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Richard Norton Smith
10quotes
Full Name and Common Aliases
Richard Norton Smith is a renowned American historian, author, and former director of the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum.
Birth and Death Dates
He was born on October 22, 1945. Unfortunately, there is no publicly available information regarding his passing.
Nationality and Profession(s)
As an American by birth, Richard Norton Smith has dedicated his life to the study and preservation of history. His professional background spans multiple disciplines, including historian, author, and museum director.
Early Life and Background
Growing up in a family that valued education and public service, Richard Norton Smith was encouraged from an early age to explore the world of politics and history. He developed a keen interest in presidential history, which would become a defining aspect of his career. After completing his secondary education, he went on to attend Yale University, where he earned his Bachelor's degree.
Major Accomplishments
Richard Norton Smith has made significant contributions to the field of historical scholarship. As the director of the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum, he oversaw various initiatives aimed at preserving and promoting the legacy of President Herbert Hoover. His leadership played a crucial role in establishing the library as a leading center for presidential research.
Notable Works or Actions
Throughout his career, Richard Norton Smith has authored numerous books that have shed new light on American history. Some of his notable works include _The Harvard Century_ and _On His Own Terms: A Life of Herbert Hoover_. He has also been instrumental in promoting the study of presidential history through various lectures, interviews, and public appearances.
Impact and Legacy
Richard Norton Smith's commitment to preserving historical knowledge and making it accessible to a broader audience has had a lasting impact on the field. His work as a museum director and author has not only contributed to our understanding of American history but also inspired new generations of historians and scholars. As a result, his influence extends beyond academia, with many people benefiting from his dedication to historical preservation.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Richard Norton Smith is widely quoted and remembered for his insightful commentary on presidential history and politics. His expertise has been sought by numerous media outlets, and he has appeared in various publications, including _The New York Times_ and _The Washington Post_. His ability to provide context and perspective on current events through the lens of historical analysis has made him a valuable resource for scholars, journalists, and the general public alike.
As a testament to his enduring legacy, Richard Norton Smith's contributions continue to be celebrated by those who value the study and preservation of history.
Quotes by Richard Norton Smith
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The American people are not uniquely, but characteristically the most spontaneously generous in the world and you’re seeing that all over this country in Web sites of charitable organizations that are crashing because of the overwhelming desire on the part of ordinary people to help out.
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When we’re talking about the “American response” to any disaster, it’s not just a government response, an official response, it’s a popular response.
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David Pietrusza has a gift for making the past both real and dramatically gripping.
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The American people are not uniquely, but characteristically the most spontaneously generous in the world and you're seeing that all over this country in Web sites of charitable organizations that are crashing because of the overwhelming desire on the part of ordinary people to help out.
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When we're talking about the "American response" to any disaster, it's not just a government response, an official response, it's a popular response.
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Richard Nixon as a 12-year-old was given a portrait of Lincoln that he hung over his bed. Nixon also justified what would later be seen as abuses of power by comparing America in the Vietnam era to the country during the Civil War.
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Presidents in wartime, embattled presidents, unpopular presidents, they all look to Lincoln. He's their patron saint because no president was more embattled or more unpopular than Lincoln was during his presidency. We think he was born on Mount Rushmore. Not so.
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One of hardest for any historian or a biographer to do is to capture convincingly on paper something as ethereal as charisma. It's a relative term, and different generations define it differently.
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I'm very old-fashioned - I don't operate with an agenda. If you're a biographer, you want to be passionate about what you're doing but dispassionate about how you do it.
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I was 14 years old in August of 1968 and had earned the money and had managed to get tickets as a guest of the Massachusetts delegation to the Republican convention in Miami and where I was on the floor in the Rockefeller demonstrations.