Jane Addams, Great Reformer (1860-1935)
It would be fun to speculate why some of the truly great Americans are forgotten within one hundred years of their life. Jane Addams by any definition should be an icon that we pay homage [...]
Economy is Chugging Along
The U.S. economy is grudgingly advancing. Economists now anticipate that our economic recovery will only slowly recover from the coronavirus pandemic. There is mounting evidence that the pandemic has cost a loss of inflicted [...]
California Takes Dramatic Steps to Combat Climate Warming
In recognition of its environmental challenges, California has taken the most aggressive steps in the United States to control emissions both in the field of transportation and electric power generation. Being the world’s fifth-largest [...]
Federal Reserve Will Keep Interest Rates Low For Foreseeable Future
Last Wednesday Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell emphasized the need to keep interest rates near zero at least through 2023. He said, “We believe that achieving inflation that averages 2% over time helps ensure that longer term inflation expectations remain [...]
Hundreds Rally in Paris to seek justice for murdered Jewish woman in France
Hundreds (sadly not thousands) of French Jews and their supporters in Paris called for justice for murdered Jewish woman, Sarah Hallimi, a retired physician and schoolteacher. In an astonishing decision, the court of appeal [...]
US economic recovery appears to be losing steam
Official numbers prove what we feel in our bones – the U.S. economy has hit the proverbial glass ceiling. On Thursday, the Labor Department reported that U.S. unemployment claims held steady at 884,000. This represents [...]
Verdict in Vichy: Power and Prejudice in the Vichy France Regime by Michael Curtis
Introduction For those of us who remain fascinated by World War II, an area of discussion is France. We ask ourselves how such a great nation could have accepted defeat only some 31 days after [...]
Federal Reserve policy lifts stock market
Last Thursday, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell’s comments helped bolster stock prices. Powell replaced the bank’s existing target for inflation of 2%. Instead, they would accept an average of 2%, and therefore allow price increases above [...]
America’s diverging views about the economy
The confusion about the status of the American economy and prescriptions to fix it has merit. The United States is in a recession, but this downturn is unlike any our country has ever witnessed. There [...]
50 Children: The Rescue Mission of Mr. and Mrs. Kraus, Spring 1939
“To take a child from its mother seemed to be the lowest thing a human being could do,” one journal entry went, describing the moment when the Krauses met with parents in Austria. “Yet it [...]
Times are a changin’
In 1964 Bob Dylan wrote a song “The Times Are a Changin.” It was an anthem for frustrated youth and summed up the anti-establishment feelings of people who wanted America to embrace Civil Rights legislation. [...]
Andrew Johnson
In May 1868, the Senate came within a single vote of taking the unprecedented step of removing a president from office. Although the impeachment trial of Andrew Johnson was ostensible about a violation of [...]
Rutgers English Department to Deemphasize traditional grammar in solidarity with Black Lives Matter
I only recently learned of this bizarre turn of events: The English Department at Rutgers University recently announced a list of “anti-racist” directives and initiatives for the upcoming fall and spring semesters, including an effort [...]
American economy contracted at record rate
The Commerce Department last week reported the steepest-ever decline in the U.S. gross domestic product. The value of goods and services fell at an annual 32.9% in the second quarter, wiping out nearly five years [...]
The Captive Mind and America’s Resegregation
The Captive Mind and America’s Resegregation, Wall Street Journal by Andrew Micha, Dean of College of international and Security Studies at George Marshall European Center for Security Studies in Germany Introduction All Americans have been [...]
Challenge of higher education
A study by EY-Parthenon, a consultant to the education industry, indicated that some 800 of America’s 2,000 colleges could close. Twenty percent of colleges run deficits because of inadequate endowments, less than optimal enrollment and/or [...]
A Weekend of Urban Anarchy Wall Street Journal Editorial
Introduction An editorial in today’s Wall Street Journal described their response too the violence and vandalism that impact many urban areas this weekend. Despite extensive newspaper and television coverage, I remain in a quandary whether [...]
Record-low mortgage rates launch boom in home sales
The National Association of Realtors reported that sales of previously owned homes rose 20.7% in June over May. This is the biggest increase on record going back to 1968. The surge in existing-home sales follows [...]
