“There is no salvation in becoming adapted to a world which is crazy.” ~Henry Miller, “The Colossus of Maroussi,” 1941. Miller (b. Dec. 26, 1891) died on this day 46 years ago: Jun. 7, 1980. Image: Anthony Barboza/Getty Images.

On 6/7/1892, Homer Plessy was arrested for sitting in “whites only” section of a Louisiana railroad car. The subsequent legal case resulted in Supreme Court’s horrendous 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson decision stating “separate but equal” facilities were constitutional. Image: Zinn Educational Project.

“These men came here…to storm these beaches…not to gain anything for ourselves, not to fulfill any ambitions that America had for conquest, but just to preserve freedom, systems of self-government in the world.” ~Eisenhower to Walter Cronkite, “D-Day + Twenty Years,” 1964. Image: Eisenhower NHS.

Damn right it does. Now more than ever. (Rockin’ my favorite t-shirt today.)

June 6, 1944 SUPREME HEADQUARTERS ALLIED EXPEDITIONARY FORCE Soldiers, Sailors, and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force! You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hope and prayers of 1/6

Well, @hcrichardson.bsky.social reposted me yesterday AND I gained so many followers yesterday that I'm now less than 500 away from 10K. Could these two things be related? The power of an @hcrichardson.bsky.social repost never disappoints. You can just sit back, relax, and watch the magic happen.

Writing the script for this @250to250.bsky.social piece was a thrill. And then getting to narrate it as well has made my day, week, and month. Thanks to @hcrichardson.bsky.social and everyone on the 250 to 250 team for allowing me to participate and honor Eisenhower and all the troops of D-Day.

On Jun. 5, 1944, Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower wrote this message to be publicly released if the D-Day landings the next day failed. In it, he took full responsibility for the decision to attack & the mission's ultimate failure. More to come on this later today. Image: Eisenhower Presidential Library.

175 years ago today-6/5/1851-Harriet Beecher Stowe's "Uncle Tom's Cabin" began a ten-month serialized run in the abolitionist newspaper "The National Era." It was then published in full book form in Mar. 1852, becoming the bestselling American novel of the nineteenth century. Image: Public domain.

Hanging out and talking history and movies with @herberthistory.bsky.social and @colincolbourn.bsky.social was a blast! Thanks to Dr. Jason Herbert for having me on the “Reckoning” podcast to discuss “Pressure.”

“I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept.” ~Angela Davis. Image: UC-Santa Cruz.

"The world forgets easily, too easily, what it does not like to remember." ~Jacob Riis, "How the Other Half Lives" (1890). Image: Library of Congress.

On this day in 1919, Congress approved the Nineteenth Amendment, sending it to the states for ratification. Once ratified and enacted, it granted suffrage to American women. Important to note, though, that voting rights of women of color were still denied for several more decades. Image: LOC.

Josephine Baker born 120 yrs ago today: 6/3/1906. The singer/actress/dancer had great professional success in France. She spied for the French Resistance during World War II. She later returned to her native U.S. & became a vocal civil rights advocate. She lived until 1975. Image: Public domain.

Stephen A. Douglas was a longtime Dem. US Senator from Illinois. Championed popular sovereignty on slavery in 1854 Kansas-Nebraska Act. As Northern Democratic candidate, lost 1860 presidential election to Lincoln; rallied support for US after Ft. Sumter. Died at 48 on this day in 1861. Image: LOC.

“Let us tenderly and kindly cherish, therefore, the means of knowledge. Let us dare to read, think, speak, and write.” ~John Adams, 1765. Image: National Portrait Gallery.

“There’s so much hypocrisy in this society. And if we want America to be a free society we have to stop telling lies. Because we’re not free and you know we’re not free.” ~Fannie Lou Hamer, 1964. Image: Harvard University.

Wow, gained a lot of followers today. Thanks and welcome to all! Only 595 shy of 10K.

Fact.

“All men are created equal. No matter how hard they try, they can never erase those words. That is what America is all about.” ~Harvey Milk, 1978. Happy Pride Month! Image: California Museum.

“The arbitrary separation of citizens on the basis of race…is a badge of servitude wholly inconsistent with the civil freedom and the equality before the law.” ~Justice John Marshall Harlan, Dissent in Plessy v. Ferguson, 1896. Harlan was born on this day in 1833. Image: Library of Congress.

110 years ago today-Jun. 1, 1916-the US Senate confirmed Louis Brandeis as a justice of the United States Supreme Court. Brandeis was the first Jewish person to be confirmed to sit on the nation’s highest court. He remained on the Supreme Court until retiring in 1939. Image: Library of Congress.

I was planning to post about it being the anniversary of Sen. Margaret Chase Smith's "Declaration of Conscience" speech condemning Sen. Joseph McCarthy. But why do that when @hcrichardson.bsky.social explains it far better? What we wouldn't give for some Republican to make a similar speech today.

“…the Gov’t of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens in giving it on all occasions their effectual support.” ~Pres. George Washington, 1790. Image: LOC.

“Do I contradict myself? Very well then I contradict myself, (I am large, I contain multitudes.)” ~Walt Whitman, “Song of Myself, 51.” Whitman was born in New York on this day 207 years ago: May 31, 1819. Image: National Archives.

