Posts tagged: Politics

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 …..

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.

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)