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This American President

The Hair-Raising History of the American Presidency, with Theodore Pappas

This American President

This American President

Society & Culture, Education, History

4.5787 Ratings

🗓️ 20 January 2026

⏱️ 46 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

If J.D. Vance gets elected to the White House in 2028, he will be the first president in over a century to have facial hair. In this episode, Theodore Pappas discusses the surprising history of hair and the American presidency. 

COMBING THROUGH THE WHITE HOUSE: HAIR AND ITS SHOCKING IMPACT ON THE POLITICS, PRIVATE LIVES, AND LEGACIES OF THE PRESIDENTS

https://www.amazon.com/Combing-Through-White-House-Presidents/dp/1400246156

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CREDITS
Host: Richard Lim
Producer: Michael Neal
Artist: Nip Rogers, www.NipRogers.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

For over 30 years, Point of Grace has shared music, faith, and friendship with listeners across the country.

0:05.1

Now Denise, Lee, and Shelley are inviting you into their circle. Welcome to Circle of Friends.

0:10.1

The podcast is Point of Grace. Each week they're talking real life, current events, stories of true friendship, wisdom from God's Word, and all their favorite things.

0:18.3

If you're looking for a little company, a few laughs, and a lot of Jesus to hold it together, circle of friends.

0:23.4

The podcast is waiting for you.

0:25.4

Subscribe now wherever you listen or watch podcasts.

0:28.1

And circle up with Point of Grace. So today we're going to talk about a slightly unusual topic when it comes to presidents.

1:02.8

And it's a bit of a fun topic, maybe even a little gross.

1:06.5

And that topic is hair.

1:08.6

Hair and the presidency.

1:10.5

Our guest today, Theodore Pappas, has just written a book about that subject.

1:14.7

It's titled, Coming Through the White House.

1:17.4

Theodore was the executive editor of Encyclopedia Britannica.

1:21.0

He's published five books, several books, and he's written for all the major newspapers,

1:25.8

everything from Wall Street Journal to New York Times,

1:28.5

a whole bunch of other publications, magazines.

1:31.2

And so he has all the credentials for great history, and he's written a very interesting book.

1:37.9

So, Theodore, thanks for being on our show.

1:41.1

My pleasure. Great to meet you, Richard.

1:42.5

So you start the book with a fun story about President Obama in the Oval Office during

1:48.7

his first year as president.

1:50.7

So what's the story there?

...

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