Spring Cleaning – 2014

 

Time for my annual “Spring Cleaning” column, in which I address reader issues and answer “Frequently Asked Questions” (FAQs).

Issue #1: The only new reader issue to address is to say to those of you who read and like my column, please tell your friends about it and about my new, re-designed website, historylessons.net, which we have made much more reader and user friendly. The number of people who are subscribing to my history lessons has grown dramatically, which thrills me, but to attract further outside interest in the column, including cross-marketing and linking with other sites, it would be helpful to be able to show that the number of people reading and enjoying my columns continues to grow. Many thanks.

FAQ #1: The same as usual — what have I been reading? I was on a Founding Fathers kick this year, so books I recommend are:

Mr. President by Harlow Unger. It deftly shows how George Washington created the presidency out of almost nothing. While the Constitution is somewhat vague regarding the powers given our chief executive, Washington simply took the powers he thought necessary to conduct his office effectively.

Washington: A Life, by Ron Chernow. As with Chernow’s wonderful biography of Alexander Hamilton, this is a thoroughly researched, first-rate look at the Father of our Country from birth to death. And as with his Hamilton book, it’s an investment in time.

Triumvirate by Bruce Chadwick. This book explains how the three authors of the Federalist Papers, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay — with some invaluable help from George Washington — helped ensure that the Constitution was ratified and a new nation created.

We Still Hold These Truths by Matthew Spalding. An excellent book on the fundamental principles that guided our Founding Fathers. Among many insights, Spalding makes the point that the Founders preferred the term “liberty” over “freedom” because liberty was more than just the right to do what one pleases. Liberty meant responsibility. It meant being a good citizen, exhibiting “civic virtue,” and contributing to the betterment of the society in which one lived.

Eisenhower in War and Peace by Jean Smith. Dwight Eisenhower has long been thought of as an amiable duffer who preferred playing golf to running the country, but many historians are beginning to view him as an effective, hands-on president who made the tough decisions. Smith is one of those historians.

Bruce’s History Lessons, Books I and II. I admit, a shameless plug. Both five-year collections of my newspaper columns — years 2001–2006, and 2006–2011 — can be purchased on the “Buy the Books” link on my new home page, or by simply Googling my name, Bruce G. Kauffmann.

There, the place looks cleaner! I’ll be back next spring.