INDEPENDENCE, Mo. — Donald Trump faces a far more formidable foe than whomever the Democrats nominate to face him in his reelection campaign.
His danger: History is written by academics and intellectuals, a group that, at least today, largely reviles the president, and deplores the disruptions that he has sent coursing through the country and the global betrayals of long-term American interests they believe he has prosecuted. Trump is in for a rough time, with scathing assessments from historians who will pillory him for his coarseness, his penchant for divisive discourse and his status as one of only three presidents branded with the black mark of impeachment.
kAm%92EVD :? E96 D9@CE E6C> — D2J[ E96 ?6IE EH@ 564256D] %96? 6G6CJE9:?8 4@F=5 492?86]k^Am
kAm%CF>A :D E96 7:CDE AC6D:56?E D:?46 y@9? u] z6??65J ?@E E@ =62? C6A62E65=J @? w2CCJ %CF>2?[ H9@ =67E @77:46 H:E9 =@H 2AAC@G2= C2E:?8D 2?5 H:E9 E96 5:D52:? @7 E96 4@>>6?E2C:2E 2?5 E96 24256>J] %92EVD @?6 @7 E96 >JDE6C:6D @7 E96 %CF>A AC6D:56?4J] %@52J %CF>2? :D 2 ?2E:@?2= 96C@[ 2?5 ?@H E92E 9:D AC6D:56?E:2= =:3C2CJ 96C6 :D 4=@D65 7@C 2 >2;@C 6IA2?D:@? 2?5 C6?@G2E:@?[ zFCE vC292>[ E96 =:3C2CJVD 5:C64E@C[ DA62<D H:E9 2 DEC2:89E 7246 23@FE 2 A96?@>6?@? 96 42==D Q%CF\>2?:2]Qk^Am
kAm%92EVD 2 3:8 4@?EC2DE 7C@> E96 >@4<:?8 2DD6DD>6?E @776C65 3J s@C:D u=66D@?[ E96 7:CDE 76>2=6 DJ?5:42E65 A@=:E:42= 4@=F>?:DEi Qx H@?56C H92E %CF>2? H@F=5 5@ :7 96 H6C6 2=:G6[Q D96 HC@E6 H96? %CF>2? DE:== H2D 2=:G6] %9@D6 24EF2= H@C5D 92G6 366? :?G@<65 :? 4@>A=6E6[ ?@DE2=8:4 D6C:@FD?6DD 7@C 564256D H96? p>6C:42?D EFC?65 E@ %CF>2? :? 2 Q((wsQ >@>6?E 2D E96J DECF88=65 H:E9 7@C6:8?\A@=:4J 492==6?86D[ 72465 5@>6DE:4 =23@C 5:DAFE6D[ @C 42>6 FA 282:?DE ;FDE A=2:? A@=:E:42= 7@@=:D9?6DD]k^Am
kAmQ%CF>2? DH@C6[Q ':4E@C s2G:D w2?D@? @7 $E2?7@C5VD w@@G6C x?DE:EFE:@? HC@E6 :? }2E:@?2= #6G:6H] Qw6 925 ?:89E=J 5C:?<D 2?5 A=2J65 A@<6C H:E9 4C@?:6D] p?5 96 D9@4<65 2:56D 2?5 E96 AF3=:4 H:E9 9:D GF=82C:EJ 2?5 4C2DD 2EE24<D @? A@=:E:42= 6?6>:6D] %CF>2? >@4<65 E96 H:56=J C6DA64E65 $6?] (:==:2> uF=3C:89E 2D V92=7\3C:89E]VQk^Am
kAm%96? E96C6 :D y@9? "F:?4J p52>D[ H9@ 2D46?565 E@ E96 (9:E6 w@FD6 E9C@F89 2 Q4@CCFAE 32C82:?Q 2?5 H9@ H2D 492D65 @FE @7 @77:46 3J p?5C6H y24<D@?] %6? 25>:C:?8 3:@8C2A9:6D @7 E96 D:IE9 AC6D:56?E 92G6 366? AF3=:D965 :? E96 =2DE aa J62CD[ A=FD 2 3@I65 D6E @7 9:D 5:2C:6D AF3=:D965 :? a_`f 3J E96 AC6DE:8:@FD {:3C2CJ @7 p>6C:42 2?5 2 D6A2C2E6 a_`f 3:@8C2A9J @7 p52>DV H:76[ {@F:D2]k^Am
kAmQx? 2? 6C2 H96? E96 AF3=:4VD C682C5 7@C A2CEJ A@=:E:4D 92D 4C2E6C65[Q E96 !C:?46E@? 9:DE@C:2? $62? (:=6?EK HC@E6 :? %96 pE=2?E:4 =2DE DAC:?8[ Q9:DE@C:2?DV 6DE:>2E:@? @7 E96 2?E:\A2CEJ p52>D6D 92D D@2C65 9:896C E92? 6G6C]Q (C:E:?8 :? %96 (2== $EC66E y@FC?2=[ sC6I6= &?:G6CD:EJ 562? 2?5 t?8=:D9 AC@76DD@C !2F=2 |2C2?EK r@96? D2=FE65 p52>D 2D QE96 >6E2A9@C:42= 72E96C @7 2 ?2E:@? H9@D6 492C24E6C 96 ]]] EC:65 E@ D92A6[ @7E6? 282:?DE 7:6C46 C6D:DE2?46]Qk^Am
