March 4, 1861, dawned in Washington, D.C. It was Inauguration Day. Despite the importance of the day and the fact that it had been on the calendar for a long time, there […]
Hope for a Nation Seen in the Holding of a Hat
Abraham Lincoln: Animal Lover-in-Chief
Entire libraries could be filled with books about President Abraham Lincoln. Historians have rightfully praised his vision, intellect, humor, courage, and determination. Any study into the life of this extraordinary man would […]
Having 9 Justices Is Not Supremely Set in Stone
With the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg creating a vacancy in the United States Supreme Court, membership of the high court is down to eight. Much attention is focused on who […]
Herbert Hoover’s Expectations
“My country owes me nothing. It gave me, as it gives every boy and girl, a chance. It gave me schooling, independence of action, opportunity for service and honor.”
— Herbert Hoover
A Lesson From Ike About the Privileges of Rank
The military is structured around the rank system. From the first day of boot camp, soldiers are taught that authority, responsibility, and privilege all hinge upon rank. Few soldiers experienced such a […]
Harry and Bess Truman: A Love Story
In an era of political scandals, it is refreshing and reassuring to see a couple whose love for each other was unscathed, even through the most tumultuous of times. Such is the […]
How JFK Found Happiness in the Presidency
On October 31, 1963, John F. Kennedy held one of his final press conferences. A reporter reminded him that she had once before asked him toward the beginning of his presidency […]
The Confidence of Never Meeting Your Intellectual Equal
One of the hallmarks of Abraham Lincoln’s personality was his humility. He frequently used self-deprecating humor to defuse difficult situations.
D-Day Shrapnel Makes Up 4% of the Sand on Omaha Beach
June 6, 1944, saw the greatest amphibious landing in the history of warfare. Over 150,000 Allied troops braved unrelenting enemy fire in order so they could regain a foothold on the continent […]
Just How Many Presidents Have There Been?
If you type the question “How many U.S. presidents have there been?” into any search engine, you will quickly get a flurry of answers that tell you Donald Trump is the 45th […]
The Man Who Was President for One Day and the Day When There Were Two Presidents
If you had to list the names of the men who have served as President of the United States, you will almost certainly write the names Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Roosevelt. If […]
O’Rourke’s Alternative to Term Limits
“In our brief national history, we have shot four of our presidents, worried five of them to death, impeached one and hounded another out of office. And when all else fails, we […]
Two Hotheaded Boys and Two Patient Mothers
David and Leslie had a couple of things in common: each had volatile tempers, and both of them had mothers who believed those tempers could and should be controlled. David was known […]
The Time Air Force One Took Off But Never Landed
A common blessing among pilots is “May your skies be clear, your aim share, and your landings equal in number to your take-offs.” Indeed, there would generally be concern about any flight […]
Lincoln’s Defense Strategy: Don’t Be a Liar
Abraham Lincoln had quite a reputation as a trial lawyer. He was most known for representing railroads and other businesses in civil matters, but he was no stranger to criminal law cases. […]
Commonplace Fun Facts 