The New York Times, on 7/13/07, cited Lee Sheppard, a tax lawyer, who critiques deals for Tax Notes magazine. Mr. Sheppard noted that the absurdly favorable treatment accorded to Blackstone executives. That is, the [...]
Battle of Antietam By James M. McPherson I just finished an exciting book, written by James McPherson, America’s most eminent Civil War historian, about the Battle of Antietam, fought on September 17, 1862. The author [...]
I recently read the book Nixon and Mao, the Week that Changed the World, by Margarat MacMillan. This book highlights the remarkable and surprising trip by Henry Kissinger and Richard Nixon to China in 1972. [...]
Because I am confined to my apartment for much of the day given my illness and the hot weather, I chose to watch again Ken Burns’ Documentary of the Civil War given the controversies surrounding [...]
Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this Island or lose the war. If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be free and the life of the world may [...]
Edward R. Murrow’s independence and incisive reporting heightened the journalistic stature on radio and television. The importance of radio journalism, live coverage of fast-moving, earthshaking events, gained recognition with the events leading up to [...]
Lyrics Version 1 If buttercups buzz'd after the bee, If boats were on land, churches on sea, If ponies rode men and if grass ate the cows, And cats should be chased into holes by [...]
J. Robert Oppenheimer: Shatterer Of Worlds Father of the Atomic Bomb J.Robert Oppenheimer (1904-1967) “I Feel that I Have Blood On My Hands” I just finished a book about Robert Oppenheimer, and must admit that [...]
Today, the prejudice against Catholics is limited to a fringe element of our population. However, before the presidential election of John Kennedy, most political pundits felt that only a Protestant could win our highest office. [...]
The Children’s Crusade is one of the more unusual and disturbing events in the Medieval Ages. We know only scanty facts about the sad episode; however, thousands of children died during their journey to [...]
The patients waiting for cataract surgery were dignified, stoic, and silent. Many had endured hot and uncomfortable journeys to come and stand in the long line outside the clinic. Yet they waited, patient and [...]
In order to understand the importance of the Battles of Cross Keys and the Battle of Port Republic, we must emphasize the importance of the Shenandoah Valley. Stonewall Jackson summed up this region’s strategic importance. [...]
Russian Contribution to Allied Success on D-Day Started June 22, 1944 “Invading Russia. It is always a bad idea.” Field Marshall Bernard Montgomery “People of Western Europe: A landing was made this morning on the [...]
I recently returned from a two week trip that sought to replicate the important battle engagements of Easy Company of the 101st Airborne Division. Our group of some twenty-five people was stimulated by the presence [...]
A Fatal Submission to the Territorial Demands of Adolph Hitler “How could honourable men with wide experience and fine records in the Great War condone a policy so cowardly? It was sordid, squalid, sub-human, and [...]
The 100th/442nd Regimental Combat Team initially consisted of Japanese American volunteers from the mainland United States and the Hawaiian Islands. This team became the most decorated unit in United States history. 18,000 total awards, including [...]
“The enemy (Germany) is at present fighting a defensive campaign on all fronts; his situation is such that he cannot stage major offensive operations.” December 15,1944 Field-Marshal Montgomery The Battle of the Ardennes was the [...]
I wanted to express some of my personal thoughts after hearing the most articulate Palestinian woman in the last class. First of all, my primary point is that while I will spend my efforts challenging [...]
The Hundred Years War, lasting from 1337 until 1453, was a defining time for the history of both England and France. There was another series of wars between the two countries from 1600-1815. Thus, much [...]
Nixon Doctrine of Balance of Power Departed From Wilson Idealism Nixon: “Taking the long view, we simply cannot afford to leave China forever outside the family of nations, there to nurture its fantasies, cherish its [...]
Death of 50-100 Million One-Fifth of the World Infected “I had a little bird, its name was Enza I opened the window And in-flu-enza." The Great Influenza of 1918 could have killed as many [...]
Professor John C. Willis U.S. Grant, Meetings with Robert E. Lee, 9 and 10 April 1865 I had known General Lee in the old army, and had served with him in the Mexican War; [...]
This past weekend I spent a day with friends at West Point, the campus of America’s foremost military academy since its founding in 1802. The campus architecture has stone masonry that is most attractive. Because [...]
On June 22,1941 Germany launched a surprise attack on Russia. Hitler announced “Soldiers of the eastern front an assembly of strength on a size and scale such as the world has never seen in now [...]
The recently released documentary, Paperclips, provides another compelling Holocaust project that seeks to create a legacy of tolerance through examination of the Nazi extermination of 6 million Jews, including some 1.5 million children below the [...]
Edward VII might have been the son of Queen Victoria, but in this case the apple fell very far from the tree. He truly relished his role as the leader of the social life [...]
In 1519 Hermando Cortes sailed from Cuba to Mexico with one hundred ten mariners, five hundred and fifty-three soldiers, ten canon and sixteen horses. Over the next three years, he defeated an empire composed [...]
Charles Schulz was the creator of “Peanuts” and 355 million people around the world read the tender and sage comic strip starring Charlie Brown. Mr. Schulz recognized his responsibility for his comic characters. He [...]
The treatment of Chief Joseph, known to his followers as Thunder Rolling Down, was disgraceful both personally and to his tribe, the Nez Perce. The chief of a peaceful tribe, many of whose members [...]
As the green light suddenly glowed the young second lieutenant shuffled up to the door of the C-47 and leapt out into the darkness. Other troopers tumbled out behind him. Parachutes unfurled and clapped [...]
On May 6,1954, Sir Roger Bannister, a twenty-five year old medical student, accomplished one of the greatest feats in sports history when he became the first person to run a sub-four minute mile. I [...]
With the advent of modern technology, the vending machine has taken on ever increasing functionality. Over the past decade, nationwide vending sales have risen some 40%, to $24.3 Billion. Recently a machine carrying 130 items [...]
1966-1976 Mao Zedong launched the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) during his last decade in power to renew the spirit of the Chinese revolution. Perhaps never before in human history has a political leader unleashed such massive [...]
Today, Canada and the United States are peacefully neighboring states with well-defined boundaries. However, the future course of these countries was determined during the American Revolution. That is, Americans unsuccessfully invaded Canada, thwarted by British [...]
“War is another form of Diplomacy” is a paraphrase of the activities undertaken by sovereign states striving to develop a temporary balance in their relationships. In rereading one of my favorite books, The Deadly [...]
