Category Archives: History

Historical events, places, faces, biographies

Remembering the Nancy Reagan Loved by Reagan

Nancy Reagan has passed away. Here are some excerpts that I wrote about her in my book, The Faith of America’s First Ladies. God Bless you Nancy for your service to our country. Handling Criticism with Grace If anyone experienced … Continue reading

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Oct. 19–How did Yorktown Change an African-American Spy?

Today, October 19, marks the 234th anniversary of the last day of the last major battle of the Revolutionary War, the Battle of Yorktown, Virginia. Enjoy this excerpt from my book, Stories of Faith and Courage from the Revolutionary War. One … Continue reading

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Culture Clashes in Alaska: Then and Now

Controversy has erupted over President Obama’s plans to rename Alaska’s Mount McKinley, which Congress named after U.S. president William McKinley in 1917, to Denali, the Athabascan word meaning “the high one.” Alaska  has long been a mix of cultures, sometimes leading … Continue reading

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Fencing for Back to School? Then and Now.

Back to school is on the minds of many right now. No doubt parents are watching their kids get back into the groove of studying math, English, science, social studies, and other subjects. What about fencing? Though not a typical … Continue reading

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Political Outsiders vs. Senators vs. Governors for President

http://video.foxnews.com/v/4413574989001/look-whos-talking-jane-hampton-cook/ World War II launched a surge of American pride and patriotism. We chose presidents from national leadership positions. Dwight Eisenhower was a national war hero. Presidents Truman, Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon all found their national platform in the U.S. … Continue reading

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What did Providence mean in 1776? What will it mean on TURN tonight?

Providence is the name of Episode 8 in Season 2 of AMC’s TURN, airing tonight, Memorial Day. Today, Providence often means good luck. During the American Revolution, Providence was “a firm belief of God’s universal presence, and a constant attention to the influence and … Continue reading

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What is a revolution? The heart of AMC’s TURN

“You don’t really believe in the king, you just believe the king is the safest bet. You need to choose between your pride and your family,” Mary Woodhull recently said in a confrontation with her father-in-law, Richard Woodhull, on AMC’s Turn, which … Continue reading

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Why is Simcoe’s desire for love a secret behind AMC Turn’s Success?

“I’m a warrior, yes, but I am not a monster. There’s a heart beating inside me that wants the same thing you do. To love. To be loved,” British Captain John Simcoe said to Anna Strong on a recent episode of … Continue reading

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Valley Forge on AMC’s TURN. Where is Waldo?

Valley Forge is one of the settings of this season’s AMC’s hit show, TURN. A recent episode featured a scheme involving a threat against George Washington to take place in December 1777 before New Year’s Day in 1778. The timing of New Year’s Day reminded me of stories about … Continue reading

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Giving while Grieving–Jackie Kennedy’s Christmas Print, 1963

On the morning of November 22, 1963, the art director for Hallmark Cards in Kansas City mailed 200 prints of a water color of the White House Green Room to Jackie Kennedy at the White House. The boxes arrived at a Washington D.C. airport … Continue reading

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