Checkered History

This blog is by Allen Mikaelian. Allen is an editor and writer who specializes in creating meaningful projects for amazing people. He holds a history PhD from American University, is a former editor of the American Historical Association's "Perspectives on History," and lives in Washington, DC.

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  May 5, 2019
  

  Senator Grassley says the New Deal "didn't work"; historians have other ideas

  by Checkered History

  Senator Grassley’s statement about the New Deal is stark and definitive. Quite simply, in his mind, it did not work. The historians who responded to our request for input disagreed strongly, as a glance at their ratings will show, but they were not hesitant to discuss how the New Deal occasionally fell short.

  

• 
  Apr 28, 2019
  

  Showing the Data: The Political Uses of the Past Browser

  by Checkered History

  Search, sort, and browse a growing collection of political uses of the past by elected and appointed officials.

  

• 
  Apr 7, 2019
  

  Senator Chuck Schumer says corporations used to care; here's how historians responded

  by Checkered History

  Seven historians responded to Senator Schumer's claim of a golden age of corporate responsibility.

  

• 
  Mar 19, 2019
  

  Mike Pence Says the US Has Been "A Force For Good in the Middle East" for "nearly 200 years"; Here's How Historians Responded

  by Checkered History

  Eight Middle East historians contribute to a history check on the vice president's claim of 200 years of American goodness.

  

• 
  Feb 12, 2019
  

  Congress and the Trump Administration Are Using and Abusing History At Least Six Times a Day

  by Checkered History

  A new interactive tool helps us understand how politicians use history--and how historians can respond. 

  

• 
  Jun 21, 2017
  

  The Debate over the Lack of Debate on the GOP Healthcare Plan

  by Checkered History

  The Political Uses of the Past Project discovered in Senate speeches an unusual number of references and appeals to history. 

  

• 
  Jun 1, 2017
  

  Political Uses of the Past

  by Checkered History

  Collecting statements by elected and appointed officials who deploy history and historical comparisons in their speeches, remarks, and arguments.