6 Jokes From 19th Century America
History books tell us that times were hard in the 1800s. But there was occasional humor. Some of it was even funny.
History
Before Bright Lights And Rapid Fire, There Was 1948 And One Question
The first presidential debate broadcast lasted one hour, and was broadcast without commercial interruption. Dewey and Stassen debated whether the Communist Party in the U.S. should be outlawed.
George Takei Debuts On Broadway In 'Allegiance'
Inspired by Takei's own childhood experiences, the musical spotlights a dark era in American history: The internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II.
'Wild Thing': Making Hearts Sing For 50 Years
The iconic rock song "Wild Thing" was written in 15 minutes, 50 years ago, and has since been licensed more than 7,300 times. Chip Taylor talks about the song he wrote that holds a special place in his heart.
'Destiny And Power' Reveals Elder Bush's Criticism Of His Son's Administration
NPR's Robert Siegel talks to Jon Meacham about his biography of George H.W. Bush, which includes the elder Bush's criticism of his son's administration when it came to the second war in Iraq.
'Ballad For Americans' Sent 'Message Of Unity' In 1940 Presidential Race
In the 1940 presidential campaign, one song reached across party lines and had everyone cheering. It was an unlikely hit: "The Ballad for Americans," an operatic folk cantata that ran 10 minutes.
How Suffragists Used Cookbooks As A Recipe For Subversion
Women seeking the right to vote published the cookbooks both to raise funds for their cause — and as a strategic rebuttal to those who painted them as neglectful mothers and kitchen-hating harridans.
Thomas Jefferson's 10 Rules Of Life — Mocked
Words of wisdom from an American president — spread, savored, satirized.
Chinese, Taiwanese Leaders To Meet In Singapore
Taiwan's official government news agency said Tuesday that Chinese President Xi Jinping would meet Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou in Singapore this weekend. NPR's Robert Siegel talks to Shelley Rigger, a professor at Davidson College and author of Why Taiwan Matters, about the meeting's significance. She says the timing of the meeting could have grave consequences for Taiwan's president.
5 Best-Selling Female Writers You May Not Have Heard Of
Many extremely popular writers of the 19th century are now pretty much forgotten — and gone with the wind.