I never met Gordon Wood, but I have a story about him.
In one of my grad school seminars, we read Wood’s Creation of the American Republic. The sheer erudition and evidentiary depth of the book bowled me over.
Back then, before kids and before life accelerated to warp speed, I used to call my mother every Sunday to catch up. Lots of times, we ended up talking about what I was reading that week in my grad seminars or for leisure. Mom had an omnivorous mind, and she was always looking for something else to read. She was a true intellectual—curious about almost everything, always eager to integrate new arguments or ideas into her existing schemas of how the world worked or to have those schemas challenged and changed.
When we talked that particular Sunday, I think I tried to describe to her part of Wood’s argument about the relationship between the state constitutions during the Articles of Confederation era and the federal Constitution. Maybe I was tired, maybe I didn’t completely understand her questions, but the end result of the conversation was that Mom had questions about Wood’s argument that I didn’t answer satisfactorily. I told her that she should probably just read the book, and we said goodbye.
She did eventually read the book, but the next Sunday, Mom started our conversation by saying, “Well, I had a lovely conversation with Gordon Wood this week.” For a split second, I thought she was joking, but then I remembered who I was dealing with. I started to sweat. “How?” I asked. A whole variety of unlikely scenarios in which the foremost historian of the American Revolution and my mother, who lived in Wichita, Kansas, might have met ran through my mind. “Oh, I just looked up his office phone number on Brown’s website and called, and he picked up!” Mom said. I decided I would have to find another profession.
As it ended up, Gordon Wood spent about an hour on the phone with my mother answering her questions about the Constitution. Ever since, I’ve had a soft spot for the man when I imagine him picking up the phone in Providence and finding Becky Elder from Wichita on the other end of the line. His generosity in that moment spoke very well of him.
Rest in peace, professor.
D-Day was one of the most monumental days in the history of mankind.
Don’t take my word for it, watch this video from Andy Rooney, who saw it with his own eyes.
Share it with everyone you know, especially your kids.
“Since it is so likely that children will meet cruel enemies, let them at least have heard of brave knights and heroic courage. Otherwise you are making their destiny not brighter but darker.”
-C.S. Lewis
May 1918. Blackstone Hotel
Taft checks in and the clerk mentions Roosevelt is eating dinner there. The two hadn't spoken in six years.
They ran against each other in 1912, splitting the Republican Party and handing the White House to Woodrow Wilson. The friendship was dead.
Taft walked into the dining room anyway.
Roosevelt's friends saw him coming and went silent. He turned around. Taft was smiling.
Roosevelt jumped up and bear-hugged the man he had once called a "Fathead" with "Brains of a guinea pig".
The dining room stood up and applauded. Strangers who had read about the feud for years watched it end in real time.
Eight months later, Roosevelt died.
At the funeral, Taft stood alone and wept.
He later told Roosevelt's sister: "Had he died in a hostile state of mind toward me, I would have mourned the fact all my life. I loved him always and cherish his memory."
Don't wait.
This is probably a long shot, but if anybody happens to be in DC this weekend and plans on visiting Arlington, I would love to see a fresh photo of my husband’s grave in Section 60.
SSG Alan W. Shaw
Section 60, Grave 8451
B Co 1/12 Cav, 1st Cavalry Division
November 10, 1975 - February 9, 2007
There’s just something about knowing people still stop by, still say his name, still remember. 🇺🇸⭐🇺🇸
Bush’s rescue by the USS Finback in September 1944 was captured on film.
He would remain on the sub for around 30 days, standing watch and assisting with rescue operations, before disembarking at Midway.
Our 41st President, America 🫡🇺🇸
I don’t know the pressure of playing the back nine on Sunday at the Masters, but I do know the pressure of standing on the 18th tee needing a 6 to break 100 while playing a decaying range ball because I chunked two Titleists in a pond at 17.
I assume it’s more or less the same.
The record books will state this NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament game between Nebraska and Vanderbilt occurred at a “neutral site.”
Tell that to the Commodores.
OKC: Enjoy this video of something you’ll rarely see… A full house in downtown OKC loudly united behind one team… that is not from Oklahoma.
Nebraska fans: Safe travels home Sunday. We are grateful to have been the home of your newest core memories.
And thanks to the NCAA, all eight teams and their fans, and everyone who made this weekend possible!
An Abu Dhabi royal backed a secret $500 million investment in Trump’s crypto company. Months later, U.A.E. won access to tightly guarded American AI chips. https://t.co/7jVpCE1KK7