Washington was built to be the seat of American government, and its political history runs deep. These posts cover presidents, Congress, Cabinet members, scandals, inaugurations, and the machinery of power that has defined the city since 1800.
Discover the legacy of Matthew Gault Emery, the last mayor of Washington City before the District of Columbia Organic Act of 1871. Learn more about his life, the era he lived in, and his accomplishments in office.
Reed Smoot, elected in 1902, was the first Mormon in the US Senate. His eligibility was fought over for years until a 42 to 28 vote in 1907.
Some things never change. An article from The Washington Post on November 8th, 1913, speaks to frustrations over US-Mexico relations that still sound familiar.
Four miles northwest of Middleburg, at the base of Rattlesnake Mountain, sits the only home John and Jacqueline Kennedy ever built together. Named Wexford after the Irish county the Kennedys came from, it hosted JFK for about five weekends before Dallas.
Did you know the CIA’s headquarters was almost built in Alexandria, Virginia? This Washington Post article from 1955 explains what happened.
Everyone calls the CIA Langley. But why? The name traces from a Virginia governor, a Shropshire estate, and exit signs that lied for over a decade.
Welcome to Groundhog Day! We revisit the 1995 Federal Government Shutdown and the West Wing episode it inspired. Plus, who plays Ted Cruz in the movie adaptation? Read more to find out!
On March 4, 1865, Abraham Lincoln delivered his second inaugural address. Somewhere in the crowd stood John Wilkes Booth, six weeks before Ford’s Theatre.
Read this fascinating article from the Washington Post on December 8th, 1941 – the day after Pearl Harbor. Learn about the crowd that assembled outside the White House, angrily waiting for a sign of what was to come. Don’t forget to check out our post on what was happening in D.C. on the day of the attack!
