President James A. Garfield died OTD in 1881, nearly 80 days after being shot by Charles J. Guiteau on Jul. 2. Here’s part 2 of a 2-parter I wrote about the Garfield assassination. For more on Garfield’s election to the presidency, see my book on this subject. kansaspress.ku.edu/9780700636037/

The Assassination of President Garfield, Part II

Partisanship, Insanity, and Murder

werehistory.org

President James A. Garfield died OTD in 1881, nearly 80 days after being shot by Charles Guiteau. Here’s part 1 of a piece I wrote about the assassination. (Part 2 to come later today.) If you want to know more about how Garfield came to be POTUS, read my book! kansaspress.ku.edu/9780700636037/

The Assassination of President Garfield, Part I

Partisanship, Insanity, and Murder

werehistory.org

Now that @hcrichardson.bsky.social’s brilliant @250to250.bsky.social project has concluded, I’ll share all the videos (one per day) for which I wrote scripts. Some were recorded nearly word for word; others underwent much-needed editing for clarity & brevity. Up first: Harriet Beecher Stowe.

Harriet Beecher Stowe, Narrated by Roxana Robinson

YouTube video by Heather Cox Richardson

youtu.be

The National Security Act of 1947 established the U.S. Air Force as a separate branch of the military. Before that, it was the U.S. Army Air Corps. This change took effect 79 years ago today: Sep. 18, 1947. So happy 79th birthday to the United States Air Force! Image: U.S. Air Force.

OTD in 1850, Congress passed the second Fugitive Slave Act. Part of the Compromise of 1850, it aggressively extended the original 1793 law. It required law enforcement to arrest anyone suspected of escaping enslavement. It applied everywhere, even states where slavey was illegal. Image: LOC.

One year ago today, I was the Director of the Eisenhower Presidential Library and we hosted the Library’s first-ever naturalization ceremony. I’m happy they continued this new tradition after my departure and hosted another ceremony today. Here’s last year’s event; my remarks begin at the 3:35 mark.

Naturalization Ceremony - Constitution Day 2025!

YouTube video by IkeLibrary

youtube.com

164 years ago today-9/17/1862-was bloodiest day in US history: battle of Antietam in Maryland. USA Army of the Potomac, CSA Army of Northern VA suffered combined 23,000 casualties. Strategic US win gave Pres. Lincoln Union victory he needed to issue Prelim. Emancipation Proclamation. Image: LOC.

"A republic, if you can keep it." ~Attributed to Benjamin Franklin 239 years ago today-9/17/1787-upon being asked if new US government would be a monarchy or a republic. The founders signed the Constitution OTD in 1787, so happy Constitution Day to all! Let's keep it. Image: National Archives.

Here’s the incomparable @hcrichardson.bsky.social wrapping up this summer’s incredible “250 to 250” project. Writing scripts for this effort has been an honor & a career highlight for me. Thanks to Heather & her team for having me along for the ride and to everyone who watched, enjoyed, & learned.

250 to 250

YouTube video by Heather Cox Richardson

youtube.com

“The world will soon be yours…Approach your task with…the joy of challenge in your hearts—& with dedication to human freedom & dignity. For this is the only route to peace with justice. Good luck…I, for one, believe in you.” ~Dwight D. Eisenhower, “Thoughts for Young Americans,” 1966. Image: LOC.

OTD in 1893, homesteaders rushed into OK's Cherokee Strip in one of several OK Land Rushes. These lands had belonged to the Cherokee Nation. As pressure rose to open more homestead land, fed. gov't took control back from the Cherokee in yet another raw deal for native people. Image: Nat'l Archives.

“And soon we shall go out of the house and go into the convulsion of the world, out of history into history and the awful responsibility of Time.” ~Robert Penn Warren, “All the King’s Men.” Warren (b. Apr. 24, 1905) died OTD in 1989. Image: National Portrait Gallery.

Useless fact that might win you a million bucks on @jeopardyofficial.bsky.social someday: thus far, William Howard Taft is the only POTUS born in September. He was born OTD in 1857. He's also the only person to be both POTUS and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Image: National Portrait Gallery.

