Settling the West

Suede hats, stirrups, gun-slinging, and outlaws. These images have become synonymous with the rugged individuals who sought the freedom of the wild West. But according to H.W. Brands, the history of the American frontier involves more than just cowboys. If there's a red thread to all the stories of settling the American West, it might just be the dreams of El Dorado, no matter if you're a preacher, a politician, or a miner. But, it's fascinating that people expected to fail before they succeeded out West. Guest: H.W. Brands, Jack S. Blanton Sr. Chair in History at the University of Texas at Austin and author of "Dreams of El Dorado: A History of the American West"