Appreciating all that makes America special

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Yes, there are people honored in many of our categories. Here, we recognize those who’ve made contributions in unusual fields. They’re inventors, humorists, and generals. And though we’re scrupulously nonpolitical, we have a couple of Presidents here, too.


Person: Ronald Reagan

Posted by on Feb 7, 2011 in People | 1 comment

This has never been a political blog, so please don’t misinterpret the inclusion of our 40th President as a departure from that...

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Person: Walt Disney

Posted by on Jan 29, 2011 in People | Comments Off on Person: Walt Disney

Lots of people have changed American culture. Some for better, some for worse. But few have had the positive influence that Walter Elias...

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Person: Harry Houdini

Posted by on Jan 12, 2011 in People | 2 comments

Houdini’s first trick was to escape his name — Erich Weiss. I don’t know why, but you don’t expect the most amazing...

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Person: Dick Clark

Posted by on Dec 14, 2010 in People | 1 comment

It would be easy to pigeonhole Dick Clark as a dance show host or a game show host, or a New Year’s Eve host. And he is all those...

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Person: Dave Barry

Posted by on Nov 15, 2010 in People | 1 comment

  Dave Barry is one funny guy. Okay, I suppose that’s like saying broccoli is one green vegetable. Still, he’s funny when...

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Person: Ralph Lauren

Posted by on Oct 28, 2010 in People | Comments Off on Person: Ralph Lauren

  Some people struggle through their lives, never finding what they’re meant to do, never experiencing more than a regular...

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Person: George Eastman

Posted by on Oct 18, 2010 in People | Comments Off on Person: George Eastman

  You have a camera. As inexpensive and easy as digital models have become, you may even own several. Then you owe a debt to the man...

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Person: Henry Ford

Posted by on Jul 23, 2010 in People | Comments Off on Person: Henry Ford

You have a car. I have a car. All God’s children have cars. For this convenience, which the greatest kings in history never dreamed...

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Person: Julia Child

Posted by on Jul 7, 2010 in People | 1 comment

Julia Child didn’t set out to be a cooking celebrity. While that’s now a common condition, thanks to such outlets as The Food...

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Person: Albert Einstein

Posted by on Jun 21, 2010 in People | 1 comment

Einstein was not an American by birth; he grew up in Munich, then went to secondary school and university in Switzerland. But he, along...

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