Presidential Historian Reviews Presidents in Film & TV, from 'Lincoln' to 'The Comey Rule'

[@davisia81791]

"Let's understand something about presidents. First and foremost....they're all sociopaths." I like this guy already.

[@AuthorZaraHoffman]

Exactly!

[@sarasamaletdin4574]

I thought that was silly. Sociopath isn’t even an official diagnosis anymore but he contradicts that opinion too later on by what he says of Roosevelt for example.

[@jznewman22]

@@sarasamaletdin4574 just because he said good of Teddy doesnt mean he only thinks good. To love a president unconditionally is silly

[@Themystergamerr]

Even Obama? Not Obama!

[@chuckles222]

@@Themystergamerr Obama was a war criminal, so yes, even Obama.

[@yesthisisshi]

I like what he said about allies: you aren't allies because you like each other, you're allies because you dislike something else more

[@spiderodoom]

“The enemy of my enemy of my friend”

[@itb4255]

@@spiderodoom Thats just not true...

[@spiderodoom]

@@itb4255 not in every circumstance, but in that specific context, yes, it is correct.

[@ЮлияВасик-ч1о]

The content was brilliant, but the cuts in this video are terribly placed. The Teddy Roosevelt portion was difficult to watch.

[@jamesduffy7549]

This is also oddly current, as it basically explains Joe Biden becoming president.

[@jolfer1334]

How did u not mention Lincoln's side job as a vampire hunter?

[@Sherlockdd]

Low key great film

[@FantasticShania]

Omg right 😂😂

[@vaahtobileet]

@@Sherlockdd you could legitimately learn about Abraham Lincoln too by reading the book. It's sort of a biography with vampire hunting as the backdrop

[@Themystergamerr]

😂😂😂

[@sarahmichelle473]

@@Sherlockdd oddly, the movie is fantastic

[@RustinChole]

Reading Lincoln’s biography, I found it really difficult to believe such a guy ever existed. Self educated, a championship fighter/wrestler, survived tragedy upon tragedy in his youth, became a self made lawyer, I mean long before he even becomes president it’s almost more like reading a Greek epic than a biography. If you doubt Lincoln’s .... power of character, read the diaries of his fiercest enemies. Even people who hated him the most, upon meeting him, had to begrudgingly admit to respecting the man. Or read the eulogies written for him by such as Tolstoy, it’s just wild.

[@sidharthsr4312]

i read the first line of your comment and thought that there's a new conspiracy theory that says Lincoln was fake.

[@RustinChole]

@@sidharthsr4312 ha. No. I mean I’m sure it’s out there somewhere, next to the lady trying to say that the Roman Empire never existed and the flat earth folks.

[@whitesedan99]

So True! Licoln was an incredible person; no less a president.

[@DigOnAmerica]

He also created the secret service, just one day too late

[@themartian4323]

i read Lincolns Biography and then a year later went to the Smithsonian. I have never felt more emotional than when i saw his hat and the memorial. Just imagining what he sacrificed is unbelievable

[@muhammadgbadegesin8043]

"Alliances aren't made because people like each other. They are made because the dislike somebody more". Very True.

[@mizzouranger134]

I think that’s true with exceptions. I think England America Australia and Canada all like each other quite a lot. I mean don’t get me wrong I think we don’t like some random details about each other’s governments… as well as our own but overall we will all gladly get behind the other. Which I think is awesome. I know all soldiers of those nations will gladly run into fire and support the others.

[@patoa3481]

Kinda like the saying "The enemy of my enemy is my friend"

[@bethanyhait6880]

That is how we ended up with Stalin as an ally in WW2…

[@TroublingStatue]

This was incredibly interesting, there was not a single dull moment throughout the video. Jeffrey Engle did an incredible job to keep things interesting! There really needs to be a part 2!

[@lordbuddybear]

Agreed, although the unnecessary cuts within sentences really annoyed me, so I hope they change that

[@samvanhoutert4875]

aggreed!

[@AuthorZaraHoffman]

Agreed!

[@jedipug4809]

I THOUGHT YOU PUT JEFFREY EPSTEIN OMFGG

[@jdick91]

@@lordbuddybear I thought I was the only bothered by that. I'm not an expert in editing by any stretch of the imagination but I was always under the impression that if you're consciously aware of every single cut that's made...it's not good editing.

[@thomaschristopherwhite9043]

In that scene in Vice, the more subtle element is that Cheney is wearing a Rolex day-date (Nicknamed the 'rolex president') to signify that he is the one calling the shots. George W is not even wearing a watch.

[@montagskyrunner5884]

Whoa that’s an awesome element.

[@Avasaks123]

I also love that that scene contains someone catching a fish interspersed with Cheney luring in Bush. Implying that Cheney's got Bush "hook, line, and sinker"

[@zaeet3977]

Incorrect. The Day-Date is a Day-Date, The band on the watch is called the Presidential. The watch was available about 7 years before the band was so named.

[@thomaschristopherwhite9043]

@@zaeet3977 True but no one thinks about it that way. Through some weird sequence of events the president has now officially stuck as the nickname to the Day-Date.

[@zaeet3977]

@@thomaschristopherwhite9043 People who know Rolex think about it that way.

[@Godzeller3143]

“The only thing they got wrong about LBJ is that he asked them to close the door.” Oh man that line got me.

[@Vampirecronicler]

I'd say the best interpretation of Teddy Roosevelt was unironically, Robin Williams in night at the museum. He protrays Roosevelt as a natural leader, someone you know who could take charge and kick butt if he wanted, but is wise enough to be diplomatic in his actions. Of course, Williams doesn't portray the real Roosevelt, just a manaquin of him inside of the museum that the real Roosevelt opened in New York.

[@Bjjbhcoa86]

Whichever character Williams touched during his craftsmanship, he became the best portrayer of it.

[@Geronimo_Jehoshaphat]

Tom Berenger

[@the4tierbridge]

@@Bjjbhcoa86 Jakob the Liar?

