Mysteries at the Monument Season 4 Episode 13 Roosevelt's Moroccan Mission / The Last Bare Knuckle Boxer / America's First Spy Ring

Join host Don Wildman as he delves into the intriguing stories behind three of America's most iconic monuments in season 4, episode 13 of Mysteries at the Monument.

First up, Wildman investigates the story behind President Theodore Roosevelt's Moroccan Mission. In 1905, American and European powers were vying for control over Morocco, a strategic North African country. Roosevelt, known for his assertive foreign policy, sent his Secretary of War, William Howard Taft, to represent the United States at an international conference in Algeciras, Spain. The goal was to ensure that Morocco remained an independent nation. But what really happened behind the scenes? Wildman investigates the rumors of secret deals and conspiracies that swirled around the conference and uncovers the true motivations behind Roosevelt's Moroccan Mission.

Next, Wildman turns his attention to the story of the Last Bare Knuckle Boxer. In the late 19th century, bare-knuckle fighting was a brutal and dangerous sport that was outlawed in most parts of the United States. John L. Sullivan was the last bare-knuckle heavyweight boxing champion and a national celebrity. But after his reign ended in 1892, he was disgraced and fell into alcoholism and poverty. In 1908, a group of supporters organized a bout between Sullivan and a younger fighter, Jim Corbett, in an attempt to revive the sport and give Sullivan a chance at redemption. Wildman investigates the controversies surrounding the fight and the brutal world of bare-knuckle boxing, where fighters risked everything for a chance at fame and fortune.

Finally, Wildman explores the story of America's First Spy Ring. During the Revolutionary War, George Washington struggled to gain intelligence on the British army's movements and plans. In 1778, he turned to a group of ordinary citizens, including a tavern keeper, a farmer, and a fisherman, to gather information from the British army and pass it on to him. Dubbed the Culper Spy Ring, this group of patriots risked their lives to provide Washington with vital intelligence that helped turn the tide of the war. Wildman visits the sites where the spies operated and reveals the secrets of this clandestine operation that helped shape America's destiny.

From the halls of power to the arenas of combat, Mysteries at the Monument season 4, episode 13 uncovers the hidden stories behind America's most iconic landmarks.