President Obama in the Oval Office
The Department of State Reacts to Public Revelations of Intelligence Activities, 1969
An earlier post discussed the Department of State reaction to the publication of The Invisible Government by David Wise and Thomas Ross. That book was one of the first “exposés” of Central Intelligence Agency activities. As the 60s wore on, critical books appeared in ever greater numbers, some penned by former CIA officers. One of … Continue reading The Department of State Reacts to Public Revelations of Intelligence Activities, 1969
Interrogated! Robert Toth in Moscow, June 1977
Robert C. Toth during the "William Reilly at the LA Times Roundtable" discussion on C-SPAN, Oct 17, 1989 Noted journalist Robert C. Toth died on December 12, 2022. He was 93 years old. Toth was a reporter and foreign correspondent for the Los Angeles Times. He covered many important stories and won many awards for … Continue reading Interrogated! Robert Toth in Moscow, June 1977
Under the Water, Through the Mountain, Deep Underground – Records of Tunnels in the National Register of Historic Places
Payette River Scenic Byway - Payette River Rail Tunnel (National Archives Identifier 7721000) Growing up in New York, we would frequently travel through the Lincoln Tunnel, connecting Manhattan with New Jersey. There is a scene in the Stephen King book, The Stand, where characters escape New York by making their way across the roofs of … Continue reading Under the Water, Through the Mountain, Deep Underground – Records of Tunnels in the National Register of Historic Places
Sports in Courts: Roberto Clemente v. Pittsburgh Weekly Sports, et al.
Roberto Clemente was un gran pelotero, a great ball player who could hit for average, power (when necessary), steal bases, field, and throw.
Turn the Page – Records in the National Register of Historic Places about American Authors
Old Corner Bookstore, Boston, Massachusetts (National Archives Identifier 155823517) A popular gift around the holidays is the latest novel or book by a favorite author. There are more than two hundred “bookstores” listed on the National Register of Historic Places as well as properties related to some of America’s more prominent authors. In Boston, Massachusetts, … Continue reading Turn the Page – Records in the National Register of Historic Places about American Authors
Not “the last Chilkat blanket weaver”: The Story of Annie Klaney and the Indian Arts and Crafts Board
By Rose Buchanan, Archivist and Subject Matter Expert for Native American Related Records “Chilkat Blanket.” This terse subject line is easy to miss in a nearly 100-page file of administrative correspondence from the Indian Arts and Crafts Board (IACB). It headlines a May 17, 1962, letter from Carl W. Heinmiller, director of Alaska Indian Arts, … Continue reading Not “the last Chilkat blanket weaver”: The Story of Annie Klaney and the Indian Arts and Crafts Board
Keeping in Touch with a Traveling President, 1940
In today’s world, a President of the United States travelling anywhere in the World is constantly in touch with the White House and government agencies through sophisticated and secure means of communications. The President is literally never out of touch. This has not always been true. While Presidents have always left Washington, DC, to travel … Continue reading Keeping in Touch with a Traveling President, 1940
Foul Shot: William Sharman v. C. Schmidt & Sons
Today's post was written by Matthew DiBiase, archives specialist at the National Archives at Philadelphia. A new exhibit showcasing the impact sports have had on America has opened at the National Archives Museum. All American: The Power of Sports spans centuries of United States history and features more than 75 original items from National Archives’ holdings. The … Continue reading Foul Shot: William Sharman v. C. Schmidt & Sons
Mikhail Gorbachev, 1931-2022
To many, Mikhail Gorbachev seemed to come out of nowhere in 1985 to become the leader of the USSR. In some ways, his example supports the “great person” view of history, which is deeply ironic since he came out of the Marxist-Leninist milieu with its emphasis on the impersonal forces of history. Mikhail Gorbachev, 1987 … Continue reading Mikhail Gorbachev, 1931-2022