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Civics & Coffee: A History Podcast - Titans or Crooks: The Men Who Built Industrial America
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Titans or Crooks: The Men Who Built Industrial America

Civics & Coffee: A History Podcast

02/28/26

19m

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The Gilded Age was marked by the rise of powerful industrialists - but four men in particular are known for the power they wielded and the complex legacies they left behind. John D. Rockefeller transformed oil. Andrew Carnegie's steel empire was built on efficiency and reinvestment. Cornelius Vanderbilt revolutionized transportation and railroads in American and J.P. Morgan's financial prowess consolidated entire industries. Together, these men permanently reshaped the American economy for generations. Yet, their methods led to significant consequences. Tune in this week to explore how these men built their empires - and why their complicated legacies remain a central debate today.

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Previous Episode

Before the Great Migration, there was a smaller, yet just as important emigration of Black Americans out of the South. For several months in 1879, thousands of freedmen and their families headed for Kansas, hoping to create a better life for themselves and establish a better future for the children. Learn about the motivation behind this exodus and why it sparked a Senate investigation.

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Join me as I sit down with author and historian Charles Ferguson to discuss his book Presidential Seclusion: The Power of Camp David, which explores the history of the presidential retreat and the men who've shaped it. Learn about the original name for Camp David, how various presidents have utilized the retreat for relaxation and major policy negotiations, and the retreats lasting legacy in American history.

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