history
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Remembering Elvis On August 16th
We pause on the anniversary of Elvis’ passing because his presence never really left us: the power of his music, the immensity of his stage command, and the quiet moral fiber that shaped him as a human being. All this still connects countless millions to the man. It is a comforting feeling, akin to anticipating… Continue reading
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A President’s Exit Should Never Leave the Press Behind; Trump Chose Wrong In Turkey
Donald Trump’s acknowledgment that he was secretly moved off Air Force One in a catering truck at a NATO summit in Turkey last month revealed far more about presidential responsibility than many at first blush might understand. There was a deeper problem that should trouble anyone who cares about journalism, presidential history, or the basic… Continue reading
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Francesca Hong Fails To Understand History Still Matters, And Some Lines Cannot Be Crossed
I am quite sure that Francesca Hong has cracked a history book. But I must wonder what parts of world history failed to resonate with her. I write that line as it is concerning to me that the leading candidate in the Marquette Law School poll for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination stands next to a… Continue reading
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Doty Land Podcast: Charles Dickens Book At The Bottom Of Ocean, Henry David Thoreau Sets A Forest Fire
Historical nuggets about two people you know from over the years come alive again with stories you will long remember. This comes from my studio in our home on a rainy night in Madison. Continue reading
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Dangerous Sleight Of Hand Behind Wisconsin’s Proposed “Anti‑Discrimination” Amendment
Wisconsin voters are being asked this November to consider a constitutional amendment that arrives dressed as a tribute to equality but carries consequences that would undermine it. The question on the ballot will read as follows. “Shall section 27 of article I of the constitution be created to prohibit governmental entities in the state from… Continue reading
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Earl Warren And The Court That Made The Constitution Breathe
Book juggling is one of my talents honed over the decades. There is a pile of books that I am currently reading, and I dive into a chapter or two today of this book and tomorrow, another book for a chapter or two, until they are finished. I have too many interests to dedicate myself… Continue reading
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Caffeinated Politics Podcast: Founding Ideals, Political Decay, And Coloma, Wisconsin
What “Happiness” Really Meant Institutions Under Pressure Small-Town Accountability, Wisconsin-Style Continue reading
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“The Lost Founder” By Jesse Wegman, A Forgotten Mind Behind Our Democracy
Each year, I select a book for the Fourth of July period that places me into the era of our nation’s founding. It was very easy to make the selection this year, as we received a free copy of Jesse Wegman’s The Lost Founder about the life and times of Founding Father James Wilson. Celadon… Continue reading
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History Lesson On A Bike Outing In Madison
With July 4th thoughts still abounding…. George Washington reached out to John Rutledge, the South Carolinian, for a second time to be on the Supreme Court. The first time, the man who had signed the Constitution immediately resigned because he thought he should be the chief justice. Later, Washington places Rutledge on the Court as… Continue reading