[@bb22602]

Mr. Williams played Teddy as we hope he was, just as Howard daSilva played Benjamin Franklin in "1776"

[@norezenable]

Teddy was insane. He not only was a Rough Rider and held the presidency, was reknowned for his outdoor prowess and physical strength, survived being shot in an assassination attempt, but then ran the bull moose party. He really was an over-the-top kind of guy and I think you're probably right that Williams's portrayal was probably somewhere on point.

[@perlahamilton6314]

My God this man didn’t skip a beat. He was so knowledgeable and confident about it... so awesome.

[@01Natalcia01]

I always wonder how historian can remember so many details about human history, dates, places etc. :O

[@perlahamilton6314]

@@01Natalcia01 right!? I can barely remember yesterday lol

[@QwellOfficial]

@@01Natalcia01 As someone with an affinity for history (not nearly as knowledgeable as the guy in this video) I've found that when I need to recall a historical fact that I've previously known it just comes to me. I've slept through history lessons in highschool while still performing at the top of my class.

[@fightingblindly]

I have a history degree and live history. The way I remember it is like instead of reading a book I’m listening to an interesting story someone is telling me. I find it easy to remember that way. Also I love it so I reread stuff a lot for pleasure.

[@johnshaw252]

Didn't bother mentioning the bit about the Trump investigation barring no fruit, portraying him as sinister🤦...what a joke.

[@rhinestonecupcake04]

This guy was insanely interesting to listen to

[@zahaanhoosein6511]

@@花海扬帆 Lol shut up

[@jamiemills5659]

@@花海扬帆 stfu troll

[@JTtheMid]

@@zahaanhoosein6511 What did he say?

[@Saicharan-hk9id]

You fall in love with him lol?

[@monie802]

for real. i want him to have his own YT telling interesting stories of presidents... I'd be all over that

[@whereisCarmenSandiego]

Sam Rockwell as “W” really blew my mind…it’s almost creepy just how spot on his facial expressions and his overall appearance were. 😮

[@CharlesChristinaWH]

Josh Brolin's too especially his body movements and how Dubya would walk stop and do his hands and arms gestures even not facing the person while doing it

[@nobodyburgen4594]

@@CharlesChristinaWHJosh Brolin’s laugh as W is scary accurate

[@jeffcantplay86]

I’ve taken classes with him before. 12/10 he’s even better in person

[@trickyrichard]

Bruh i thought you were naming todays date, 4 weeks in advance lmao

[@badcornflakes6374]

Anywhere I can find a conservative history teacher?

[@Paragon231]

Alabama.

[@TehMomo_]

@@badcornflakes6374 Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas....Florida....

[@surfk9836]

@@Paragon231 In a Jr. High School.

[@hgsokmensuer]

Holy cow that was super interesting. I could listen to Engel talk about American presidents all day.

[@boppob1343]

If anyone else feels the same way, go watch HBO's new doc "The Soul of America". It's based on Jon Meacham's book and he's hands down the greatest President Historian alive.

[@nihoa9123]

i could listen to him talk to this bussy BOO YAH!!!!!!!!!

[@m.j.c.6969]

Given that he's made factual errors, you must be intellectually impaired if you could listen to him all day!

[@jacobgebhart7550]

The one exception I'd say to the "sociopath with a big ego" is U.S. Grant. You can say many things about Grant but one thing you can't say us he was egotistical. There are many stories where he was so humble and unassuming that soldiers in the army thought he was a private and not a General and when under fire started yelling at him to get down calling him a fool not realizing he's the highest ranking person in the nation under the president. Grant was humble to a fault which is why he got taken advantage of and is so closely tied to scandals.

[@dionysusNME]

Agreed, one of the rare instances where the man was too good for the Presidency.

[@Geronimo_Jehoshaphat]

This alledged "historian" is glib and biasedly presumptive.

[@killgoretrout9000]

Grant is maybe my favorite historical figure because he is such a genuinely decent person. I find myself fascinated both by his world tour after the presidency, would I wouldn't give to be a fly on wall during his and Bismarck's conversation, and his tenacity in finishing his autobiography after losing most of his wealth and being diagnosed with cancer to insure his family had some money to depend on. He was a truly admirable person.

[@cleverusername9369]

@@killgoretrout9000 I particularly appreciate Grant's affection for animals, especially horses

[@ThomasLWoolsey]

I think you could possibly put Jimmy Carter in that bracket too, as a man too decent to be president

[@r.m7921]

He's so fluid in his explanation and the fact he can recollect so many facts is so amazing. His history lectures would be so interesting I imagine.

[@allyski5914]

"Let's understand something about presidents. First and foremost....they're all sociopaths." *First you had my curiosity. Now, you have my attention."*

[@darkaero]

I mean, you need to be a narcissistic sociopath to want to be the "leader of the free world" and think you can make all of it's most important decisions.

[@peacemaker63604]

Not Washington, he outright refused to take office when offered and the first election campaign was essentially everyone trying to convince Washington to take the post

[@natalollipop_art]

This one actually made me more upset because I know for a fact Garfield wasn't a psychopath Although, he was murdered by one.

[@Geronimo_Jehoshaphat]

You're pretty easy to manipulate them aren't you? Any smarmy moron would lead with such a glib truism.

[@awesomebeard1973]

except its not true

[@TransparentlyDuplicitous]

I've got to say this: the fact that John Adams gets overshadowed in a video discussing presidents by a non-president in an analysis of his show no less is both hilarious and sad. The man really does get done dirty by everyone.

[@codylee729]

I love me some John Adams

[@soliopy]

@John Conquest Highly recommend it! I knew nothing about Adams before I watched it in high school and was blown away by his story. He was basically the Forrest Gump of his time in that he was somehow involved in every major historical event of the Colonial revolt and Revolutionary Era. You also learn that he and his wife stayed massively in love with each other their entire lives. Abigail Adams is the GOAT First Lady (she pushed for women's rights in the 1700's!) and was so brilliant (despite growing up un-educated) that Jefferson was fascinated by her. The Adams were lawyers and farmers that opposed slavery so strongly that they employed paid workers at massive costs just because it was the right thing to do.

