Editorials

Tessa Payer 6/11/21 Tessa Payer 6/11/21

The Bulwark — Biden’s Trip Abroad — and TR’s

What presidential trips tell us about America’s standing in the world.

Tessa Payer 6/9/21 Tessa Payer 6/9/21

The Hill — FDR is the easy comparison, but Biden is taking a page from Eisenhower’s playbook

In early March, the president met with a group of historians to discuss the precedents established by George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, FDR and Lyndon B. Johnson. Eisenhower may not have been on the list, but Biden appears to have learned a great deal from his example.

Tessa Payer 6/7/21 Tessa Payer 6/7/21

Governing — A Short History of Politicians and Their Love for Technology

Alexander Hamilton used pamphlets and broadsides to connect with constituents. Donald Trump loves Twitter. Politicians haven’t been shy about using the latest technological marvel to spread their message.

Tessa Payer 5/17/21 Tessa Payer 5/17/21

The Hill — Marjorie Taylor Greene may be ‘dangerous,’ but she’s not the first

The history of intentional political irritants began almost in tandem with the nation’s founding.

Tessa Payer 5/5/21 Tessa Payer 5/5/21

Governing — Political Spouses Have Evolved Since Martha Washington

In the early years of the Republic, wives of politicians were often helpmates and could wield power despite their gender. Today, spouses challenges traditional gender norms in politics and have broad work portfolios.

Tessa Payer 5/3/21 Tessa Payer 5/3/21

Divided We Fall — The President’s Assembling a Cabinet

What does a “cabinet that looks like America” mean and why might a president want to create one?

Tessa Payer 4/23/21 Tessa Payer 4/23/21

The Hill — 100 days is a ridiculous way to judge a presidency

Until FDR, no president was expected to change the world in 100 days.

Tessa Payer 4/13/21 Tessa Payer 4/13/21

Brookings — The changing faces of Cabinet diversity, George Washington through Joe Biden

Regardless of how one defines diversity, presidents have long realized the importance of obtaining a broad range of advice from their Cabinet.

Tessa Payer 4/9/21 Tessa Payer 4/9/21

Governing — The Executive Order: A History of Its Rise and Slow Decline

President George Washington was the first to issue proclamations or executive orders. Their use peaked under Franklin Roosevelt, but they have been used fewer times in recent presidencies. Will Biden reverse the trend?

Tessa Payer 4/7/21 Tessa Payer 4/7/21

Ms. — Women in the Cabinet: Much Progress Has Been Made, But There’s Still a Long Way to Go

President Biden’s Cabinet features gender parity for the first time. But parity is not equality, and there are Cabinet glass ceilings women have yet to shatter.

Tessa Payer 4/1/21 Tessa Payer 4/1/21

Washington Monthly — How Women Might Change the Role of the Vice President

Kamala Harris broke the glass ceiling but is she in danger of being pushed off the glass cliff?

Tessa Payer 3/28/21 Tessa Payer 3/28/21

The Daily Beast — The Senate Tells Women to Smile More and Talk Less

It’s nice we study women’s history in March, but it means nothing if women must remain quiet or hold themselves to different standards than men in order to succeed in government.

Tessa Payer 3/26/21 Tessa Payer 3/26/21

The Wall Street Journal — Five Best: Books on Presidential Cabinets

Selected by Lindsay M. Chervinsky, the author of ‘The Cabinet: George Washington and the Creation of an American Institution’

Tessa Payer 3/10/21 Tessa Payer 3/10/21

Medium — 8 History Podcasts that Help Explain Present-Day America

A historian on why nothing is better suited to podcast form than history

Lindsay Chervinsky 3/10/21 Lindsay Chervinsky 3/10/21

Ms. — “Ambitious” Has Long Been a Slur for Women

By embracing “ambitious” and proclaiming it proudly, we can change this slur and make it into a positive attribute.

Lindsay Chervinsky 3/4/21 Lindsay Chervinsky 3/4/21

Governing — From Washington to Trump: What Is Dereliction of Duty?

When presidents take the oath of office, they are expected to protect America against attack. But what about pandemics and economic depressions? Here’s a brief history of how presidents have handled different threats.

Lindsay Chervinsky 3/1/21 Lindsay Chervinsky 3/1/21

An Injustice! — The Continuing Threat of Opinionated Women

A historian’s view of Neera Tanden’s confirmation process as Women’s History Month begins

Lindsay Chervinsky 2/24/21 Lindsay Chervinsky 2/24/21

Medium — The Impeachment Trial Reveals the Weakness of the Constitution

The Republican vote to acquit former President Trump wasn’t just a vote to avoid accountability. It was a vote to further enfeeble and obfuscate the Constitution.

Tessa Payer 2/17/21 Tessa Payer 2/17/21

Medium — Can You Be a Good President If You Aren’t a Good Person?

For a historian, it’s a complicated question

Tessa Payer 2/12/21 Tessa Payer 2/12/21

The Bulwark — What Good is Impeachment, Anyway?

It has never successfully been used to hold a President accountable — but Congress should still try.