We need to retire the term "wage-slaves." One of the principal characteristics of slaves is that they are not entitled to wages. They can't leave whenever they choose, either.

I saw one (1) of these projects. But it was great!

A historian wrote, in 1931, that James Buchanan was "an old man" in 1856 and not expected to run for president in 1860. James Buchanan was 65. The octogenarian presidency is a new invention.

Sometimes history is perfect.

I must retire to my chambers about this

Two striking facts about presidential politics before the Civil War: 1) Presidents were not bound to run for a second term; 2) Parties did not feel obligated to nominate presidents for a second term even if they did want it.

A historian on Franklin Pierce during the crisis of 1860: "Also the sorrow was deeper than that, because he had come to cherish sorrow, and here was a new cause for pain."

An interesting note on Jane Pierce, who seems to have been sad most of her life, and to have saddened her husband's life as well: "Deeply religious, hers had been the religion of acceptance, not of conquering power."

America has a two-party political system. But the parties can be replaced (Exhibit A: the GOP). Third parties can also influence the positions/actions of the main parties - if the main parties feel the need to appease defecting voters.

In the 1850s, the GOP united New England with the emerging West. A new major party must have a program that appeals to a coalition of interests that a) can form a majority, b) are not antagonistic, and c) are not served by an existing major party. A tall order.

It is very interesting that although Jacob got Esau's blessing by deception, the blessing was still considered valid.

Not quite gone.

Paperwork in criminal enterprises tends to be spotty. It's not likely there ever was a list. As for the rest of this - they had been playing up the conspiracy theory for political reasons, and then they had to put up or shut up.

The odd thing about people expecting the Trump Administration to release the Epstein List is that Trump was president when Epstein was arrested in 2019. It wasn't released then. Why now?

The Victorians could be a little weird at times.

The more you read old papers you realize the elements have always been extreme, we just have more people and more cameras to observe and record it now. In the Indianapolis News on this day in 1875: