Jefferson Davis
The Votes are in…Where Does Lincoln Rank?
Wednesday, February 18th, 2009We do strange things to the past. Consider what happens to our former presidents. We carved four of their portraits onto the side of a mountain in 1927. Though we seem to have given up such gigantic tributes, today we reduce many of them to mere caricatures of their former selves. Take, for example, this strange collection of presidential bobbleheads (pictured [...]
Odds and Ends: The Lincoln Marriage, 1860, Jeff Davis, & the ALPLM
Friday, July 25th, 2008How about another fast-paced edition of “Odds & Ends” to round out the week that was? I have enjoyed reading the first few reviews of Daniel Mark Epstein’s new book on the Lincoln marriage. Washington Post, New York Times, and a new one from the Miami Herald. U. S. News & World Report ran an article [...]
Bicentennial Backlash
Wednesday, June 11th, 2008I was hardly surprised when the national media ignored Jefferson Davis’ 200th birthday last week. I understand it can be difficult to differentiate between commemorating and celebrating such an event. Perhaps the media was wise to sidestep the entire issue. However, not everyone seems willing to let it slide. The Sons of Confederate Veterans have [...]
A Quiet, Local Affair: The Jefferson Davis Bicentennial
Tuesday, June 3rd, 2008He was born 200 years ago today, but most Americans will not be celebrating the Jefferson Davis bicentennial. I have no desire to beat up on the president of the Confederacy today. In many respects, he was a talented individual. He graduated from West Point, served in both the Black Hawk War and Mexican War, [...]
Alabama Employees Enjoy a Day Off
Monday, June 2nd, 2008Tomorrow is the 200th anniversary of the birth of Jefferson Davis. I suspect the day will come and go without much mention of the Davis bicentennial; however, I’ll have more on that tomorrow. In the meantime, allow me to wish state employees in Alabama a happy day off from work! Yes, the state of Alabama [...]
Hurricane Katrina & the Jefferson Davis Home in Biloxi
Tuesday, April 24th, 2007The house survived 21 hurricanes, but it had never seen anything like Katrina. A nine-foot wall of water smashed against the exterior, shredding the roof, tearing away the front porch, chimneys, and pillars. A foot of water flooded the interior. When Katrina passed, the house was still standing, but just barely. Officials in Biloxi, Mississippi [...]