Topic: U.S. History

Top galleries, list articles, quizzes

Spurs and Thunder star in NBA’s Western Conference Finals: 10 extra dimensions

The clash of the Spurs and Thunder in the NBA’s Western Conference finals may fly a bit under the national radar when it opens Sunday. Here are 10 factors that make this showdown intriguing.
From Willie Horton to windsurfing: Five top political attack ads

Political attacks ads: love 'em or hate 'em, but they’re here to stay, and this election year stands to be a watershed moment in their use. Here's a look at what are considered to be some of the most memorable and effective attack ads utilized over the years.
Bestselling books the week of 5/17/12, according to IndieBound*

What's selling best in independent bookstores across America.
Harry Truman: 7 quotes on his birthday

May 8, 2012, marks Harry S. Truman's 128th birthday. His folksy sense of humor and political grit are exemplified by a selection of aphorisms in 'Geary's Guide to the World's Great Aphorists' by James Geary.
10 best self-help books of all time

From Benjamin Franklin to Norman Vincent Pearle to Stephen Covey, here are 10 of the best self-help books ever written.

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Genius of Place

Frederick Law Olmsted – a man of strange and restless talent – dreamed of making a better, greener world accessible to all.
Decoder Wire
How many presidents felt earthquakes in the White House?

President Obama didn't feel this week's Virginia earthquake much, because he was on Martha's Vineyard. But two other presidents wrote about being shaken by tremors in the White House.
The Sugar Barons: Family, Corruption, Empire, and War in the West Indies

A rich narrative looks back at an era when sugar merchants were the power brokers of their day.
In Pictures: Presidential transport
What can Congress do to create jobs? Five Republican proposals.

Amid worries that the economy may be tipping toward a second recession, both Republicans and Democrats say creating jobs is their top priority. But the two parties are far apart on their approaches. Here are the Republicans' top five priorities.
President Obama to hold Iftar dinner: Five facts about the Muslim ceremony

Continuing a tradition first started by one of the nation’s Founding Fathers, President Obama will host an iftar dinner Wednesday evening at 8:30 in the State Dining Room to celebrate the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Bestselling books the week of 8/11/11, according to IndieBound*

What's selling best in independent bookstores across America?
Chapter & Verse
Michele Bachmann: What do her favorite books tell us?

A list of Michele Bachmann's favorite books includes one that "startles" an interviewer.
Top 5 conservative holidays

Commemorating a day to call attention to a political cause has long been a tactic of liberals and those further out on the left, but that's not to say that conservatives haven't tried to come up with their own holidays. Here are our top five.
A World on Fire: Britain's Crucial Role in the American Civil War, by Amanda Foreman

It's called the American Civil War, but it was much more British than most people think.
In Pictures: Barack Obama's milestones
Top 5 books about Los Angeles

Talk about literary America and Los Angeles is not exactly the first locale that comes to mind. However, the truth is that the City of Angels has a deep and enduring place in the history of American letters. Here are just five of the many fiction and nonfiction books that attempt to unravel the mystery that is L.A.
Decoder Wire
A balanced budget amendment to solve the debt crisis? It's an old story.

A proposed amendment to the Constitution requiring a balanced federal budget has been the subject of congressional hearings for 60 years. But the issue is even older than that.
In Pictures: Breaking the class ceiling
5 fascinating World War II novels

A collection of five fascinating novels about World War II.
Chapter & Verse
The Battle of Bull Run: The Civil War's first taste of horror

An interview with historian David Detzer sheds light on the Battle of Bull Run, the first battle of the US Civil War, fought on July 21, 1861.
Debt talks and tax cuts: Save young Americans from slavery

Young Americans like me can't 'win the future' saddled with debt. But there's a formula that works. Reagan cut taxes and the US saw economic growth, lower unemployment, and higher revenues. Let's do that again.
In Pictures: Provincetown, Cape Cod is where wind, water, and art meet
Bigger threat to Michele Bachmann: Media scrutiny or Rick Perry?

For the moment, Rep. Michele Bachmann has established herself as the top threat to Mitt Romney in the race for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination. A series of media investigations could take a toll, but the bigger potential problem is wildcard Texas Gov. Rick Perry.
Betty Ford fondly remembered at California memorial service(VIDEO)

Betty Ford, married to the late President Gerald R. Ford, was remembered Tuesday for her grace and being an advocate of women's rights.
51st state? Small step forward for long-shot 'South California' plan

A Republican member of the Riverside County Board of Supervisors wants his county and 12 others to secede from California and form the 51st state. His colleagues gave him an unenthusiastic go ahead Tuesday to explore the idea.
Betty Ford: A free spirit who became an inspiration to millions

Former first lady Betty Ford's triumph over drug and alcohol addiction became a beacon of hope for addicts and the inspiration for her Betty Ford Center in California. Mrs. Ford passed on Friday.
Decoder Wire
Obama's father spoke of adoption. Which presidents actually were?

Barack Obama Sr. apparently discussed adoption before little Barack was born, according to news reports. It didn't happen, but two US presidents were, or considered themselves to be, adopted.
The work we're meant to do

A Christian Science perspective: You don't have to be a world leader to make a difference.
Reagan statue unveiled in London

Reagan statue in London? The new Reagan statue joins images of other US presidents in Grosvenor Square and is celebrated with words by Margaret Thatcher.