The Surprisingly Normal First Lady
Betty Ford's statements were considered controversial in 1976. Yet her opinions, according to contemporary Roper and Gallup polls, were shared by the great majority of... More
About: Jeff Nilsson
Jeff Nilsson is the director of Post archives and a website editor. He is a specialist in American History, with graduate studies at the University of Wisconsin, University of New Mexico, and Eastern Michigan University. He writes our website's weekly Retrospective feature, and is directing the program of digitally converting the magazine's 190 years of issues.
Posts by Jeff Nilsson:
Dry Facts
The Post's reporting on droughts reflect the age-old conflict: the relentless power of nature versus the unconquerable spirit of man.... More
Hoops, Bloomers, and Common Sense
Why did the Bloomer skirt never catch on with women? These classic Post writers know!... More
“What a Woman!”
"What a Woman!" That's how reporter George Seldes responded when asked about Dorothy Thompson.... More
The Real Woman of the Year
Dorothy Thompson, according to author John Gunther, was, "The best reporter this generation has seen in any country, and that is not saying nearly enough."... More
That Distinctive Taste of American Food
A look back at what has made American cooking so memorable.... More
The US Air Force Turns 150 Years Old?
Improbable historical fact: The first electronic communication from the earth's atmosphere was transmitted from the deck of the Enterprise to Abraham Lincoln. (Now that was... More
Happy 75th Birthday, Superman!
According to a 1941 article in the Post, the Man of Steel had risen from a long-shot character created by two unknowns to the most... More
The Moonshining Tradition
A Post reporter believed that the illicit whiskey distiller was disappearing from the American landscape in 1966. He needn’t have worried. ... More
The Slighted Memory of Medgar Evers
A champion for civil rights is remembered today less for his accomplishments than for his murder.... More
Bob Hope: 50 Years at the Front
From 1941 to 1991, he was Chief Morale Officer for America's armed forces. A 1967 Post article gave a glimpse of the work, and dedication,... More
Thanks, Robert Buck. Goodbye, Willie Gillis.
The Post honors the passing of the man in whom Norman Rockwell saw as the ideals of the American GI.... More
Lincoln’s Early Loss
The war was barely a month old and Abraham Lincoln and his family were already mourning. ... More
The Gone-With-The-Wind Sequel That Wasn’t
Did Margaret Mitchell really write a second novel? Did the Post really refuse to print it? And who was this woman who wanted to be... More
Bargaining With The Flood
By the time floodwaters are inches from the top of a levee, residents must start making hard choices. But even the decision to move the... More
Depression America Goes To The Horses
With the economy in shambles, businesses folding, and unemployment rising, many Americans were pinning their hopes on Thoroughbreds. ... More
The Bibliomaniacs of Book Row
No discussion of late, great American bookstores would be complete without bringing up New York's Book Row.... More
