Reverbiage: Stories from NPR tagged 'history'

Domingo And Bocelli: Keeping Opera Relevant

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 18:23:00 EST

Placido Domingo is the most durable, thoughtful opera singer in recent history. Andrea Bocelli has sold more than 60 million albums. The two icons discuss their first performance together and describe what makes opera relevant today.

Recounting Jewish History Through Vinyl Albums

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 12:37:00 EST

In a new book, authors Roger Bennett and Josh Kun detail Jewish American history through vinyl albums. They are trying to answer questions such as, "Who are we?" and "What are we inheriting?" in what Bennett calls the "beginning of a journey."

Detroit Rock History In 'A-Square'

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 10:53:00 EST

Music critic Milo Miles reviews A-Square (Of Course), a new collection featuring artists from Hugh 'Jeep' Holland's rock label.

Dog Crashes Van Into Coffee House

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 06:00:00 EST

We don't know if Bentley was a little groggy, or if the dog really wanted a cup of coffee. We do know that Bentley crashed a van into the front of the Cool Beanz coffee shop in St. James, N.Y. No criminal charges were filed against Bentley. The owner left Bently in the van with the engine running. To the dog's credit, Bentley injured no one when the vehicle got knocked into drive, although some patio furniture is history.

Museum Of American History: A Gem Gets Polished

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 03:26:00 EST

Washington's National Mall will regain a star attraction Friday, when the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History reopens after a two-year renovation. It took $85 million and a horde of curators, builders, architects and advisers to reframe space for the museum's 3 million historic objects.

Alaska's Sen. Ted Stevens Loses Re-Election Bid

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 21:05:00 EST

Stevens, one of the longest serving senators in the history of the Senate, at last check trailed his Democratic rival, Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich, by more than 3,700 votes as absentee and overseas ballots were counted.

Vote Count Going Against Alaska's Stevens

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 18:24:31 EST

Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens, the longest-serving Republican in the history of the Senate, is falling behind Democrat Mark Begich in his re-election bid as absentee ballots and other ballots are counted.

David Cook: 'Idol' Busy With New Album

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EST

Every fall, the latest winner of the American Idol competition arrives with an album. This year it's David Cook, who won by the largest margin in the show's seven-year history. Tom Moon

Mom-In-Chief: Moms Closely Watch Michelle Obama

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 12:00:00 EST

In January, Michelle Obama will make history as the nation's first black First Lady. But Obama, an Ivy-League educated attorney, is a symbol in her own right. As she prepares for her own White House transition, working mothers are watching to see what legacy she will leave on a historic presidency.

Odd Score Goes In NFL History Book

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:03:00 EST

The Pittsburgh Steelers beat the San Diego Chargers 11-10 Sunday night. It was the first time in NFL history (in more than 12,000 games) that a game ended with that score. Why is the score so rare?

Feeling The Vibes: The Short History Of A Long Instrument

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 14:16:00 EST

Jazz is the only genre of music that uses the vibes as a lead or improvisational instrument. It's been a process in helping to save this beautiful-sounding and versatile instrument from extinction. Leading off with Lionel Hampton, here are five examples of that beauty and versatility.

Update: Key Players In The Tobacco Settlement

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 12:11:00 EST

The 1998 tobacco case was the largest civil settlement in U.S. history, and it had far-reaching implications for states and tobacco companies. Ten years later, one of the major players in the case is governor of Washington, while another is in a Kentucky prison.

Military's First Female Four-Star General

Sun, 16 Nov 2008 15:30:00 EST

The Army now has the first woman four-star general in the history of the American armed forces. Gen. Ann Dunwoody grew up in an Army family — her father served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. Now, his daughter will lead the Army Materiel Command.

Paging Through History's Beautiful Science

Sun, 16 Nov 2008 01:54:00 EST

A new exhibit at California's Huntington Library is opening up the work of the giants of science. Colorful star charts, close-up lunar sketches and dog-eared books reveal the world as seen by the eyes of Newton, Galileo and Copernicus.

Obamas' Place In History, Fashion Sense Ignite Blogosphere

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 12:00:00 EST

Just a little over a week ago, voters elected Democratic Sen. Barack Obama as the country's next president. In this week's BackTalk, hear more perspectives about Obama's win. Also, find out how a recent segment on Michelle Obama's sense of style has some voters playing fashion police. Also, listeners weigh in on the gay marriage debate brewing in California.

Examining Chrysler's 1979 Rescue

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EST

In 1979, Chrysler avoided collapse by getting $1.5 billion in loans from the government, but the company also had to come up with some $2 billion in concessions. Charles Hyde, professor of history at Wayne State University and author of Riding the Roller Coaster: A History of the Chrysler Corporation, offers his insight.

Capitol Visitor Center Opens Dec. 2

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 06:00:00 EST

The long-awaited, $621 million underground Capitol Visitor Center opens to the public in three weeks. It's lush and made out of Pennsylvania sandstone, Tennessee marble and Virginia granite. It's also behind schedule and way over budget. NPR's Brian Naylor takes us on a pre-opening tour of the biggest expansion in the Capitol's history.

Teaching History As It Happens

Sat, 08 Nov 2008 08:00:00 EST

There's no textbook for current events, so teachers across the country are taking lessons alongside their students from this historic week.

Jim White's Tiny Desk Concert

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 10:22:00 EST

Jim White is a storyteller first and a musician second. It's a kind of storytelling rooted in his own unusual history: He grew up in Florida in a deeply Pentecostal community and fell in love with the white gospel music he heard. But from there, White took a surprising path to becoming a full-time musician. He was a professional surfer, a boxer, a fashion model in Milan and a cab driver in New York City. White's travels recently took him to Washington, D.C., where he stopped by the offices of NPR Music for this live performance.

How To Teach This Election

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 13:00:00 EST

The 2008 presidential elections have already made history: the oldest candidate running for office and now the election of the first African American into the office of president. How can history teachers effectively teach about these changes in the classroom?

After Obama Win, Washington Reflects

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EST

People at Washington's Lincoln Memorial and other places in the city offer their views on the result of the 2008 presidential election. Democrat Barack Obama defeated Republican John McCain to become the first African-American president in the nation's history.

Obama's Win A Milestone

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EST

Barack Obama has become the nation's first African-American president-elect. Bryan Monroe, editorial director of Ebony and Jet magazines and Mary Frances Berry, a professor of history at the University of Pennsylvania and former chair of the Civil Rights Commission, talks about the significance of his victory.

A Defining Moment In American History

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 13:41:00 EST

Four eminent historians, Bernice Johnson-Reagon, Robert Kagan, Victor Davis Hanson and Annette Gordon-Reed, talk about how history has shifted with Barack Obama's election.

On The Making Of History

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 12:53:00 EST

Four eminent historians analyze the significance of the 2008 presidential election and Barack Obama's momentous victory.

Just Hours Until Polls Close In Historic Election

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 17:50:00 EST

Election officials around the country reported heavy turnout Tuesday, as many voters lined up before dawn to cast ballots in the history-making presidential election. The long campaign has been filled with drama and surprise twists as John McCain and Barack Obama each made his case.