Hey, history lovers. I'm Mike Rosenwald with Retropod, a show about the past, Rediscovered.

In 1993, the United Nations announced that every May 3rd would be World Press Freedom Day.

It was started to celebrate and protect the freedom of the press around the world.

Journalists worldwide face very real threats in doing their jobs. There are still

places in the world where journalists are abused, arrested, or killed just for trying to report

the truth. Here in the United States, World Press Freedom Day may seem especially relevant this

year, with tensions rising between politicians and the press.

Last year, a Montana House candidate allegedly body-slammed a reporter.

You might be inclined to think this is the worst it's ever been for the press in our country.

But here's the thing. It has actually been worse. A lot worse, at least a lot more violent.

In the early days of the country,

Congress people would arm themselves for debates.

They'd bring bludgeon, knives, even guns

onto the house floor.

They beat the tar out of each other during policy disputes. They imprisoned reporters.

One reporter was arrested and held for a month in a Senate committee room after breaking a

story about a secret treaty to end the Mexican-American War. And even in that environment,

there was one politician who stood out for his confrontational approach.

Old Wadi.

Waddy Thompson was a representative from South Carolina in the early 1800s, and he was an

intimidating guy.

One reporter back then described him as having a, quote, alarming physique. And when old

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