On this day 125 years ago—Sep. 14, 1901—President William McKinley died of an infection in bullet wounds inflicted 8 days earlier by assassin and self-proclaimed anarchist Leon Czolgosz. McKinley’s death elevated Vice President Theodore Roosevelt to the presidency. Image: Library of Congress.

"We now know that there never can be a free humanity until woman is freed from ignorance, & we know, too, that woman can never call herself free until she is mistress of her own body." ~Margaret Sanger, 1918. Birth control advocate/nurse/author Sanger was born OTD in 1879. Image: LA Times/UCLA.

OTD in 1814, during the War of 1812, lawyer/enslaver Francis Scott Key witnessed British attack on Fort McHenry during battle of Baltimore. Seeing the US flag waving inspired him to write "The Star-Spangled Banner." Yes, the author of our national anthem was an enslaver. Image: History Central.

“Sometimes it seems like to tell the truth today is to run the risk of being killed. But if I fall, I’ll fall five feet, four inches forward in the fight for freedom. I’m not backing off.” ~Fannie Lou Hamer, 1964. Image: Bettman/Getty Images.

OTD in 1948, Republican Margaret Chase Smith won election to represent Maine in the U.S. Senate. Once sworn into office in Jan. 1949, she became the first woman in American history to serve in both houses of Congress. She remained in the Senate until Jan. 1973. Image: National Archives.

I’ve shared this before, but it bears repeating. A lot.

As a former constituent of Sen. Marshall’s, I assure you this is the appropriate response to him. When the Trump admin. fired me as Director of Eisenhower Pres. Library in Kansas, I called offices of both US senators for help. Staffers for both said they couldn’t do anything. Why? Gov’t shutdown.

Khashoggi's Ghost@urocklive1.bsky.social · 7d ago

Kansas had a senate debate at the state fair today, and Roger Marshall got soundly booed multiple times. With all the anti-Trump sentiment, Roger's past habit of going after patients without money, and the fact that he actually lives in Florida, folks are not happy. www.rawstory.com/roger-marsha...

“The present situation is to be regarded as one of opportunity for us. There will be only cheerful faces at this conference table.” ~General Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1944, responding to German surprise attack beginning the Battle of the Bulge. Image: Meserlin Collection, Brookdale Community College.

“There are only two sides to the question. Every man must be for the United States or against it. There can be no neutrals in this war—only patriots or traitors.” ~Senator Stephen A. Douglas, trying to rally support for the Union after the Confederate attack on Fort Sumter, 1861. Image: LOC.

“We set sail upon this new sea because there is new knowledge to be gained, and new rights to be won, and they must be won and used for the progress of all people.” ~President John F. Kennedy, “We Choose to Go to the Moon” speech at Rice University, Sep. 12, 1962. Full video of the speech: NASA.

President Kennedy's Speech at Rice University

YouTube video by NASA Video

youtu.be

My son begins his third and final season with the North American Hockey League’s (NAHL) Odessa Jackalopes tonight! They’re on the road in Albuquerque (New Mexico, NOT New America) tonight and tomorrow night. College hockey scouts: please take note and call!

OTD in 1941, Charles Lindbergh delivered an isolationist America First Committee speech in Des Moines accusing the British, Jews, & the FDR administration of pushing the U.S. toward intervention in WWII. The speech’s antisemitism permanently damaged the America First Committee. Image: Getty Images.

September 11, 2001. Image: Thomas E. Franklin/The Record—Bergen County, NJ.

“The due administration of justice is the firmest pillar of good government.” ~President George Washington, 1789. Image: National Gallery of Art.

"He that will not worke, shall not eate." ~John Smith imploring settlers at Jamestown, VA to labor for their survival. He became Jamestown council president OTD in 1608. Jamestown set stage for colonial settlement, enslavement of Black Africans, displacement of native people, & more. My photo.

“A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.” ~The Declaration of Independence, 1776. Image: Public domain.

Great Blue Heron at Jamestown, Virginia. I took this last Thursday when the heat index was about 107. I gave serious thought to just joining this heron in the James River.