Richard Tucker writes about American political thought as senior writer in The Heritage Foundation’s B. Kenneth Simon Center for Principles and Politics.
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Theodore Roosevelt, America’s 26th President, famously declared that the country ought to “speak softly and carry a big stick.” Good advice, especially in light of… Read More
The NFL’s replacement referees have missed a number of calls in recent weeks. But they’d be correct if they decided to flag Washington Post writer… Read More
For those old enough to remember 1980, the current campaign can seem mighty familiar. Back then, for example, the presidency of Jimmy Carter was besieged… Read More
George Bernard Shaw supposedly said that England and America were “two nations divided by a common language.” A similar problem applies to progressives and conservatives… Read More
Diplomats abroad represent the government of the United States. They must, therefore, speak with tact, but also with honesty. After all, most of the people… Read More
As Mark Twain might have put it, the reports that General Motors is alive are somewhat exaggerated. “Nearly two years after the introduction of the… Read More
The old joke about baseball in the District of Columbia was that Washington is “first in war, first in peace, and last in the league.”… Read More
It’s difficult to believe that less than a year ago, proponents of expanding the natural gas industry insisted that it needed federal subsidies. But at… Read More
Tuesday is “We Built This” night at the Republican National Convention. “The GOP is turning what some see as a presidential slight aimed at business… Read More
Even as the summer travel season is winding down, drivers have certainly noticed that gas prices are marching back up. Since the law of supply… Read More
Globe-trotting journalist Fareed Zakaria is on suspension from his posts at CNN and TIME magazine after he admitted to plagiarizing sections of a column on… Read More
This weekend, the U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team is widely favored to capture a gold medal. Favored to, but not guaranteed to. The Americans struggled… Read More
Woodrow Wilson came to Washington in 1913, and he never left. He’s the only President buried in D.C. He became the first President since John… Read More
America was supposed to be the land of self-government. Citizens were to govern themselves politically and morally. But such an independent citizen is proving to… Read More
“I am in favor of cutting taxes under any circumstances and for any excuse, for any reason, whenever it’s possible,” economist Milton Friedman once said…. Read More
It’s ironic that the front page of The Washington Post recently featured an obituary of long-time columnist William Raspberry on the same day it included… Read More
The state capital of Nebraska is named for Abraham Lincoln. Oddly, students may have to look outside the state’s school system if they hope to… Read More
Many campaign slogans and speeches read more like museum pieces than modern calls to action. But Ronald Reagan’s 1980 acceptance speech to the Republican National… Read More
The deeper meaning and implications of the Obamacare case for the Supreme Court’s reputation and constitutional law will be debated for years to come. In… Read More
For all our policy differences, there are a few economic ideas that liberals and conservatives can usually agree on. For example, we all tend to… Read More
Everyone knows you can’t take it with you. But you can use it to make the world a better place—both while you’re in it and… Read More
“I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival,” John Adams wrote about the signing of the… Read More
It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day attacks of a political campaign: Which candidate is mean to dogs versus which candidate has eaten… Read More
There are certain existential questions that humans have wrestled with since the dawn of time: “What is the meaning of life?” “Which came first: the… Read More
Despite its problems, the American higher education system remains the envy of the world. Students pour in from around the globe to study here, including… Read More
Were we directed from Washingtonwhen to sow, when to reap, we should soon want bread. — Thomas Jefferson The federal government hasn’t stuck its nose into when to… Read More
You may have seen the Web ads: “Five Secretaries of State from Former Republican Administrations Endorse Law of the Sea Ratification,” they declare. The point… Read More
Here’s a question that will be important throughout 2012 and probably for many years beyond: What did the Dodd–Frank financial regulation accomplish? The best answer… Read More
When we look back across history, it’s all too easy to assume that because something happened, it had to happen exactly the way it did…. Read More
It seems odd to note this in an election year, but it’s important nonetheless: The Founding Fathers feared unbridled, direct democracy. The Senate is supposed… Read More
