America’s Audacious Independence

by Mike Purdy | Jul 4, 2022 | George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson

My opinion article setting Independence Day in historical context was published on TheHill.com. Here’s an excerpt from the beginning of the article: “It was an audacious and brave statement. On July 4, 1776, 56 men adopted what we now know as the...

Tense Transitions of Presidential Power

by Mike Purdy | Dec 9, 2020 | Elections, Electoral College, Franklin Roosevelt, Herbert Hoover, Inaugurations, John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Rutherford Hayes

Our nation is in the midst of one of the most unusual transitions of presidential power, as the sitting president refuses to concede, is filing multiple lawsuits claiming widespread voter fraud, and attempting to influence what electors are selected in key states for...

Two Tense Transitions

by Mike Purdy | Jul 21, 2019 | Elections, Franklin Roosevelt, Herbert Hoover, Inaugurations, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Uncategorized

One of the hallmarks of our democracy is the peaceful transfer of power from one president to another, reaching back to March 4, 1797 when George Washington turned over the reigns of power to John Adams. And while the inauguration of a new president has always been...

A Civility Lesson from John Adams and Thomas Jefferson

by Mike Purdy | Jun 9, 2019 | Books, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson

I wrote an article that was published on History News Network on June 9, 2019 entitled “What the Feud and Reconciliation between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson Teaches Us About Civility.” Click here to read the article My New Book: The article draws from...

Podcast: Civility, Presidential Relationships, and My New Book

by Mike Purdy | Jun 2, 2019 | Books, Donald Trump, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson

I was recently privileged to join Annie Mesaros on her podcast “God Help Us,” which she founded and hosts. We discussed civility (or the lack thereof) in our public discourse, historical presidential relationships, the current president, and the 2020...

Carter Will Break the Longevity Record

by Mike Purdy | Mar 19, 2019 | Calvin Coolidge, Deaths, George H.W. Bush, Gerald Ford, Herbert Hoover, Jimmy Carter, John Adams, Post Presidencies

On Thursday, March 21, 2019, former president Jimmy Carter will go down in history as the longest-living former president. Coolidge was President in 1924: Carter was born on October 1, 1924 in Plains, Georgia. He still lives in Plains today (population: 727) where he...