They say that the house is haunted. Ridiculous, you say? No educated person believes in ghosts! Before you utterly dismiss the claims, however, you would do well to consider the credentials of […]
The Ghosts That Haunt the White House
How a Multi-Talented Actor Is Mainly Remembered as a Monster
Ted Cassidy was different from other boys his age. Yes, it’s true that his physical appearance made him stand out from everyone else, but that wasn’t the only thing. Physically, intellectually, and […]
The Contagious Insanity of the Lincoln Assassination
It wasn’t that long ago that people believed mental illness behaved like the common cold. One of the reasons for the establishment of mental asylums was to quarantine the insane, thus protecting […]
First Assault on a President and a Timely Assist From Headless Horseman Writer
As George Washington took the reins of government as the first President of the United States, some thought it would be wise to create a permanent protective detail for the chief executive. […]
Buying the Roman Emperor Title at an Auction
People have bought some unusual things at auctions. In the Digital Age, thanks to eBay and Facebook, it is possible to bid on almost every imaginable commodity. Despite the untold advances of […]
Shoes, Buildings, Sand, and Cheese — the Outlandish Spending Sprees of Imelda Marcos
Imelda Marcos (born 1929) was the First Lady of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. She made a name for herself as one of the biggest spendthrifts of all time, taking the […]
Churchill and the Foiled Plot of the Exploding Chocolate
Given Winston Churchill’s well-known fondness for food, it stands to reason that doctors warned him about the health risks of eating too many sweets. Little did they know just how dangerous certain […]
Ten Days on Death Row: The Speedy Execution of Giuseppe Zangara
Giuseppe Zangara attempted to kill President-elect Franklin D. Roosevelt on February 15, 1933. Although missing FDR, Zangara’s shots managed to mortally wound Chicago Mayor Anton Cermak, who died 23 days later, on […]
How a Wobbly Chair Saved FDR’s Life
On February 15, 1933, Franklin D. Roosevelt was in Miami, Florida. Having just won the presidential election three months earlier, he was still 17 days away from being inaugurated as the 32nd […]
A Dozen Facts about the 20th President
While President James Garfield tends to be little more than a footnote in the history of the US presidency because of the short time that he served, he was a truly remarkable […]
Once Is an Accident. Twice is a Coincidence. Three Times is a Habit
Robert Todd Lincoln (1843-1926), the eldest child of President Abraham Lincoln, was a witness to the murders of three presidents.
The Gladiator Emperor of Rome
Commodus (161-192), Roman Emperor from 180 to 192. Dio Cassius describes him as “not naturally wicked but, on the contrary, as guileless as any man that ever lived. His great simplicity, however, […]
The Rough and Ready Life of Zachary Taylor
Zachary Taylor (1784-1850), twelfth President of the United States, showed such little interest in politics that he never cast a vote in a presidential election until his own election in 1848.
Rasputin — the Mad Monk Who Wouldn’t Die
Grigori Rasputin, the Mad Monk, was poisoned, but he didn’t die. So he went after the guys who poisoned him, and they stabbed him. He still didn’t die and kept going after […]
Commonplace Fun Facts 