National Civics Day Celebrates The Federalist Papers
By David Harmer Today is National Civics Day, commemorating the publication on October 27, 1787, of the first of what would become known as The Federalist Papers. Authored variously by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison, all under the pen name Publius, these 85 brilliant and influential essays explained the proposed Constitution for the […]
Ike on the Air
By David Harmer Turn the calendar back sixty years. It’s the summer of 1963. Two and a half years have passed since Dwight D. Eisenhower completed his service as 34th President of the United States. With Independence Day approaching, he participates in a radio interview. The Mutual Broadcasting System carries it nationwide; the Armed Forces […]
Juneteenth and Valley Forge
By David Harmer Today marks the anniversary of two great milestones in American history: one widely celebrated, the other little noticed. Both merit remembrance. On this date in 1865, Major General Gordon Granger, U.S. Army, issues General Order No. 3, the basis for the holiday we today commemorate as Juneteenth (a portmanteau of “June” and […]