Author Archives: Steven W. Allen, J.D.


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

Thomas Jefferson as A Speaker

Posted on by December 30, 2015

ThomasJeffersonSpeaking of professional speakers, one of the Founding Fathers who wouldn’t be one would be Thomas Jefferson! Although he was very intellectual, wise, and erudite, he was not a good speaker. He could write better than the best of them. But speak he could not, and he knew it. For that reason alone, he probably couldn’t be elected President today.

His voice was high and “squeaky”. He wrote the initial draft of the Declaration of Independence without book or pamphlet as references. Only his background and training as a lawyer guided him through his writing. But he didn’t speak up on behalf of his draft at the Continental Congress. He allowed John Adams to represent him and the committee in advocating adoption of the Declaration. read more

Give Me Liberty

Posted on by December 29, 2015

PatrickHenryI received my monthly “Speaker” magazine today. I am a professional speaker and have been a member of this fine Association for many years. Of course, my interest has been speaking about the Founding Fathers and the way they taught character and leadership.

But today as I looked at my new magazine, I couldn’t help but think that there was no National Speakers Association in the 1700’s. And indeed, there were no professional speakers in that day either. There were, however some very great speakers. John Adams, with his persuasive ability comes to mind. read more

Washington, Peanuts, and Camping

Posted on by December 28, 2015

Valley_Forge_National_Historical_Park_VAFO4627George Washington was familiar with camping. He did it during the French and Indian War, the Battle of Boston, of New York, of Trenton and Princeton, and his favorite, at Yorktown. With many adventures in between. He was a good camper, and a great tactician. Although he did get a little bit better accommodations at camping than most of his soldiers.

I still suspect he sometimes felt a little bit like Lucy in a Peanuts comic strip. The comic strip goes like this:

Lucy is at her desk with the sign above, which declares: “Psychiatric Help 5 cents.” Well it was really a cent sign, which my keyboard doesn’t have. read more

George Visits the Carribean

Posted on by December 27, 2015

GeorgeWashingtonGeorge Washington’s mother taught him that it was not enough to have big dreams, but you had to do something about them. Accomplish things. Early in his life young George wanted to become a sailor, like his brother Lawrence before him. His mother, though, discouraged him.

But George did join his brother on what became George’s only trip outside of the American Continent. Lawrence had contracted tuberculosis. His doctor suggested that Lawrence should go to the West Indies and rest in that humid and warm client. George went with him. read more

Happy New Year

Posted on by December 26, 2015

colorful-calendar-2016-template-free-vectorHere’s a thought for the New Year:

“The old year dies and we face the new year as though it was a new entity, new as a newborn babe (sometimes it’s even pictured that way)

. . . Yet all our yesterdays are summarized in our now, and all the tomorrows are ours to shape, . . . and year’s end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom and experience can instill in us.” –Hal Borland, as quoted in “Worth Repeating” by Bob Kelly.

Thanks Bob!

West Point Academy

Posted on by December 24, 2015

West_Point_Cadet_Chapel_Interior_04Did you know that the Church Organ at the Church at West Point is the largest Church organ in the world. Yes, even bigger than the Tabernacle organ of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. It’s considered an honor to ask to play it. That organ has 23,511 pipes. The Mormon Tabernacle organ has only 11,623 pipes.

You’ll remember, of course, that the traitor, Benedict Arnold attempted to sell the old Fort at West Point to the British during the Revolutionary War. He was a turncoat to the Redcoats after he had been a hero at Fort Ticonderoga. What a shame. read more

George Washington, a Success Story

Posted on by December 23, 2015

GeorgeWashingtonThis quote by Booker T. Washington, seems especially to apply to our own First President, George Washington:

“Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles he has overcome.”

Although George’s success could by measured by the positions that he reached, during which he had to overcome many obstacles.

He was a hero in the French and Indian War, a member of Virginia’s House of Burgesses, a very successful plantation owner and businessman, the First Commander in Chief of the new United Colonial Army. He also was a hero, a tactician, a chief of a spy ring, and a celebrated and distinguished General in the Revolutionary War—which he eventually won against the World’s largest military and navy. read more

The Law

Posted on by December 22, 2015

constitutionI came across this ditty while looking up another quote. I include it here as it has truth as its basis.

“Jack says that of law common sense is the base,
And, doubtless, in that he is right;
Though certain I am, that in many a case
The foundation is quite out of sight.”

Of course, man is a noble creature, but he has made some 34,657,983 laws and hasn’t yet improved on the Ten Commandments.

For Winter and Christmas

Posted on by December 21, 2015

Header5.jpgOne Christmas, Phil and Will decided to build a skating rink in the middle of a pasture. A shepherd leading his flock decides to take a shortcut across the rink. The sheep, however, were afraid of the ice and wouldn’t cross it. Despearate, the shepherd begins tugging the sheep to the other side.

“Look at that,” remarks Phil to Will, “that guy is trying to pull the wool over our ice!”