Taft update
I realize that I have not posted an update on William Howard Taft in a while. I am now writing chapters of the Taft book, about to put pen to paper on 1915. I am in the “Yale years,” the years between the White House and the Supreme Court, filled with interesting episodes, such as…
Read MoreGettysburg
I am just back from the Lincoln Forum in Gettysburg, where I spoke about my Chase book. CSPAN was there, taping, and when tape is available I will put it up here on the website. Lincoln Forum is a wonderful annual event, a gathering of authors and experts and enthusiasts. Lots of interesting side conversations.…
Read MoreReading the Cases
For nine years, from 1892 through 1900, William Howard Taft was a senior federal judge, based in Cincinnati, handling both trials and appeals, for the Sixth Circuit, which then as now was composed of Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee. During this period, Judge Taft drafted and published more than three hundred opinions that were reported…
Read MoreNo on Measure B
I have been spending a lot of time, in recent weeks, arguing against a charter change here in Newport Beach, called Measure B. The measure would lengthen the term (to four or perhaps eight years) and increase the powers and change the selection method of our city’s mayor. Our slogan is “stop the power grab”…
Read MoreSam Anderson 1935-2022
My friend Sam Anderson died today. I knew that this day would come—he was fighting lung cancer—but still it is a hard day. I first met Sam about twenty years ago, through my parents, but I really got to know him in 2015, when our bishop tried to sell our church to a developer for…
Read MoreWilliam Howard Taft
I have agreed with Simon & Schuster on my next book: a biography of William Howard Taft. He is like my other subjects in that he was an American leader and lawyer, somewhat overlooked. He is unlike my other subjects in that he was president, something Seward and Chase wanted but never achieved. Here is…
Read MoreChase events
The Chase book is now out and I am starting Chase events. Last night I was at the Newport Beach Public Library, for a great event, with many friends and neighbors. I started by saying a few words about my late father, who died in October 2020, as I was writing the last few paragraphs…
Read MoreLincoln’s Death, Stanton’s Words
The one thing that people know about Secretary of War Edwin Stanton is that, right after President Abraham Lincoln died on the morning of April 15, 1865, Stanton said “now he belongs to the ages.” David Herbert Donald closed his great Lincoln biography, still my favorite, with “now he belongs to the ages.” Adam Gopnik,…
Read MoreChase Status
Careful readers will have noted that the publication date of my Chase book has changed: it is now February 22, 2022. The delay is caused by delays at the printers; I have not been working on the book since sending final revisions to the publisher months and months ago. Most but not quite all of…
Read MoreChase Events
We are now six weeks away from the publication, on November 9, of my Salmon Chase biography. I have not yet seen the final printed book, but expect to have one or two in my hands in perhaps two or three weeks. I have just posted, over on the events page, the list of Chase…
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