Author Archive

America honors its deceased presidents, its fallen troops, its late senators, and even its musicians and movie stars. But what about its veterinarians? Well, there’s one veterinarian who deserves pause for recognition. His name was Nels Konnerup. He recently passed away at age 92. Born in Everett, Washington on December 4, 1916, Konnerup was shaped by... »

Dr. Paul Kengor interviews Dr. George Schroeder, a physician working in America and a brand new American citizen who was born and raised not far from the Berlin Wall. Today, Dr. Schroeder fights the fight for freedom, including a free-market healthcare system in America. He is eager to share his unique experiences as a... »

Every Veterans Day presents an opportunity to commemorate those who served in some faraway place long ago, many of whom paid that ultimate sacrifice. World War II offers its share of remembrances: Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941; Normandy, June 6, 1944; the Battle of the Bulge, December 16, 1944; to name a few. ... »

Even CNN was shocked. Even the Obama White House was shocked. “Only nine months into his presidency,” reported a baffled CNN news anchor this morning. “President Obama has won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. The announcement made jaws drop even at the White House.” When I first heard the news, I thought it was a joke. The... »

When I first heard it, I didn’t believe it. Alas, it’s true. Last week, New York City’s Empire State Building was aglow in red and yellow. Why? To commemorate the 60th anniversary of the victorious revolution of the People’s Republic of China—i.e., the establishment of Mao’s Red China. (Click here for photo.) I’m not kidding. This... »

As someone who teaches and writes about international politics, I can confidently say that last week was one of the strangest in memory, from the G-20 circus in my backyard (Pittsburgh) to the political zoo at the United Nations. President Obama, of course, was front and center, including with a major speech at the... »

The huge “9/12” protest in Washington was the latest expression of discontent over President Obama’s leftward policy thrust. The discord is evident from the “Tea Party” movement to the chaotic “townhalls” on “healthcare reform.” The mainstream media and American left are thrown off by this, clearly wanting to dismiss it as a giant, petulant right-wing... »

Over the last week-and-a-half I’ve gotten an overwhelming number of inquiries relating to the death of Senator Ted Kennedy. Why me? Because of my report back in 2006 of Kennedy’s confidential offer to Soviet General Secretary Yuri Andropov. That offer was evident in a fascinating May 14, 1983 memo written by KGB head Victor... »

The late Republican political strategist, Lee Atwater, a brilliant Machiavellian, used to invoke what he called “The Napoleonic Maxim:” Never interfere with the enemy when he’s in the process of destroying himself. If Atwater were alive today, how would he advise conservative Republicans in responding to the “healthcare reform” being pushed by President Obama... »

“How can ANYONE take this man seriously?” writes Marilyn, a frequent reader of our Center for Vision & Values articles. Attached to Marilyn’s email was this headline, “Gore compares climate change fight to war against Nazis.” As the accompanying article noted, Al Gore, speaking at the World Forum on Enterprise and the Environment in Oxford,... »

There’s an important article in the Politico , titled, “Obama invokes Jesus more than Bush.” President Barack Obama, says the article, has mentioned Jesus Christ “in a number of high-profile public speeches,” more so than did President George W. Bush, and in much less “innocuous contexts.” Obama has done so in order to promote... »

I was at the Rotunda at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, June 3, for the dedication of the statue to President Ronald Reagan. I was there because Bill Clark was there. Judge Clark, as readers of my material know, was Reagan’s closest and most important adviser. Clark is 77 years old. His wife, Joan, died... »

In May 1995, his first year as Pennsylvania governor, Tom Ridge was invited by Gannon University, a Catholic college in Erie, Pa., to give the commencement address and receive an honorary degree. But the distinguished Republican and native son had a problem: he was a pro-choice Catholic. Erie Bishop Donald Trautman expressed his “concerns.” Governor... »

Is he pro-life or pro-choice? That was the giant unknown hanging in the balance one day in 1990 as President George H. W. Bush nominated a mystery man named David Souter for a Supreme Court seat. Both sides of the abortion issue badly wanted answers. I remember those debates, and especially the uncertainty. America got... »

Every American, obviously, has heard of Ronald Reagan, and Reagan historians have heard of Bill Clark. Clark was Reagan’s close aide, who, more than any other, laid the foundation for Cold War victory. Few historians, however, knew a 20th century figure named Joan Clark, who survived communism—and the Nazis—and joined Bill Clark as wife and... »

I hear it repeatedly, even from pro-business conservatives: Hey, I have no sympathy for AIG and the automakers and banks. When you take government money, you can expect the government to tell you what to do. Besides, these companies are wasteful, charge too much, and their salaries are too high. Well, if that’s so, then why... »

Dr. Paul Kengor, the executive director of The Center for Vision & Values at Grove City College, interviews Dr. Jason R. Edwards, a research fellow with the Center and an associate professor of education and history at Grove City College. He is also a Center fellow in educational policy and in the study of... »

President Obama says the economy is the worst since the Great Depression. Actually, it is the worst since the Reagan recession of 1982-83. Further, the 2009 market crash is not the worst since 1929 but since 1987—also on Ronald Reagan’s watch. What did Reagan do—or, more importantly, didn’t do—in response to these “crises?” How was... »

Newsflash, March 20, 2009: The Congressional Budget Office today forecast a U.S. budget deficit of $1.8 trillion for this year. For many Americans, including some Democrats, there is tremendous frustration over President Obama’s economic policies. Worse, they know that a huge portion of the public and media so adore Obama that they will not question... »

What’s the state of the republic—and its citizens—this Presidents’ Day 2009? It is a state of deep confusion. Here are some polls to ponder, as America considers presidents past and new. Brace yourself. Before he was elected president, Senator Barack Obama was ranked the most liberal member of a very liberal U.S. Senate by the... »