[@firemangan2731]

@@soliopy Thats always have been the case in American history, the president gets all the blame despite it was congress who makes the law and passes it to the cheif executive in the first place. With that aside, I loved the HBO series John Adams I binge watch the show up to the last episode, before I watched the show I used to think Adams was nothing more than just some another rich dude whos looking for power, but after watching the series, I learned hes not really rich but had a rough life, hes a man of principles, a hard working man, and a good servant to his country. Despite him being always the hot head of the founding fathers, at least hes not afraid to do the right thing when it has to be done, most presidents will just act like puppets to their respective parties and never came close to how Adams done the job.

[@sto1238]

That’s the unfortunate thing about being #2. He’s the second president and gets sandwiched between Washington and Jefferson

[@thepenguin9]

I too loved john madden

[@blew1t]

that trump portrayal was really interesting, i've never seen a serious, dramatic, non-comedic portrayal of trump before. it's kind of weird. it's difficult to see someone all done up with the red tie and orange skin and blonde wig and take them seriously as a character, but given that, i think brendan gleeson did about as well as he could've

[@iwazhear77]

Woah, Brendan Fraser played Trump?

[@junethanoschurchill6750]

@@iwazhear77 did they say Brendan fraser

[@scottmcdonnell5403]

I read an interview where they said they had to "tone down" trump to make him fit the show. As in to make the show more realistic they had to misrepresent Trump

[@c.h.castle6819]

He did a good impression personally I do like trump and I can say his portrayal was great

[@30secondstomarsMBH]

@Cyber Explorer He is. Unfortunately.

[@dankioko680]

Imagine if he were your History Professor? You'll never miss a class

[@fridgehorror4502]

@VonAllen History ok trumpie

[@catwetterau8273]

@VonAllen History you never denied it lmao

[@Pius-XI]

He's not very neutral is he?

[@Wolfcone]

Legit the most biased person I've ever seen on one of these videos. Gross.

[@J.C.3]

He’s a terrible historian. You could tell how biased he was towards trump lol.... how can you trust a person like that ?

[@ThatDangerousWolf]

Daniel Day-Lewis is a genius method actor idk how he looks different in every movie it’s mind blowing. Everything I’ve read and watched by experts about Lincoln applaud his performance.

[@kamap8456]

Please bring him back for more. I could listen to him break down these scenes all day.

[@Geronimo_Jehoshaphat]

He's an idiot. Bring someone in who isn't.

[@appa1230]

@@Geronimo_Jehoshaphat I think we watched two different videos

[@Geronimo_Jehoshaphat]

@@appa1230 Well you must have seen it through the goggles they administered to you. Whereas I went in commando.

[@olivierkepo]

“How can you get to the office of the president being a sociopath ?” “The question you should be asking is how you get to be President of the United States if you are not” - Mindhunter season one

[@frederickdavid629]

Still no season 3

[@olivierkepo]

@@frederickdavid629 looks like it isn't coming back. Sad

[@AuthorZaraHoffman]

I remember that line.

[@sharathsh9987]

@@olivierkepo I'm pretty sure they didn't cancel it. It's in sort of a weird limbo, but it might still come back.

[@olivierkepo]

@@sharathsh9987 I really hope so !

[@noahbrown6970]

Just to be clear, Kevin Costner's character in Thirteen Days, Kenneth O'Donnell, was a real person, and was really a Special Assistant to President Kennedy, as well as an aide to LBJ in his first two years in office post-assassination. They just amped up his role for the film, for the reasons Mr Engel mentioned in the film

[@martinarepnik3937]

here i am, a european, watching a 46 minute video on american presidents, despite it holding no real relevance to my country. still pretty fascinating tho, i really like the guy and his explanations.

[@giselasilva5415]

Me too, excellent video

[@leonstrand329]

What country? And I'm going to disagree about them holding relevance in Europe. At least after '41

[@lawsonj39]

No relevance to Europe? Check out 28:57....

[@someonenothere8818]

Lol what. You realize that Europe and America have always had involvement with each other.................

[@michaelmontalto8211]

"Presidents aren't kings or tyrants, atleast not yet." God I love this dude

[@MaikKellerhals]

"Nobody is surprised when a politician lies" - That's the problem. We should be. And we should hold them responsible.

[@sharathsh9987]

Call me jaded, but that might be a bit too idealistic lol

[@corystegall3583]

You’re very Idealist their jobs have existed for a very long time and they love the power they love it enough to lie it’s been like that for a very long time

[@joelcastro-reyes1667]

@@corystegall3583 I like to think some politicians do genuinely care about helping people. Money and power can corrupt anyone though.

[@corystegall3583]

@@joelcastro-reyes1667 I think they start that way but I think the job itself and what it requires causes people to eventually give up their values to keep the job or they just quit

[@reaper411b]

This. I like this. I second the motion lol.

[@matt15]

Bro I didn’t realize this video was 45 minutes long until it was almost over, this guy was great to listen to

[@ohJettzen]

Broooo

[@eggymayo3271]

Same thought it was about ten minutes

[@katrinabill8247]

What was neglected about LBJ and civil rights is his chef, Zephyr Wright. The two were very close and because of that, she was able to plant little bugs in his ear about how she was treated and it was rumored that this truly upset him, that this person he cared about was treated so unjustly

[@jezebel324]

I want hours of this guy breaking down government history for us. Absolutely riveting, funny and engaging, by far one of the best specialists on this channel

[@clayschwartzwalter382]

The picture of LBJ looming over that guy is hilarious and unsettling lol

[@winterramos4527]

That was me...let me tell you...his spit was the worst of it

[@q.is.tir3d]

lmao right?? i had no idea he was like that too

[@jdice6868]

Teddy Roosevelt has been my favorite president forever. We have him to thank for the protected National Parks. When he took over the police in NY they hated him because he wanted to clean up the corruption. He was a fascinating man and is often overlooked for his contributions.

