“We hold these truths. . .” sure. But we wouldn’t hold them everywhere without our 14th amendment.

In a nation where half the citizens don’t vote, who cares about civics? Kelley Brown and her students, that’s who.

With America flat on its back, “Town Meeting of the Air” revived the conversation of democracy.

Setting out to describe democracy, he created a lasting portrait of Us, the People

America's good gray poet went dark for a while. But Walt Whitman surfaced with a new hope for America.

While the nation watched, Barbara Jordan stepped out of the Jim Crow past to defend democracy.

Despite three jobs — professor, New Yorker writer, mother — Jill Lepore solved the mystery. “Who Killed Truth?”

Books were no bargain until a century ago when the Little Blue Books were born. A half billion books later. . .

In 1837, when mob violence raged, a young lawyer rose to defend the rule of law. He spoke not to his time but for all time.

Income equality? Unions? Co-ops? Busting up corporations? The radical left? Nah, just American farmers.

Slavery continued in Texas for months after the war. Then came the word — on Juneteenth.

When a radical Mexican muralist began to paint at Dartmouth, some wanted his work destroyed. The college president refused.

With soldiers coming home in flag-draped caskets, the Supreme Court considered the Pledge of Allegiance. The ruling may surprise you.

Bullied into silence, Congress got a lesson in integrity from Senator Margaret Chase Smith (R-ME).

Why are Americans so divided? Whole books have tried to answer. The Attic explains it in three minutes (and change.)

How Langston Hughes touched bottom during the Depression and wrote an American anthem.