During WWII an interesting relationship occurred that would have an effect on American political history as well as possibly altering history as we know it today.  During the War, a young marine officer and future senator from Wisconsin, Joseph McCarthy, became friends with a young naval officer and future senator from Massachusetts, John Kennedy. They … Continue reading Class Notes →

If you read my post yesterday about the Budapest Memorandum, then there is an interesting postscript to that story that you may or may not have made a connection to dealing with President Trump. If you remember, his second impeachment hearing was about trying to get Ukraine to say nasty things about Hunter Biden to … Continue reading Class Notes →

After two years in office, Wilson felt as if he had accomplished his goals.  He made major changes but never intended to push too far, nothing like social welfare that FDR would bring later.  One reason he did not want to push was that he still needed the conservative South on his side.  Another major … Continue reading Class Notes →

After the Adams Administration signed into law the Alien and Sedition Acts making it illegal to criticize the government, the Jeffersonian Republicans were forced to respond the only way they could.  With Congress and the courts under the control of Federalists, Jefferson and Madison wrote the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions.  They said the new laws … Continue reading Class Notes →

One of the things that split the Republicans in the 1912 election was that TR wanted Taft to just continue with all his policies. One area where Taft fell short in TR’s opinion was in conservation.  When Taft took office he replaced James Garfield with Richard Ballinger as Secretary of the Interior. Ballinger started selling … Continue reading Class Notes →

In 1908, Teddy Roosevelt decided not to run again. Instead, he was able to hand pick his possible successor, William Taft. Taft was everything that TR wanted.  He was a good progressive, had plenty of experience, devoted to public service, but most importantly would not show up TR. Though Taft was one of the largest … Continue reading Class Notes →

 On Desperate Ground: The Epic Story of Chosin Reservoir—the Greatest Battle of the Korean War For my reading seminar this semester we are studying the 1950s.  For the subject of the Korean War, I knew I wanted to read On Desperate Ground by Hampton Sides.  I have read several other books by Sides, Blood and … Continue reading Book Review →

During the founding of our country the word freedom had a different meaning.  Freedom in early America simply meant land ownership or at least being your own boss. If you had to work for someone else in the days of the open ballot, then politically you were not free.  Your employer could insist you vote … Continue reading Class Notes →

One major difference Teddy Roosevelt brought to government was in the management of labor. In the past one of the few things the federal government did was help put down strikes by using the army to break up strikers. TR did not go all out to help the strikers, but now he used the army … Continue reading Class Notes →

With the founding of the nation, two men rose to the top that had different plans for the future of the nation.  Thomas Jefferson was the Secretary of State and he believed that American greatness would come from a land of yeoman farmers. If everyone lived on a self-sustaining farm then everyone would have what … Continue reading Class Notes →