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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 23/01/2026

Hey, God, hyphenate "fuck it" next time ...

James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 26/09/2025

Hudson Valley/Capital Region people: I'll be speaking tomorrow at the Chatham (N.Y.) Public Library, 1:30 pm, about the great political backstory behind the Erie Canal, whose bicentennial we'll be celebrating next month. Hope to see you there ...

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 30/08/2025

7/ He was a fascinating man who led a fascinating life full of sweep and drama and, of course, many startling turns. I'm calling the book THE GREAT APOSTATE. If all goes as planned, it will be published in the fall of 2027.

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 30/08/2025

6/ He advocated nullification after the 1828 tariff law. He wrote prolifically on trade and tariffs, economic theory, politics, and history. He pushed for a militant South. In many ways he was the intellectual godfather of secession.

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 30/08/2025

5/ In 1820 he joined the faculty at South Carolina College. There he entered the most fateful period of his life. The former abolitionist was now an enslaver himself and unabashed defender of the institution.

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 30/08/2025

4/ Jefferson, who thought he was "the greatest man in America," wanted him president of his new institution, the University of Virginia. Once again the state's religious leaders objected, dooming his dream job

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 30/08/2025

3/ He settled in Pennsylvania and became a land commissioner and judge before his battles with organized religion led to his removal. He then entered academia, teaching chemistry at Dickinson College

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 30/08/2025

2/ who, fearing arrest in UK, fled to the US in 1794. But this bitter critic of John Adams was arrested and tried for sedition here and imprisoned in 1800, making him a martyr and hero to Jeffersonians, including Jefferson himself

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 30/08/2025

1/ an English-born radical, supporter of the French Revolution, and fervent opponent of slavery; a brilliant Oxford-educated polymath ...

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 30/08/2025

I'm thrilled to announce that my next book, a biography of Thomas Cooper (1759-1839), has been accepted by LSU Press as part of its distinguished Southern Biography Series. Cooper was ...

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 26/08/2025

An absolute classic! Thanks for keeping this great band alive on your page

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 18/08/2025

Good to know, Dave, but I’m a different James Bradley.

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 01/08/2025

It's flattering to see that the Sex and the City people think that middle-aged historians look like this shirtless:

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 30/07/2025

I really enjoyed being a guest on Evan Axelbank's excellent history podcast, though I revealed a few embarrassing childhood stories about presidential figurines and American Heritage books: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/1... @evanaxelbank.bsky.social

podcasts.apple.com

#182: James Bradley -

Podcast Episode · Axelbank Reports History and Today · 07/29/2025 · 49m

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 14/06/2025

I forgot to give my location: Chatham, NY!

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 14/06/2025

The only piece you'll ever read about unions, Martin Van Buren, Jerry Brown, Christopher Hitchens and Milton Friedman: jamesbradley.substack.com/p/when-the-l...

jamesbradley.substack.com

When the Left Was Laissez-Faire

A primer on politics and organized labor in the 1830s

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 25/05/2025

The Wikipedia entry on the presidential election of 1796 refers to John Adams as "Lucifer" and his wife as "Lilith," the "first human woman in existence, and the Queen of Hell." Need a laugh? Read this ...

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 10/05/2025

On most days my role model is not another historian or writer but a fictional character. My new Substack post. jamesbradley.substack.com/p/my-worldan...

jamesbradley.substack.com

My World—and Welcome to It

What Walter Mitty has taught me about work habits

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 08/05/2025

I only coveted one of those honors. Not saying which.

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 20/04/2025

In my latest Substack I write about being a "best-selling author" and hitting the road to talk Van Buren: substack.com/inbox/post/1...

substack.com

My Little Book Tour

On being a "best-selling author" and a celebrity for a day (or two)

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 17/04/2025

I’m very eager to read this. Congratulations.

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 09/04/2025

Self-promotion feels a bit unseemly these days, but we must get on with our lives, of course. I'll be speaking at Cumberland tonight, on MVB's 1848 run for president on the Free Soil ticket. You can watch on YouTube, 7pm CST, 8pm, EST. www.youtube.com/live/7WGyzFp...

youtube.com

Cynthia Van Buren Lecture Series

YouTube video by CumberlandU

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 11/03/2025

A new MVB biography was released a few weeks ago. The subtitle's illiterate and the text (from the sample I saw) isn't much better. The cover image looks nothing like him. If this is what I suspect it is, I thought Amazon was cracking down on AI books?

