The site for Gods and Generals goes live with numerous new pics, including this one of Robert Duvall channeling Robert E. Lee. Apparently the narrative arc goes from the beginning of the war to the Battle of Chancellorsville in 1863…so I presume it ends with the death of Stonewall Jackson. We’ll see. At any rate, between this and Gettysburg, Jeff Daniels must be getting some kind of kickback from the Chamberlain estate. And who’s playing Lincoln?
Category: History
Dead Man Walking.
Further proof that only the good die young. See ya, Strom, and don’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out. This piece mentions that he’s both the oldest and longest-serving Senator in American history. It neglects to mention his record for the longest filibuster (24 hours, 18 minutes), when he was trying to bury (and successfully diluted) the 1957 Civil Rights Act.
Mr. Washington’s Congress.
In a show of commitment to NYC a year after the attacks, Congress convenes once again in Federal Hall, just as it did in the days of Washington. To my mind, this is one of the classier displays churned out by the 9-11 memorial industry this week.
Apocalypse Then.
The NYT watches John Kerry’s old Vietnam footage with the Senator and contemplates the relevance of military service to political life.
Larger than life.
Also in TNR (it seems the links are coming in pairs today), Nicholas Lemann critiques Robert Caro and Master of the Senate, the third volume in his LBJ series.
Second-Class Citizens, First-Class Surveillance.
Sketching an eerie parallel to Ashcroft’s current war on libraries, Derrick Jackson surveys the FBI’s long and ignoble history concerning Black America.
A Tale of Two Ranches.
The NYT contrasts the LBJ and Dubya ranches. “While Lyndon B. Johnson used his 2,700 acres as a political tool and power base to both stroke and dominate guests at his barbecues along the Pedernales River, Mr. Bush, the gregarious former fraternity president, has used his 1,600 acres as an isolated retreat to entertain family and a few old Texas friends.” Hmmm…perhaps it’s because the channels of power usually flow around rather than through our Dauphin, eh?
Gods and Generals Galore.
All kinds of behind-the-scenes photos of Gods and Generals are up on the web, including Sen. Robert Byrd cameoing (I presume) in Confederate attire. I’m confused…shouldn’t a West Virginia senator be wearing the Union blue?
Doris Kearns Badwin.
According to the LA Times and Mickey Kaus of Slate, another book of Doris Kearns Goodwin‘s, No Ordinary Time, suffers from Ambrose Syndrome (Ambrosia?). That’s a shame.
Druids Rejoice!
Stonehenge will be getting a retro makeover for the new millennium.