David Holzel

Joined: Nov 21, 2012

Memorial Day is a day to remember those lost to war.

10 Things to Remember About Memorial Day

8 Chanukah Mysteries Revealed

7 Space Missions to Remember

8 Rejected Supreme Court Nominees

More Than Just Fireworks: Celebrating 6 National Days

Monday was Australia Day. In India, it was Republic Day. While both are national holidays, the reasons for their celebration couldn't be more different. So how does a country decide which is the day for fireworks, parades, marching bagpipers, and the odd

4 Presidential In-Laws Who Made the Move to Washington

Late last week, the transition team confirmed that President-Elect Obama's mother-in-law will be moving to Washington with the first family, at least temporarily. Marian Robinson will be the latest in a line of presidential in-laws who, for good or ill, l

Self-Help Tips from General George Washington

"Every action in company ought to be done with some sign of respect to those that are present." With that mild but firm assertion begins a little book of self-improvement that George Washington copied down as a teenager. There followed 109 rules, and by

5 Third-Party Candidates (And What They Did After They Lost)

Ralph Nader and Bob Barr couldn't gain any electoral traction on Tuesday. But in honor of their campaigns, let's look back at some notable third-party candidates. 1. John B. Anderson, 1980: Doonesbury's

5 Feisty First Daughters

With Sasha & Malia Obama set to join the First Daughters club, let's look back at some of the notable women who came before them. Here are five tales you might not have heard. 1. Sarah Knox Taylor Davis She packed a lot of drama into her 21 years. The se

5 Feisty Presidential Daughters

There have been presidential daughters almost as long as there have been presidents. (George Washington had no children.) What these women did—both under the influence of and independent from their influential fathers—make fascinating stories

7 Things I learned reading North Korea's newspaper

The Japanese are reporting that Kim il Jong has been dead since 2003. The UN thinks North Korea is slipping into a "serious food shortage"¦that is causing millions of people to go hungry." But what does North Korea think? I spent a week (July 21-Aug. 1)

Boycotting and Banning: The Real Olympic Sports

"If this is an Olympic year, it must be time for a boycott," Tony Kornheiser wrote in the New York Times in 1976. That year, many African nations were incensed that New Zealand's rugby team had toured ostracized South Africa. Would Africa boycott the Mon

Getting to Know Franklin Pierce

We've been hearing a lot about the more popular Presidents this holiday weekend. But for some reason, nobody's mentioned Franklin Pierce. Let's change that by revisiting David Holzel's piece on the man they called Young Hickory of the Granite Hills, which

5 Forgotten Founding Fathers

There were 56 men who put quill to parchment during the Summer of Independence in 1776. Most of the signers would be unrecognized today, even if they turned up on Dancing with the Stars. In their time, they were colorful men, prominent patriots and leader

Why are there 9 Supreme Court Justices? (And why have a Supreme Court at all?)

With the Supreme Court ending its 2007-08 term last week, we thought now was a good time to answer some questions you probably weren't asking (but will nonetheless find interesting). The honorable David Holzel is presiding. Why are there 9 Supremes? Ther

8 Rejected Supreme Court Justices

With the Supreme Court ending its 2007-08 term, we thought this week was a good time to answer some questions you probably weren't asking (but will nonetheless find interesting). All week, the honorable David Holzel will be