The hottest Presidential History Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top U.S. Politics Topics

George W. Bush: What I Learned from George Washington

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 3199 implied HN points • 16 Feb 26
đź’ľ History Presidential History
  1. Washington’s humility—shown by willingly giving up power twice—instead of clinging to authority made him a model for democratic leadership and helped shape the republic.
  2. Early hardships and a lack of formal schooling pushed him to work hard and teach himself; his self-education and voracious reading helped form his judgment and leadership.
  3. Power can corrupt, so the greatest leaders sometimes are the ones who refuse to hold onto power; stepping down set a standard later presidents should study and follow.

March 14, 2026

Letters from an American • 45 implied HN points • 15 Mar 26
đź’ľ History Presidential History
  1. Maine’s 1820 admission as a free state was tied to Missouri’s admission as a slave state, a compromise that only postponed and deepened national conflict over slavery.
  2. Anger in Maine spurred abolitionist activism and westward migration, producing leaders like the Lovejoys and Washburns who helped build the Republican movement against the Slave Power.
  3. Maine’s political influence — early elections and strong anti-slavery votes — helped boost Lincoln (who chose Maine’s Hannibal Hamlin as his running mate) and shows how ordinary people organized to defend their democracy.

This Week in American History: Jefferson’s Words for a Fractured Country

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 287 implied HN points • 25 Feb 26
đź’ľ History Presidential History
  1. By 1800 American politics had become deeply polarized, with each side accusing the other of threatening the nation.
  2. Jefferson used his first inaugural address to call for reconciliation and to restore harmony and affection so liberty could endure.
  3. His conciliatory words have endured as a powerful expression of American values and a model for healing political divisions.

This Week in American History: Washington’s Civil War

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 236 implied HN points • 18 Feb 26
đź’ľ History Presidential History
  1. On February 22, 1861, President James Buchanan first kept soldiers out of Washington’s birthday parade to avoid provoking secession and then reversed himself when the public was disappointed, revealing his indecision.
  2. In the months before the Civil War both unionists and secessionists tried to claim George Washington’s legacy to legitimize their opposing causes.
  3. The controversy over Washington’s birthday on the eve of the Civil War shows that disputes over historical figures have long been political fights about who can claim the past, not just arguments about monuments.

This Week in American History: Just Call It Washington’s Birthday

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 255 implied HN points • 11 Feb 26
đź’ľ History Presidential History
  1. Presidents’ Day often feels like a bland, catch-all holiday that treats all presidents the same and can come off like a participation trophy.
  2. In 1798 John Adams caused a stir in Philadelphia when a brusque letter saying he would decline a ball honoring George Washington’s birthday was published.
  3. Americans honored Washington in part because he voluntarily retired after two terms, and that decision became a prized precedent worth celebrating.
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This Week in American History: Venezuela, Then and Now

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 282 implied HN points • 14 Jan 26
đź’ľ History Presidential History
  1. The Roosevelt Corollary said that if European powers threatened intervention in Latin America, the United States would sometimes step in itself to prevent it.
  2. In 1902–03 Britain and Germany blockaded Venezuela to collect debts, and Americans feared the Europeans might seize territory, which would have broken the Monroe Doctrine.
  3. Roosevelt’s response reshaped U.S. policy toward the hemisphere and still echoes in modern arguments for American intervention, sometimes referred to as the "Donroe Doctrine".

The Carter/Reagan moment and the Biden/Trump moment

The Crucial Years • 1813 implied HN points • 07 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Presidential History
  1. Jimmy Carter was a strong advocate for solar energy, emphasizing its potential to free the U.S. from reliance on foreign oil. His early support included funding for solar research and ambitious goals for solar energy use in America.
  2. The transition to clean energy has faced obstacles from political leaders like Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump, who pushed for fossil fuel dependency. However, recent legislation, like the Inflation Reduction Act, has reignited investment in renewable energy.
  3. There is a growing global movement supporting clean energy, and many countries, including China, are advancing in this area. This collective effort can help counteract any slowdowns in the U.S. transition towards a green energy future.

Do I Like Ike?

Castalia • 479 implied HN points • 27 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Presidential History
  1. Eisenhower's leadership style was gentle and focused on teamwork. He aimed to create a positive political atmosphere and avoid conflict.
  2. He was criticized for not taking a strong stance on key issues like desegregation. Some people felt he should have shown more moral leadership during his presidency.
  3. Despite being popular in his time, Eisenhower's legacy is often overlooked today. Many aspects of his presidency, like budget balance and civility, are worth reflecting on as they contrast with today's politics.

Why Biden failed

Silver Bulletin • 1209 implied HN points • 20 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Presidential History
  1. Biden faced huge challenges from the pandemic, his age, and a divided Democratic Party. These factors made it hard for him to keep his promises to the voters.
  2. His approach to tackling multiple crises at once hurt his effectiveness. Instead of focusing on solving one problem, he tried to handle everything, which didn't work out well.
  3. Despite being popular when he started, Biden's approval ratings dropped as various issues like inflation and crime grew. His age also became a concern for many voters.

Yes, Trump Is a Demagogue. But So Were Many of His Forebears.

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 352 implied HN points • 19 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Presidential History
  1. Demagoguery is when leaders use people's emotions to gain power, and it can be both good and bad depending on how it's used.
  2. The American founders were worried about demagoguery because they thought it could harm the government and public trust.
  3. Many people find it hard to talk about demagoguery because they often see it as just a bad thing, but it's actually a more complex issue in politics.

Behind the Op-Ed: My latest in the New York Times

Study Marry Kill • 157 implied HN points • 19 Feb 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Presidential History
  1. The author is a presidential historian who dislikes Presidents' Day.
  2. The op-ed in the New York Times was inspired by a rewritten story of The Emperor's New Clothes.
  3. The author emphasizes the importance of public holidays for a sense of self and suggests celebrating Presidents' Day as a reflection of an active electorate's choice.

Jimmy Carter as public manager

Can We Still Govern? • 205 implied HN points • 30 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Presidential History
  1. Jimmy Carter was the last U.S. President to pass significant civil service reforms, focusing on modernizing and protecting government workers from political interference. This shows how important it is to balance accountability and ethics in government.
  2. Carter introduced the idea of Zero-Based Budgeting to the federal government, but it didn't work. This highlights the challenges of applying private sector methods in a political system that operates differently.
  3. The principles set by Carter's reforms for federal employees emphasize fairness and merit, which are important for creating a trustworthy government. Striking the right balance between political influence and protection for government workers is still an ongoing debate.

Reckoning with the Biden Lie

Political Currents by Ross Barkan • 47 implied HN points • 03 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Presidential History
  1. Many people ignored signs that Biden might not be fit to serve long-term, but now they are facing the truth about his capabilities. There was a illusion among politicians and media about Biden's readiness that is being dismantled.
  2. Despite some issues, Biden achieved significant policy successes, especially in areas like green energy and healthcare. His administration made important moves against corporate power and economic recovery.
  3. As Biden's presidency ends, he may not have the chance to improve his public image like other past presidents. His time in office will likely be overshadowed by his age and the stark contrast with Donald Trump's influence.