[@msjkramey]

He was also an imperialist responsible for so much death

[@jdice6868]

@@msjkramey His father was going to join the Union (as an officer, of course, due to his wealth), but his southern wife begged him not to go. Teddy's shame that his father paid someone to go in his stead (common in the 19th century) is why he ended up wanting to go to battle. His easy win in Cuba gave him a twisted sense of what war is really like. He definitely had his faults, but he actually cared about people less fortunate and started anti-trust laws, worker rights, it's crazy all the good he did, as an imperialist death bringer. Lincoln was responsible for a lot of death, I don't hold it against him that he kept going when the south gave in on all except slavery and he was begged by many. He is responsible for more dead Americans than any other single president, and I thank him for his forbearance. Just a thought. Have a nice day.

[@parisbower6939]

@@jdice6868 I also love Teddy, in my book one of the only presidents who looked out for the betterment of America and it’s citizens rather than this weird “idea” of America everyone’s fighting over. That being said, native Americans and as you mentioned Cubans may disagree, Teddy gave us the best but that doesn’t mean he didn’t also have his own interests.

[@visassess8607]

@@msjkramey Well yeah, no president did everything great according to our modern views.

[@jdice6868]

@@sebastiansebastian5270 I'll look for the titles of the documentaries I watched, books read, and good videos. I'll be happy to, but I'm swamped prepping for Thanksgiving. So give me some time and have a lovely week.

[@flipflopsandsocks50]

As a history major who loves American history in particular I could easily watch 5 hours of this

[@Wxlucas]

Same 😂 I’m not a history major tho could’ve been but I chose to be a paramedic

[@Geojr815]

I just wish this guy’s political bias wasn’t so glaring

[@Pius-XI]

​@@Geojr815Exactly!! Read books instead

[@peopleperson]

he didn't react to Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, 0/10 not good.

[@oralialafond9215]

I like what he said about allies: you aren't allies because you like each other, you're allies because you dislike something else more

[@TehMomo_]

other than the vampire stuff....it was pretty dead on....

[@Unique4007]

😂😂😂

[@Savitar-dk6gw]

He also thinks that people were crazy for being afraid of China bombing the west coast so he’s not very smart. I wouldn’t let it bother you to much.

[@cameron9322]

@@Savitar-dk6gw japan not china i think

[@Nananananaheckyes]

FDR died at 63, it's insane but the way I pictured it was that he was like in his 80s or 90s when he died because he served so many terms... FDR was younger when he died than either Trump or Biden or most presidential candidates today

[@alexsummers778]

You also have to take in to account that average male life expectancy in the 1940's was in the mid 60's , while now days its closer to 80.

[@Nananananaheckyes]

@@alexsummers778 I know haha it's just one of those gaps I had where none of my teachers said his age so I assumed he was older than he was because of more modern presidents

[@Nananananaheckyes]

@@alexsummers778 but it's still interesting that both our candidates are near or past average life expectancy

[@joelcastro-reyes1667]

Well the average life expectancy was the 60s back then. Not to mention he was very ill by the time of his 3rd term, and didn't get to finish his 4th term because of a stroke.

[@Nananananaheckyes]

@@joelcastro-reyes1667 yeah i know the life expectancy was early 60s back then, it's just one of those things where none of my teachers brought up his age during class and I just always associated the presidency with being older ig, and if someone like biden or trump got elected four times they would be corpses.

[@I_Lemaire]

“When the President does it, that means it’s not illegal.” SCOTUS 2024: Roger that.

[@philipbagnall375]

Thirteen Days is so underrated. We know the outcome, yet it’s still so tense. Greenwood is excellent as Kennedy.

[@abbaszaidi8371]

And Steven Culp as Bobby is just as excellent

[@brandontaylor8957]

Greenwood didn’t even try to do the accent, which threw me off a bit.

[@abbaszaidi8371]

@@brandontaylor8957 he tried a bit. It’s better not to overcook a Boston accent. Otherwise it sounds like an impression like the Simpsons Diamond Joe Quimby

[@cowboywayne35]

Fact check : Kenneth Patrick O'Donnell (played my Kevin Costner) was an American political consultant and the special assistant and appointments secretary to President John F. Kennedy They up played O'Donnell's role but he was definitely a real person

[@dianeaustin2414]

A great movie...

[@javierbolanos6463]

"do you notice this actor is using complete sentences , Donald Trump has never finished a sentence."

[@flbphotography2239]

lmbao

[@BigFootTheRealOne]

And Joe Biden doesn't have press conferences or answers questions. Unless of course his handlers let him

[@bradenculver7457]

@@BigFootTheRealOne ur joking right Please tell me ur joking and aren't this ignorant

[@NG-dc2pk]

@@bradenculver7457 is Joe biden conducting interviews then ? Hmmm interesting

[@bradenculver7457]

@@NG-dc2pk what does this even mean lmao yea he's done interviews Are y'all so dumb you can't even see how dumb your blatant strawman is Like how is Biden at all relevant to what trump did lmao

[@theamclain3240]

Hearing the real facts about Lincoln was so interesting. He’s represented as practically a saint in American history but he had his issues

[@yungsammysosa6201]

ALOT of issues..

[@WouldntULikeToKnow.]

He ended slavery to weaken the south, not for any moral reasons.

[@Rukhasu]

@@WouldntULikeToKnow. i think he went to war cuz he wanted the unified country, thats what he cared for. It doesnt care about black people. As said he wanted them back to the África and thats how liberia was created

[@TerryTerius]

@@Rukhasu The evolution of Lincoln‘a thoughts on Black people and slavery in general are much more complicated than that throughout his life and tenure in office.

[@n3nt2nd464]

Abe was a great guy but he was still human

[@JorisKoolen]

This was something else. Love the long form of this 'expert review', especially with such a good and fun expert.

[@MikeBawden]

As an SMU alum and a big fan of the History Department there, I'm very pleased with this feature. Jeffrey Engel's review of these Presidential depictions was spot-on. Thanks!

