Bruce Watson

1 month ago | americanheritage.com | Edwin Grosvenor |Bruce Watson

Editor's Note: Bruce Watson is a Contributing Editor at American Heritage and has authored several critically acclaimed books. He writes a history blog at The Attic. FEB 25, 1950 — AMERICA’S LIVING ROOMS — For a silent majority of Americans, it’s another ho-hum Saturday night at the radio. Just 10 percent of homes have this new-fangled thing called television. The rest listen, as they have for decades, to Jack Benny, “The Great Gildersleeve,” “Fibber McGee and Molly. .

Jul 15, 2024 | americanheritage.com | Edwin Grosvenor |Eugene Meyer |Paul Dickson |Bruce Watson

Two shots rang out in the railroad station, and the President of the United States slumped to the floor, mortally wounded Early on the morning of July 2, 1881, President James A. Garfield was awakened in the White House by his two older sons, Harry, seventeen, and James, fifteen. Their mood was sportive, for they were all about to leave on a vacation together. They challenged their father to jump over the bed.

Dec 15, 2023 | americanheritage.com | Edwin Grosvenor |Steven Waldman |Bruce Watson |Philip Kopper

If you are like me of a certain age, you remember exactly where you were, what you were doing, and how you felt when you heard the news 60 years ago: John F. Kennedy, our vibrant, young 35th president had been assassinated in Dallas, Texas. In an instant, morning in America became mourning in America.

Mar 15, 2023 | americanheritage.com | Bruce Watson |Linda Hirshman |Kai Bird |Shane Manson

Our classrooms are failing to pass down the essentials of what it means to be an American and citizen of the United States. Excerpted from The Bill Of Obligations: The Ten Habits Of Good Citizens This obligation draws inspiration from the Jewish festival of Passover. This annual holiday celebrates the liberation of the Jews some three thousand years ago from Pharaoh’s Egypt, where they had been enslaved.

Mar 14, 2023 | americanheritage.com | Bruce Watson |Linda Hirshman |Kai Bird |Shane Manson

Today’s budget wars would be unrecognizable to earlier generations of Americans. Charles S. Clark, a retired Washington journalist, updated this piece from his July 18, 2019, feature published in Government Executive. The recent author of “George Washington Parke Custis: A Rarefied Life in America’s First Family” he writes a weekly column for the Falls Church News-Press.