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Presidential Fight Club
James Early and Scott Rank
Historians have ranked U.S. presidents on leadership, economic management, and pursuing justice, but they have never asked themselves which one could beat up all the others. This show will change that. Hosted by two history professors—James Early and Scott Rank—this is an NCAA-style tournament in which all presidents fight each other one-on-one until there is one champion. You'll see Barack Obama fight William Howard Taft (who literally weights twice as much), Abraham Lincoln try to knock the wooden teeth out of George Washington, and several other rumbles among the commander-in-chiefs.
James and Scott narrate each of these 44 fights by comparing the physical abilities of each president, military experience, and special abilities that would help them win. Did they have combat training? Were they generals? Were they ex-wrestlers? The presidents are also ranked how well they would do in hand-to-hand combat at about the age of 35 (no, FDR won’t be fighting as a polio-riddled man in a wheelchair).
James and Scott narrate each of these 44 fights by comparing the physical abilities of each president, military experience, and special abilities that would help them win. Did they have combat training? Were they generals? Were they ex-wrestlers? The presidents are also ranked how well they would do in hand-to-hand combat at about the age of 35 (no, FDR won’t be fighting as a polio-riddled man in a wheelchair).
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NE Regional 4- Teddy Roosevelt vs. John Adams
June 11, 2018 - 7 min
Teddy Roosevelt vs. John Adams. Stats of Fighters: Name: Theodore Roosevelt Height: 5’10 Weight: 220 Military experience: Colonel, U.S. Army. Special abilities: Being the world’s most interesting man. Roosevelt was a champion intramural boxer in college, practiced judo while president, worked as a rancher in the Dakota territories and got in fist-fights with cowboys. Name: John Adams Height: 5’7 1/2 Weight: 175 Military experience: None Special abilities: Supreme self-assurance.
NE Regional 3- Calvin Coolidge vs. Chester A. Arthur
June 10, 2018 - 7 min
Stats of Fighters: Name: Calvin Coolidge Height: 5’10 Weight: 150 Military experience: None Special abilities: Extreme caution. Coolidge would not make any hasty moves in a fight. Name: Chester A. Arthur Height: 6’2 Weight: 225 Military experience: Brigadier General, Quartermaster General and Inspector General of the New York Militia before and during the Civil War. Special abilities: Master manipulator. He was a fixture in America’s post-Civil War corrupt political machine politics/
NE Regional 2- Millard Fillmore vs. Martin Van Buren
June 9, 2018 - 7 min
Millard Fillmore vs. Martin Van Buren. Stats of Fighters: Name: Millard Fillmore Height: 5’9 Weight: 165 Military experience: Major, New York State Militia; Served in New York Militia in 1820s and 1830s; Organized Union Continentals home guard unit during the Civil War. Name: Martin Van Buren Height: 5’6 Weight: 165 Military experience: None Special abilities: Master manipulator. He was known as the “little magician” or the “red fox” for his ability to control and mastermind elections.
NE Regional 1- John Adams vs. John Quincy Adams
June 8, 2018 - 5 min
John Adams vs. John Quincy Adams. Stats of Fighters: Name: John Adams Height: 5’7 1/2 Weight: 175 Military experience: None Special abilities: Supreme self-assurance. Name: John Quincy Adams Height: 5’7 1/2 Weight: 175 Military experience: None Special abilities: Extreme versatility. He was the man of the house at age eight when his father left and the Revolutionary War happened right outside his house.
Welcome to Presidential Fight Club: If All 44 U.S. Presidents Fought Each Other, Who Would Win?
June 7, 2018 - 13 min
Welcome to Presidential Fight Club: A battle royale among all 44 men who served as the U.S. president. This podcast is hosted by two history professors: Scott Rank and James Early. We are going to narrate each of the one-on-one fights between presidents in 44 short podcast episodes.
Prologue to Presidential Fight Club
June 5, 2018 - 2 min
A few announcements about the series before we dive into the fight.
Meet Your Hosts
Meet Your Hosts
James is an Adjunct Professor of History at San Jacinto College in Pasadena, TX. He has published one book and two scholarly articles. He is also the cohost (with Scott Rank) of the Presidential Fight Club, Key Battles of the Civil War, Key Battles of the Revolutionary War, and Key Battles of World War I podcasts.
Meet Your Hosts
Scott Rank is the host of the History Unplugged Podcast and a PhD in history who specialized in the Ottoman Empire and modern Turkey. Before going down the academic route he worked as a journalist in Istanbul. He has written 12 history books on topics ranging from lost Bronze Age civilizations to the Age of Discovery. Some of his books include The Age of Illumination: Science, Technology, and Reason in the Middle Ages and History’s 9 Most Insane Rulers.. Learn more about him by going to scottrankphd.com.
