“Who is James K. Polk?” jeered Whig presidential candidate Henry Clay in 1844 when the Democratic nomination went to the relatively-unknown Tennessean. Former President Martin Van Buren (1837-1841) had been considered the front-runner going into the Democratic National Convention, but Polk, a former Speaker of the House and Governor of Tennessee, emerged as the “dark… MORE
Alvita Akiboh
Every so often, Puerto Rico hits the front pages of newspapers in the mainland United States, usually because of some kind of perceived crisis (or, in the case of recent hurricanes, environmental and humanitarian crises). And in these fleeting moments of attention, the question always comes up: what exactly is Puerto Rico’s relationship to the… MORE
It’s a story we all think we know. Following World War II, the baby boomer generation was born. After living through the stifling conformity of the 1950s, American teenagers rebelled. It all started with Elvis, then the British Invasion and the hysteria known as “Beatlemania.” Teenagers got wrapped up in that no-good rock ’n’ roll… MORE
Some people’s lives make for good stories. In the 1870’s, the notorious “Boss” Tweed stood trial for corruption in New York City. In 1898, Teddy Roosevelt led the Rough Riders in the Battle of San Juan Hill—a decisive battle of the Spanish-American War. Admiral Dewey famously landed in Manila Bay, bringing total victory to the… MORE