Like many American presidents, Woodrow Wilson harbored contradictory impulses. He enacted progressive economic and labor reforms while racially segregating the Federal government. He spoke stirringly about spreading democracy abroad while suppressing civil liberties and arresting dissidents at home. He advocated … Continue reading How We Got Here: Appointment at Veracruz

Throughout the spring of 1850, New Orleans and other southern ports bustled with activity. Two sailing vessels and two ships were purchased and outfitted; a force of about 500 armed men began organizing throughout the Mississippi Valley, awaiting signals to … Continue reading How We Got Here: Narciso Lopez Dreams of Cuba

On June 20, 1949, Paul Robeson gave a speech at the so-called Paris Peace Conference, sponsored by the USSR. The American actor and singer, a leading black activist, was long associated with progressive causes, yet emerged from World War II … Continue reading How We Got Here: Paul Robeson’s Road to Peekskill

Picture the opening of a John Buchan or Ian Fleming thriller: an American general, languishing on inglorious reserve duty, is summoned across country without notice, then arrives at a train station where he’s contacted by a strange man wearing a … Continue reading How We Got Here: General Graves and the Siberian Shuffle

In the summer of 1918, American doughboys finally joined the desperate battles raging in France during World War I’s climactic days. Meanwhile, the 339th Infantry waited across the English Channel to join them. Dubbed “Detroit’s Own,” the 339th consisted of … Continue reading How We Got Here: American Polar Bears Meet the Bolsheviks

May 4, 1970 saw America’s tensions over the Vietnam War explode into violence. Shortly after Richard Nixon authorized an American “incursion” into Cambodia, thus expanding the war he’d pledged to end, backlash erupted on college campuses across the country. Unexpectedly, … Continue reading How We Got Here: The Hard Hats Strike Back

Note: Didn’t have time to research my planned subject this week; here, then, is a post combining two of my old blog posts on everyone’s favorite President.  Richard Nixon took office with a bold strategy to end the Vietnam War. … Continue reading How We Got Here: The State Department and the Madman

In 1850, the United States of America stood on the edge of a precipice. The Mexican War added 529,000 square miles to the United States, re-sparking long dormant debates about the future of slavery. Southern slave owners had long maintained … Continue reading How We Got Here: Liberty at Christiana

On May 12, 1898 American warships appeared off the coast of San Juan, Puerto Rico. After two months of blockade, and several failed attempts by Spanish warships to break it, the Americans prepared a land invasion. On July 25, American … Continue reading How We Got Here: The Ponce Massacre and Contempt for America’s Colony

January 11, 1871 was Victoria Woodhull’s moment to shine. With Congress addressing women’s suffrage for the first time, Woodhull – thirty-three year old, strikingly beautiful and intensely charismatic – received the honor of addressing them. She had the blessing of … Continue reading How We Got Here: Victoria Woodhull’s War

Note: This week’s planned article, a follow-up on last week’s article about Vladimir Putin, has been postponed. I didn’t have time to write an original piece from scratch, so I’m revising something from my personal archive again.  On February 2, … Continue reading How We Got Here: The American Protective League, the Wobblies and the “War on Slackers”

“With the recent developments in Eastern Europe, do you think that Communism is on the decline, or is this just a temporary setback?” This was the question Mike Myers posed to the band Aerosmith on a Wayne’s World sketch on Saturday … Continue reading How We Got Here: Moscow Is Silent

Welcome back to How We Got Here! After surviving the Adams Administration, I’ll take it easy this week by reposting an old blog article. If parallels with modern events seem more explicit than usual, it’s with good reason, as I … Continue reading How We Got Here: Henry Clay Keeps America in Suspense

Part Five in a series; see Parts One, Two, Three and Four.  By fall 1799, John Adams no longer found the prospect of war with France desirable. He toned down his belligerent rhetoric and dispatched a new peace commission, headed … Continue reading How We Got Here: The Prospect Before Us

Part Four in a series; see Parts One, Two and Three. Following the XYZ Affair, war between the United States and France seemed inevitable. Diplomatic stalemate intensified French attacks on American shipping, triggering a vigorous response from American naval vessels. … Continue reading How We Got Here: Deceit and Weakness

Part III in a series; see Parts One and Two. On May 7th, 1798, a crowd of roughly 1,200 Philadelphians, mostly young men in their teens and twenties, gathered at Market Street for an impromptu rally. Some carried flags and … Continue reading How We Got Here: Deranged Affairs

Part Two in a series; Part One here.  Matthew Lyon, Republican Congressman from Vermont, represented everything Federalists hated. He had been born in Ireland, a sure mark against him at a time when Federalist politicians attacked “hordes of wild Irishmen… … Continue reading How We Got Here: Malignant Passions

Note: I planned to continue my series on the Adams Administration this week, but sadly, circumstances prevented it from being completed on time. As penance, here is another revised version of an old blog post that nonetheless dovetails with previous … Continue reading How We Got Here: The Hun’s Shadow in America

Welcome to the latest How We Got Here series! The next few columns will examined the frenzied politics and repressive policies of John Adams’ presidency, especially the Alien and Sedition Acts.  March 4th, 1797 was a glorious day for the … Continue reading How We Got Here: The Reign of Mr. Adams

On April 8th, 1916 elements of the 24th United States Infantry Regiment visited the border town of Del Rio, Texas. This all-black unit, veterans of the Spanish-American War and service in the Philippines, was among the soldiers mobilizing for John … Continue reading How We Got Here: Racism, Riot and Mutiny in Houston