson until last week.
(28:31):
And you know, sometimes it'sgood to look back.
I hate that Mr Tyler passedaway and I hate that Phil
Robertson passed away.
I don't know, I didn't researchTyler's religious beliefs.
I hope he was saved.
I really do and pray for hisfamily, too in this hard time.
(28:54):
But you know, I was moreconcerned about looking back in
the past, through history, withhis death, and going back to his
grandfather, through history,with his death, and going back
to his grandfather, who was the10th president of the United
States of America, formergovernor of Virginia, former
member of the House of Delegates, and he's the only president in
(29:17):
American history to be born, Imean to die and be buried under
a flag that wasn't that of theUnited States as the Confederate
States, and I'm sure a lot ofpeople would probably tell me
not to talk about these types ofthings.
I believe in openness andtransparency and honesty.
I believe that's the only wayto go.
(29:38):
I'm not going to shy away fromit.
Hopefully you can see my heartand know that I'm not a horrible
racist person, but I can't makesomeone believe that.
But I'm not going to shy awayfrom my beliefs Now.
Do I form new beliefs over time?
Have I looked at things?
Have I solved them on issues?
Yes, I have, and I've changedmy mind on issues and I'm going
(30:03):
to change my mind again.
If you never change your mindon an issue, that's not always a
good thing.
I'm not saying that you shouldbe unstable and double-minded,
as the book of James tells usnot to be.
I do think we should learn andgrow.
I believe all people are madein God's image, regardless of
(30:27):
color or where you're from orwhat language you speak.
But I do think sometimes it'seasy to look back in the past
with our modern morals, with ourmodern realities, and say how
awful and evil these Southernerswere and I'm all for condemning
(30:48):
the evils that was in the Southand I have, and I will condemn
that.
But I'm also not going to lookat it.
I'm also not going to judgethem as a 21st century man when
they weren't, when they werealive in the 1800s and the 1700s
, late 1700s and mid-1800s.
(31:13):
That's not fair.
I'm not going to do that.
But my whole point was to showyou that we're not so separated
from our past as we may thinksometimes.
Now that's not to say that weshould just say well, it's me,
look at my family history, Ican't do anything.
No, I mean there's been under.
(31:35):
I do believe there's privileges, absolutely, and a lot of that
comes with class and money andwealth and history that feeds
into that.
I agree with that.
But that doesn't mean thatyou're being kept down today
because of what happenedyesterday.
Necessarily it could mean thatit might be harder for you, I
(31:57):
agree with that, but it doesn'tmean that you can't accomplish
your goals today.
Because don't let the mediagive you the fetus mindset.
Just don't do it.
Don't give them that gratitude.
Don't let the media give youthe fetus mindset.
Just don't do it.
Don't give them that gratitude.
Don't let them divide us, okay,don't let them divide us like
that.
We are one race, the human race,and I just wanted to say that I
(32:22):
think this is an interestingepisode.
Next week I am going to try toget back on King David, but see,
it took us about 30 minutes.
We're normally an hour to45-minute podcast, but it would
have been crazy for me to go offall of this and then go into
the first chapters of David'slife that we see in the Bible.
(32:42):
So I'm not going to do that.
So next week, or halfwaythrough the week, I'm going to
drop the first episode of theLife of David and we're going to
go through it.
We're just going to go throughit chapter by chapter, verse by
verse, the Life of King David,and I felt pretty strongly about
doing that series for a whileand I think we're going to do
biblical character stories wherewe just go through the Bible
(33:05):
each day.
But I want to give you guys theverse of the day and then I'll
let you all go.
Today's verse of the day comesfrom the book of Psalms, the
147th chapter and the thirdverse in the New International
Version.
He heals those who have brokenhearts and takes care of their
(33:26):
wounds.
He heals those who have brokenhearts and takes care of those
wounds.
If you have a wound todaybecause someone has hurt you,
because you've lost a loved one,jesus can heal them.
None of us are getting off ofthis planet unless the Lord
(33:47):
comes back, but we can haveredemption in Jesus.
When we lose loved ones thatare in Jesus, we can have a sigh
of relief and this is also whywe need to spread the gospel and
pray for the lost and keepthose families in your prayers
that lost those two gentlementhis week.
(34:09):
And also this verse could workfor the pains of the past, the
sins of the past of the Southand the United States.
Commonwealth of Virginia.
God can heal those wounds andlet us not be beholden to them.
God bless you all, I hope youhave a great day.
(34:30):
We'll see you here next weekWith the first chapters of the
life of King David.
Popular Podcasts
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.