Hello and welcome to this day in esoteric political history from Radiotopia.

My name is Jody Avergan.

This day, July 2nd, 1776, you recognize that year 1776, early July, some big stuff happening.

On this day, a man by the name of John Dickinson, a delegate at the Continental Congress,

abstained on the final vote for American independence.

A couple days later, July 4th, he once again abstained

from the final wording on the Declaration of Independence and did not put his signature on that

document. So let's talk about the forgotten founder why someone would decide to

sit that moment out. Here to discuss it all is Nicole Hammer of Columbia. Hello Nicky.

Hey Jody.

Our guest is always in our special guest for this episode and the next three is John Dickerson,

60 Minutes, the Slate Political Gabfest, Whistle Stop, which is near and dear to us here

in the Political History Podcast Universe.

And the new book from John is The Cardest Job in the World.

John, we're really excited to have you on.

Thanks. I'm very, very happy to excited to have you on. Thanks.

I'm very, very happy to be here.

Thank you.

So John Dickerson on to talk about John Dickinson.

Does this happen to you all the time to people walk up to you on the street and say,

hey, you're that guy who abstained from signing the Declaration of Independence? Exactly. the miswritten Dickinson Dickinson's name as Dickerson.

And so there was a period where I thought,

...