Category — American History

Thomas Crocker has written an important book. Braddock’s March is the story of how the defeat of a powerful army sowed the seeds of the American Revolution. It recounts the logistical nightmare of mounting a campaign across an ocean and deep into a dense and nearly impenetrable frontier.   Read the rest of this entry »

This book is part biography and part social and political history. Quitt draws on previously untapped sources to try to do justice to a complex man now little more than a footnote to history. The irony is that, in his time, Douglas was widely admired and thought much more likely to ascend to the presidency than the man whose election relegated him to the shadows. If Douglas is remembered at all, it is for debating Lincoln in 1858 when Lincoln ran for Douglas’s Senate seat.   Read the rest of this entry »

The author’s claim that he offers a “new understanding” seems overblown to this reviewer. Truth to tell, there is little in this book about the American Civil War that hasn’t been covered by other historians. Fleming’s contribution is more a matter of emphasis than originality. That having been said, this is an interesting and readable book. In the course of Fleming’s narrative he casts light on some little discussed related events, one of which will be addressed later in this review.   Read the rest of this entry »

Amity Shlaes is an engaging, vibrant and enthusiastic speaker who clearly loves her subject matter. On Monday night, Marcia and I had the distinct pleasure of listening to a presentation on Calvin Coolidge she gave at the Goldwater Institute. Coolidge is the subject of her soon to be released new biography on this underappreciated president. In her words, she is on a "mission of reputation rebuilding." She said that she figured that The Goldwater Institute was a better place than most to start, since the institute had done such a good job in restoring Barry Goldwater's good name.   Read the rest of this entry »

WWTFT was launched as a means of chronicling its founders exploration of American history. Along the way, it has provided a soapbox upon which he and other writers have stood to proclaim what we view as grave dangers to the republic. As the first Obama administration wore on, our readers undoubtedly detected an increase in the stridency of our commentary. Some might say vitriol. Well, we would say, that is what comes from seeing what seems obvious to us - America is on the wrong track, politically, economically, and most importantly, culturally. We don't claim to have all the answers, but we have now spent close to a decade in man years studying the founding of America. (And this estimate is probably on the low side, when one considers the 7 years Jim spent researching for Tempest at Dawn.) But we will continue to share what we learn and hope that it sparks an interest in someone somewhere to do their own investigation. Today's article is an examination of this writer's conclusions about American exceptionalism.   Read the rest of this entry »

We received a query from a reader asking about the electoral college and responded directly, but also thought this might be of some interest to other folk.   Read the rest of this entry »

We Have the War Upon Us is an engrossing book, full of fascinating historical details. It is essential reading for anyone interested in the American Civil War and an excellent introduction to the people and events that led up to the bloodiest, most devastating war in American history.   Read the rest of this entry »

Berlin 1961 tells the back-story of the Bay of Pigs, the Berlin Wall and the Cuban Missile Crisis. The author did a masterful job of weaving together recently declassified documents in the U.S., Germany and Russia and first person narratives for a previously untold account of these seminal events. Readers who remember these occurrences will be appalled at how the American public was deluded by government secrecy and a media smitten with a handsome, eloquent, but dangerously incompetent president.   Read the rest of this entry »

Where They Stand is a lively account of the game of rating the presidents, the pastime described by political scientist Clinton Rossiter (1917-1970) as “a Favorite Indoor Sport of history-minded Americans.” Merry takes readers on a tour through presidential history and he is an accomplished guide.   Read the rest of this entry »

T. Coleman Andrews served as IRS commissioner during the Eisenhower administration. Following his resignation, he made the following statement which seems apropos for the weekend that all of our tax returns are due.   Read the rest of this entry »