Topic: John Lewis

In Senate, emotional appeal to restore 'heart and soul' of Voting Rights Act

Rep. John Lewis of Georgia, a leader of the 1965 march from Selma to Montgomery, urged the Senate Judiciary Committee to restore a key section of the Voting Rights Act struck down by the Supreme Court.

Playing the IRS card: Six presidents who used the IRS to bash political foes

Since the advent of the federal income tax about a century ago, several presidents – or their zealous underlings – have directed the IRS to use its formidable police powers to harass or punish enemies, political rivals, and administration critics. Here are six infamous episodes.

Max Baucus: Who gets the retiring senator's $4.8 million?

Max Baucus, a retiring US senator from Montana, has $4.8 million in campaign funds. How the funds left in the Max Baucus campaign war chest be spent?

Elwin Wilson, a KKK supporter who reformed, dies

Elwin Wilson was a reformed racist who publicly apologized for his violent acts. Wilson beat John Lewis of Georgia in 1961. Lewis later became a US congressman, and Wilson personally apologized to him.

Voting Rights Act case: Supreme Court questioning is lively, pointed (+video)

At the US Supreme Court on Wednesday, defenders of the 1965 Voting Rights Act argued that the judiciary should defer to Congress's judgment that the law is still needed as is. Several justices indicated that they thought not.

The New Economy Greed is (not) good. Here's a better capitalism.

Profit should not be the sole goal of business. Profit should be the byproduct of business excellence. 

Reader recommendation: George F. Kennan

Monitor readers share their favorite book picks.

Decoder Wire Could Congress jail Attorney General Eric Holder for contempt?

Congress has jailed those deemed in contempt before but never a sitting Cabinet official – and not recently. Moreover, the few times Congress has locked down people within the Capitol, it has not turned out well for Congress.

Focus The gay marriage paradox: as acceptance rises, so do legal barriers

President Obama's embrace of gay marriage mirrors growing support among many Americans, but states continue to ban it. The US Supreme Court could play a key role.

Is it really cheaper to mine platinum from an asteroid? (+video)

A new company backed by Silicon Valley billionaires and Hollywood moguls seeks to extract precious metals from asteroids. Is doing so really cheaper than mining metals on Earth?

Chapter & Verse Book world expresses disappointment, outrage over Pulitzer snub

Pulitzer juror Susan Larson said she and the rest of the fiction jury are 'shocked … angry … and very disappointed' that the Pulitzer board elected not to choose a 2012 fiction winner.

Pulitzer Prize for history, but not for fiction

The late Manning Marable won the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for history, honored for a Malcolm X book. But no Pulitzer Prize was awarded for fiction.

California colleges consider asking applicants: Are you gay?

The University of California system is considering asking about applicants' sexual orientation. Gay-rights groups applaud the move, but others are worried about student privacy.

Walter Rodgers Reagan and Clinton as American idols? Not so fast.

The majority of Americans consider Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton as 'outstanding' or 'above average' among the modern presidents. Pollsters and historians need an edict: Wait 50 years before judging the greatness of presidents and their legacies.

Chapter & Verse Edith Pearlman takes the NBCC fiction prize

Other National Book Critics Circle honorees include writer John Lewis Gaddis for 'George F. Kennan: An American Life' and Maya Jasanoff for 'Liberty's Exiles.'

George F. Kennan: An American Life

John Lewis Gaddis's biography is an important examination of a man who shaped the current American way of life.
12/29/2011 08:10 am

How 9/11 has shaped a generation of Americans

The terrorist attacks have become this generation's Pearl Harbor – an epic event that has changed young peoples' view of the world and America's place in it.
09/09/2011 12:49 pm

Top Picks: 'Eliza Doolittle' album, a documentary about Bhutto, Paul Simon's 'So Beautiful or So What,' and more

A self-titled album from English singer Eliza Doolittle, a documentary about Benazir Bhutto, Paul Simon's new album 'So Beautiful or So What,' and more recommendations.
05/10/2011 10:41 am

Classic review: The Cold War – A New History

The cold war: how it began, why it ended
05/01/2011 07:50 am

Global News Blog Cheddar revolution? Glenn Beck vs. Jon Stewart on Middle East-Wisconsin comparisons

Commentator Glenn Beck and others have repeatedly drawn parallels between Egypt and the Wisconsin protests. 'Ah, they're not the same in any way, shape, or form,' says Daily Show host Jon Stewart.
02/23/2011 08:32 am

Tea Party Tally Patriot Act upset vote: Can tea party lawmakers, liberals be friends?

Some tea party lawmakers in the House helped to vote down Patriot Act provisions on Tuesday, out of concerns about civil liberties. Surprised, liberals applaud.
02/09/2011 05:37 pm

The Vote Is Charles Rangel corrupt?

New York Rep. Charles Rangel insists he failed to pay taxes on rental income and improperly solicited donations out of ignorance, not corrupt motives.
11/18/2010 05:18 pm

George H.W. Bush, 14 others to be awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom next year

George H.W. Bush, along with Maya Angelou, Stan Musial and a dozen others, will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom early next year. George H.W. Bush was the 41st President of the United States.
11/18/2010 04:47 pm

Photos of the Day Photos of the Day 11/18

The Lost Peace

Historian Robert Dallek examines the beginnings of the cold war.
10/20/2010 07:05 am