With television, you can make anyone look larger than life. Robert Dallek largelifemake Change image and share on social
As someone who has more than a passing acquaintance with most of the 20th century presidents, I have often thought that their accomplishments have little staying power in shaping popular views of their leadership. Robert Dallek 20thaccomplishmentacquaintance share on social
John Kennedy had so many different medical problems that began when he was a boy. He started out with intestinal problems... spastic colitis. Robert Dallek beginboycolitis Change image and share on social
A president cannot sit on his hands and be seen as passive in the face of ruthless action by a foreign dictator. Robert Dallek actiondictatorface Change image and share on social
At the end of the day, Americans are not so keen on ideologues, people who have such fixed positions that they can't see any virtue in the other side's point of view. Robert Dallek americandayend Change image and share on social
Besieged by lawsuits that threatened to engulf almost everyone at the White House, Clinton assistants shunned paper or e-mail records of their daily deliberations. One told me that he would go down the hall to confer with his division chief face to face rather than discuss an issue on the telephone. Robert Dallek assistantbesiegechief share on social
In the late 19th century, the Populists - a protest movement of mainly disaffected farmers and workers - threatened to overturn established authority. Robert Dallek 19thauthoritycentury Change image and share on social
Henry Kissinger never wanted the 20,000 pages of his telephone transcripts made public - not while he was alive, at any rate. Robert Dallek 000alivehenry Change image and share on social
The lifelong health problems of John F. Kennedy constitute one of the best-kept secrets of recent U.S. history - no surprise, because if the extent of those problems had been revealed while he was alive, his presidential ambitions would likely have been dashed. Robert Dallek aliveambitionconstitute share on social
F.D.R. had an economic crisis of unprecedented proportions in 1933 when he drove 15 major bills through the Congress, and super majorities in the House and the Senate in 1935 when he won passage of Social Security. Robert Dallek billcongresscrisis share on social