The former socialist history professor, who considers that the verdict of history is against President Trump, wrote little about history (April 5).
His letter is basically an ad hominem diatribe having nothing to do with policy, accomplishment or lack thereof or the “48 reasons for liking (the president)” that he disparages.
A real historian, Victor Davis Hanson, has compared Trump with President Truman, who “left office in January 1953 widely hated. Indeed, his final approval ratings (32 percent) were the lowest of any departing president, except for those of Richard Nixon… When the novice Vice President Truman took office after Roosevelt’s death in April 1945, he knew little about the grand strategy of World War II – and nothing about the ongoing atomic bomb project. For the next seven-plus years, Truman shocked – and successfully led – the country.” (“The Case for Trump,” Basic Books 2019)
Hanson adds: “Trump’s presidency is too brief to yet be judged absolutely. His personal foibles are too embedded within current political and media hatred to be assessed dispassionately. Too many assessments too quickly have been made about Trump, without much historical context and usually with too much passion.”
However, we already know that, notwithstanding his being harassed by Democrats, the deep state and the media during the two years since inauguration, Trump is keeping the campaign promises that got him elected.
These include those on national security (like destroying ISIS, halting North Korea’s belligerent actions and thwarting Russia), energy production (we are now the biggest energy producer), leveling the playing field with China, Israel, taxes, regulation, the economy and, yes, the stock market.
These include historical achievements in a very short time. Just imagine what the next six years will bring.
Len Mansky
Roslyn
