Tag Archives: history

The Outlier

Posted on October 1, 2026 by smellincoffee

When I read the American Presidents treatment of Jimmy Carter,  I knew right away I wanted more. Not because his presidency was hugely impactful, but he struck me as such an odd personality I wanted to ponder him more.  I … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Politics and Civic Interest, Reviews, World Affairs | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

1932: Franklin and Adolf

Posted on September 29, 2026 by smellincoffee

I’m afraid 1932 won’t get much of a review because frankly, it exhausted me. It’s the story of two men who were rising to national leadership on their respective sides of the pond in the same year – two men … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Politics and Civic Interest, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Grandpa Harrison, President for a Month

Posted on September 22, 2026 by smellincoffee

Before I began this reading project, there was a short file in my head of presidents who governed too short a season, or who were too undistinguished, to merit thinking about. I did not know that Chester Arthur had anything … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Politics and Civic Interest, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

The Hoover Experience

Posted on September 21, 2026 by smellincoffee

When I opened this book, I had some faint appreciation of Herbert Hoover as an accomplished engineer and disaster-relief organizer, a man who intervened after Black Thursday far more than is generally known, and who is unfairly blamed for the … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Politics and Civic Interest, Reviews, World Affairs | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Keep Cool with Coolidge!

Posted on September 18, 2026 by smellincoffee

Calvin Coolidge has long been one of my favorite presidents; I think as a child I was drawn to his nickname of Silent Cal, with its reputation for taciturnity; later on, I respected his approach to government — keep the … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Politics and Civic Interest, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Destiny of the Republic

Posted on September 12, 2026 by smellincoffee

When put on trial for the assassination of President James Garfield, Charles Guiteau protested that he’d merely shot Garfield: his doctors had killed him. As crazy as Guiteau was — and his membranes were definitely scrambled — he may have … Continue reading →

Posted in General, history, Politics and Civic Interest, science | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Republic or Empire? The True Flag

Posted on August 7, 2026 by smellincoffee

I’ve been wanting to read this title for years now after having found Stephen Kinzer’s various books on DC’s overseas adventures, while at the same time stumbling upon Mark Twain’s anti-war writings collected in Weapons of Satire. Coming of age … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Politics and Civic Interest, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

The Age of Eisenhower

Posted on August 4, 2026 by smellincoffee

Apologies if you are on the list and received a blank email earlier: WordPress ate my words. Fortunately I always draft off-platform. Many presidents have a defining moment – a call to arms in a speech, a decisive action,  a … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Politics and Civic Interest, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Lincoln Obsession

Posted on July 22, 2026 by smellincoffee

James L. Swanson is something of a Lincoln obsessive. How obsessive? Well, he’s considered an authority for evaluating Lincoln-related artifacts and relics, and he has quite a collection himself — including a lock of Lincoln’s hair. (He can also name-drop … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Promise and the Dream

Posted on July 9, 2026 by smellincoffee

The Promise and the Dream is inherently interesting in being a joint biography of two men who were very active public figures in the 1960s – at first as near-antagonists, then as allies in spirit, and then brother-martyrs in death.  … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Politics and Civic Interest, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments