Government Leaders
Harry Truman’s Adorable Love “List” to His Wife, Bess
As a celebration of 38 years of marriage, the former president shared his memories, both fond and bittersweet, from each anniversary
February 12, 2013 |
By Megan Gambino
The Unsuccessful Plot to Kill Abraham Lincoln
On the eve of his first inauguration, President Lincoln snuck into Washington in the middle of the night, evading the would-be assassins who waited for him in Baltimore
February 2013 |
By Daniel Stashower
Document Deep Dive: The Menu From President Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Ball
What delicacies and confectionaries were found on the 250-foot-long buffet table?
January 15, 2013 |
By Megan Gambino
Document Deep Dive: Emancipation Proclamation
When freeing the slaves 150 years ago, Abraham Lincoln traded in his famous lyricism for a dry, legal tone. Harold Holzer explains why
December 19, 2012 |
By Megan Gambino
How the Emancipation Proclamation Came to Be Signed
The pen, inkwell and one copy of the document that freed the slaves are photographed together for the first time
December 2012 |
By Louis P. Masur
The Kennedy Assassin Who Failed
Richard Paul Pavlick’s plan wasn’t very complicated, but it took an eagle-eyed postal worker to prevent a tragedy
December 06, 2012 |
By Dan Lewis
Henry Wiencek Responds to His Critics
The author of a new book about Thomas Jefferson makes his case and defends his scholarship
November 14, 2012 |
By Smithsonian.com
Mr. Lincoln Goes to Hollywood
Steven Spielberg, Doris Kearns Goodwin and Tony Kushner talk about what it takes to wrestle an epic presidency into a feature film
November 2012 |
By Roy Blount Jr.
The Speech That Saved Teddy Roosevelt’s Life
Campaigning for president 100 years ago, Roosevelt was spared almost certain death when 50 pieces of paper slowed an assailant’s bullet headed for his chest
November 2012 |
By Patricia O'Toole
PHOTOS: The History of Abraham Lincoln on Film
The 16th president has been a Hollywood star and box office attraction since the earliest days of Hollywood
November 2012 |
By Jesse Rhodes
When Republicans Were Blue and Democrats Were Red
The era of color-coded political parties is more recent than you might think
November 01, 2012 |
By Jodi Enda
A Brief History of the Teleprompter
How a makeshift show business memory aid became the centerpiece of modern political campaigning
October 23, 2012 |
By Joseph Stromberg
George Washington and Abigail Adams Get an Extreme Makeover
Conservators at the National Gallery Art restored Gilbert Stuart portraits of our founding figures, making them look good as new
October 05, 2012 |
By Joseph Stromberg
Eight Lessons for the Presidential Debates
What are the key dos and don'ts the candidates should remember when campaigning for the White House?
October 03, 2012 |
By Kenneth C. Davis
The Dark Side of Thomas Jefferson
A new portrait of the founding father challenges the long-held perception of Thomas Jefferson as a benevolent slaveholder
October 2012 |
By Henry Wiencek
Kennedy After Dark: A Dinner Party About Politics and Power
In this exclusive transcript from the JFK library, hear what he had to say just days after announcing his candidacy for the presidency
October 2012 |
By Ted Widmer
The Top 10 Political Conventions That Mattered the Most
As the two parties bring together their faithful supporters, we look at those conventions in the past that truly made a difference in the country’s political history
August 27, 2012 |
By Kenneth C. Davis
How Would You Rank the Greatest Presidents?
In a new book, political junkie Robert W. Merry shares his three-part test
August 13, 2012 |
By Megan Gambino
The Vice Presidents That History Forgot
The U.S. vice presidency has been filled by a rogues gallery of mediocrities, criminals and even corpses
July 2012 |
By Tony Horwitz
How Well Do You Know Your Vice Presidents?
Test yourself on our quiz of the famous, infamous and not-so-famous least powerful men in the country
June 28, 2012 |
By K. Annabelle Smith
