Recent “bully pulpit” Commentaries

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Fighting for the Public Good
Theodore Roosevelt didn’t plan to become president. In 1901, after President William McKinley was assassinated, the 42-year-old vice president was sworn in—becoming the youngest person ever to occupy the White House. Many in the Republican Party had hoped to sideline Roosevelt’s reformist energy by placing him in a quiet, symbolic role. But Roosevelt had other ideas. He brought his convictions...
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May 13, 2025
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The Latest... And Often Greatest
Is Ethics Dead? – Conclusion
What kind of leadership… what kind of citizenship, will it take to restore and live the values we claim to believe? It begins with service....
Is Ethics Dead? – Part II
What will it take to restore the values we claim to believe in before the damage becomes irreversible? They will not be restored by slogans,...
Is Ethics Dead? – Part I
There’s a scene in the Bill Murray movie Groundhog Day when Phil Connors—trapped in the same day over and over again—turns to two guys in...
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert EndsTonight and I Have a Few Words to Say About It
I never imagined I would be writing a commentary about the cancellation of a television program, certainly not one explained away under the dubious claim...
Trump Trifecta
Three issues converged this past week that show just how deeply the Justice Department has become enmeshed in the interests of Donald Trump, his family,...
The Greatest Sentence Ever Written
Walter Isaacson’s latest book, The Greatest Sentence Ever Written, has arrived at a pivotal moment for the country: the 250th anniversary of the American experiment....