George Washington sets the nation on its democratic path. Abraham Lincoln preserves it. Franklin Roosevelt sees the nation through depression and war. Robert Dallek abrahamdemocraticdepression Change image and share on social
McGeorge Bundy was a brilliant man who'd had a meteoric academic career and was the youngest man ever to be dean of the Harvard faculty. But he was also arrogant and looked upon all sorts of people and politicians as not to be taken all that seriously. Robert Dallek academicarrogantbrilliant share on social
The 1890s was an intensely patriotic decade for Americans. It was a time of neo-imperialism, when the European powers and the United States were establishing their flags around the globe. Robert Dallek 1890samericandecade Change image and share on social
Television has an awful lot to do with the Kennedy mystique and the fact that he's frozen in people's minds at the age of 46, and he was handsome and personable and witty and charming. Robert Dallek ageawfulcharm Change image and share on social
Despite all the public hand-wringing about negative advertising, political veterans will tell you that it persists because, more often than not, it works. But tearing down the other guy has another attraction: It can be a substitute for building much of a case for what the mudslinger will do once in office. Robert Dallek advertiseattractionbuild share on social
To be sure, Kennedy did not discount the importance of words in rallying the nation to meet its foreign and domestic challenges. Winston Churchill's powerful exhortations during World War II set a standard he had long admired. Kennedy was hardly unmindful of how important a great inaugural address could be. Robert Dallek addressadmirechallenge share on social
Joseph McCarthy and the John Birch Society launched an anti-Communist crusade that won the support of millions of Americans in the 1950s. Robert Dallek 1950samericananti Change image and share on social
It's always valuable for someone running for president... to have as much bipartisan support as possible. Robert Dallek bipartisanpresidentrun Change image and share on social
Harry Truman wrote scathing letters, but he almost never sent them. Robert Dallek harryletterscathing Change image and share on social
Compared with other recent presidents whose stumbles and failures have assaulted the national self-esteem, memories of Kennedy continue to give the country faith that its better days are ahead. That's been reason enough to discount his limitations and remain enamored of his presidential performance. Robert Dallek aheadassaultcompare share on social