Episode Details
Back to EpisodesPresidential Conspiracies 101 with Stephen Knott
Description
Conspiracy theories about our presidents aren't a modern invention, they've been part of American politics since the very beginning. In this episode of Teaching History Her Way, I chat with Stephen Knott, author of Conspirator in Chief (University Press of Kansas), to dig into the long history of presidential conspiracy theories and what they reveal about the presidency and Americans themselves.
Stephen shares the throughline connecting suspicion, fear, and power across two centuries of U.S. history, and offers classroom-ready ways to help students separate evidence from speculation. It was really interesting to talk with Stephen and unpack how educators can use this history to help students think critically about our leaders, and how the beliefs they espoused affected the people.
Listen for a fascinating look at history's most persistent rumors, how to teach them well, and what we can learn from them about the present.
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