Posts by Richard L. (16)
Blog Articles
The 1960 presidential campaign was close, hard-fought, and left both sides feeling embittered. Kennedy’s final margin of victory was less than 115,000 votes out of nearly 70 million… continue reading Frenemies: The Strange Friendship of JFK and Richard Nixon
By written by Richard L. November 3, 2021
If ever a Broadway musical seemed destined to fail, it was Oklahoma . Contrary to the standard practice at the time, the producers insisted on casting singers who could act, rather than actors who… continue reading Oklahoma: The Show That Changed American Musicals Forever
By written by Richard L. September 16, 2021
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has studied the impact of loneliness and social isolation on American seniors and the results are deeply disturbing. Extensive studies of the… continue reading Central Senior Services Joins Moore College of Art to Fight Social Isolation During Pandemic
By written by Richard L. July 22, 2021
Lies. Alternative facts. Demonize and Destroy Your Opponents. Does this sound familiar? Former Senator Joseph R. McCarthy (R-Wisconsin) has been dead for 63 years, but the political tools and… continue reading Trust No One: Joe McCarthy and the Politics of Fear
By written by Richard L. March 1, 2021 2
Updated Tuesday, October 20, 2020 12:15 p.m. Spanish and Chinese translations have been added to this blog post. In the real world, small technical details count for a lot. How many checks were… continue reading Voting by Mail? Avoid "Naked Ballots"!
By written by Richard L. October 13, 2020 1
Bad things happen to people that Russia’s President, Vladimir Putin, dislikes. Currently, Aleksi Navalny, the most important leader of Russia’s opposition, lies in a German hospital… continue reading Defying Putin: The Dangers and Opportunities in Opposing Russia’s President
By written by Richard L. September 23, 2020
During the critical first presidential debate in 1960, the difference in the physical appearance of the two candidates could not have been sharper. Vice President Richard Nixon looked like a man… continue reading The Picture of Health: The Strange Case of John F. Kennedy
By written by Richard L. September 17, 2020 2
If ever a man simply wore himself out while serving his country, Franklin D. Roosevelt is his name. First elected during the depths of the Great Depression in 1932, he was still on the job twelve… continue reading A Dying Man Runs for President
By written by Richard L. August 12, 2020
During the years that Dwight Eisenhower served as Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, he had to contend with some of the most demanding and difficult personalities on two continents. The… continue reading President Eisenhower, Senator McCarthy, and "The Junketeering Gumshoes"
By written by Richard L. August 5, 2020 1
How do you get email on your new smart device? Who is Vladimir Putin and how did he climb to power as the Soviet Union collapsed around him? What does a smart consumer need to know before signing… continue reading Happy National Senior Citizens Day!
By written by Richard L. August 21, 2019
The mystery of romantic love has puzzled people for centuries. In 1862, Lewis Douglass wrote his future wife, Amelia Loguen, as follows: "Men and women talk of love, can anyone describe it?… continue reading The Mystery of Romantic Love in the Modern Age
By written by Richard L. July 1, 2019
Today, it seems that more Americans than ever before are writing poetry, participating in poetry slams, and entering poetry contests. But as we dive (back?) into poetry and draw inspiration from… continue reading Poetry Is Hot – Again!
By written by Richard L. October 2, 2018
Relatively few Americans have ever visited or know much about Russia, North Korea, and Turkey. Yet, each passing day seems to bring additional evidence that these nations are working to thwart… continue reading Looking Beyond the Headlines: What You Should Know About Russia, North Korea, and Turkey
By written by Richard L. August 14, 2017 3
For the members of our Military History Club, each monthly meeting leads to a passionate and well-informed discussion about the major personalities and battles of World War II. The group is led by… continue reading Monthly Military History Club Discusses Major Personalities and Battles of World War II
By written by Richard L. July 17, 2017 1
The peaceful transfer of power from one presidential administration to the next is a hallmark of our democracy—and something that Americans take great pride in. The occasion is particularly… continue reading Presidential Inaugural Stories and Anecdotes
By written by Richard L. January 17, 2017
In 19 th -century America, letter writing was serious business. Knowing how to express one’s thoughts on paper effectively was as important then as knowing how to operate a smartphone is… continue reading #OneBookWednesday: The Lost Art of Letter Writing
By written by Richard L. January 6, 2016