By
Margaret Duncan, Ed.D.
As
a teacher, I have attempted to engage students in learning about the Oregon
Trail in a variety of ways, including playing the Oregon Trail video game. So, I was genuinely excited to read about Rinker
Buck’s journey to travel the epic trail. I found the book to be a quick and easy read
that tells the story of Buck and his brother Nick, and Nick’s Jack
Russell terrier, Olive Oyl making a modern day crossing of the Oregon Trail.
As
a reader, I was in awe of Buck’s attempt to travel the length of the Oregon
Trail the old-fashioned way—in a covered wagon with a team of mules. Such a journey had not been attempted in more
than a century. The fact that so much of
the trail is still accessible was quite the revelation. As an East Coaster, many of our original trails and pioneer roads are long
gone, replaced by modern roads, cities and suburban sprawl.
Buck
gives an overview of the Oregon Trail, which spans two thousand miles and crosses
six states from Missouri to the Pacific coast. Once Buck sets up the history of
the trail, he then begins the narrative of the crossing. Buck and his brother
set out from St. Joseph, Missouri, to travel to Baker City, Oregon, a journey that would last four months.
The
book can be broken down into three distinct parts, a journal of the trip, an all-around
history of the trail, and the relationship Buck had with his father. As a reader, I most enjoyed the journal and
historical aspects of the book. Believe me, you will have a good idea of what it takes to change a wagon wheel or how precious water can truly be. In the
beginning of the book, Buck talks about wanting to do the crossing alone. However, as the book unfolds, it is hard to imagine
this journey being possible without the aid of his brother Nick. Indeed, the banter between the two is quite
fun.
I
would highly recommend this book. It is very entertaining, as well as
educational. The
reader will be transported to an earlier time and a chance to “Go West!” Plus, you will learn more about
what many of the Great Pioneers had to endure to make such an arduous journey. If you are like me and love the idea
of taking a great road trip, I would enthusiastically recommend picking up this
book. It is definitely worth a read!
By Jeff Burns
David
O. Stewart became a writer of history after a long legal career in Washington
D.C., and his legal training and career provide an interesting perspective in
his work. His first book, The Summer
of 1787, is about the tumultuous constitutional convention, and he was
inspired to write it by a Supreme Court case he was working on. His second book, Impeached, is about
the impeachment trial of President Andrew Johnson and was inspired by a
judicial impeachment case he worked on in 1989.
His third book, American
Emperor: Aaron Burr's Challenge to Jefferson's America, is
about Burr’s alleged conspiracy to commit treason by creating his own personal
empire in the Louisiana territory and the trial that resulted.
All three
books were great sellers and accumulated praise and acclaim. Summer was awarded the Washington
Writing Prize for best book of 2007, and Stewart received the 2013 History Award of the Society of
the Cincinnati as well. In 2013, he
released his first historical fiction novel, The Lincoln Deception,
about the John Wilkes Booth Conspiracy.
His most recent book, Madison’s Gift: Five Partnerships That Built
America is a unique biography of the fourth president, told in terms of
five pivotal personal relationships, each of which was crucial in some way to
the development of the United States.
Whether it’s the result of his own personality and
interests or the result of his legal training and career, Stewart is not the typical
historian. His books are different and
fresh, well worth checking out.
By Jeff Burns
Quick,
name a founding father. (Yes, I know that’s not a PC term, but anyone who knows
me would agree that PC is one of the last descriptors that anyone would use for
me.) You probably immediately thought of
Washington, Franklin, Adams, and Jefferson for example. And because you are
intelligent and interested enough to follow the Histocrats, you probably
thought of James Madison too. However,
I’d be willing to bet that he wasn’t the first name that crossed your mind. What do you know about “Little Jemmy” as he
was nicknamed? Many people know that he
was the smallest president to date (hence his nickname), standing at 5 ½ feet
or less and barely crossing the 100 pounds threshold. They know he was the fourth president, and
that he led the United States into the War of 1812, becoming the only sitting
President to actively command troops in war during the disastrous British
invasion and occupation of Washington D.C.
They probably also know that his young and vivacious wife, Dolly, was a
social butterfly and society trendsetter who heroically oversaw the rescue of
important objects in the White House.
Some
people, though, may not remember as much about his pre-presidential career, his
leading role at the Constitutional Convention, not only in the writing of the
Constitution, but also in its ratification as advocate and co-writer of The
Federalist essays. In Madison's Gift: Five Partnerships That Built America, historian David O. Stewart seeks to restore Madison to
his proper place in the framer/founder pantheon, as one of the most important,
if not the most important.
As Stewart points out, Madison’s
contemporaries recognized his importance in the founding of the United States;
more cities and counties in the country have been named after Madison than after
any other presidents. However, over the years, the soft-spoken, seemingly
introverted, bookworm has been overshadowed by other figures.
Stewart accomplishes his goal by
exploring Madison’s relationships with 5 important figures, George Washington, Alexander
Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, Dolly Madison, and James Monroe, writing about each
relationship separately. He uses letters
and documents (plenty of notes and citations) by and about Madison and each of
the other figures to create an elaborate picture of the relationship and how
that relationship was crucial in shaping the direction of the young
country. According to Stewart,
“Madison’s Gift”
was the ability to work with each person, in spite of occasional differences
and rivalries, and to make compromises and adjustments on order to reach his
ultimate goal of a self-sustaining constitutional republic.
Madison’s relationships were very
fluid. For example, he worked extremely
closely with Alexander Hamilton in the development of the Constitution and the
ratification struggle, but them found himself a leader of the political party
formed specifically in opposition to Hamiltonian ideas. Through the first years of the Washington
administration, Madison was the chief presidential advisor, but he found himself
pushed aside as Hamilton became closer.
Madison and Monroe were close friends but also intense political rivals
at times. And of course, Dolly brought a
tremendous personal change in the older, stoic Madison, drawing him out of his
shell.
Madison’s Gift is a very
interesting book that accomplishes the goal of restoring Madison to his
rightful place, and the reader gains insights into the personalities of all the
characters. Learning about them through
the deep personal and political relationships they shared brings them to life
in a way that other histories and biographies might not.
As
a teacher, I have attempted to engage students in learning about the Oregon
Trail in a variety of ways, including playing the Oregon Trail video game. So, I was genuinely excited to read about Rinker
Buck’s journey to travel the epic trail. I found the book to be a quick and easy read
that tells the story of Buck and his brother Nick, and Nick’s Jack
Russell terrier, Olive Oyl making a modern day crossing of the Oregon Trail. 