[@adachilove4054]

Part twoooo! We need a part two. This guy delivers the information in a fascinating way. Two thumbs up

[@darkecofreak23]

“If there’s no one else in the room...” Cue “The Room Where It Happens”

[@midea.6490]

♥️♥️♥️♥️ #Hamilfan

[@debrahsinger5856]

Your opening statement was a real stretch. To diagnose, a priori, all presidents as sociopaths is akin to saying all historians are neurotic anxiety prone individuals who lack the self confidence to join the game in the arena. Your POV provides food for thought. (If you have formal training in clinical psychology...my apologies.)

[@Resurgam1981]

No

[@delcapslock100]

@@debrahsinger5856 I think you commented on a comment and meant to comment directly on the video

[@debrahsinger5856]

Delcapstock...you are so right...my comment was intended toward “Presidential Historian ....” my apologies to Adam Easton.

[@matthewweng8483]

I always sort of read the FDR standing up scene not so much as impressing them all at that particular moment, but as a reminder that he had overcome a lot and wasn’t an ‘It can’t be done’ kind of guy.

[@Asher8328]

I'm glad he brought up that Trump doesn't speak in complete sentences. It was so weird hearing the actor playing him speak like a normal person.

[@bobbywimsy6741]

T speaks only in incoherent word salads to distract and dominate his cult followers.

[@FinnTheBee]

@ALSO-RAN ! my friend I think you're the mistaken one here.. Biden can form a sentence that's understandable while Trump can't even answer a direct question, pivots and panders to his lunatic followers

[@Griff2323]

@fuck2016 im not saying I support Trump, but I don't believe Trump hates Mexicans or immigrants. Obama had part in the current camps they have for immigrants as well.

[@Griff2323]

@@FinnTheBee Woah I wouldn't call all of his followers lunatics. That's a pretty big generalization.

[@cd2340]

@ALSO-RAN ! lmao, life must be hard being this stupid.

[@picklesthewise]

Never heard of Engel before this video, but I would watch anything he presented after seeing this. He's very knowledgeable, straightforward, uncompromising when digging up presidential dirt, and really personable and entertaining.

[@nate1066pollock]

This guy should do another video just on "The Butler". There's 4 or 5 presidents in that movie.

[@AuthorZaraHoffman]

Agreed!

[@CarlosMartinez-vk4nd]

That movie had a lot of historical inaccuracies though

[@nate1066pollock]

@@CarlosMartinez-vk4nd about the presidents themselves?

[@themarquis336]

This man is unbelievable. What a great video. As a Mexican I find the history of our northern neighbours always very, very complicated and, frankly, stomach-churning, but completely fascinating and this video was great at explaining many key things. Loved it. Wish there was a second part!

[@seni4164]

As an English person, I feel the same about US history haha

[@ennanitsua]

As an American, I also find our history confusing and stomach-churning. You're not alone!

[@Feimicha]

Chinese resident/immigrant of America here, I feel *exactly* the same lol

[@mymicks21]

More historians please, this was awesome.

[@michaelborch2432]

“Closes thing we have to a genuine renaissance man” John Quincy Adams: ಠ_ಠ

[@angelnixxa278]

This guy was insanely interesting to listen to

[@Nebulasecura]

Everybody forgets the non-famous Presidents, even though Quincy Adams was literally the son of John Adams himself, and even lived long enough to have his photograph taken lol

[@aguywithacreativename6458]

@@Nebulasecura can you explain the joke to me?

[@hotshot8135]

@@aguywithacreativename6458 dude could speak six different languages

[@aguywithacreativename6458]

@@hotshot8135 thanks

[@david4rancibia34]

we need a second part were he starts talking about Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, Night at the Museum and Hamilton

[@visassess8607]

Alexander Hamilton was never president

[@david4rancibia34]

@@visassess8607 i'm talking about the broadway show hamilton, you got Washington, Jefferson, Adams, Madison, Burr in a kinda innacurate broadway musical, but is still hilarious

[@nancyruiz6305]

I'm sure it would come as a shock to Kenneth O'Donnell's family to learn that he was a character created for Thirteen Days. Mr. O'Donnell was part of the "Irish Mafia", and special assistant and appointments secretary to JFK. Perhaps he wasn't in the room with during the conversation shown, but he was absolutely a real person.

[@bobbarker3825]

Please bring this guy back for another video, this was genuinely interesting and I’ve seen it multiple times

[@adellis24]

The dude is an uniformed partisan hack.

[@Gryffindor8]

For some reason I just love the mannerisms and speaking style of this guy.

[@justthinkingoutloud2538]

He sounds JUST like Josh Lucas!

[@jessica5497]

Imagine judging Daniel day Lewis acting lol jokes aside, he did great on that role

[@chrissyknowsitall5170]

I absolutely love Daniel Day Lewis!! He is such a great actor. I think he did a beautiful job playing Lincoln.

[@jmitterii2]

Sandburg's is the best though, and more likely the most accurate. kzbin.info/www/bejne/f5WWhqRtqdGqisU

[@jazzgtrplayer]

Kenneth O’Donnell, Kevin Costner’s character in Thirteen Days, was a real person. He was a special assistant to President Kennedy during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Not sure why the historian says he’s not a real person. His family would be surprised to find that out.

[@ploopploop9569]

I think the assessment of Lincoln missed a little bit of nuance. His position on colonization was one that he had in his early political career. By the time he made it to the presidency his views became more egalitarian. People’s views change over time. So did Lincoln’s.

[@mariaserrano2953]

I thought he ended presidency for his own good?

[@paikeahigurashi7575]

But he isn't the person we thought he was, which is one of the lies we learned in school. To people who had no idea, that's mind blowing and possibly triggering. I think sugar coating him is worse because to those who are not racist, that's almost soul crushing. He did a lot of good, but he was still a man of his time.

[@paikeahigurashi7575]

@John Kimble 😂 You're right! Hardly anyone truly are, but there are a few who exist.

[@engagementengagement8836]

@@paikeahigurashi7575 what lie is told in school?

[@firemangan2731]

@@paikeahigurashi7575 True, Lincoln isn’t really hostile to slavery has many schools tought us, he only wanted slavery to be kept within the south, not spreading acorss the new territories which further angered the southerners that consequently led to the American civil war or the 2nd American Revolution as Neo-Confederates call it.

