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The Lincoln catafalque is protected by a plastic cover as preparations for the arrival of the body of former United States President George H.W. Bush continue at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda on December 3rd, 2018, in Washington, D.C. A World War II combat veteran, Bush served as a member of Congress from Texas, ambassador to the United Nations, director of the Central Intelligence Agency, vice president, and 41st president of the U.S. A state funeral for Bush will be held in Washington over the next three days, beginning with him lying in state in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda until Wednesday morning.

Viewfinder: The Rotunda Awaits George H.W. Bush

A World War II combat veteran, Bush served as a member of Congress from Texas, ambassador to the United Nations, director of the Central Intelligence Agency, vice president, and 41st president of the United States.

Pacific Standard Staff

George W. Bush throws out the ceremonial first pitch before game five of the 2017 World Series on October 29th, 2017, in Houston, Texas.

News in Brief

The Improbable Rehabilitation of George W. Bush

Despite being, at one point, one of the most hated presidents of all time, 53 percent of Americans now approve of George W. Bush.

Katie Fustich

News in Brief

How Climate-Skeptic Organizations Have Influenced American News and Presidents

A new analysis scours climate-skeptic PR, American news articles, and American presidential speeches. The results aren’t good.

Francie Diep

News in Brief

A Robot Analysis of All of America’s State of the Union Addresses

The dataset includes an address for nearly every year from 1790 to 2014.

Francie Diep

News in Brief

Congratulations, Mr. President, and Bon Voyage!

Looking for President Obama over the next few years? You should start at the White House, of course,…

Tom Jacobs

News in Brief

‘Speeches Must Be Short’: Radio and the Birth of the Modern Presidential Campaign

The origin of the soundbite can be traced to the 1924 U.S. presidential election, the first one ever covered heavily by a broadcast medium, radio.

Matt Novak

News in Brief

Presidents’ Day: Just Another Presidential Fable

A number of folk stories and a few divisive rumors have surrounded the office of the U.S. presidency, and skeptical folks like us check a few of them out.

Peter M. Nardi

News in Brief

Brams: Use Approval Voting in Presidential Primaries

Steven J. Brams says approval voting, in which voters can vote for more than one candidate, is a better way to conduct multiple candidate elections.

Richard Korman

Social Justice

Nixon’s Presidential Library: The Last Battle of Watergate

Who controls the Nixon Library? A dispute over how to tell the story of his presidency raises questions about the purpose, and legitimacy, of presidential libraries.

Andrew Gumbel

Social Justice

Obama’s Vow to Cut Oil Imports Sounds Familiar

President Barack Obama sounds like his predecessors when he vows to kick the nation's addiction to foreign oil.

Melinda Burns