105 yrs ago today-5/31/1921-the Tulsa Race Massacre began when white mobs attacked the vibrant, prosperous Greenwood district of Tulsa, known as “Black Wall Street.” Many Black-owned businesses were destroyed, with at least 36 Black residents killed and over 800 injured. Image: Public domain.

“What country can preserve their liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance?” ~Thomas Jefferson, 1787. Image: Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.

The Lincoln Memorial was dedicated on this day 104 years ago: May 30, 1922. Robert Todd Lincoln, the sole surviving child of Abraham & Mary Lincoln and then 78 years old, attended the ceremony, which was strictly segregated. Image: National Park Service.

DYK Jamestown has Civil War history? US forces occupied it beginning in 1862 Peninsula Campaign; local enslaved people emancipated themselves & came to Jamestown as “contraband.” I got to meet w/ descendants this week—members of Contraband Historical Society. Image: @jmstownrediscovery.bsky.social.

Pres. Franklin Pierce signed Kansas-Nebraska Act on this day in 1854, establishing “popular sovereignty” on slavery in those territories. Both were north of 36-30 line, so slavery should have been automatically excluded. Outcry, creation of Republican Party, “Bleeding Kansas” followed. Image: LOC.

“Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.” ~Mark Twain, 1901. Image: Public domain.

175 years ago today-May 29, 1851-Sojourner Truth delivered her famous “Ain’t I a Woman?” speech in Akron, Ohio. Many different recollections & versions of the speech exist, but all agree Truth questioned & contrasted the unfair treatment of Black women compared to white women. Image: Public domain.

I've got homework for tomorrow: see "Pressure" (ticket purchased!) and be ready to talk about it next week. More to come... Image: IMDB.

"If by 'Liberal' they mean someone who looks ahead & not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions, someone who cares about the welfare of the people-their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights, and their civil liberties-someone who believes 1/2

“The people are what matter to government, and a government should aim to give all the people under its jurisdiction the best possible life.” ~Former Secretary of Labor Frances Perkins, 1963. Image: Library of Congress.

“Spare our people! Spare the wreck of our prosperity! Let not our deserted homes become the monuments of our desolation!” ~Cherokee Memorial to Congress responding to Indian Removal Act, signed by President Andrew Jackson on 5/28/1830. Image: Blackbear Bosin, “Trail of Tears,” Denver Post/Getty.

Someone left this in my office and it feels so good to be in a supportive work environment where people know Diet Pepsi is the nectar of the gods and Diet Coke is disgusting swill unfit for human consumption.

“When I was a boy I was told that anybody could become president. I’m beginning to believe it.” ~Clarence Darrow, approx. 1900. Image: Public domain.

I was talking to a group of visitors at work today and a lady in the group told me she knew I was the “Eisenhower sword guy” and asked if she could give me a hug. Guess my 15 minutes aren’t quite up yet after all.

Well I’ll never step outside at work again.

Author & poet Julia Ward Howe was born in New York City on this day in 1819. She is best known for writing lyrics to "Battle Hymn of the Republic" (set to "John Brown's Body") during the Civil War. She also advocated for abolitionism, women's suffrage, and pacifism. Image: Public domain.

Share a history book that changed your life. Since mine is a novel, historical fiction is acceptable!

“I am feeling greatly dissatisfied with my lack of opportunity for study…What might a vigorous thinker do, if he could be allowed to use the opportunities of a Presidential term in vital, useful activity?” ~Pres. James A. Garfield, 1881. #MPVTA (Make Presidents Vigorous Thinkers Again) Image: LOC

This just came up on Spotify. My memory of this song: 1996, deployed to Sinai Peninsula w/ 25th Infantry Division. Sitting in pickup bed being driven to guard duty. This came on the radio; E-6 driving the truck says, “This is a good jam.” I’ve thought of it every time I’ve heard this song since.

Has anyone seen "Pressure" yet? We were really excited about this film during my time at the Eisenhower Presidential Library. Hoping the film is good and Brendan Fraser does well as General Eisenhower. From "Encino Man" to Eisenhower in just 34 short years. Well done, Mr. Fraser. Image: IMDB.

I'm setting a goal of 10K followers by July 4. Only 705 to go! Why am I doing this? Vanity, mostly. Oh, and also that whole "saving democracy" thing. That seems pretty important. If American history and occasionally snarky observations are your jam, climb aboard & prepare to have your mind blown.

Civil War veteran/Congressman/future POTUS James A. Garfield spoke at first national Decoration Day ceremony on 5/30/1868 in Arlington National Cemetery. He offered remembrance of the dead—but also of why the Civil War was fought. “We began the war for the Union alone, but we had not gone far 1/4

I’m honored that @hcrichardson.bsky.social asked me to play a small role in this project. On Memorial Day, it’s important to examine what has made America great all along & what service members have died to protect: democracy, equality before the law, the humility to admit past injustices & improve.

“Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoy forget in time that men have died to win them.” ~President Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1941. Wishing everyone the best for a meaningful Memorial Day. Image: Arlington National Cemetery.

165 yrs ago today-5/24/1861-Col. Elmer Ellsworth of 11th New York Inf. became first known U.S. officer to die in the Civil War. A Confederate soldier shot him when Ellsworth attempted to remove a CSA flag from roof of the Marshall House in Alexandria, VA. Images: Public domain; Library of Congress.