[@preahko]

This was one of the best of these videos (experts evaluating portrayals of their area of expertise in popular culture)...I didn't want it to end!

[@Geronimo_Jehoshaphat]

I found him to be just glib in his total ineptude.

[@thabimajija856]

Please get him to do a part 2. You know it's great content when 40 mins doesn't feel like it. Also, I could listen to Professor Engel all day.

[@niftyspock]

I like the first thing he said, "They're all sociopaths." My grandma always said, " Anyone who wants to be president has to be nuts."

[@thehopeofeden597]

*driving at extreme speeds:* AHAHAHA NOTHING BAD EVER HAPPENS TO THE KENNEDYS

[@herald4992]

*GAS GAS GAS*

[@vaniapinto8214]

AAAA-

[@katherinemorelle7115]

I avoided this video because I was worried it was going to be some typical American fawning over past presidents. I had no need to worry, this fella is awesome, honest, and he knows where it’s at!

[@justthinkingoutloud2538]

I was worried it'd be the opposite, demonizing all of America's conservative cultural icons, but I was no less pleasantly surprised

[@ClickBeetleTV]

Do Americans fawn over past presidents, really?

[@Noise_floorxx]

@@ClickBeetleTV maybe old ones lol. Not quite sure what this person is talking about

[@DeosPraetorian]

@@jpryan90 it's kind of weird though because I feel like Reagan did a lot of things that conservatives wouldn't like today

[@spartanparty3894]

Uhh, we hate our presidents lol

[@argentsolbright8951]

Huh, I was expecting something fun like others 'expert watch movies' video, and it indeed really was fun, but it also ended up much deeper and thoughtful than I thought it would be. Good one.

[@leoc1812]

This is one of the most wholesome historians I've ever listened to. There's a charm about him. I'd love to meet him and pick his brain. Thank you so much for this.

[@drzero7]

I like this guy, he is VERY NEUTRAL about this. He is blunt and to the point, some might say, "Oh he's a liberal because how he talks about Trump." Well, no. Not really, he tells the truth about Trump. (how he cares about TV persona and loyality over government politics, constitution, etc) And at the same time, he tells the truth about Bush. If he was a "evil liberal" he would have labled Bush as, "evil warmonger who tricked Americans to war" which he doesn't. Bush was just overconfident, and wrong information at the time.

[@finnfeaver1196]

ok stevie wonder/ray charles

[@zarosseagle]

It's funny how Trump supports get so defensive about reality when you show it to them.

[@a.hollins8691]

@@zarosseagle Trump supporters have a Trumpian relationship with the truth.

[@a.hollins8691]

@@finnfeaver1196 Lol, anyone who isn't a bootlicker is an idiot, right?

[@stormichow5325]

Trump did try to influence the FBI Director, who is supposed to act in a non-partisan sense. There's nothing subjective about it, he literally did break the law.

[@justanothertoyreviewer]

"Presidents are not kings, not tyrants... at least not yet." - 9:07

[@williamwallaceoftheus8033]

Oh god. Trump will leave Office on either January 20th 2021 or January 20th 2025. It was a joke

[@johnb.8687]

Most men on the left have these massive inferiority complexes, I mean they just look like these Neil west guys

[@jmitterii2]

I had a chuckle on that one.

[@DOPEdwarf]

One will cross the Rubicon

[@minniemouse6501]

Only 6 days until the release of the PlayStation 5! Sound off in the comments if you snagged a pre-order, and make sure to check out all of our PS5 coverage including the PS5 console review, Spider-Man gameplay, and so much more! >>> www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfmPZ...

[@williamcainevoiceacting]

I vote you guys make a sequel to this video. Some of the movies I'd be interested to see him talk about is: All The Way- Bryan Cranston as LBJ Oppenheimer- Gary Oldman as Truman The Kennedys (TV show)- Greg Kinnear as JFK Nixon- Anthony Hopkins as Nixon Elvis & Nixon- Kevin Spacey as Nixon Selma- Tom Wilkinson as LBJ The Butler- Various actors as various presidents

[@Diamondelight92]

"That was a surprise (they would tell you)" I would truly like to hear this guy's take on 9/11

[@agalo3631]

9/11 was decades in the making, that’s why he said that. America had a lot of warnings and the govt knew that hostility against America was rising with the expansion of the Taliban & did nothing about it.

[@MrRizeAG]

It's most likely a reference to the intelligence gathered shortly before 9/11 that Osama was planning an attack on US soil, which was disregarded. But it's also more complex than that, as US meddling in the Middle East goes all the way back to the 70's. Particularly relevant is that the US created a program to radicalize and train terrorists in Afghanistan (with UN approval and money, no less). This is because the USSR was invading Afghanistan, and it was the height of the Cold War, so the US was willing to do anything to beat the Russians there. This included the creation of violent and radical textbooks that created an entire sect of religious extremists who desperately wanted the Russians out of their country. And then...well, perhaps unsurprisingly, once Russia was gone, they then wanted the US to get out. You've probably never heard of these people, except that you actually have. They're called the Taliban. One of America's least favorite creations. This is only a small part of the story leading up to Bin Laden, but I think it's the most important part because it's something the US absolutely refuses to talk about. The United States deliberately created powerful Islamist terrorist warlords (extremely uncommon before then), and then spent the next several decades digging even deeper and shirking all responsibility. 9/11 was not a surprise. It was an inevitability. It was the only possible result of the recklessness and war crimes committed in the Middle East for half a century. That simple truth is far more terrifying than any elaborate conspiracy theory people have come up with, and it's the one truth US politicians refuse to face. Interventionism never works. Absolutely never. But neither does isolationism. America's future will be decided on whether we can find the middle path or not. We'll see.

[@Mark-ok8ss]

9/11 was an Inside job..... Architects and Engineers for Truth !! I suggest people give it a watch.

