This blog post was written by Rick Shenkman, the founder of George Washington University’s History News Network, and the author of Political Animals: How Our Stone-Age Brain Gets in the Way of Smart Politics (Basic Books). 

Twenty-five years ago, in Myth America, a series on The Learning Channel, I set out to debunk the myths about Abe Lincoln and George Washington.  I failed.  Here we are in the 21st century and still we get those two presidents wrong.

We think that Washington was cold and aloof.  We believe Lincoln was a simple country lawyer.  

The truth, as they say, is a little more complicated.

In the hope that maybe I can succeed where I previously failed I am making two of the shows available for viewing.

You can watch the show on Lincoln here and the show on Washington here.

They are 30 minutes in length.

Enjoy!