If we were to grade our presidents on an A-F scale, which ones would make the cut? While most contemporary books about presidents focus on leadership and personality, author Steven F. Hayward prefers a different approach – how closely each president adheres to the Constitution. He recently discussed this approach while promoting his new book, The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Presidents: From Wilson to Obama, at the Heritage Foundation (video above). Why start with Wilson and not Washington? Hayward explains: There are really two main presidencies to think of …
Poor George Washington. His birthday, spontaneously celebrated since the Revolution and formally declared a holiday in 1879, has slowly morphed into the insipid Presidents Day you’ll hear about today. George Washington, the “indispensable man” of the Revolution who was rightly extolled for being “first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen,” has now been lumped together with the likes of James Buchanan, Jimmy Carter, Franklin Pierce and John Tyler. It gets worse. Washington’s good name and great legacy are now shamelessly invoked to justify …
In this week’s Heritage in Focus, Heritage Vice President and first principles scholar Matt Spalding discusses the importance of Presidents’ Day. Click here to listen. Should the holiday be designated as Presidents’ Day or George Washington’s Birthday? What principles did President Washington embody that are worth celebrating? What’s the most important thing for people to keep in mind about this holiday? Listen to Dr. Spalding answer those questions and more. To get regular updates on Heritage in Focus podcasts, visit our RSS feed or subscribe on iTunes. To listen to more Heritage …
Born into slavery, Frederick Douglass made his mark in history as an abolitionist with a special place in his heart for America and its founding principles. Douglass, who knew only that he was born sometime in February 1818, chose the 14th as his birthday because his mother, who died when Douglass was around eight years-old, called him her “little valentine.” It’s only fitting, then, that we remember Douglass on this Valentine’s Day — and his contribution to America. Heritage’s Julia Shaw comments on how his memory can be honored: We …
To sell his tax-code tweaks, new regulatory schemes, and insatiable ardor for big government, President Obama invoked Abraham Lincoln in his State of the Union address: “I’m a Democrat. But I believe what Republican Abraham Lincoln believed: That government should do for people only what they cannot do better by themselves, and no more.” Was Lincoln the father of big government? In a new Special Report, Allen C. Guelzo, Ph.D., of Gettysburg College lays out the argument that the modern state’s paternity lies with the Progressives. If big government means …
In this week’s Heritage in Focus podcast, leading historian and expert on the conservative movement, Lee Edwards, discusses the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) and the state of conservatism. Click here to listen. What is the importance of CPAC? What’s Heritage’s role this year? What advice should guide conservatism moving foward? Listen to Dr. Edwards answer these questions and more! To get regular updates on Heritage in Focus podcasts, visit our RSS feed or subscribe on iTunes. To listen to more Heritage Foundation podcasts, visit our podcast page.
Conservatives are often ridiculed for criticizing activist judges who fail to respect the Constitution. We are told that it is not conservative originalists (labeled ignorant and extremist) but rather enlightened liberal judges—with their nuanced understanding of constitutional penumbras—who truly respect the spirit of the Constitution. Conservatives, however, have good reason to be skeptical of the left’s “respect’’ for the Constitution. Just last week, for example, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg told an Egyptian TV station that she would not recommend the U.S. Constitution as model for Egypt’s new government. …
As we celebrate the 101st birthday of President Ronald Reagan, we remember the profound impact he had on government policy, but more importantly on the spirit of the American people. Whether it was through humor, sincerity, or passion, President Reagan had that rare ability to inspire individuals to strive for their greatest potential and positively impact the country. Here are 10 of his most memorable quotations: Of the four wars in my lifetime, none came about because the U.S. was too strong. Don’t be afraid to see what you see. …
Today marks President Ronald Reagan’s 101st birthday. Born in Tampico, Illinois, Reagan made his journey west to Iowa as a radio broadcaster, then on to California to take Hollywood by storm. He crossed America as a spokesman for General Electric, and then — after discovering the import of conservative values — entered the political arena, where he would ultimately lead his fellow citizens out of a wilderness of self-doubt, helping the country come to see that it could be morning in America once again. We at The Heritage Foundation invite …
February 6 is Ronald Reagan’s birthday. While the right has long looked to Reagan as the standard-bearer of conservative leadership, over the past few years, even liberals are waxing Reaganesque. For instance, before he was the class warrior in the mold of Teddy Roosevelt, President Obama invoked the Gipper to support his millionaire tax. As Reagan historian Steven Hayward remarked, “Ever so slowly, liberals are attempting a subtle revisionism” of our 40th President. Let’s set the record straight. Just take a look at Ronald Reagan’s greatest achievements as evidence of …
