[Hat tip: Ann Althouse.] Excerpt by Peter Gnedich, “Memories,” from The Book of Life (1922): Lev Tolstoy sincerely loved Chekhov, but did not like his plays. He told Chekhov once, “A playwright should take the theater-goer by the hand, and … Continue reading →
Demographer S. Jay Olshansky has done a study appearing in JAMA which he claims debunks the popular idea that serving as POTUS is so stressful it shortens a person’s life: Olshansky found that 23 of the 34 U.S. presidents who … Continue reading →
A number of people have recommended this article by Walt Harrington about George W. Bush, whom the journalist first met back in the 80s and became friendly with. Those people are correct; it’s a fascinating read. Their friendship endured throughout … Continue reading →
I’ve been asked to comment on Obama’s depression—no, not the economic kind; the psychological kind. Speculation is that the NY Times is about to do a story on the president’s growing gloom and listlessness. So here it is: I haven’t … Continue reading →
Well, not really. For one thing, the interview was conducted in 1958, before Obama was born. But maybe you’ll see what I mean if you watch some of it: As for Huxley, although I think Brave New World was a … Continue reading →
The NY Times offers some excerpts from a series of interviews Jackie Kennedy granted Arthur Schlesinger in early 1964, just a short while after her husband was assassinated. The content of those talks has been sealed all these years, but … Continue reading →
Despite my interest in politics (or perhaps because of it?), there haven’t been many presidential candidates over the years who’ve roused much enthusiasm in me. In fact, the single exception might have been Paul Tsongas, who ran for (and lost) … Continue reading →
I was thinking about conspiracy theories last night. In the garden of the forking paths that is internet research, that led me to read up on the Kennedy assassination. It’s not as though I was previously unfamiliar with the facts. … Continue reading →
During my recent bout with infirmity, I dusted off some old videotapes of the 1970 BBC series “The Six Wives of Henry VIII” and watched it. I had fond memories of it from my original viewing over forty years ago, … Continue reading →
Ever wonder about the perspective of the children President Bush was reading to when he first got the news of the 9/11 attacks? They’re ten years older now, and here’s a followup to that story. Their opinions might surprise you. … Continue reading →
At 16, Jacqueline Kennedy had a sophisticated wit, and was a surprisingly stylish writer as well. And that was just in letters to her then-boyfriend. No wonder he kept them!
Continue reading →It’s been thirty years since President Reagan was shot by John Hinckley, and this piece contains some interesting and previously unknown facts about the incident, including how very close Reagan came to dying. His Secret Service agent that day, Jerry … Continue reading →