It has been said before, and by more eloquent voices than my own, but it bears repeating: David McCullough is a national treasure—not merely because he is one of America’s preeminent historians (which he is), but because he is a good and generous man. McCullough embodies a word rarely used to day: He is a […]
Alice Roosevelt Longworth, the eldest daughter of Theodore Roosevelt, once remarked that our thirtieth president, Calvin Coolidge, looked like he had been weaned on a pickle—and a sour one at that. Coolidge is one of those presidents we think we know, but we don’t. We know anecdotes about the man, like Alice’s comment on his […]
In gardens of stone, lay soldiers who stood alone on frozen hills, beside vallied rills. In gardens of stone, a trumpet blown over markers of the brave, who rest within the grave. In gardens of stone, our flag is flown in vigil of red, white, and blue, for those who loved their country true. In […]
On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of eleventh month in 1918, “the war to end all wars,” as it was touted, ended. The Great War—World War I—was the first modern war and ushered in a century of warfare that left in its wake unimaginable death, destruction, and disabilities. World War I itself took […]
Laura Hillenbrand has only written two books but she ranks as one of America’s most gifted narrative historians. Along with David McCullough and Nathaniel Philbrick, Hillenbrand’s histories are novel-like. But her histories aren’t make believe. Like McCullough and Philbrick, Hillenbrand’s storytelling talent is backed by meticulous historical research and rigor. In her first book, Seabiscuit: […]
Few presidents have articulated the principles of freedom with such passion and persuasive force as did Ronald Reagan. None since have. Therefore, it seemed fitting, on this thirteenth anniversary when, in the words of President George W. Bush, freedom was attacked—September 11, 2001—that we read and hear anew from the champion of freedom. On January […]
The morning of July 1, 1776, dawned hot and humid. Before the morning ended a summer storm engulfed Philadelphia. John Adams woke before the dawn. He dress, wrote a letter to Archibald Bulloch, ate breakfast, and walked to the State House. “This morning is assigned the greatest debate of all,” he told Bulloch. “A declaration, […]
The history of America is the history of liberty. As a course of events, American history is progress toward liberty. As a record of those events, American history is progress toward understanding liberty. Until the mid-1960s, American children were taught at home and at school, and breathed it in the native air, that America was […]
