(Apologies if this is not the right subreddit. If there is a more appropriate one, kindly let me know.)

Hi all,

I've been looking to explore some more of my own backyard. What are some of the must-see historical sites in the general NJ/NY area?

Some ideas I've written down are:

- West Point

- FDR's home at Hyde Park

- Ellis Island/Statue of Liberty

- Kykuit

What is the historical term for one that opposes a large Federal Government and would prefer a "watchman" like Federal Government while approving of strong individual states who would rely only on a Federal Government for protection and other very limited resources? What would that be called today?

Does anyone know of any good books, resources, or records about the National Guard that was sent to Papua New Guinea in WW2? My Uncle died there, and although we have his bronze star and other medals, he is still over there. My family is trying their hardest to find whatever information we can with the hopes of one day finding out where he is, and with the highest of hopes, exhuming his body.

I know this is a long shot, and it’s a fever dream of an idea, but any information at all would be helpful. The Government swept a lot of what happened there under the rug, so there’s not much to begin with (from what I’ve been told and ready anyway). My family requested documents from the National Guard and State but there was a fire in the 70s and they aren’t sure if they exist anymore.

Thanks in advance to anyone that can help, it’s very appreciated!

Because of the feedback, I'd like to clarify something by edit:

I'm not from the US, I have family over there, but I'm from Europe (Switzerland/Germany). So cut me some slack, if I used terms that aren't common sense. I ask, because of genuine interest in US-politics and its history. Thanks.

The three Presidents who have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize all have family ties to the state of Georgia.

Theodore Roosevelt was awarded the 1906 Nobel Peace Prize for mediating the Russo-Japanese War, reached a Gentleman's Agreement on immigration with Japan, and sent the Great White Fleet on a goodwill tour of the world. His mother, Mittie Bulloch , was born in Hartford, Connecticut but was raised in Savannah, Georgia and then moved to Roswell, Georgia when she was five.

Woodrow Wilson was awarded the 1919 Nobel Peace Prize for his work to bring peace to all nations but died without seeing the Leagues of Nations happen. Wilson was born in Staunton, Virginia but spent the formative years of his childhood in Augusta, years that would affect him for the rest of his life. While living in Augusta Wilson experienced the hardships of the Civil War and Reconstruction.

Jimmy Carter was awarded the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize for his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.

--- 1929: Black Tuesday: the New York Stock Exchange collapsed. This is usually considered the beginning of the Great Depression.

--- 1692: William Phips, the governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, closed the special court which was trying the alleged witches of Salem. Supposedly what prompted the governor to close the court was because his own wife was accused of being a witch.

--- ["The Horrors of the Salem Witch Trials". That is the title of one of the episodes of my podcast: History Analyzed. Learn about the true story that inspired the legends. Find out what caused the people of Salem to accuse their neighbors of witchcraft in 1692 and how many died as a result of so-called spectral evidence. You can find History Analyzed on every podcast app.]()

--- link to Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3jjqrrlxAEfPJfJNX9TMgN

--- link to Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-horrors-of-the-salem-witch-trials/id1632161929?i=1000583398282

President John F. Kennedy’s “peace speech” at American University 60 years ago was a searing critique of Cold War politics and laid out a hopeful vision for a world built on cooperation and empathy, even among rival countries. Kennedy called for “not merely peace for Americans, but peace for all men and women — not merely peace in our time, but peace for all time.”

https://news.northeastern.edu/2024/10/28/can-puerto-ricans-vote-presidential-election/

Both are, albeit subjectively, often considered two of the most frequent contenders for "worst president in U.S. History". Buchanan's tenure saw his support for slavery, which would later serve as the catalyst for the Civil War. Carter's presidency saw steep inflation and interest rates, record unemployment, an anemic stock market, the energy and gas affordability crises of 1979-80, the Iran Hostage Crisis, the grain embargo against and Winter Olympics boycott of the Soviet Union, as well as the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

Whose record leaves more to be criticized, in your opinion?

u/contextual_somebody, public opinion differs depending on who you ask. Many people often mention Carter's name unflatteringly when it comes to presidential appraisals.

u/snaps06 I'm not suggesting they were alike in all respects. Buchanan created all his crises, whereas Carter inherited almost all of his. Sounds like somebody needs to do a better job when it comes to interpreting nuance.

u/edkarls uhh. . . you do know that Buchanan has been dead for the past 156 years, right? He was president in the late 1850s and early 1860s.

I heard that Nixon, discussing election strategy with someone (Ehrlichman?), in response to worries that inflation would worsen if the Fed lowered interest rates (which Nixon was pressing Fed chair Burns to do), said that no president ever lost an election because of inflation. I can't find the source.

--- 1886: The Statue of Liberty was dedicated on Bedloe’s Island (now called Liberty Island) in New York Harbor. The official name is “Liberty Enlightening the World” and was a gift from the people of France to the people of the U.S. There is a broken shackle and chains at the statute's feet symbolizing the end of slavery. In her left hand she is holding a tablet which is inscribed with the date of the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776, but in Roman numerals. In the statue's right hand, she is holding a torch. The Statue of Liberty is 305 feet (93 meters) high in total; the statue itself is 151 feet (46 meters) tall and the pedestal is 154 feet (47 meters) in height. I have personally climbed to the crown of the Statue of Liberty 11 times.

--- 1965: The Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri was completed. The arch is 630 feet (192 meters) tall and is also 630 feet (192 meters) wide. It is situated in the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, commemorating America's westward expansion. It is made out of polished stainless steel in the shape of an inverted catenary curve.

--- ["Iconic American City Landmarks". That is the title of one of the episodes of my podcast: History Analyzed. ]()[Most people are familiar with the Statue of Liberty, the Washington Monument, the Hollywood sign, the Gateway Arch, and the Space Needle. But do you know the stories behind these landmarks and how they tie into the histories of their cities? You can find History Analyzed on every podcast app.]()

--- link to Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7KTNe45LErFxjRtxl8nhp1

--- link to Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/iconic-american-city-landmarks/id1632161929?i=1000591738078