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Like many people, I used to think that history was just facts.

I mean, sure, go back far enough and history turns into archaeology,

and the facts can only be guessed at. But I mean, in 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue, right?

That's a fact. Now, it turns out history is a negotiation with facts.

There are some simple true statements Columbus did indeed set sail in 1492,

but that's neither interesting nor informative. What were his motivations?

What were the contributing factors and consequences of his voyage?

Why does it matter and what can we learn?

Here's another fact. George Washington was unanimously elected America's first president,

totally true, and very boring. Why does that matter?

And what are the forces at work that made his the only unanimous elections in American history?

Well, that is complicated and what we're exploring in today's Saturday, Matinee,

with an episode from the podcast Two Complicated for History,

a regular conversation about the deleted scenes of history,

a sort of historian's cut of the events you thought you knew.

I hope you enjoy. And while you're listening, search for and follow

two complicated for history, we put a link in the show notes to make it easy for you.

Hi, I'm David Brown, the host of Wondery's podcast Business Wars.

And in our new season, two of the world's leading hotel brands, Hilton and Marriott,

...