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 05/03/2025

Had a fun time chatting with Matt Chorley of the BBC this morning. He's the first interviewer to ask for my take on Trump and today's party system. Q&A is about 8 minutes. I come on at the 50:30 mark. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

bbc.co.uk

Matt Chorley - Nick chat, Paddy facts, wash your pan at home? - BBC Sounds

Nick Robinson joins Matt, plus Paddy O'Connell goes to PMQs.

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

Calling all Van Buren fans in the UK ... My book is now out in your country. MVB was a committed Anglophile, and I wrote a great deal about his time in London. Also, I'll be interviewed on Matt Chorley's BBC show tomorrow morning, 9:30 EST. Here's the link: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

bbc.co.uk

Radio 5 Live - Listen Live - BBC Sounds

Listen live to BBC Radio 5 Live on BBC Sounds

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 17/02/2025

Tonight I'll be talking at Cumberland University about MVB's run for president with the Free Soil Party in 1848. Don't live in Nashville? Don't worry! You can catch it on YouTube. 7pm CT, so it's 8pm on the east coast. Hope you can watch ... www.youtube.com/live/lt8N1KH...

youtube.com

Cynthia Van Buren Lecture Series

YouTube video by CumberlandU

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 13/02/2025

The movie kinda bombed when it came out, if I'm remembering correctly. Wow, talk about a second act.

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 10/02/2025

If, for some reason, you were preoccupied last night and missed my interview with Al Vuona on WICN, Worcester Public Radio, I have good news. It will be rebroadcast this evening at 6:30. Here's the link: wicn.org/shows/public...

wicn.org

Public Eye - 90.5 WICN Public Radio

Don’t look now but we’ve got our eye on it…“The Public Eye,” that is! From controversy to culture, this half-hour talk show will inform, enlighten and hopefully entertain you. This is where history co...

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 10/02/2025

To all my fans in the Nashville area ...

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

I see there's a new biography of James Alexander Hamilton coming out. This brave writer actually read his letters. She deserves special recognition for this. He had the worst handwriting—and my colleagues at @vanburenpapers.bsky.social will back me up on this. www.amazon.com/James-Alexan...

amazon.com

James Alexander Hamilton: Son of the American Revolution

James Alexander Hamilton: Son of the American Revolution [Wilcoxson, Samantha] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. James Alexander Hamilton: Son of the American Revolution

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 24/01/2025

I really enjoyed discussing my new book on Xavier Bonilla's terrific Converging Dialogues podcast. You can listen here: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/3...

podcasts.apple.com

#397 - The Life and Presidency of Martin Van Buren: A Dialogue with James M. Bradley

Podcast Episode · Converging Dialogues · 01/23/2025 · 1h 26m

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 23/01/2025

One month you assigned me nothing but letters from Blair to MVB. I considered resigning! 😂

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 11/01/2025

The fine writer (and JQA biographer) James Traub gave my a book a nice write-up in the estimable Washington Monthly, a publication that comes out ... every two months. washingtonmonthly.com/2025/01/05/p...

washingtonmonthly.com

Party Animal | Washington Monthly

Martin Van Buren, father of the Democrats, knew that the Founders were wrong about partisan politics.

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 07/01/2025

The audio version of my book is out, and @paulwoodson.bsky.social's golden, sonorous narration is a sheer delight! (I know, I'm not exactly impartial here.) Now I know "Southwick" is pronounced "suth-ick." The info is here: rbmediaglobal.com/audiobook/97...

rbmediaglobal.com

RBmedia | Martin Van Buren

Listen to the audiobook Martin Van Buren, written by James M. Bradley, narrated by Paul Woodson.

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 05/01/2025

He joined the Yankees at the worst time—when the organization made bad trades and signings and George's megalomania reached psychotic levels. Glad he got a World Series ring with Blue Jays.

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 04/01/2025

Expect no less from Kissinger’s hagiographer.

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 01/01/2025

This is the year I do it! Check in with me in 12 months.

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 31/12/2024

He's also trained that dog very well.

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 31/12/2024

Not too many "Warren Harding babies" around ...

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 31/12/2024

This is William Leuchtenburg. He has a new book out called Patriot Presidents, which I'm reading now. It's the first of a multivolume history of the presidency. He's 102. "I recognize that this project maybe be too ambitious," he writes. "But I am resolved to carry it through." An inspiration.

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 29/12/2024

I was 11 when Jimmy Carter was elected. It's the first POTUS campaign I have memories of. It was called late. My parents had sent me to bed since it was a school night. "Carter won!" I heard my father cry. I then went to sleep smiling, knowing my parents were happy.

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James M. Bradley @jamesmbradley.bsky.social · 29/12/2024

From today's New York Times. Right now I would like to institutionalize many in our government.

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