About Steven W. Allen, J.D.

Steven W. Allen, J.D. is an author, speaker, and retired attorney. His book "Founding Fathers - Uncommon Heroes" is popular with all ages and is used in many schools. See his other books at www.StevenAllenBooks.com

Thoughts on Education, Government and Good Citizens

Horace_Mann_-_Daguerreotype_by_Southworth_&_Hawes,_c1850There is much talk in government about government and about education these days. It’s not new. Horace Mann (1785-1859), who was an educator, lawyer, and Congressman had this to say about it:

“If we do not prepare our children to become good citizens—if we do not develop their capacities, if we do not enrich their minds with knowledge, imbue (cause to become penetrated, permeate) their hearts with love of truth and duty and a reverence for all things sacred and holy, then our republic must go down to destruction, as others have gone before it (think of Rome); and mankind must sweep through another vast cycle of sin and suffering before the dawn of a better era can arise upon the world. It is for our government, and for that public opinion which in a republic governs the government, to choose between weal (a sound healthy prosperous state) or woe (condition of deep suffering).” (Italics added to help with understanding.) read more

Just Facts about U.S. Presidents

Ronald ReaganWith our upcoming Presidential Election coming this year, I thought you might be interested in a few fascinating facts about our past presidents.

The oldest President—Ronald Reagan

The youngest President—Theodore Roosevelt

The youngest to be elected President—John F. Kennedy

The shortest President—James Madison (5’4’’)

The heaviest President—William Taft 321 lbs. in 1911 (a new larger   bathtub was installed for him in the White House)

The first President to live in the White House at Washington, DC—John Adams read more

Politics and Wealth

HeaderPerhaps both of our democrat candidates for President of the United States should listen to this story:

A certain nobleman had a valet who was violently opposed to the capitalistic system, and who devoted most of his spare time to attending meetings where he could listen while socialistic theories were expounded. The man’s master was tolerant because the servant was diligent in the performance of his duties.

Suddenly the valet stopped going to meetings, and after several weeks the master became curious enough to ask the reason. read more

Lincoln and Federal Judgeships

Abraham_Lincoln_2I don’t know why, but the passing of Justice Antonin Scalia reminds me of a story about Judges, Lawyers, and President Lincoln.

A great admirer of President Abraham Lincoln once appeared in front of President Lincoln and asked for an appointment as a federal judge as a reward for some campaigning he had done in Illinois. The President, who was aware of the man’s complete lack of judicial attributes told the man: “There simply are no vacancies at the present time.”

That man left. Early the next day, this same man was walking along the Potomac River and he saw a man being pulled from the river, drowned. He immediately recognized the man as a federal judge. Without any hesitation, the man again presented himself to President Lincoln as he was eating breakfast. He told President Lincoln what he had seen and demanded an appointment to this new vacancy. read more

Happy Valentines Day, or More Backbiting?

Ronald ReaganAfter last nights GOP Presidential debate, some of us have broken hearts. It seemed like such a squabble, (which is defined as a “noisy altercation”), that I couldn’t tell who won, or who would likely lose support, or who had the best ideas, because of all the noise!

Aesop said it this way: “A husbandman who had a quarrelsome family, after having tried in vain to reconcile them by words, thought he might more readily prevail by example. So he called his sons and bade them lay a bundle of sticks before him. Then having tied them up into a fagot (a bundle, as in bundle of sticks), he told the lads, one after another, to take it up and break it. They all tried, but tried in vain. Then, untying the fagot, he gave them the sticks to break one by one. This they did with the greatest of ease. Then said the father: ‘Thus, my sons, as long as you remain united, you are a match for all your enemies; but differ and separate, and you are undone.’” read more

Justice Antonin Scalia Dies

Ronald ReaganThe longest serving Justice on the Supreme Court died today. He had been appointed by President Ronald Reagan. By all accounts he was not only wise and scholarly, he was friendly and had a good sense of humor. He caused the Court to consider carefully what they were deciding, and to look closely at the issues and the deciding factors. Not always apparent in Judges minds.

I suppose he liked this story about why you actually need a lawyer at times: “A businessman who had consulted his attorney for some legal advice ran into a friend to whom he recounted his experience. read more

Happy Birthday Abe!

Abraham_Lincoln_2Today is Abraham Lincoln’s birthday. I remember when we celebrated this birthday on his actual birthday, in school, with lots of information and details about his wondrous life and what he did as president. I loved it, even as much as Valentines day. Honest Abe we called him. And we heard stories about his log splitting, his politicking on trains, and even the growth of the beard as suggested by a young girl.

Then, of course, we also celebrated George Washington’s birthday, on his real birthday, too. His real birthday is February 22. We heard from our school teachers about him cutting down the cherry tree and then telling his dad “I cannot tell a lie!” and other tidbits of his true character. These two men were great examples to us, not only of honesty, but also of strength of character, overcoming obstacles, facing daunting problems. read more

Today’s Word: Dearth

whom?That’s Dearth, not Death!

Not used much today—it seems there’s a dearth in the use of dearth. It just seems to me that today there is a little bit of a dearth in the use of civil discourse. In politics I guess that’s normal. But should the Republicans be tearing each other apart with the prospect looming that they will face either an avowed socialist (that would have been unheard of when I was in college) or a shameless liar about too many things.

Dearth, of course, is a synonym for lack, scarcity, shortage, want, paucity, deficiency, or just plain absence. read more

Examples and Character

Ben Franklin thumb pictureA few posts back, I quoted a statement by Thomas Carlyle. Perhaps you’ll remember that he was a Scottish philosopher, writer, essayist, historian, and teacher. Here’s another quote from Carlyle that I think you’ll like:

“Show me the man you honor, and I will show you the kind of man you are, for it shows me what your ideal of manhood is, and what kind of man you long to be.”

Now that’s a very nice statement, but I don’t think I can actually live up to it! Because the men I honor are the Founding Fathers of our nation, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Patrick Henry, James Madison, and Benjamin Franklin. They are my ideals, but I can’t live up to their example. read more

President Reagan’s Gift for Humor

Ronald ReaganI think we need more humor at this time in the electioneering process. It seems that everyone takes everything a bit too seriously. I know it’s a serious endeavor to run for the office of President. At times the debates are almost overbearing. A sense of humor can take some of the bite off.

We could take a hint from Ronald Reagan, who, it seems, had a rejoinder for every serious occasion.For example, during the 1985 summit meeting in Geneva with Mikhail Gorbachev, Ronald Reagan told the following story: read more