By a treaty signed on Apr. 30, 1803, the United States purchased from France the Louisiana territory, more than 2 million sq km of land extending from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains at the cost of about 4¢ per acre; The price was 60 million francs, about $15 million. The United States had suddenly and peacefully doubled its size.

Conducted by Fred Nielson, of the University of Nebraska at Omaha, this interview with Jon Kukla focuses on one of this largest land deals in US history -- the Louisiana Purchase. Jon Kukla is the author of A Wilderness So Immense: The Louisiana Purchase and the Destiny of America.

An interview with Max Skidmore who joins Talking History's Fred Nielsen to discuss the role played by America's former presidents. Skidmore is professor of political science at the University of Missouri, Kansas City and author of After the White House: Former Presidents as Private Citizens.

After that Michael Farquhar presents the ninth of a ten part series of readings adapted from his book, A Treasury of Deception: Liars, Misleaders, Hoodwinkers, and the Extraordinary True Stories of History's Fakes and Frauds.

Einstein's reputation as a genius rests to a large extent on his publication of five major papers in 1905. We marked the centennial by taking up the subject of those papers – and the rest of Albert Einstein's life - with Assistant Professor of Physics, at the University of Missouri Kansas City, Elizabeth Stoddard.

And William Ashworth joins us to give an historical perspective to the life and works of Albert Einstein. William Ashworth is professor of history, at the University of Missouri Kansas City, specializing in the history of science.

Bryan Le Beau and Max Skidmore discuss the pros and cons of presidential rankings. Max Skidmore is Curator's Professor of Political Science and Thomas Jefferson Professor at the University of Missouri, Kansas City and author of Presidential Performance: A Comprehensive Review.      

And for our commentary we are joined by Bruce Ackerman who sheds some light on Thomas Jefferson's actions during the presidential election of 1800. Ackerman is Sterling Professor of Law and Political Science at Yale University.

On March 4, 1865, Abraham Lincoln delivered his second inaugural address. It was short, and to the point... a mere 703 words. In it, he uttered one of his most memorable phrases, when he called on Americans to proceed from the Civil War "with malice toward none, with charity for all." Ronald White, author of Lincoln's Greatest Speech: The Second Inaugural, discusses the speech and its impact with Talking History's Fred Nielsen.

After that Fiona Beattie will tell us about a web site that includes the text of Lincoln’s second inaugural address as well as a large collection of related documents.

And for our commentary Andrew Cayton offers us his thoughts on the ambivalence he sees in American attitudes toward war. Cayton is Distinguished Professor of History at Miami University of Ohio and the author, along with Fred Anderson, of The Dominion of War: Empire and Liberty in North America: 1500-2000.

This week we celebrate Presidents Day. At one time, two separate holidays - Washington’s birthday and Lincoln’s birthday - were celebrated on the actual days of their birth.

In 1968, legislation was enacted that affected several federal holidays. It also made the third Monday in February a day for honoring both Washington and Lincoln, as well as all the other men who have served as President of the United States. This is the topic of conversation this week with Matthew Dennis.

After that Talking History’s Fiona Beatie, in another “Site of the Week,” will tell us where we can learn more about the American presidency.