This week at In The Past Lane, the podcast about history and why it matters, we take a close look at Robert F. Kennedy. Here's the lineup: 1) First up, it's a short feature on the basics of the life of RFK. 2) Next, I speak with author Larry Tye about his new book, Bobby Kennedy: The Making of A … [Read more...]
Episode 005 Where Have You Gone, Robert F. Kennedy?
OP-ED The Pope is Coming to Get Us
[Please note: this piece originally appeared in the Huffington Post, September 23, 2015] When Pope Francis arrives in the United States this week, he will be greeted with an extraordinary outpouring of affection and adulation. It will come not merely from Catholics, but also from among … [Read more...]
The Origins of the Mighty Casey
Athletic competition in the U.S. has produced many superb writers who have penned many gems of sports literature. Grantland Rice gave us "the Four Horsemen" and Roger Angell the "Boys of Summer." But arguably the most famous piece of sports literature was not written by a seasoned journalist with … [Read more...]
Why Notre Dame Originally Opposed the Name “Fighting Irish”
InThePastLane January 1, 2013 by Edward T. O’Donnell As sports fans across the nation await the big NCAA college football national championship on January 7, 2013, it’s worth exploring the origins of the teams’ names. The University of Alabama’s team name—The Crimson … [Read more...]
Yes, Virginia, There Is A Santa Claus
InThePastLane Edward T. O’Donnell We’ve all heard the expression before as a means of acknowledging skeptical surprise. Sometimes it’s the full version—“Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus”—and other times it’s … [Read more...]