87: John Lansing

On this episode, Cody and Steve struggle to find any redeeming qualities about Isaac Low, another traitor Founding Father, and make every low bar joke you could possibly think of.SourcesJasanoff, Maya. Liberty’s Exiles: American Loyalists in the Revolutionary World. New York City, NY: Vintage, 2011.Werther, Richard J. “Patriots Turned Loyalists: The Experiences of Joseph Galloway and Isaac Low.” Journal of the American Revolution, 21 Feb 2018. <https://allthingsliberty.com/2018/02/patriots-turned-loyalist-experiences-joseph-galloway-isaac-low/>.See General Sources page on the website for additional sources usedWebpage to recommend: Cody's Historical Marker Journey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this salacious episode, Cody and Steve discuss James Lovell, teacher, prisoner, and lothario who lusted after Abigail Adams.SourcesGelles, Edith B. “A Virtuous Affair: The Correspondence Between Abigail Adams and James Lovell.” American Quarterly 39, no. 2 (1987): 252–69. <https://doi.org/10.2307/2712912>. Retrieved 24 Aug 2026.Jones, Helen F. James Lovell in the Continental Congress, 1777-82. PhD dissertation, Columbia U., 1982.O’Connor, Jean C. “James Lovell: Schoolteacher, Prisoner, Patriot.” Journal of the American Revolution, 5 Jan 2021. <https://allthingsliberty.com/2021/01/james-lovell-schoolteacher-prisoner-patriot/>. Retrieved 24 Aug 26.Weber, Ralph E. Masked Dispatches: Cryptograms and Cryptology in American History, 1775-1900. Ft. Meade, MD: NSA Center for Cryptologic History, 2003.See General Sources page on the website for additional sources used Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, Cody and Steve conclude the trilogy of Livingstons with William Livingston and express their frustrations with Ridley Scott. Totally related, we assure you.Sources·        Gigantino, James. William Livingston’s American Revolution. Philadelphia, PA: U. of Pennsylvania Press, 2018.·        Klein, Milton M. The American Whig: William Livingston of New York. New York City, NY: Garland, 1993.·        Prince, Carl E. William Livingston, New Jersey’s First Governor. Trenton, NJ: New Jersey Historical Commission, 1975.·        See General Sources page on website for additional sources usedPodcast to recommend: History of the Crusades - Home Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, Cody and Steve dive further into the Livingston family as they discuss Robert R. Livingston and whether or not Emperor Palpatine paid income taxes.Sources·        Benton, Geoff. “The Chancellor’s War.” Friends of Clermont State Historic Site. 9 Jun 2026. <https://www.friendsofclermont.org/post/chancellors-war>. Retrieved 14 Jul 2026.·        Dangerfield, George. Chancellor Robert R. Livingston of New York, 1746-1813. New York City, NY: Harcourt, Brace & Co., 1960.·        “The Robert R. Livingston Papers.” Gotham Center for New York City History. <https://www.gothamcenter.org/robert-livingston-papers>. Retrieved 14 Jul 2026.·     See General Sources page on the website for additional sources used Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, Steve and Cody begin a trilogy of Livingstons with Philip Livingston, a scion of Livingston Manor, philanthropist, possible goldfish, and all-around nasty dude.Sources·        Brandt, Clare. An American Aristocracy: The Livingstons. New York City, NY: Doubleday, 1986.·        Liao, Sharon. “’A Merchant’s College:’ King’s College (1754-84) and Slavery.” Columbia University·        Wiles, Richard C., and Zimmerman, Andrea K. The Livingston Legacy: Three Centuries of American History. Madison, WI: U. of Wisconsin, 1987.·        See General Sources page on website for additional sources used Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, Cody and Steve talk about the Eeyore of the Revolution, Francis Lewis.Sources·        Burlingham, Charles Culp. Francis Lewis: One of the New York Signers of the Declaration of Independence. New York City, NY: New York Historical Society, 1926.·        See General Sources page on the website for additional sources Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, Cody and Steve discuss Francis Lightfoot Lee, a man firmly in the ranks of lesser brothers with Frank Stallone, Billy Carter, Roger Clinton, Donal Gibson, and Neil Connery.Sources·        Jones, Sarah L. “Menokin Foundation Summer 2004 Research Report.” Research paper, Yale U., 2004. <https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5f0dc027e6ecb31d198aedd3/t/5f40309978eb1814814548e4/1598042266314/Original_Francis-Lightfoot-Lee-Research-Report-2003-Jones.pdf>. Retrieved 23 Jun 2026.·        McGaughy, J. Kent. Richard Henry Lee of Virginia: A Portrait of an American Revolutionary. New York City, NY: Rowman and Little, 2004.·        See General Sources page on the website for additional sources used Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, Cody and Steve discuss semipro wrestler Henry Laurens, the only American ever held in the Tower of London.Sources·        McDonough, Daniel J. Christopher Gadsen and Henry Laurens: The Parallel Lives of Two American Patriots. Sellinsgrove, Pa.: Susquehanna U. Press, 2000.·        Neville, Gabriel. “The Tragedy of Henry Laurens.” Journal of the American Revolution. 1 Aug 2019. <https://allthingsliberty.com/2019/08/the-tragedy-of-henry-laurens/>. Retrieved 8 Jun 2026.·        Ruppert, Bob. “Henry Laurens’ 15 Months in the Tower.” Journal of the American Revolution. 23 Sep 2015. <https://allthingsliberty.com/2015/09/henry-laurens-15-months-in-the-tower/>. Retrieved 8 Jun 2026.·        Wallace, David Duncan. The Life of Henry Laurens. New York City, NY: G. P. Putnam & Sons, 1915.·        See General Sources page on the website for a list of additional sources Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

*In best Robert Stack voice:* This week on Imperfect Men: John Lansing, respected public figure and principled opponent of the Constitution, walks out of his hotel to send a letter and is never seen again. Did he fall in the river and accidentally drown, or was he the victim of a vast conspiracy he was trying to uncover?Sources·        Kaminski, John P, ed., et al. The Documentary History of the Ratification of the Constitution. Charlottesville, VA: U. of Virginia Press, 2009.·        “John Lansing, Jr.” Historical Society of the New York Courts. <https://history.nycourts.gov/figure/john-lansing/>. Retrieved 2 Jun 2026.·        See General Sources page on the website for additional sourcesCredit: "Theme from Unsolved Mysteries" by Michael Boyd and Gary Malkin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this special episode, Cody and Steve discuss the early celebrations of American Independence Day, the long journey of the Declaration of Independence, and reflect upon some memories from the 4th of July.Sources·        Armitage, David. The Declaration of Independence: A Global History. Cambridge, MA: Harvard U. Press, 2007.·        Heintze, James R. "Fourth of July Celebrations Database." The National Archives. <http://gurukul.american.edu/heintze/fourth.htm>. Retrieved 22 Jun 2026.·        Maier, Pauline. American Scripture: Making the Declaration of Independence. New York City, NY: Knopf, 1997.·        See General Sources page on website for additional sources Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.