Alexis de Tocqueville
French Political Thinker and Historian
On ‘The Demise of America’
Biography
Alexis-Charles-Henri Clérel de Tocqueville was a French political thinker and historian best known for his Democracy in America (appearing in two volumes: 1835 and 1840) and The Old Regime and the Revolution (1856). In both of these works, he analyzed the rising living standards and social conditions of individuals and their relationship to the market and state in Western societies. Democracy in America (1835), his major work, published after his travels in the United States, is today considered an early work of sociology and political science. » Full Bio
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This Day In History 39 Years Ago
American Presidential
August 9, 1974
American Presidential
August 9, 1974
Ford Is Inaugurated President
On this day in 1974, one day after the resignation of President Richard M. Nixon, Gerald R. Ford is sworn in as president, making him the first man to assume the presidency upon his predecessor's resignation. He was also the first non-elected vice president and non-elected president, which made his ascendance to the presidency all the more unique.
Congress had accused Nixon of obstruction of justice during the investigation of the Watergate scandal, which began in 1972. White House tape recordings revealed that Nixon knew about and may have authorized the bugging of the Democratic National Committee offices, located in the Watergate Hotel in Washington D.C. Rather than be impeached and removed from office, Nixon chose to resign on August 8, 1974. » Full Article
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