Happy National A.I. Day to those who celebrate. (Though why would you?) For the rest of us…

“Freedom is not a state; it is an act…not some enchanted garden perched high on a distant plateau where we…sit down & rest. Freedom is the continuous action we all must take, & each generation must do its part to create an even more fair, just society.” ~John Lewis, 2017. Image: Nat’l Geographic.

"We never really let the Germans know who won the war. They are being told...their army had not been defeated. The Germans never believed they were beaten. It will have to be done all over again..." ~General John J. Pershing, 1923. Pershing (b. 9/13/1860) died at age 87 OTD in 1948. Image: LOC.

President John Adams signed Sedition Act into law OTD in 1798. It outlawed "false, scandalous & malicious writings" against the government or the president. Used mainly to suppress speech critical of the Adams administration. No modern relevance at all, obviously. Image: Ohio State University.

Who is the only American to be both Vice President and President of the United States without being elected to EITHER office? Gerald Ford, who was born Leslie King, Jr., in Omaha, Nebraska on this day 113 years ago: Jul. 14, 1913. Image: National Archives.

“In the language of our greatest soldier, twice honored with the Presidency of the nation, ‘let us have peace.’ Yes, let us have peace, but let us have liberty, law, and justice first. Let us have the Constitution, with its thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth amendments, 1/2

New York City draft riots began on this day 163 years ago: Jul. 13, 1863. What started as riots opposing the Civil War military draft eventually turned into racial violence with white people attacking Black people. Casualty figures vary from approx. 100 to approx. 1,200. Image: NY Public Library.

“Books are the treasured wealth of the world and the fit inheritance of generations and nations.” ~Henry David Thoreau, “Walden” (1854). Thoreau was born in Concord, Massachusetts on this day 209 years ago: Jul. 12, 1817. Image: National Portrait Gallery.

An Ohio friend sent me this great photo she took of the new President James A. Garfield statue in the city of Mentor (site of James A. Garfield National Historic Site, where I worked for 15 years). I spoke at the dedication of this statue on Friday evening, July 3.

George Herman “Babe” Ruth made his major league debut for the Boston @redsox.com on this day 112 years ago: Jul. 11, 1914. When he made his last appearance in 1935, he’d hit 714 home runs, had a lifetime batting average of .342, and was a 7-time World Series champion. Image: SABR.

On this day 105 years ago-Jul. 11, 1921-William Howard Taft was sworn in as Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. To date, he is the only American to serve as both President of the United States (1909-13) and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (1921-30). Image: Public domain.

On this day 222 years ago-Jul. 11, 1804-sitting Vice President of the United States Aaron Burr mortally wounded former Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton in a duel in New Jersey. Hamilton died the next day. Totally original idea: someone should write a musical about this.

We did @mlb.com Day today since All-Star Game is next week. Obviously everyone ignored my decree that only @pirates.com gear should be worn. But we had fun anyway. Congrats to Guardians, Cardinals, Nationals, & Red Sox for also having fans down here in VA. And the Dutch National Soccer Team, too.

Scopes Trial began in TN on 7/10/1925. High school teacher John T. Scopes was tried & convicted for violating Butler Act, which banned teaching evolution in TN public schools. Clarence Darrow (L) defended Scopes; William Jennings Bryan (R) assisted prosecution. Image: Heritage Images/Getty Images.

“The life of the nation is only secure when the nation is honest, truthful, and virtuous.” ~Frederick Douglass, 1885. Image: James Presley Ball/Cincinnati Museum Center, via Getty Images.

“The country needs and, unless I mistake its temper, the country demands bold, persistent experimentation. It is common sense to take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something.” ~Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1932. Image: FDR Presidential Library.

The Hamburg Massacre took place in S. Carolina 150 yrs ago today: 7/8/1876. Over 100 white men attacked about 30 members of a Black militia unit, leading to more and larger white-on-Black attacks designed to keep Black men from exercising their voting rights in upcoming elections. Image: hmdb.org.

Another excerpt from my Jul. 3, 2026 James A. Garfield statue dedication speech: "While in the House, he became an expert in financial and economic affairs and was a loud voice for the civil and political rights of formerly enslaved people. Even when many of his fellow Republicans 1/3

Excerpt from my Mentor, Ohio speech at James A. Garfield statue dedication, Jul. 3, 2026: "Initially apathetic to politics, Garfield underwent a transformation in the 1850s while a student at Williams College. He became vocally anti-slavery while the nation was tearing itself apart over the 1/4

I enjoyed being back in Mentor, Ohio over Fourth of July weekend. It was an honor to speak at the City of Mentor’s dedication of a new James A. Garfield statue at the city administration building. And yes, a baseball hat with a coat and tie is my signature look. A bald man always needs a hat.

"Those of us who shout the loudest about Americanism in making character assassinations are all too frequently those who, by our own words and acts, ignore some of the basic principles of Americanism: The right to criticize. The right to hold unpopular beliefs. 1/2

John Marshall, Chief Justice of Supreme Court 1801-35, died 7/6/1835. His court ruled on numerous important cases: Marbury v. Madison, McCullough v. Maryland, others. A Virginia enslaver, his opinions reflected belief in property rights and enforcement of slavery laws. Image: Library of Virginia.

“I love America more than any other country in the world, and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually.” ~James Baldwin, 1955. Image: Ulf Anderson/Getty Images.

Admiral David G. Farragut born in Tenn. OTD in 1801. Went to sea with US Navy at age 9; remained on active duty rest of his life. Fought in War of 1812, Mex.-Amer. War, Civil War (where he stayed loyal to US despite his southern birth). “Damn the torpedoes! Full steam ahead!” Image: Public domain.

“What have I, or those I represent, to do with your national independence? Are the great principles of political freedom and of natural justice, embodied in that Declaration of Independence, extended to us?…I am not included within the pale of this glorious anniversary! Your high independence 1/2

“Thomas Jefferson survives.” ~Supposedly the last words of former President John Adams, uttered shortly before his death 200 years ago today on Jul. 4, 1826. Unbeknownst to Adams, former President Thomas Jefferson had died about five hours before. Images: New York Historical Society.

“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonous to the American public.” ~Theodore Roosevelt, 1918. Image: National Park Service/Sagamore Hill collection.

Image: veteransfightingfascism.org

Three of the first five presidents died on the Fourth of July. John Adams and Thomas Jefferson died about five hours apart on Jul. 4, 1826—the Declaration of Independence’s 50th anniversary. James Monroe died on Jul. 4, 1831—the Declaration’s 55th anniversary. Image: Wilmington Star News.

250 years ago—Jul. 4, 1776—Second Continental Congress adopted Declaration of Independence, declaring the 13 colonies no longer British subjects. “All men are created equal… .” We’ve never fully lived up to its words, but the U.S. is at its best when we’re striving to do so. Image: Public domain.