On this episode of Our American Stories, it's called the first “American” Christmas because the Declaration of Independence was created the previous summer, essentially “divorcing” America from England and declaring our country an independent nation. Brian Benjamin shares the story from his book, Christmas, 1776.

Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)

On this episode of Our American Stories, it's called the first &ldquo;American&rdquo; Christmas because the Declaration of Independence was created the previous summer, essentially &ldquo;divorcing&rdquo; America from England and declaring our country an independent nation. Brian Benjamin shares the story from his book, <a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FChristmas-1776-Brian-J-Benjamin%2Fdp%2FB0BJNBXVVS&amp;data=05%7C02%7CUraelBlackshear%40iheartmedia.com%7Cba96e6020f9e4677b86f08dd2035877b%7C122a527e5b714eba878d9810b495b9e3%7C0%7C0%7C638702136467151330%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=k87PgzWaas0LmWN8nB9SgkJ42wyQCAJ21vjMvwaYO7A%3D&amp;reserved=0" data-auth="Verified" data-linkindex="0">Christmas, 1776</a>.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate</a>)

Our American Stories tells stories that aren’t being told. Positive stories about generosity and courage, resilience and redemption, faith and love. Stories about the past and present. And stories about ordinary Americans who do extraordinary things each and every day. Stories from our listeners about their lives. And their history. In that pursuit, we hope we’ll be a place where listeners can refresh their spirit, and be inspired by our stories.

Our American Stories

Our American Stories tells stories that aren’t being told. Positive stories about generosity and courage, resilience and redemption, faith and love. Stories about the past and present. And stories about ordinary Americans who do extraordinary things each and every day. Stories from our listeners about their lives. And their history. In that pursuit, we hope we’ll be a place where listeners can refresh their spirit and be inspired by our stories.

Our American Stories tells stories that aren&rsquo;t being told. Positive stories about generosity and courage, resilience and redemption, faith and love. Stories about the past and present. And stories about ordinary Americans who do extraordinary things each and every day. Stories from our listeners about their lives. And their history. In that pursuit, we hope we&rsquo;ll be a place where listeners can refresh their spirit and be inspired by our stories.

Christmas, 1776

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/408e53a6-72ea-4bff-8220-b24b017bd699/transcript

Marker 01

Marker 02

On this episode of Our American Stories, General Ulysses S. Grant led the Union Army to victory in the Civil War and later served two terms as the 18th president of the United States. Today, he is buried at Grant’s Tomb in New York City, the largest presidential tomb in the country and one of the city’s most important historic monuments.

By the late twentieth century, however, the memorial had fallen into serious disrepair. Graffiti covered the walls, maintenance had stalled, and many believed the National Park Service was failing to protect the historic site. That’s when a determined college student named Frank Scaturro decided to step in. His lawsuit against the federal government forced officials to confront the neglect and ultimately helped save Grant’s Tomb. Here's Frank with the story.

Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)

On this episode of Our American Stories, General Ulysses S. Grant led the Union Army to victory in the Civil War and later served two terms as the 18th president of the United States. Today, he is buried at Grant&rsquo;s Tomb in New York City, the largest presidential tomb in the country and one of the city&rsquo;s most important historic monuments. By the late twentieth century, however, the memorial had fallen into serious disrepair. Graffiti covered the walls, maintenance had stalled, and many believed the National Park Service was failing to protect the historic site. That&rsquo;s when a determined college student named Frank Scaturro decided to step in. His lawsuit against the federal government forced officials to confront the neglect and ultimately helped save Grant&rsquo;s Tomb. Here's Frank with the story.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

How a College Student Saved Ulysses S. Grant’s Tomb

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/96bc0a4e-fb0b-4694-848e-b41200a09ee1/transcript

On this episode of Our American Stories, as a boy growing up in Kansas City, Roger Rench’s life changed suddenly when his father took a job as a golf pro in the small town of Sheridan, Iowa. The move meant trading city life for a tiny community and living inside the clubhouse of the Lakeview Country Club. It also meant giving up something Roger loved even more than the golf course: his dog, Flash.

The stay in Iowa lasted only a month before the job ended and the family returned to Kansas City, leaving Roger with more questions than answers. Decades later, while making a delivery in southern Iowa, he unexpectedly found himself back in Sheridan, standing in front of the same clubhouse where that brief chapter of his childhood had unfolded. Roger shares the story of that short, bittersweet time in Iowa.

Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)

On this episode of Our American Stories, as a boy growing up in Kansas City, Roger Rench&rsquo;s life changed suddenly when his father took a job as a golf pro in the small town of Sheridan, Iowa. The move meant trading city life for a tiny community and living inside the clubhouse of the Lakeview Country Club. It also meant giving up something Roger loved even more than the golf course: his dog, Flash. The stay in Iowa lasted only a month before the job ended and the family returned to Kansas City, leaving Roger with more questions than answers. Decades later, while making a delivery in southern Iowa, he unexpectedly found himself back in Sheridan, standing in front of the same clubhouse where that brief chapter of his childhood had unfolded. Roger shares the story of that short, bittersweet time in Iowa.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

Fifty Years Later, I Returned to the Place I Once Called Home

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/23547f06-f1fb-45a0-8fa0-b41200a09ede/transcript

On this episode of Our American Stories, when the Constitution emerged from the Constitutional Convention in 1787, its future was far from certain. The document still needed to be ratified by the states, and fierce debate quickly followed. Supporters argued that the new framework of government would stabilize the young republic, while critics warned that it gave too much power to a distant national government.

Into that debate stepped Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay. Writing under the name “Publius,” they published a series of essays now known as the Federalist Papers, explaining and defending the Constitution to the American public. For our ongoing Story of Us—Story of America series, Dr. Bill McClay, author of Land of Hope, shares how those writings shaped the future of American government.

Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)

On this episode of Our American Stories, when the Constitution emerged from the Constitutional Convention in 1787, its future was far from certain. The document still needed to be ratified by the states, and fierce debate quickly followed. Supporters argued that the new framework of government would stabilize the young republic, while critics warned that it gave too much power to a distant national government. Into that debate stepped Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay. Writing under the name &ldquo;Publius,&rdquo; they published a series of essays now known as the Federalist Papers, explaining and defending the Constitution to the American public. For our ongoing&nbsp;<a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ouramericanstories.com%2Fpodcast%2Fthe-story-of-america-series&amp;data=05%7C02%7CUraelBlackshear%40iheartmedia.com%7C0c978b7157ca42867bc008de8500a2bf%7C122a527e5b714eba878d9810b495b9e3%7C0%7C0%7C639094434959530761%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=iK9Auu91BUrJHE5WncGGmEAJuZ1AaT26gKzDgsIGRA4%3D&amp;reserved=0" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="2" data-ogsc="">Story of Us&mdash;Story of America</a>&nbsp;series, Dr. Bill McClay, author of&nbsp;<a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FLand-Hope-Invitation-Great-American%2Fdp%2F1641771399%2Fref%3Dsr_1_1%3Fadgrpid%3D192027440608%26dib%3DeyJ2IjoiMSJ9.YNnnhzqnUOt64N6WCBechmnFFrF4ckrDmtGk4Iq6p2az8q3_sFTJZjn4u07yQsRvb1xYuGcwfdV4WvrPOHqSlrUjYvHDIiooq0N7I12WOw9DEa111bcBkX325IqCyHdRc-fsZ_jN3-1nuydpbaPiZv1bqKmVTU2yozk_CsnA-rwbwii5vjQyDjHu5v8xsDibmizIT1J1QWfZTvlWurvQVOZAOS56uqH0dkPy8E-pXws.S-JelIp41oVp1ug5UCTkl3VmyAJb_klSc2TS0gmsyGg%26dib_tag%3Dse%26hvadid%3D792990883641%26hvdev%3Dc%26hvexpln%3D0%26hvlocphy%3D9013748%26hvnetw%3Dg%26hvocijid%3D1389914805362673009--%26hvqmt%3De%26hvrand%3D1389914805362673009%26hvtargid%3Dkwd-298994698216%26hydadcr%3D20438_13674948_2445143%26keywords%3Dland%2Bof%2Bhope%26mcid%3D17ee12e30dd23c218f5d7e4e7d8a4db2%26qid%3D1773846150%26sr%3D8-1&amp;data=05%7C02%7CUraelBlackshear%40iheartmedia.com%7C0c978b7157ca42867bc008de8500a2bf%7C122a527e5b714eba878d9810b495b9e3%7C0%7C0%7C639094434959562378%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=hMdsW8%2BFzBi1ksGVnshvq88mTVl2N4siB%2FHGUokz6S0%3D&amp;reserved=0" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="3" data-ogsc="">Land of Hope</a>,&nbsp;shares how those writings shaped the future of American government.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

The Story of America: Why the Constitution Needed the Federalist Papers [Ep. 12]

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/8221af04-62cc-444f-b503-b41200a09edf/transcript

Christmas, 1776

In 1 playlist(s)

Our American Stories

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips