Presidential Love Child
A new DNA test shows that Nan Britton was telling the truth when she told the world her affair with President Warren G. Harding produced a daughter.
Posts tagged: Politics
FDR’s Four Freedoms Were Meant For the Entire World, It Turns Out
A visit to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park in the middle of the East River in New York City.
The Death of Kingfish
Louisiana’s Huey P. Long died 10 September 1935, two days after being shot at the state Capitol. To some, there are still questions about who pulled the trigger.
When Vice President Was King
William Rufus de Vane King, that is. He took the oath of office on foreign soil, and died 25 days later, on 18 April 1853.
George Wallace Was Shot on This Day
On 15 May 1972, Governor George Wallace of Alabama was shot in Maryland, ending his campaign for the U.S. presidency.
John O. Brennan Biography: New!
John O. Brennan took the oath of office 9 March 2013 and became the 21st Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Read more in the Who2 biography.
Chuck Hagel Biography: New!
Who2 has a new biography of former U.S. Senator and Almost-But-Not-Quite Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel. Find out more.
Happy Birthday, Frank Zappa!
Frank Zappa died in 1993. Had he lived, he’d be celebrating his 62nd birthday. In his honor, watch an interview and listen to a song.
Sheldon Adelson Biography: New!
We have a new biography of Sheldon Adelson, the casino tycoon who donated more than $100 million to Republican candidates in 2012.
Arafat Exhumed, Promptly Reburied
The body of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat was exhumed and reburied in the early morning of 27 November, in an effort to determine if he was murdered.
Grover Norquist Biography: New!
To quote former President George H. W. Bush, “Who the hell is Grover Norquist, anyway?”
We Still Get to Kick Nixon Around
Fifty years ago Richard Nixon made his famous speech to the press that included “You won’t have Nixon to kick around anymore.”
I Like To Go Swimmin’ With Binders of Women
The second presidential debate between President Obama and Governor Romney is over, and the most important takeaway was the phrase “binders of women.”
Chuck Norris v. Evil Obama
TV star Chuck Norris and his wife warn that re-electing President Obama is a step toward “1,000 years of darkness.”
Clint Eastwood’s Big Fail
I couldn’t stand to watch more than 20 seconds of “Clint Eastwood Unleashed.” I was too embarrassed, both for Eastwood and the GOP.
Julian Assange’s Asylum, with Photos
The founder of Wikileaks has been granted asylum in Ecuador. But the U.K. isn’t going to let him go.
Brad Pitt’s Famous Family
That Pitt family! First Brad’s brother makes the news with a funny video, then his mom makes the news with a letter to the editor.
Margaret Thatcher Wrote This Column When Elizabeth Became Queen
The young barrister-in-training hoped “a new era for women” was at hand.
The Mess Called John Edwards
A trial full of crazy lies ends in a mostly hung jury in the John Edwards trial. It was too hard to sift through the parade of shameless acts to determine what was actually against the law.
2005: Barack Obama Sizes Up Chief Justice John Roberts
Obama had the future Chief Justice figured out in 2005.
The White House Inserts Obama Into Bios
The White House has added Obama-flavored icing to several of the official biographies of former presidents. Doesn’t that make you furious?
E.L. Doctorow Tees Off
Celebrated author E.L. Doctorow offers a how-to guide to American “unexceptionalism.”
Tito Doing Stuff
Former Yugoslavian dictator Tito has a Tumblr! See sample photos here!
Obama Spotted Alone on Park Bench, Eating Giant Sub Sandwich
A bad sign for his reelection hopes.
Anders Breivik Biography: New
The Norwegian extremist is currently on trial for the killing of 77 people last July.
Shepard Fairey Off to Jail?
Shepard Fairey is guilty of contempt of court. Prosecutors are pushing for jail time. He’ll be sentenced in July.
Hoodie Hubbub a Geraldo Highlight
A joke — how can you tell when Geraldo Rivera is saying something stupid? His lips are moving. Oh, and he put it on Twitter.
Watergate History: John Dean and Richard Nixon
John Dean had an important meeting with President Richard Nixon on 21 March 1973 — 39 years ago — and it marked beginning of the end to Nixon’s presidency.
Four Views of Blanche Bruce, the Slave Who Became a U.S. Senator
Blanche Bruce, one of America’s first African-American senators, once sat for Mathew Brady’s camera.
Vladimir Putin Is On His Way to 43 Straight Years as Ruler of Russia
Two terms here and two terms there and pretty soon you’re talking real power.
How Much Do You Like Ray Bradbury?
