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political history

Will Kevin McCarthy last more than 66 days as Speaker of the House?

John Fea   |  January 24, 2023

66 days. That’s how long Didius Julianus lasted as Roman emperor in 193 C.E. As historian Edward Watts notes, he “ran out of things to give his allies.” Here is a taste of his piece at Zocalo: Julianus was so...

Historian Joanne Freeman on the near scuffle between Mike Rogers and Matt Gaetz

John Fea   |  January 7, 2023

Here is part of what I wrote last night after the fourteenth ballot for Speaker of the House: Before the end of the vote, McCarthy had to walk up the aisle to talk to Matt Gaetz to try to get...

1923 was the last time a vote for Speaker of the House went more than one ballot

John Fea   |  January 3, 2023

The House of Representatives just adjourned for the day. It did not choose a speaker. Hakeem Jeffries won on the first ballot. Jeffries also won on the second ballot and third ballot. Nineteen right-wing Republicans voted against McCarthy on the...

The Author’s Corner with Alex Zakaras

Rachel Petroziello   |  October 21, 2022

Alex Zakaras is Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Vermont. This interview is based on his new book, The Roots of American Individualism: Political Myth in the Age of Jackson (Princeton University Press, 2022). JF: What led...

Are the political parties realigning?

John Fea   |  July 14, 2022

Yes. Here is Josh Kraushaar at Axios: Shifts in the demographics of the two parties’ supporters — taking place before our eyes — are arguably the biggest political story of our time. The big picture: Republicans are becoming more working class...

The Author’s Corner with Sam Lebovic

Rachel Petroziello   |  May 16, 2022

Sam Lebovic is Associate Professor of History at George Mason University. This interview is based on his new book, A Righteous Smokescreen: Postwar America and the Politics of Cultural Globalization (University of Chicago Press, 2022). JF: What led you to...

Michael Kazin on the history of the Democratic Party

John Fea   |  April 15, 2022

The Georgetown University historian is the author of the recently released What It Took To Win: A History of the Democratic Party. The guys at “Know Your Enemy” podcast talk with Kazin about the book: Listen here....

The Author’s Corner with William Novak

Rachel Petroziello   |  March 23, 2022

William Novak is Charles F. and Edith J. Clyne Professor of Law at the University of Michigan Law School. This interview is based on his new book, New Democracy: The Creation of the Modern American State (Harvard University Press, 2022)....

The Author’s Corner with Steven K. Green

Rachel Petroziello   |  March 15, 2022

Steven K. Green is Fred H. Paulus Professor of Law and Director of the Center for Religion, Law and Democracy at Willamette University. This interview is based on his new book, Separating Church and State: A History (Cornell University Press,...

The radical tradition in early national New York

John Fea   |  March 9, 2022

Historian Sean Griffin explores the legacy of Thomas Paine in early 19th-century New York. Here is a taste of his piece at the blog Gotham: New York City has long been considered a hotbed of radical political ideas, as well...

The Author’s Corner with John Leshy

Rachel Petroziello   |  February 28, 2022

John Leshy is Emeritus Harry D. Sunderland and Distinguished Professor of Real Property Law at UC Hastings College of the Law. This interview is based on his new book, Our Common Ground: A History of America’s Public Lands (Yale University...

New York City mayor Eric Adams “isn’t easily placed on the traditional left-right spectrum”  

John Fea   |  February 3, 2022

I have long been attracted to figures–both in history and in the present–who do not fit well into the political boxes we try to create for them. Fordham University political scientist Christina Greer puts New York City mayor Eric Adams...

I barely recognize the Republican Party of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s “economic girley men” GOP Convention speech in 2004

John Fea   |  January 23, 2022

When Schwarzenegger gave this speech he was about eleven months into his first term as the 38th Governor of California. It is about the American dream, immigration, opportunity, and political and economic freedom. There is no culture war rhetoric in...

A database of the 1,715 members of Congress who owned slaves

John Fea   |  January 18, 2022

The Washington Post has published a database of American enslavers. It includes some familiar names: Thomas Hart Benton, John C. Breckinridge, Preston Brooks, Aaron Burr, Pierce Butler, John C. Calhoun, Charles Carroll, Henry Clay, De Witt Clinton, Davy Crockett, Jefferson...

Is Biden’s presidency doomed? Some historical perspective.

John Fea   |  January 17, 2022

Princeton’s Julian Zelizer offers some historical context at CNN: Those who are worried should find some solace in the fact that contemporary presidents have been able to come back from difficult moments like these. Challenging first terms don’t inevitably put...

Harry Reid: Mormon politician

John Fea   |  December 30, 2021

Today a couple of Harry Reid pieces caught my attention. If you have not yet heard, the Nevada senator (1987-2017) and former Senate Majority Leader (2007-2015) died earlier this week. Over at The Washington Post, historian Benjamin Park reflects on...

Episode 29: “The Rise of Barack Obama”

John Fea   |  December 2, 2021

The background to the speech that would change his life and the life of a nation. Episode 29: “The Rise of Barack Obama” dropped last night. Subscribers to Current at the Longshore level and above new episodes of this narrative history podcast. Here is...

How members of Congress used violence to silence their political adversaries

John Fea   |  November 30, 2021

Joan E. Greve of The Guardian interviews Yale historian Joanne Freeman about violence in Congress. If any of my U.S. history survey students are reading this post, this is what we talked about in class yesterday. Here is a taste...

The Author’s Corner with J. Matthew Gallman

Rachel Petroziello   |  November 11, 2021

J. Matthew Gallman is Professor of History at the University of Florida. This interview is based on his new book, The Cacophony of Politics: Northern Democrats and the American Civil War (University of Virginia Press, 2021). JF: What led you...

The Author’s Corner with Benjamin Wetzel

Rachel Petroziello   |  September 16, 2021

Benjamin Wetzel is Assistant Professor of History at Taylor University. This interview is based on his new book, Theodore Roosevelt: Preaching from the Bully Pulpit (Oxford University Press, 2021). JF: What led you to write Theodore Roosevelt? BW: In the fall...

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