Government

Did the President request that a foreign leader and government initiate investigations to benefit the President’s personal political interests in the United States, including an investigation related to the President’s political rival and potential opponent in the 2020 US presidential election? Did the President – directly or through agents – seek to use the power of the Office of the President and other instruments of the federal government in other ways to apply pressure on the head of state and government of Ukraine to advance the President’s personal political interests, including by leveraging an Oval Office meeting desired by the President of Ukraine or by withholding US military assistance to Ukraine? Did the President and his Administration seek to obstruct, suppress or cover up information to conceal from the Congress and the American people evidence about the President’s actions and conduct? more »

Jo Freeman writes: Michael Barone has been studying American politics for most of his 75 years and is very impressed with the two major parties; he repeatedly says that the Democratic Party (founded in 1832) is the oldest party in the world and the Republican Party (founded in 1854) is the third oldest. Both have been frequently challenged. Both recovered from near-death experiences. The Democratic Presidential candidate won only 34 percent of the popular vote in 1920 and the Republican candidate won a little over 36 percent in 1936. Both are alive and kicking. If you like political history, you will enjoy this book. And if you get a chance to hear Barone lecture, don’t pass it up. He’s entertaining as well as informative. more »

On October 9, 2019, the gallery of the Hampton Roads Naval Museum opened to the public. Many who have visited before will recognize the familiar displays depicting the Revolutionary War through the Civil War. Everything else has changed. The immersive exhibit touches on the Navy’s role during the Vietnam War, incorporating new artifacts along with oral histories from area veterans. Editor's Note: November 11, Today in History: 1920 - Lenah S. Higbee becomes the first woman to be awarded the Navy Cross for her service as a nurse in World War I more »

Pursuant to this resolution, and consistent with the Committee’s rules and longstanding bipartisan practice, the Committee has begun preparing transcripts from the impeachment inquiry for public release, which includes a thorough, nonpartisan security review to protect classified and other sensitive information. As part of this process, the Committee is redacting (1) personally identifiable information; (2) the names of non-senior Executive Branch personnel and Intelligence Community employees; (3) the names of committee staff who did not ask questions or make on-the-record statements; and (4) classified or potentially classified information or other sensitive information not pertinent to the subject of the impeachment inquiry. more »