Bruce’s History Lessons

Often fascinating, off-beat and ironic, but always real stories about the people who have shaped our history, published weekly nationwide in newspapers and your email

 

Your guide to American and world history is Bruce Kauffmann, who worked at CBS News as CBS News Anchorman Dan Rather’s top radio writer and speechwriter before launching his syndicated newspaper column, Bruce’s History Lessons, which runs weekly in newspapers across the country.  Every week Bruce picks a historic event that occurred that week in history and writes about it in a short (just 450 words), entertaining and informative manner. The result has been a new interest in history among readers of all ages and interests, especially among teachers who read the column in their newspapers and use the column to teach in their classrooms.

 

Online and In Your Email

If you prefer to get your History Lessons “to go,” you can read them anywhere, anytime by bookmarking this page, or you can subscribe (it’s free!), and he will email you two columns every week.  You can also receive the column as one of Bruce’s social media friends, so be sure to follow and “Friend” him through the icons at the top of this page.

 

Most Recent Bruce’s History Lessons

 

Earning “The Iron Lady” Nickname

She wasn’t even prime minister, but merely the head of the opposition Conservative Party in Britain when, this week (Jan. 19) in 1976, Margaret “Maggie” Thatcher gave the speech that would earn her the nickname, “The Iron Lady.”

She gave the speech at a town hall meeting in Kensington, a district...Read More »


The Korean War and A Carelessly Worded Speech

“Words are loaded pistols,” Jean Paul Sartre, once said, and the man who was arguably America’s most accomplished secretary of State, Dean Acheson, would probably have agreed because the speech he gave this week (Jan. 12) in 1950 helped trigger the Korean War.

As background, after World War II North Korea,...Read More »


The Founding Fathers and the Immigration “Melting Pot”

Ellis Island officially opened this week (Jan. 1) in 1892, and would subsequently process more than 20 million immigrants from around the world, all seeking a better life in America.  The goal was, and still is, to create a “melting pot,” in which immigrants successfully assimilate and become representative of...Read More »


Quote of the Week

“The main reason Santa is so jolly is because he knows where all the naughty girls live.” – George Carlin

Merry Christmas to all!

...Read More »

True or False: Some Great Christmas Anecdotes

There being so many Christmas traditions, from hanging mistletoe, to decorating Christmas trees, that it is impossible to verify their truthfulness, or know with certainty their origins.  However, we can surmise.

Christmas Trees:  Scholars believe the first holiday use of evergreen fir trees occurred during the Roman Empire, when they were...Read More »


 

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In Your Local Newspaper

 Bruce’s History Lessons is available in many papers all over the country. If your local newspaper does not carry Bruce’s columns, tell the editors they should, and send them to http://historylessons.net or tell them how much you enjoy the column and have them email Bruce directly at:  .

Find Bruce’s History Lessons in your local papers!

The Canton Repository
Canton, OH
http://www.cantonrep.com/

The Champaign News-Gazette
Champaign, IL
http://www.news-gazette.com/

The Dubuque Telegraph-Herald
Dubuque, IA
http://www.thonline.com/home/

The Lebanon Daily News
Colorado Springs, CO
http://www.ldnews.com/

The Marysville Appeal-Democrat
Marysville, CA
http://www.appeal-democrat.com/

The Reading Eagle
Reading, PA
http://readingeagle.com/

The St. Joseph Herald-Palladium
Paducah, KY
http://www.heraldpalladium.com/

The Terre Haute Tribune-Star
Terre Haute, IN
http://www.tribstar.com/

The Washington Observer-Reporter
Washington, PA
http://www.observer-reporter.com/

The Worcester Telegram & Gazette
Worcester, MA
http://www.telegram.com/

 

What Readers Are Saying

“I very much enjoy each subject matter with its insightful and sometimes little known facts regarding specific events in history.  Thank you for your inspiration and contributions to bringing history alive.” Michael Mobley, North Canton, OH

“…as an educator I think they would make an excellent teaching tool.  You get a Gold Star!!!”  Ginny Decker, Alabama

Thank you for writing this tremendous story. I have had the pleasure to read your column for many years, but I personally thank you for writing this article on Desmund Doss [link to Desmund Doss column].. -WALTER M. SOMMERS, History Docent Volunteer At The Candles Holocaust Museum on 3rd Street.

 

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