Topic: William Jennings Bryan

Chapter & Verse Romney's loss: How he compares to other presidential also-rans

Writer Scott Farris, author of 'Almost President,' discusses how the former presidential nominee stacks up against other men who lost their bid for the highest office in the land.

Notable moments in convention history

A look back at US political conventions that have encompassed a wide spectrum of ideologies.

Honor in the Dust

The historical lessons of Gregg Jones's exhaustively researched book about the US's campaign in the Philippines deserve to be remembered.

Opinion: A look back: In spite of super PACs, this isn't the most negative campaign in history

Negative campaigning is actually an American tradition. In fact, attack campaigning has been around since the beginning without derailing the electoral process. Mudslinging can hardly be called a positive campaign feature, but it is a sign of democracy in action.

Almost President

Why some of the candidates who lost the race for president ultimately had a bigger impact than many of those who won.

Class warfare? What about the ignorance gap?

Occupy Wall Street protesters point out a ballooning US wage gap. It shouldn't distract us from another great cleavage: the ignorance gap. That’s the difference between those willing to listen and consider and those who refuse to do either. And it plays out in politics with grave consequences.

American Dreamers: How the Left Changed a Nation

Michael Kazin delivers an entertaining history of America's "left" – those who dream of "a radically egalitarian transformation of society.”

Last Call

How dry was Prohibition? Some say the law did much to spike sales of alcohol.

Are climate change deniers like creationists?

Snapshot of US political parties since 1900

How the balance of power has shifted between the Republicans and Democrats.

The secret literary life of George W. Bush

Opinion: Obama, Joe the plumber, and the gospel of envy

A call to 'spread the wealth' around is an old – and dangerous – theme.

Ethics down side to big-donor convention parties?

Special interests can give unlimited sums to national party conventions through convention host committees.

How the candidates' speaking styles play

McCain is unscripted. Obama is soaring. In these times, both styles have their advantages.

How the candidates' speaking styles play

McCain is unscripted. Obama is soaring. In these times, both styles have their advantages.