Ongoing Historian Contributor Michael A. Smith Presents What We Lost When the East Wing Fell - And More...

 

The hue and cry over Donald Trump razing the entire East Wing of the White House as though he owns the place, should grow louder over his disdain for American history. This act, along with his wanton destruction should show who really does not love America....DJT.

The East Wing of the White House

What We Lost When the East Wing Fell

Michael A. Smith

Historian | Author | Public Theologian

It wasn’t just bricks and mortar that crumbled yesterday—it was a century of quiet dignity, of whispered history, of the unseen labor that shaped the public face of the presidency. The East Wing, long overshadowed by its grander counterpart, held the pulse of ceremonial life. It was where first ladies led initiatives, where calligraphers etched grace into invitations, and where millions of Americans began their journey into the heart of democracy.

Built to welcome guests in carriages and rebuilt to serve a modern presidency, the East Wing stood as a testament to continuity. Its demolition for a ballroom—however grand—erases the space where tradition met service. Gone is the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, a living tribute to elegance and restoration. Gone is the East Colonnade, where presidents once walked to their private theater, and where history lingered in the hush of marble and shadow.

This wasn’t just a building. It was the stage for statecraft, the cradle of hospitality, and the quiet corridor where America’s story unfolded in cursive and conversation. What remains is not just a gap in architecture, but a rupture in memory.

First Ladies in the East Wing

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Abstract: Christian Nationalism and Its Historical Roots - Michael A. Smith

Christian nationalism is a powerful and contested force in American public life, blending Christian identity with civic destiny. Its adherents argue that the United States was founded as a Christian nation, while critics contend that it undermines pluralism and democracy. The historical roots of this ideology run deep: from Puritan covenantal theology in the 17th century, to the rise of Christian fundamentalism in the early 20th century, to the Conservative Culture Wars of the 1970s and beyond.

In "Christian to Fundamentalism to Christian Nationalism: A Primer of the Dangers to American Democracy" (Smith, 2024), I argue that Christian nationalism is the culmination of a trajectory that begins with Calvinist, covenantal traditions, passes through fundamentalism’s defense of biblical inerrancy, and emerges fully in the partisan politics of the late 20th century.

This movement’s reliance on Old Testament justice models and its entanglement with “family values” politics continue to shape 21st-century debates over identity, race, immigration, and democracy itself.

Positioned alongside the work of Perry and Whitehead (Taking America Back for God, 2020), this study underscores the urgency of understanding Christian nationalism not as a passing trend but as a historically rooted, theologically driven challenge to American democratic ideals. (Search for his book in right column.)

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In the meantime...

Hunger has already started

Folks, There are so many issues that are tearing the nation apart... Like one woman says, you heard what this president was promising, but you thought you'd be safe--for whatever reason... Now millions are out of work, having been fired.

We learned that Christianity has been split off, big time! More on that soon as I continue to read... Christian Nationalism has been kept a secret from most church-goers, while some preachers began to talk the talk until it began to be "right out of the Bible..." Yes, The Old Testament... which, in my opinion, I'll say it again, should have been archived once Christians heard the words of Jesus... So, what happened?

That group has continued to support the president who is using violence in all ways possible against not only citizens of the United States, but in other countries! ANOTHER boat has been blasted out of the waters near South America... A major war ship has been moved from near Europe and is now in the South America waters... You can be sure that NONE of this has been approved by anyone! And US citizens are protesting while republicans hold everything in their "kings" hands... But we don't believe in Kings, and especially not this conman who, while keeping himself out of wars, as he once did, now uses those that were once in the military to protect America, now being used for any grievance, game, or greed reasons of one man... Be sure you are registered to vote, wherever you are... because we cannot be sure that we...will...be...allowed...to...

God Be With Us All

Gabby