[@dkroll92]

@@MrRizeAG generally correct but minor point, American intervention in Afghanistan goes back to the late 70s. Our intervention in the Middle East in general really goes back to the 1940s. We cultivated a relationship with Saudi Arabia to secure resources in World War II. The British and Soviets did the same in Iran, and after Western and Soviet relations soured in the immediate aftermath of the war, eventually the US and UK intervened in Iran when it looked like they were shifting to the Soviet sphere (remember, they were only an ally of necessity in WWII). Of course, at the same time all this is happening, Israel was created as a direct byproduct of the Jewish experience in World War II (although the seeds had been sown for some time, that was the tipping point). There's a whole bunch more than can be filled in between the '40s/'50s and the late '70s, but that's the real roots. If you want to blame anyone, blame Hitler. Basically every bad thing that's happened in the last 87 years can be traced to him in some way

[@Pandagirl31001]

I’m in college to be a US history teacher and honestly I could listen to this guy talk for HOURS

[@dexterellis7818]

He should have included Oliver Stone's Nixon.

[@Coffeeisnecessarynowpepper]

Why?

[@dexterellis7818]

@@Coffeeisnecessarynowpepper If you have seen Anthony Hopkins' performance, you would not need to ask.

[@ThisNameWasTaken0]

Invaluable insight provided by J. Engels. I found myself thinking about presidents the way he describes them. Great vid.

[@oralialafond9215]

"Presidents aren't kings or tyrants, atleast not yet." God I love this dude

[@vaniapinto8214]

Stop spamming this comment.

[@Cool_hand_luker]

I know... Biden is terrible

[@Pius-XI]

You do know kings have even less power these days.

[@truetolkienfan8491]

This is actually incorrect because their power and influence had reached the point where they can be and it all started with Lincoln.

[@Shinobi6407]

I'm barely 19 minutes in and I am thoroughly enjoying this video. Very insightful analysis.

[@ploopploop9569]

The actor playing James Comey looks more like Michael Cohen. And the Trump actor’s voice was too raspy

[@basedbattledroid3507]

Brendan Gleeson is a national treasure.

[@justbeyondthecornerproduct3540]

@@basedbattledroid3507 He is but his voice was too deep

[@targanhunter1421]

How did u not mention Lincoln's side job as a vampire hunter?

[@huynhanh1269]

that trump portrayal was really interesting, i've never seen a serious, dramatic, non-comedic portrayal of trump before. it's kind of weird. it's difficult to see someone all done up with the red tie and orange skin and blonde wig and take them seriously as a character, but given that, i think brendan gleeson did about as well as he could've

[@jessicachuon6689]

Same

[@mitchellneu]

So glad you went over Thirteen Days. It’s SO UNDERAPPRECIATED. One of those movies(historically accurate or not), that I personally view as a “forgotten masterpiece”.

[@nutsackmania]

I was *so jacked* when they got there. Bruce Greenwood kills that role.

[@surferdjnj]

Cheney convinced all the "Possible" VP choices to undergo extensive background checks and person interviews and lengthy investigations. He knew the whole time he was going to get the VP slot and was basically using the info to get what he wanted policy wise while VP

[@OculusQuestFun]

This was one of your best videos Wired. Thank you for uploading and I hope to see more of this gentlemen in the future.

[@AlasdairGR]

“Donald Trump is...different” Understatement of the century.

[@calebwinfield1403]

And compared to what we have now..... Trump is easily the better option

[@AlasdairGR]

@@calebwinfield1403 Sure. Totally. Definitely would be better with the Cheetoh sitting in his office yelling at a TV, tweeting constantly, and figuring out ways to takeover our government instead of working on actual addressable problems with the country.

[@calebwinfield1403]

@@AlasdairGR Under Biden, crime has gone up for the first time in almost 30 years. Inflation is at an all time high, he gave Afghanistan to a terrorist organization, unemployment is up, wages are down. But yeah, at least there's no orange man to hurt your feel feelz

[@corysleeger1574]

Jobs are down. He gave control of oil back to the middle east and gave the middle east back to the taliban but hey, No mean Tweets.

[@MAXCOLLINS12]

@@AlasdairGR Yelling at a tv, tweeting and a lie. How terrible.

[@nathansdeal]

"Do you notice the actor is using compete sentences" made me laugh

[@Warriorcats64]

Why'd you forget "All the Way"with Bryan Cranston? That's the GOOD LBJ impression. This guy sounds more like Jimmy Carter.

[@bobbywimsy6741]

See David Frye for the best LBJ, Nixon, and Wm.F.Buckley, Jr.

[@karinabonds6651]

Was so disappointed when he talked about Rosevelt’s progressive party and didn’t mention that it was popularly known as the Bull Moose party

[@engagementengagement8836]

Why is that disappointing

[@gabrielmcconnor4493]

Why Karina?

[@cocalicoman]

@@engagementengagement8836 SUPER late to this but for me it was disappointing because it’s such a dope name and fit his whole persona really well

[@cowboywayne35]

Fact check : Kenneth Patrick O'Donnell (played my Kevin Costner) was an American political consultant and the special assistant and appointments secretary to President John F. Kennedy They up played O'Donnell's role but he was definitely a real person

[@narniadici1976]

That's probably what he meant

[@cowboywayne35]

@@narniadici1976 "every character in the is scene is a real person except for Kevin Costner. He is a character they made up"

[@4primus]

Exactly, Kenny O'Donnell is a real person. I wondered if anyone would fact check this.

[@moarliekmirite]

The real guy was not there for all those conversations and events. They needed a main character for the purposes of movie making and tying scenes together.

[@cowboywayne35]

@@moarliekmirite lol I Literally said that in my comment but thanks for. Chiming in!

[@larotamusiclandonsradioont4600]

That actor in thirteen days that plays Bobby Kennedy... LOOKS JUST LIKE FREAKIN BOBBY KENNEDY!

[@onitaijeoma1450]

Hmmm

[@johannapiard7306]

Sooooo great 👍🏽 loved this guy and his analysis. Please have him on again!???

[@stuflames4769]

Good golly, the editing. More cuts than a Liam Neeson parkour scene.

[@PhinPhan39]

One thing the movie Lincoln (2012) doesn’t get enough credit for is it’s portayal of the relationship between Lincoln and Secretary of War Edwin Stanton. Read Lincoln: The Unknown by Dale Carnegie and then rewatch Lincoln and it will become quite clear.

