Thomas J. Whalen is an associate professor of social science at Boston University, and author of "Kennedy versus Lodge: The 1952 Massachusetts Senate Race."
Recently published
John Henry Is Right. Yawkey Way Should Be Renamed
The late Red Sox owner has been gone for decades but Tom Yawkey's baneful legacy on matters of race still lingers.
Is Trump A Carbon Copy Of Nixon? We Should Be So Lucky
Recent Trump comparisons to Nixon obscure the fact that Nixon left a remarkably progressive domestic record, writes Thomas J. Whalen.
LeBron Said 'Being Black In America Is Tough.' Bill Russell Would Agree
Fifty years later, the racism that plagued Bill Russell is alive and well in LeBron James's America, writes Thomas J. Whalen.
Must He Go? Big Papi's Big Year, And A Sports Hero For The Ages
To say David Ortiz has not been the most influential player in Red Sox team history, writes Thomas J. Whalen, is sort of like arguing the Beatles were just another...
How The GOP Lost The African-American Vote
Thomas J. Whalen looks at how the party of Abraham Lincoln became the party of Donald Trump.
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Echoes Of McCarthy: Will Trump Pay A Political Price For His Apparent Lack Of 'Decency'?
While separated by 60 odd years, Donald Trump’s denigrating remarks about a Gold Star family are eerily reminiscent of Joseph McCarthy’s political self-immolation, writes Thomas J. Whalen.
Run, Al, Run: Gore For President In 2016?
The former vice president definitely has the established bona fides to take another crack at the presidency. But is such a quest politically wise or even realistic?
'I'm A Believer': Why The Monkees Deserve A Place In The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame
It's easy to dismiss The Monkees as a "made for TV" rock band. But they are so much more.
Can Someone Explain How Robert E. Lee Became An American Icon?
A proliferation of books about the Civil War conveniently gloss over the fact that the Confederate general was a domestic terrorist who advocated the enslavement of millions.
Luis Tiant Deserves A Place In Baseball's Hall Of Fame
Why? The simplest answer is that Tiant earned it.