CLIOPATRIA: A Group Blog

Robert KC Johnson

Should We Require . . .

Members of Congress to pass a basic U.S. History exam?

Talking Points Memo posts a clip from the House floor of Michelle Bachmann. The Minnesota congresswoman is contending that the "recession" FDR inherited was no more severe than the recession Calvin Coolidge inherited (she seems to be confusing Coolidge, who took office in 1923, with Warren Harding, who took office in 1921 and actually did inherit a recession). Bachmann then hilariously suggests that FDR made the "recession" worse by pushing through Congress something called the Hoot-Smalley Act. The Smoot-Hawley tariff, of course, was a GOP initiative, signed into law by President Hoover in 1930. Just amazing.



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Just How Stupid Are We? By Rick Shenkman

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