Richard Kreitner

richardkreitner

Richard Kreitner is a contributing writer and the author of Break It Up: Secession, Division, and the Secret History of America's Imperfect Union. His writings are at richardkreitner.com.

December 20, 1968: John Steinbeck Dies

December 20, 1968: John Steinbeck Dies December 20, 1968: John Steinbeck Dies

“I have no doubt that, being human, he enjoys praise, but he has consistently shunned the mechanics and functionaries of publicity.”

Dec 20, 2015 / Richard Kreitner

December 19, 1968: Norman Thomas Dies

December 19, 1968: Norman Thomas Dies December 19, 1968: Norman Thomas Dies

“There is little glory in what he is doing. But Thomas is having a magnificent time. He is doing what he wants to do and doing it well.”

Dec 19, 2015 / Richard Kreitner

December 18, 1878: Joseph Stalin Is Born

December 18, 1878: Joseph Stalin Is Born December 18, 1878: Joseph Stalin Is Born

“A good friend might advise Stalin to put a stop to the orgy of personal glorification which has been permitted to sweep the country.”

Dec 18, 2015 / Richard Kreitner

December 17, 1938: Otto Hahn Discovers Nuclear Fission, the Basis for the Atom Bomb

December 17, 1938: Otto Hahn Discovers Nuclear Fission, the Basis for the Atom Bomb December 17, 1938: Otto Hahn Discovers Nuclear Fission, the Basis for the Atom Bomb

“The remarkable work of atomic scientists is benefiting mankind in a thousand ways, and the inspiring fact is that this work has only begun.”

Dec 17, 2015 / Richard Kreitner

December 16, 1901: Margaret Mead Is Born

December 16, 1901: Margaret Mead Is Born December 16, 1901: Margaret Mead Is Born

“The Samoan girl leads a busy, unconscious existence in which impulse and duty appear to play pleasantly correlative roles.”

Dec 16, 2015 / Richard Kreitner

December 15, 2011: Christopher Hitchens Dies

December 15, 2011: Christopher Hitchens Dies December 15, 2011: Christopher Hitchens Dies

“Posterity is unlikely to deal kindly with his willingness to be a singer in the camp of George W. Bush.”

Dec 15, 2015 / Richard Kreitner

December 14, 2012: Shooter Kills 26, Most of Them Children, at Sandy Hook Elementary

December 14, 2012: Shooter Kills 26, Most of Them Children, at Sandy Hook Elementary December 14, 2012: Shooter Kills 26, Most of Them Children, at Sandy Hook Elementary

“Whatever the solutions, the problem is clear—and that should be more than enough reason for change.”

Dec 14, 2015 / Richard Kreitner

December 13, 2003: Saddam Hussein Is Captured

December 13, 2003: Saddam Hussein Is Captured December 13, 2003: Saddam Hussein Is Captured

“Neither the overthrow of the Baathist regime nor Saddam’s capture can erase the fact that Washington helped prop up Saddam for years.”

Dec 13, 2015 / Richard Kreitner

December 12, 2000: In ‘Bush v. Gore,’ the Supreme Court Gives the Presidential Election to George W. Bush

December 12, 2000: In ‘Bush v. Gore,’ the Supreme Court Gives the Presidential Election to George W. Bush December 12, 2000: In ‘Bush v. Gore,’ the Supreme Court Gives the Presidential Election to George W. Bush

“Power is a mighty temptation. Money is another. Put the two together, and you have a force to reckon with.”

Dec 12, 2015 / Richard Kreitner

December 11, 1981: The Salvadoran Army Murders More Than 800 Civilians in El Mozote

December 11, 1981: The Salvadoran Army Murders More Than 800 Civilians in El Mozote December 11, 1981: The Salvadoran Army Murders More Than 800 Civilians in El Mozote

“President Reagan certified to Congress that the government of El Salvador was making ‘a concerted and significant effort’ to respect human rights.”

Dec 11, 2015 / Richard Kreitner

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