And everywhere that Mary went, the typhoid was sure to go.

The story of Mary Mallon (AKA Typhoid Mary) is one we're living every day to a small degree: the balance between public safety and personal liberty. Luckily for us, we'll never be imprisoned for being an symptomatic carrier of a disease. Well, never say never. 

To learn more about the life of Mary Mallon we call up author Susan Campbell Bartoletti (Terrible Typhoid Mary: A True Story of the Deadliest Cook in America). Why was Mary's story so popular in the early 1900s? And why is her name so familiar even today? 

 

And everywhere that Mary went, the typhoid was sure to go.
The story of Mary Mallon (AKA Typhoid Mary) is one we're living every day to a small degree: the balance between public safety and personal liberty. Luckily for us, we'll never be imprisoned for being an symptomatic carrier of a disease. Well, never say never.&nbsp;
To learn more about the life of Mary Mallon we call up author Susan Campbell Bartoletti (<a href="https://susancampbellbartoletti.com/books/nonfiction/terrible-typhoid-mary/">Terrible Typhoid Mary: A True Story of the Deadliest Cook in America</a>). Why was Mary's story so popular in the early 1900s? And why is her name so familiar even today?&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Bob Crawford searches for the best historians and experts to answer listener questions about American history — from the Revolutionary War to rock & roll feuds. Got a question? Send it to AmericanHistoryHotline@gmail.com.

Bob Crawford searches for the best historians and experts to answer listener questions about American history &mdash; from the Revolutionary War to rock &amp; roll feuds. Got a question? Send it to AmericanHistoryHotline@gmail.com.

American History Hotline

Listen to this collection of top episodes from iHeartRadio and iHeartPodcasts. 

Listen to this collection of top episodes from iHeartRadio and iHeartPodcasts.&nbsp;

Podcasts from iHeartRadio

American History Hotline with Bob Crawford

Mary Had a Little Typhoid

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/91acc97e-66a9-4f50-a45e-b3f1010dd125/transcript

Maybe we can add another guarantee, besides "death" and "taxes" ... "trade wars." 

In the early days of America, Native Nations were fighting over trade and power. And they saw the arrival of the Europeans as a tool to defeat their rivals. It's a period that led to shifting allegiances in a fight for dominance. 

And the clearest example of this early diplomacy is The Pequot War of the 1630s.  

To learn how this war depicts Native American alliances and shifting allegiances, Bob calls up Kathleen DuVal, author of Native Nations: A Millennium in North America. 

 

Maybe we can add another guarantee, besides "death" and "taxes" ... "trade wars."&nbsp;
In the early days of America, Native Nations were fighting over trade and power. And they saw the arrival of the Europeans as a tool to defeat their rivals. It's a period that led to shifting allegiances in a fight for dominance.&nbsp;
And the clearest example of this early diplomacy is The Pequot War of the 1630s.&nbsp;&nbsp;
To learn how this war depicts Native American alliances and shifting allegiances, Bob calls up Kathleen DuVal, author of <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/575441/native-nations-by-kathleen-duval/">Native Nations: A Millennium in North America</a>.&nbsp;
&nbsp;

The Pequot War: Native American Diplomacy and Warfare

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/6a2f27e8-d154-4934-b503-b4410129db3e/transcript

What was it really like to come to America through Ellis Island? For millions of immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, this little spit of land in New York Harbor was the gateway to a better future … IF they could pass a physical exam.

To get the real-life experience of coming through Ellis Island, Bob calls up historian Vincent Cannato (author of American Passage: The History of Ellis Island – A Sweeping Epic of Immigration at the Nation's Landmark Port of Entry).

From quick and dirty medical exams to some weird name changes, Cannato separates fact from fiction, and explains why Ellis Island is synonymous with American immigration.

We’ll also explore how Ellis Island marked a turning point in American immigration policy — with power shifting from the states to the federal government. And why is Ellis Island viewed with such nostalgia while Angel Island in San Francisco Bay is not?

We’ve got all that and more in this episode!

What was it really like to come to America through Ellis Island? For millions of immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, this little spit of land in New York Harbor was the gateway to a better future &hellip; IF they could pass a physical exam.
To get the real-life experience of coming through Ellis Island, Bob calls up historian Vincent Cannato (author of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/American-Passage-History-Ellis-Island/dp/0060742747">American Passage: The History of Ellis Island &ndash; A Sweeping Epic of Immigration at the Nation's Landmark Port of Entry</a>).
From quick and dirty medical exams to some weird name changes, Cannato separates fact from fiction, and explains why Ellis Island is synonymous with American immigration.
We&rsquo;ll also explore how Ellis Island marked a turning point in American immigration policy &mdash; with power shifting from the states to the federal government. And why is Ellis Island viewed with such nostalgia while Angel Island in San Francisco Bay is not?
We&rsquo;ve got all that and more in this episode!

What was Ellis Island Really Like? 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/e2600759-b1af-4fe7-abf8-b3ce01483191/transcript

You can't spell "hero" without JFK. Ok, so you can. But that doesn't take away from the fact that a young John F. Kennedy saved a man's life in WWII — a war he wasn't even supposed to be in!

Bob calls up Alexis Coe, New York Times bestselling presidential historian and author of Young Jack: A Biography of John F. Kennedy, 1917–1957, to uncover the thrilling true story of JFK towing an injured crew mate through shark infested waters (by his teeth!) to safety. 

Alexis also helps us understand why JFK fought so hard to serve in WWII, despite serious health problems and a free pass out of the conflict. It's this bravery and selflessness that made JFK a dreamboat to the ladies and ultimately our 35th president. 

GUEST: Alexis Coe, author of Young Jack: A Biography of John F. Kennedy, 1917–1957 (to be released in 2026)

You can't spell "hero" without JFK. Ok, so you can. But that doesn't take away from the fact that a young John F. Kennedy saved a man's life in WWII &mdash; a war he wasn't even supposed to be in!
Bob calls up Alexis Coe, New York Times bestselling presidential historian and author of Young Jack: A Biography of John F. Kennedy, 1917&ndash;1957, to uncover the thrilling true story of JFK towing an injured crew mate through shark infested waters (by his teeth!) to safety.&nbsp;
Alexis also helps us understand why JFK fought so hard to serve in WWII, despite serious health problems and a free pass out of the conflict. It's this bravery and selflessness that made JFK a dreamboat to the ladies and ultimately our 35th president.&nbsp;
GUEST: Alexis Coe, author of <a href="https://www.alexiscoe.com/">Young Jack: A Biography of John F. Kennedy, 1917&ndash;1957</a> (to be released in 2026)

Did JFK Save a Man's Life? 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/f7cd8731-43bf-4066-aa7e-b39e015ee18a/transcript

Mary Had a Little Typhoid

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