Hail to the Cheapskate: How Presidents Made (and Spent) Their Money episode artwork

EPISODE · Oct 15, 2025 · 55 MIN

Hail to the Cheapskate: How Presidents Made (and Spent) Their Money

from American History Hotline · host iHeartPodcasts

How did America's presidents really make—and manage—their money? Bob Crawford sits down with financial expert and author Megan Gorman to explore the personal finances of presidents from George Washington to Donald Trump. Drawing from her new book, All the Presidents' Money: How the Men Who Governed America Governed Their Money, Gorman reveals who thrived, who failed, and what their choices say about leadership, power, and legacy. Discover why Thomas Jefferson died in debt, how Abraham Lincoln overcame his impoverished childhood, why FDR's polio treatment transformed presidential fundraising, and how modern presidents like Obama, Clinton, and Trump built post-White House fortunes.  Also, do you have to be wealthy to become president? Or has the oligarchy already began?  GUEST: Megan Gorman: All the Presidents' Money: How the Men Who Governed America Governed Their Money See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Oct 15, 2025

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Hail to the Cheapskate: How Presidents Made (and Spent) Their Money

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