Do you like Ray Bradbury enough to read this weird piece that somehow screws Ray Bradbury’s work into a political screed? I do.
‘Doonesbury’ on Newt Gingrich
Ouch! Newt Gingrich got slapped hard by a comic strip. You don’t see that every day. Because it was in the Sunday comics.
Teddy Roosevelt Died on January 6th in 1919
It was a surprise to everyone when Teddy Roosevelt died on this day in 1919. He was only 60 years old, but he’d had a bad year.
Naming the GOP Candidates
A new poll about Mitt Romney’s real name made me realize none of the leading Republican candidates for president go by the name they were given at birth.
The LBJ Time Machine
It sounds more frightening than it is. The LBJ Time Machine is one example of how the U.S. National Archives are popularizing presidential history.
Letters to the Dallas Morning News, 1963
“A truly socialistic regime.” “Free enterprise is finished. States’ rights have vanished. We now have taxation without representation.” Gee, they’re talking about Barack Obama, right? Not quite.
November is Native American Heritage Month
President Barack Obama proclaimed this the month to honor “American Indians and Native Alaskans” for their contributions to the U.S., just like he did last year and the year before that.
An Interview with Mikhail Gorbachev
Got a spare hour? Watch (or listen) to an interview with former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev at the LBJ Library and Museum.
A Quick Take on the Ex-Presidents
What are the four living ex-presidents up to these days?
U.S. Supreme Court Opening Day
The first Monday of October is the opening day for the United States Supreme Court. Can you name all twelve Supreme Court justices?
Tim Pawlenty Ends Presidential Bid
Former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty has announced the end of his campaign for the U.S. presidency. You can read about it here in the Star Tribune.
Pawlenty dropped his bid for the Republican nomination after placing third in an Iowa straw poll. He was beat out by Michele Bachmann and Ron Paul.
Movies and Biographies of Russia’s Communist Leaders
This YouTube video is a collection of movie clips of all the communist leaders of Russia, from V.I. Lenin to Mikhail Gorbachev:
Rod “Blago” Blagojevich Found Guilty
Former Illinois governor Rod “Blago” Blagojevich was found guilty of 17 out of 20 counts on charges that basically boil down to him trying to sell the U.S. Senate seat vacated after Barack Obama was elected president in 2008.
Two Presidents Died On This Day
On this day in history, two United States presidents died — 46 years apart.
President Martin Van Buren died on June 24th in 1862, and President Steve Cleveland died on June 24th in 1908.
Steve Cleveland? Yes, Grover Cleveland’s real first name was Stephen.
Fox News Calls Ayman al-Zawahiri “Number Two”
According to news reports, the guy replacing Osama bin Laden as the head of al-Qaeda will be his old physician pal Ayman al-Zawahiri. Al-Zawahiri is said to have helped plan …..
Newt: Stop Quoting Me, You Lying Quoters
Last week, former Congressman Newt Gingrich announced he will seek the Republican nomination for the U.S. presidency in 2012:
Happy Birthday, Thomas Hobbes
Today is the birthday of English philosopher and royal pal Thomas Hobbes.
David Axelrod Reflects
For political wonks (and Chicagoans) only: David Axelrod talks about Obama’s first two years.
WWJLD?
What will Joe Lieberman do at his press conference tomorrow? Retire? Declare that he’s running in 2012 as a Democrat? As a Republican?The Fix speculates.
Barack Obama: The Rolling Stone Interview
Where has this sharp, feisty, straight-talking guy been for the last two years? He’s been so far offstage, I wasn’t sure he was even still in the theater.Here’s the Rolling Stone Barack Obama cover, by Mark Seliger.
Lou Dobbs Hired Illegal Aliens: The Nation
Lou Dobbs bashed illegal aliens on CNN while hiring them to handle his daughter’s horses.So says The Nation.
Nate Silver Moves to The New York Times
Political analyst Nate Silver has moved his excellent blog, FiveThirtyEight.com, to the New York Times.
Gordon Brown to Step Down
Gordon Brown will give up his post as leader of the Labour Party, meaning he’ll be done as Prime Minister by September at the latest. The deal is thought to improve Labour’s chances of making a coalition government with the Liberal Democrats.
Barack Obama Signs Historic Health Care Bill: Transcript
(Secretary of State Hillary Clinton congratulates President Barack Obama prior to a meeting in the Situation Room of the White House, March 22, 2010. Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
“Dad, the Unfinished Business is Done”
Ted Kennedy gets a note from his son.
Dennis Kucinich Says ‘Yes’ to Health Care Bill
He’s on board.