[@Dangolbustedman]

“9-11 was a surprise, they’ll tell you” OOF

[@nath-wp7xp]

August 6, George W. Bush received a presidential daily brief that stated that Osama Bin Laden was going to hijack aeroplanes in order to strike key targets in the United States. They knew it was going to happen. This was no surprise. Proof: en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bin_Ladin_Determined_To_Strike_in_US

[@gorthsleeperofwomen900]

@@nath-wp7xp source?

[@jacobgleisner5630]

The first bombing in the 90s was a dry run really.testing the systems he was evil but a genius none the less.

[@unknownseizure]

I clicked on this video only to see someone roasting presidents

[@madeconomist458]

"I would argue perhaps the most influential of washington's first cabinet" Bro he invented American capitalism, It's not arguable.

[@braxtonslife7779]

Historians always say “I would argue”, because they don’t want to say definitives and have their opinion affect their teaching of history. They try to be non-bias.

[@shawnn7502]

I would. It's called Thomas Jefferson.

[@stormcloudsabound]

@@braxtonslife7779 They TRY to be, certainly, but the significant difference between the history taught about white/wealthy/straight/cisgender/non-disabled people versus basically everyone else is disappointing. There's been efforts to change this, but there's still a significant bias in American schools towards teaching a certain perspective.

[@MA-go7ee]

@@stormcloudsabound This is such a phantom. If anything, since the 60s the teaching of US history has skewed heavily towards the other direction. It is interesting that this fact is never acknowledged.

[@jaycorbin5361]

While not American, Adam Smith was more of the bigger influence on American Capitalism than Hamilton was. Hamilton just put Smiths ideas into practice.

[@fiona-lyons]

This guy is fascinating. I'd listen to him lecture me on American politics any time- and I studied medieval history.

[@dumisanidanielmanganye3185]

"When the president does it, its not illegal", that quote is more relevant today than it was 40 years ago. Sound like someone you know?

[@Supremekrispykream]

💯💯

[@sunburst8810]

Woah you're so woke and intelligent. I'm so sure no one has had this take before

[@rockstahh5708]

@@sunburst8810 I'm sure your smart mom had it

[@patrickdewhurst3378]

Yes. It sounds like every world leader in every country since the beginning of time. Don't act like Trump stands alone just because you're fascinated with him.

[@dumisanidanielmanganye3185]

@@patrickdewhurst3378 oh so what ur telling me is every world leader in the history of our planet has had charges made against them, is that what ur saying?. As in all of them?

[@ricksamericana749]

FDR wasn't an "old man". He was 63 when he died. He was ill with polio but more significantly he had undiagnosed heart disease that killed him in 1944.

[@linda1lee2]

u.demog.berkeley.edu/~andrew/1918/figure2.html shows the average lifetime in 1944 for a man was 63.6 and women was 66.8 so he was an old man.

[@ricksamericana749]

@@linda1lee2 The averages you cite include infant mortalities. Further, FDR was the youngest of the Allied leaders. Relatively speaking to all of the leaders of WWII FDR was not an old man.

[@ayoa1173]

@@ricksamericana749 FDR's age relative to Allied leaders is irrelevant to the claim that he is an old man. Claiming someone is the youngest of a small group does not make that person young. Also, Roosevelt was one of the older leaders in the war with several being decades younger. The youngest was the Yugoslav king Peter II who was 22 at the end of the war.

[@ricksamericana749]

@@ayoa1173 Yes it does.

[@laartwork]

63 is old. Unless you are 63. But everyone else thinks you are old

[@cotybowman8825]

The Comey Rule is the worst Presidential representation is the worst I've ever seen. And I love Brendan Gleeson.

[@wilberforce95]

Great video. I love learning about American history, Presidents especially, and this was very informative.

[@valkyrja1232]

I feel like Roosevelt in that scene was doing it less for the "let me impress you" factor, and more to say as a reminder "I do what they say cannot be done, do not TELL me what can or cannot be done"

[@justthinkingoutloud2538]

Perfect assessment of the scene! You're totally right!

[@Zygro98acopalypse]

Trump is so ridiculous looking that even the best and most serious impersonations seem comical

[@hitoshiinaba5738]

"Let's understand something about presidents. First and foremost....they're all sociopaths." I like this guy already.

[@a.hollins8691]

I have the best ... The best impersonators. I know more about impersonating than the comedians ... They say, they say I can't be impersonated. I'm too handsome. I'm the number one handsome man. Fantastic, fantastic impersonations. Believe me."

[@corgisrule21]

Love how he said people are bought and sold…so true. People don’t think things like that happen and it’s ridiculous. Plus, like he intimated, anyone who wants to be the president has a few screws loose.

[@Real28]

As he talked about Nixon, I had this feeling "wow, this sounds just like Trump" Then he said just that. Striking

[@snkybrki]

@Kay Mitchell Nice bait lol

[@a.hollins8691]

Nixon wrote the blueprint for Trump. What kind of monster is in our future who will use Trump as a blueprint?

[@Se7enDsinSGaming]

@@a.hollins8691 meanwhile Obama has been busted doing the exact same thing...

[@factbeaglesarebest]

Like Trump or not, they are both incredibly selfish people who care primarily about themselves and presume to have power that they don’t quite have. For Trump it’s because he was raised in a palace essentially and never felt what want is...

[@Se7enDsinSGaming]

@@factbeaglesarebest bears are best

[@darthmix]

The John Adams series is so freaking good. Should be required viewing in US social studies classes.

[@samaiello7543]

Thats how i saw it, glad I did

[@KelsangGyudzhin]

It's very interesting that this video was recommended to me three years late, but just a few days after 6 people on the supreme court agreed with Nixon. "When the president does it, it's not a crime."

[@Maria-qh5hr]

Who knew a video on the history of Presidents would be so captivating. Maybe Jeffrey Engel could do Netflix documentaries!

[@Ozymandi_as]

Each to her or his own, but why would a history of Presidents *not* be interesting?