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

Always Be Thankful

Posted on by October 18, 2015

GW RulesYou really can find something everyday to be thankful for. My daughter taught a class of young kids at Sunday School today. She brought some small pebbles for each child and told the kids to take off one shoe and place the pebble inside the shoe and then walk around the small classroom.

They did. She asked how that felt. The children all told that it was a little bit uncomfortable. She then handed each a small candy bar and told them to walk around the room again. They did. This time they said it was still uncomfortable but the candy bar made it seem so much better. She reminded them that even though their walk with the pebble in their shoe was with discomfort, having the candy bar to eat on the 2nd path made it all much better. read more

Founding Fathers and Humility

Posted on by October 18, 2015

Scene_at_the_Signing_of_the_Constitution_of_the_United_StatesThis is a quote that reminds me of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and others of our Founding Fathers—Uncommon Heroes:

“Something Very Beautiful happens to a people when their world has fallen apart: A Humility. A Nobility. A Higher Intelligence Emerges at just the point when our knees hit the Floor.” –Marianne Williamson

The world had fallen apart for these men, and they came to the rescue with humility, nobility, and a belief in the support of a Higher Intelligence. Their knees often hit the floor. read more

Christ, Government, and Rome

Posted on by October 18, 2015

Illgegal Trial of Christ coverI think I’ve mentioned before that I’ve been reading again a marvelous old work by Walter S. Chandler, an attorney of the New York Bar, called “The Trial of Jesus From a Lawyer’s Standpoint”. The treatise is a two-volume work written, or copyrighted in 1908.

Part of the book deals with the Graeco-Roman Social Life about the time of Christ’s life. It is eye-opening and sobering about the background at that time in history, not just from a Christian lawyer’s standpoint, but from a world history view. read more

Thomas Jefferson has Succeeded

Posted on by October 13, 2015

ThomasJefferson“To laugh often and love much, to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others, to give one’s self, this it to have succeeded.” –Ralph Waldo Emerson.

I believe that this is an accurate description of Thomas Jefferson. He did laugh at funny occurrences. I’ll give you an example:

One day while President Jefferson was out riding his horse as he did quite often. He came upon a man and stopped to talk with him. The man reviled the current President, not knowing he was current talking with the man himself. read more

John Adams defeats Thomas Jefferson, Then Visa Versa!

Posted on by October 13, 2015

JohnAdamsThomasJeffersonJohn Adams was a firm supporter of Thomas Jefferson’s draft of the Declaration of Independence in the Continental Congress of 1776. Tom then referred to Adams as the Colossus of the debates.

When George Washington declined to run for a third term as President of the United States, John Adams was elected as his replacement. Thomas Jefferson received the next highest number of electoral votes, and so became his Vice President.

John Adams revealed a bit of humorous jealousy when he wrote of what future historians would record about his time: read more

Christopher Columbus, George Washington, and Perseverance

Posted on by October 12, 2015

Christopher_Columbus_on_Santa_Maria_in_1492.Happy Columbus Day! Christopher Columbus and George Washington had many character traits in common. The most remarkable is Perseverance.

Columbus had an idea about reaching the East by sailing West. No one had successfully done that before. He was an expert sailor and mapmaker. He came up with his plan and presented it to the King of Portugal, the King and Queen of Spain—four times, the King of France, and he even sent his brother to England to present his plan.

He was on his way to present his plan once again to the King of France, when he was called back to the Majesties of Spain once again. They had just won their war in Grenada and now his plan sounded better to them. One more presentation and it was granted and approved. read more

Founding Fathers in the Right Place

Posted on by October 11, 2015

Speaking-2When I was in college, my girlfriend (now my wife) and I went to an open-air concert. It was presented by the late music composer and singer, John Hartford. It was a great concert!

One of his songs stuck with me and has had a real meaning in my life. The lyrics occasionally come into my mind with several experiences. I guess because I have been in the right place at the right time for special events in my life to occur.

It’s a fun song and the lyrics go like this:

“I would not be here if I hadn’t been there,
and I wouldn’t ‘a been there if I hadn’t just turned
on Wednesday the third in the late afternoon
got to talking with George who works out in the back
and only because he was getting off early
to go see a man at a Baker Street bookstore
with a rare first edition of Steamboats and Cotton
a book he would never have sought in the first place
had he not been inspired by a fifth grade replacement
school teacher in Kirkwood who was just picked at random . . . “ read more

Benjamin Franklin, Government and Daylight Savings Time

Posted on by October 10, 2015

Ben FranklinWise old Benjamin Franklin made lots of discoveries. But I have to say that one of them makes no sense at all today. In Ben’s day during the winters the cost of candles was one of the major expenses. So Ben came up with the idea of “Daylight Savings Time.” They would use the longer days to save themselves the need to keep the candle burning. It caught on.

But today, does it still make any sense, what with light bulbs and electricity and all our conveniences? Why do we need the trouble of changing the time on our electric clocks? Spring forward, fall back. But why now? It no longer makes any sense. read more

Thomas Jefferson and Books

Posted on by October 9, 2015

Library of Congress Reading Room

Thomas Jefferson loved books. To his friend, John Adams, he declared “I cannot live without books!” He was a voracious reader. When you visit his home at Monticello, you will not only see his library but you will also notice that he had several places set aside in multiple rooms in his home, where he could sit and read when time permitted.

The British burned down the Library of Congress in the War of 1812, along with several other buildings, like the President’s Mansion. Jefferson offered to sell his library to Congress to replace what they had lost. In 1815 Congress approved the purchase, and it took ten wagonloads to bring the books to Washington, DC! read more

Benjamin Franklin Stories to 2nd Graders at School

Posted on by October 8, 2015

October 8, 2015.

Today was the day I got to speak to four classes of 2nd graders. It came about when my grandson, Garrett, himself a 2nd grader, gave his teacher my book, “Founding Fathers—Uncommon Heroes>” This teacher, Ms. Perkins actually loved the book!

The teacher then asked my daughter, Wendi, Garrett’s mother, if she could ask me to come and teach Garrett’s class a little bit about some of the Founding Fathers. She asked me and I accepted. The Ms. Perkins though all of the 2nd graders should hear my presentation! So she invited the other classes to join together. That meant I was to speak to 4 different classes made up of about 100 2nd graders. read more