The West Wing is my favorite TV show. As a professional historian focusing on presidential elections and American political history, I admire Aaron Sorkin’s patriotic and idealistic writing about government. It’s easy to be cynical about politicians, but Sorkin created … Continue reading
For decades, The Making of the President 1960 by Theodore White was considered the definitive book on presidential elections, offering a detailed account of the Kennedy-Nixon race. While White’s work remains a classic, Game Change by John Heilemann and Mark … Continue reading
John Hancock: More Than a Signature Today, John Hancock is best remembered for his bold signature on the Declaration of Independence, but his contributions to American history go far beyond that iconic moment. In fact, there’s a theoretical argument … Continue reading
If not for narrow losses in three key states leading to an Electoral College defeat, Hillary Clinton would have become the first woman President of the United States. Vice President Kamala Harris, seeking the presidency in 2024, rarely emphasizes the … Continue reading
The Man by Irving Wallace: A Visionary Novel of Its Time The first “adult book” I ever read was The Man by Irving Wallace. It’s a sprawling 788-page novel, written in 1964, about the first African-American President of the United States. … Continue reading