I look to historians for their power to illuminate not just the invisible lineaments of the present, but also that which is not present. What are the roads that were not taken that most shape our own time? Rick Perlstein historianilluminateinvisible share on social
Personally, speaking as a historian and a storyteller, when it comes to inaccuracy in historical fictioneering, I follow the Shakespeare principle: I'm willing to overlook gobs of mistaken detail if the poetic valence is basically correct. Rick Perlstein basicallycorrectdetail share on social
I can't summarize my favorite movie, Jacques Tati's 'Play Time.' You just have to see it. Rick Perlstein favoritejacquesmovie Change image and share on social
It's almost a very rough rule of thumb: when Democrats are able to successfully frame the meaning of an election season around middle-class fears, Democrats win the election; when Republicans are able to successfully frame the meaning of an election season around cultural fears, Republicans win the election. Rick Perlstein classculturaldemocrat share on social
Reagan's emotional intelligence, his ability to suss out people's longings and to channel them for political purposes, was better than just about any human being that ever lived. Rick Perlstein abilitychannelemotional Change image and share on social
Over fifteen years of studying the American Right professionally - especially in their communications with each other, in their own memos and media since the 1950s - I have yet to find a truly novel development, a real innovation, in far-right 'thought.' Rick Perlstein 1950samericancommunication share on social
The fact is that the Democratic Party in modern times has always had a conservative wing, one frequently as strong or stronger than its liberal wing, and as such, when progressives speak of the party as a vehicle that naturally belongs to them, as if by right - until conservatives stole it from them - they weaken progressivism. Rick Perlstein belongconservativedemocratic share on social
Fight injustice, that our children might be blessed. Rick Perlstein blesschildfight Change image and share on social
I don't read many popular histories like the ones I write. The building blocks for my research are scholarly monographs, and the inspiration for my storytelling style are folks like Chekhov. Rick Perlstein blockbuildchekhov Change image and share on social
The argument that John F. Kennedy was a closet peacenik, ready to give up on what the Vietnamese call the 'American War' upon re-election, received its most farcical treatment in Oliver Stone's 'JFK.' Rick Perlstein americanargumentcall Change image and share on social