The Virus Turns New York City Into a Ghost Town
The Time Life Building Only Has 500 workers showing up in comparison to Pre-Pandemic 8,000 The Rockefeller Center Ecosystem of Restaurants and Shops, created to serve Midtown workers and tourists, has gone dark Introduction: [...]
In Atlanta, Violent Crime Surges Amid Rising Unemployment, by Sabrina Simmons, Wall Street Journal
A recent wave of violent crime has roiled the city of Atlanta, amplifying tensions in a community still reeling from the coronavirus pandemic and a debate over policing and race. Atlanta’s problems highlight the [...]
Skepticism mitigates confidence following retail sales increase of 7.5%
In June, retail sales increased by 7.5%. Retail sales account for about a quarter of all consumer spending. The reopening of malls, restaurants, and other service industry positions allowed millions of people to return to [...]
The Last Kings of Shanghai: The Story of Shanghai and its Jewish Tycoons
By Jonathon Kaufman Introduction I have always wanted to know about the people who facilitated the immigration of 18,000 European Jews (many of them penniless) in the late 1930’s and early 1940’s to Shanghai, saving them [...]
The Ideology of Race: Extract from article in the Magazine Economist
Introduction Since the killing of George Floyd, our nation has been focused on race. Television commentators and newspaper editorials have highlighted the issue. In helping me formulate my thoughts, I have been particularly impressed by [...]
Pandemic brings significant challenges to airline industry
On Wednesday, United Airlines said that it is expecting to lay off close to 50% of its U.S. domestic workforce. United is not alone. American Airlines may have to cut 20,000 jobs, and Delta has [...]
Despite surge in coronavirus cases, U.S. enjoys a precarious job recovery
On Thursday the Labor Department reported that we added 4.8 million jobs in June, reducing our unemployment rate slightly to 11.1%. This is our second month of job growth after losing 20 million jobs earlier [...]
U.S economic outlook remains mixed despite estimates that 20 million Americans may have contracted the coronavirus
As we approach the midyear, the future direction of our economy remains mixed. The renewed national upsurge in COVID-19 cases has forced some states and cities that have reopened to reverse course. President Donald Trump [...]
Coronavirus Uptick Raises Alarms
The reclosing of eleven Apple stores in four states on Friday highlighted the growing concerns that the coronavirus is gaining ground. Scientists have expressed anxieties that the U.S. has replaced Italy and China as [...]
Removal of Theodore Roosevelt Statue from the American Natural History Museum
The New York Times reported that the American Museum of Natural History will remove a prominent statue of Theodore Roosevelt from its entrance after years of objections that it symbolizes colonial expansion and racial discrimination. [...]
Protecting Historical Statues
“When they burn books, they will also ultimately burn people” Heinrich Heine, German Jewish Poet Prophetically, Heinrich Heine in 1821 predicted that those people who burn books ultimately burn people. Sadly, he anticipated both the [...]
Interview with H.W. Brands, author of Reagan: The Life
Introduction H.W. Brands, who spent six years writing a book about Ronald Reagan, provided me wonderful insights. In brief, the public Reagan who appeared so warm and approachable was in fact distant. Brands commented that [...]
Interview with David Rubinstein and Taylor Branch: Martin Luther King, Jr.
Interview between David Rubinstein and Taylor Branch, best known for writing a trilogy of books chronicling the life of Martin Luther King Introduction I have thoroughly enjoyed, The American Story, a compilation of interviews between [...]
Fed Outlook Dim into Next Year
Last Wednesday Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said: “This (COVID-19) is the biggest shock in the U.S. and in the world in living memory. We went from the lowest level of unemployment in 50 [...]
Federal Reserve forecasts negative outlook for U.S. economy beyond 2020
Last Wednesday Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said: “This (COVID-19) is the biggest shock in the U.S. and in the world in living memory. We went from the lowest level of unemployment in 50 years [...]
David Rubinstein Interview with David McCullough about John Adams
Introduction Since 1986 I have been able to listen to books. For me, this has been immensely satisfying. I initially received books on tape and then returned the books to Books on Tape and [...]
In Defense of the Eyes of Texas
The Eyes of Texas are Upon You All the live long day The Eyes of Texas are upon you You cannot get away Do not think you can escape them At night or early [...]
Dreyfus Affair
Introduction Over the past forty years I have read several books about the Dreyfus Affair. Over time, my focus has shifted from the personal tragedy of Alfred Dreyfus, unjustly convicted and brutally treated, to the [...]