POLITICS

The Oregon County That's Not in the U.N.

The United States is a charter member of the United Nations, but that doesn't mean the entire U.S. is represented.

This time, it was Aaron Burr who did not throw away his shot.

9 Facts About the Alexander Hamilton-Aaron Burr Duel

The duel between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr is perhaps the most famous duel in United States history.

10 Quirky Things Politicians Do

We elect our Senators and Representatives with the expectation that they'll bring our interests to the legislative process and work to bettering the country. But the truth is, they're not always the most normal people themselves. Here are 10 of the quirki

The actual star-spangled banner is displayed at the National Museum of American History.

10 Things You Need to Know About 'The Star-Spangled Banner'

In 1814, Francis Scott Key saw the tattered remains of the American flag still blowing in the breeze after Fort McHenry had been bombarded by the British all night. The rest, as you probably know, is history.

Ready, Aim, Fire: Scenes From Early American Dueling

Callin' out around the world: are you ready for a brand new beat? Summer's here and the time is right for duelin' in the

You may not recognize his name, but Chase left an indelible mark on American politics.

5 Things You Didn't Know About Salmon Chase

Salmon P. Chase may not be history's most familiar name, but he made quite a mark on American politics.

Mario Cuomo (seated with Hilary Clinton) declined President Bill Clinton's offer for Supreme Court candidacy.

Almost (Really) Famous: 9 Former Supreme Court Candidates

These candidates were almost appointed to the highest court in the land.

9 Shameless Abuses of Diplomatic Immunity

Diplomatic immunity may be intended to keep diplomats from running afoul of local authorities while serving abroad, but some workers take it as a license to act like jerks.

Washington's Shaky Search for a Second Chief Justice

The media is abuzz with speculation about who will get the call from President Obama to fill the seat of retiring Supreme Court Justice David Souter. If everything goes smoothly for the chosen judge, he or she will be quickly confirmed by the Senate and

How Ex-Vice Presidents Make Ends Meet

Here's a look at what former vice presidents have done after leaving office.

How to Roll Like Ben Franklin

Benjamin Franklin was kind of a big deal. He penned Poor Richard's Almanack, invented the lightning rod, bifocals, the rockin' glass harmonica, and a bunch of other great stuff. He was a politician, statesman, and diplomat (and made a killer appearance,

How Nate Silver Predicted Obama's Win

Throughout last year's election, Nate Silver ran a fascinating website called FiveThirtyEight, named after the number of electors in the United States electoral college. Silver is a statistician, and he spent every day applying his considerable math chop

6 Open Letters That Changed the World

Epistolary history is full of open letters, those that are written with the intent that they'll be read by a wide audience. Here we've collected six of the best (or at least, most influential) open letters of all time. 1. Letter from Birmingham Jail W

4 More Examples of American Political Corruption

When federal prosecutors filed charges against Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich earlier this week, it may have felt like just another chapter in the state's unseemly political history. However, even though Illinois and Chicago have long been synonymous

Ollie Atkins, White House photographer, Wikimedia Commons // Public Domain

11 Notable Presidential Pardons

Presidents as far back as George Washington have waited until their final days in office to sign pardons. Let's take a look at some of history's more notable ones.

10 Campaign Fashion Choices

Whether they bought them with their own money or campaign funds, here are some of the fashion trends inspired by the political elite.

5 of History's Worst Perpetrators of Corruption

Power and corruption are old friends.

Everything You Wanted to Know About the Electoral College But Were Afraid to Ask

Who makes up the Electoral College? Where and when does the Electoral College vote? What happens if no candidate received 270 electoral votes? And all your other Electoral College questions answered.

A Brief History of Newspaper Endorsements

As the presidential election inches closer, both candidates are looking for any little edge they might be able to find. To some undecided voters, a ringing endorsement might be just the thing they need to jump firmly into one candidate's camp. Although

Frontline: The Choice 2008

With just two weeks left until election day in the U.S., the race is no longer heating up: it's at a steady boil. Early voting has begun, a full eight national tracking polls are cranking out numbers daily, and the campaigns are on the ground nationwide

The Electoral College Survival Guide

As you will be reminded countless times in the coming week, when you cast your vote in next Tuesday's presidential election, you're not taking part in a nationwide popular vote, but rather helping decide who your state's Electoral College delegates suppor

A Brief History of the October Surprise

An October surprise is any bit of news that breaks right before an election that has the capability to help determine the outcome of the race. Since voters are often swayed by these revelations, the right October surprise can swing a losing campaign righ

How the Obama Campaign Makes "Two Minute Volunteers"

The Obama presidential campaign made waves last week when it announced Obama '08: The Official iPhone Application. This free application hit the iTunes App Store Top 10, and has generated nearly 700 reviews so far. Whether you're an Obama supporter or n

5 Things Worth Knowing About Pork-Barrels

With all the recent talk about pork barrels and earmarks in the news, here are five things that might help stir the debate... or not, but at least they make good water cooler convo. 1) The term has always been VERY derogatory. According to most sources, t

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