Brian Klaas

So it's one of those aspects where when you think about this, it's this critical moment where if Antietam or something like it had been another really decisive Confederate victory, you know, how different the world could be. I mean, imagine that this had led to a cascade in which the Confederates actually won. It's not impossible to imagine that.

So it's one of those aspects where when you think about this, it's this critical moment where if Antietam or something like it had been another really decisive Confederate victory, you know, how different the world could be. I mean, imagine that this had led to a cascade in which the Confederates actually won. It's not impossible to imagine that.

And of course, everything about history would differ. Because you'd have two countries. I mean, there's so many things that would be different. I mean, World War I would maybe not have happened the same way. World War II would not have happened the same way. So you start to think about this stuff and it's really seductive.

And of course, everything about history would differ. Because you'd have two countries. I mean, there's so many things that would be different. I mean, World War I would maybe not have happened the same way. World War II would not have happened the same way. So you start to think about this stuff and it's really seductive.

And of course, everything about history would differ. Because you'd have two countries. I mean, there's so many things that would be different. I mean, World War I would maybe not have happened the same way. World War II would not have happened the same way. So you start to think about this stuff and it's really seductive.

Yes. Yeah. And it all pivots on these three cigars and the guy taking a rest at just the right time. I mean, it's an amazing, amazing story.

Yes. Yeah. And it all pivots on these three cigars and the guy taking a rest at just the right time. I mean, it's an amazing, amazing story.

Yes. Yeah. And it all pivots on these three cigars and the guy taking a rest at just the right time. I mean, it's an amazing, amazing story.

Yeah, I mean, this is one of those stories that I think it really makes clear that when we tell history, we always focus on the sort of obvious factors. And this one is really not obvious. So Henry Stimson goes on vacation. He's a U.S. government official at the time. He goes on vacation, basically, in this tour of Asia to Kyoto, Japan in 1926.

Yeah, I mean, this is one of those stories that I think it really makes clear that when we tell history, we always focus on the sort of obvious factors. And this one is really not obvious. So Henry Stimson goes on vacation. He's a U.S. government official at the time. He goes on vacation, basically, in this tour of Asia to Kyoto, Japan in 1926.

Yeah, I mean, this is one of those stories that I think it really makes clear that when we tell history, we always focus on the sort of obvious factors. And this one is really not obvious. So Henry Stimson goes on vacation. He's a U.S. government official at the time. He goes on vacation, basically, in this tour of Asia to Kyoto, Japan in 1926.

And some some incredible historians have done this work to track down. They went to the Miyako Hotel near the rail yards of Kyoto and they found the room number and everything. I mean, they went to the records because the Miyako Hotel still exists and they found, you know, the actual ledger where he stayed.

And some some incredible historians have done this work to track down. They went to the Miyako Hotel near the rail yards of Kyoto and they found the room number and everything. I mean, they went to the records because the Miyako Hotel still exists and they found, you know, the actual ledger where he stayed.

And some some incredible historians have done this work to track down. They went to the Miyako Hotel near the rail yards of Kyoto and they found the room number and everything. I mean, they went to the records because the Miyako Hotel still exists and they found, you know, the actual ledger where he stayed.

And the reason they did this is because 19 years later, Henry Stimson ends up as America's Secretary of War. And he's sort of the chief civilian in charge of the targeting decision for the first atomic bomb. And the generals and the scientists and the civilians sort of are together on what's called the Target Committee. And they come up with a list of recommendations for where to drop this bomb.

And the reason they did this is because 19 years later, Henry Stimson ends up as America's Secretary of War. And he's sort of the chief civilian in charge of the targeting decision for the first atomic bomb. And the generals and the scientists and the civilians sort of are together on what's called the Target Committee. And they come up with a list of recommendations for where to drop this bomb.

And the reason they did this is because 19 years later, Henry Stimson ends up as America's Secretary of War. And he's sort of the chief civilian in charge of the targeting decision for the first atomic bomb. And the generals and the scientists and the civilians sort of are together on what's called the Target Committee. And they come up with a list of recommendations for where to drop this bomb.

And they agree that Kyoto is the best pick. And the reason they argue this is it's got an airplane factory. It's a historic capital. It's got propaganda value. It hasn't been destroyed that much during the war. So it sort of will demonstrate the destructive power of the first atomic bomb. And Stimson, fortunately for the residents of Kyoto, liked Kyoto.

And they agree that Kyoto is the best pick. And the reason they argue this is it's got an airplane factory. It's a historic capital. It's got propaganda value. It hasn't been destroyed that much during the war. So it sort of will demonstrate the destructive power of the first atomic bomb. And Stimson, fortunately for the residents of Kyoto, liked Kyoto.

And they agree that Kyoto is the best pick. And the reason they argue this is it's got an airplane factory. It's a historic capital. It's got propaganda value. It hasn't been destroyed that much during the war. So it sort of will demonstrate the destructive power of the first atomic bomb. And Stimson, fortunately for the residents of Kyoto, liked Kyoto.