Author: James Finck

Dr. James W. Finck was raised in the shadows of history in the great state of Virginia. Growing up it was difficult to travel too far without running into a monument or battlefield from the Revolutionary or Civil War. In this environment, Finck developed a love for studying the past and from his youth knew that he wanted to make it his life’s work. Finck received a B.A. from the College of William and Mary in Virginia. He then studied under James I. Robertson and William C. Davis at Virginia Tech, while earning a Master’s degree. Finally, he received his Ph.D. at the University of Arkansas, under the direction of Daniel Sutherland. For five years, Finck taught at the University of Texas-Pan American before accepting his current position as American Historian at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma in 2011. At a small liberal arts institution, Finck considers himself a generalist in history, but his specialties are the Civil War and American Politics. Finck has established himself in Oklahoma with the creation of the Oklahoma Civil War Symposium, which has brought in leading Civil War scholars for the past eight years, and he has spoken at many venues around Oklahoma, especially working with the Honey Spring Battlefield. Finck is the author of Divided Loyalties: Kentucky’s Struggle for Armed Neutrality in the Civil War, as well as Images of America: Chickasha. Finck is also the author of the syndicated newspaper column “Historically Speaking.”

Freedom of the Press Trials Arose Before Independence

From the Southwest Ledger On Aug. 11 police in Marion, Kansas, raided the office of The Marion County Record as well as the homes of the paper’s publisher and a city counselor member. Police confiscated computers, cell phones and files from the small-town newspaper. The police chief, Gideon Cody, cited an illegal records search of … Continue reading Freedom of the Press Trials Arose Before Independence →

History of American Political Parties,Part II: The Necessary Evils of Parties

From the Southwest Ledger By James Finck, Ph.D. What is interesting about studying political parties is that there are no founding documents that set rules for how they behave or what their function should be. For most political issues, I like to start with the U.S. Constitution. While there are disagreements over interpretation, there is … Continue reading History of American Political Parties,Part II: The Necessary Evils of Parties →

A History of American Political Parties, Part I: Classical Liberalism, Conservatism

From the Southwest Ledger By James Finck, Ph.D. With all the political fighting in our nation, I feel Willie and Waylon need to rerelease their hit song about Luckenbach, Texas, with a new chorus that says we are feuding like the Democratsand Republicans. In fact, it seems as though political affiliation or left or right … Continue reading A History of American Political Parties, Part I: Classical Liberalism, Conservatism →

Aldean might be proud to be an Okie from Muskogee

Southwest Ledger By James Finck, Ph.D. New songs stirring the pot and getting people worked up is nothing new, but every so often a song comes out that stirs the pot in the opposite direction. Most times when musical artists get in trouble over their lyrics it is because they are pushing the boundaries of … Continue reading Aldean might be proud to be an Okie from Muskogee →

Aldean might be proud to be an Okie from Muskogee

Southwest Ledger By James Finck, Ph.D. New songs stirring the pot and getting people worked up is nothing new, but every so often a song comes out that stirs the pot in the opposite direction. Most times when musical artists get in trouble over their lyrics it is because they are pushing the boundaries of … Continue reading Aldean might be proud to be an Okie from Muskogee →

With Robert Kennedy Jr., it’s ‘like father, like son’

Southwest Ledger By James Finck, Ph.D. In 1968, the incumbent president Lyndon B. Johnson seemed a shoo-in as the Democratic candidate for president. Even with falling approval ratings, he was strong enough to keep a tight grip on his party -- or so he thought. As formidable as Johnson was, there was one name he … Continue reading With Robert Kennedy Jr., it’s ‘like father, like son’ →

With Robert Kennedy Jr., it’s ‘like father, like son’

By News Staff on Wednesday, July 26, 2023, Southwest Ledger By James Finck, Ph.D.  In 1968, the incumbent president Lyndon B. Johnson seemed a shoo-in as the Democratic candidate for president. Even with falling approval ratings, he was strong enough to keep a tight grip on his party -- or so he thought.  As formidable as Johnson was, … Continue reading With Robert Kennedy Jr., it’s ‘like father, like son’ →