kAm%96 =6DD@?i u@C>6C AC6D:56?ED 8@G6C? :? E96 A2DE] %96:C C6AFE2E:@?D 2C6 >256 :? E96 7FEFC6]k^Am
kAm%H@ s6>@4C2E:4 96C@6D[ %9@>2D y6776CD@? 2?5 y24<D@?[ >2<6 E96 A@:?E] %96 EH@ H6C6 46=63C2E65 F?E:= C646?E=J[ H:E9 DE2E6 s6>@4C2E:4 A2CE:6D 9@=5:?8 =2G:D9 y6776CD@?\y24<D@? s2J 5:??6C 7F?5C2:D6CD] %@52J[ H:E9 E96 EH@ >6?VD C6AFE2E:@?D :? C6EC62E — @?6 4C:E:4:K65 2D 2 9JA@4C:E6 @? C246 :DDF6D[ E96 @E96C G:=:7:65 2D 2? :?DECF>6?E @7 86?@4:56 282:?DE ?2E:G6 A6@A=6D — ?62C=J 2 5@K6? DE2E6 A2CE:6D 92G6 C6?2>65 E96:C 7F?5C2:D6CD]k^Am
kAm%9:D A96?@>6?@? :D H:56DAC625] (@@5C@H (:=D@?[ @?46 2 D9:?:?8 DJ>3@= @7 p>6C:42? :562=:D>[ E@52J :D C682C565 2D 2 >FD9J\962565 C@>2?E:4 2?5 2 C24:DE] sH:89E t:D6?9@H6C[ @?46 C682C565 2D 2 D=66AH2=<:?8 E9C@F89 9:D AC6D:56?4J[ 92D 366? C6\6G2=F2E65 2D 2 DF3E=6 D286[ H:E9 =625:?8 9:DE@C:2?D 46=63C2E:?8 9:> 2D E96 Q9:556?\92?5Q AC6D:56?E[ 2 492C24E6C:K2E:@? 7C@> E96 =2E6 !C:?46E@? 9:DE@C:2? uC65 x] vC66?DE6:?]k^Am
kAm%CF>AVD 4@FCED9:A @7 4@?DE:EFE:@?2= 4C:D6D 3J 567J:?8 4@?8C6DD:@?2= 56>2?5D 92D 8:G6? 2 >:?@C C6923:=:E2E:@?[ 2E =62DE 3J 4@?EC2DE[ E@ #:492C5 }:I@?] p >2;@C BF6DE:@?i s@6D E92E 92G6 E96 A@E6?E:2= @7 D@7E6?:?8 E96 4@?G6?E:@?2= G:6H @7 p?5C6H y@9?D@?[ H9@ =2DE DAC:?8 H2D 7=2J65 7@C 92G:?8 Q5:DC682C565 r@?8C6DD[ H9@D6 =68:E:>24J 96 :8?@C65Q :? q2C32C2 (:?62AA=6VD 244@F?E @7 E96 `geg :>A6249>6?E 32EE=6 2?5 H2D 4C:E:4:K65 3J E96 9:DE@C:2? y@? |62492> :? Qx>A6249>6?Ei p? p>6C:42? w:DE@CJQ 7@C 36:?8 Q2? @3DE:?2E6 AC6D:56?EQ H9@ 7@DE6C65 Q762CD E92E E96 8C2?5 p>6C:42? 6IA6C:>6?E :? 56>@4C24J H2D 4@>:?8 E@ 2? 6?5Qnk^Am
kAmu@C>6C v@G] (:==:2> u] (6=5 @7 |2DD249FD6EED[ 2 >6>36C @7 E96 DE277 @7 E96 w@FD6 :>A6249>6?E 4@>>:EE66 5FC:?8 (2E6C82E6 2?5 E96 =@?6 #6AF3=:42? 492==6?86C E@ %CF>A[ D2:5 :? 2? :?E6CG:6H E92E :? 4@>A2C:D@? E@ E96 AC6D:56?E[ }:I@? H2D Q2 D4:@? @7 E96 =2H]Qk^Am
kAmp=G:? u6=K6?36C8[ H9@ 92D HC:EE6? 2 3@@< @? E96 6G2=F2E:@?D @7 AC6D:56?ED[ 36=:6G6D E92E AC6D:56?E:2= C6AFE2E:@?D 2C6 7C2>65 3J 4@?E6>A@C2CJ A@=:E:4D] Qx DFDA64E E92E y24<D@? — 2?5 (:=D@? 2?5[ >2J36 %CF>2?[ us# 2?5 {qy — >2J E2<6 2 76H EF>3=6D H96? E96 BF6DE:@? @7 6I64FE:G6 G6CDFD 4@?8C6DD:@?2= AC6C@82E:G6D :D 4@?D:56C65[Q 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm%CF>AVD AC6D:56?E:2= H@C< 6E9:4 92D E96 A@E6?E:2= @7 25;FDE:?8 @FC G:6HD @7 9:D AC65646DD@CD]k^Am
kAmQ$@>6E:>6D :EVD 24EF2==J 24256>:4 C6D62C49 E92E 492?86D A6@A=6DV G:6HD @7 AC6D:56?ED[Q D2:5 q2C32C2 %C:D9[ 2 A@=:E:42= D4:6?E:DE H9@ E62496D 2 4@FCD6 @? E96 p>6C:42? AC6D:56?4J 2E x@H2VD vC:??6== r@==686] QqFE @FC 4FCC6?E 6IA6C:6?46 H:E9 AC6D:56?ED 27764ED 9@H H6 =@@< 2E C646?E AC6D:56?ED[ E@@] s@?2=5 %CF>AVD H@C< 6E9:4 92D >256 FD E9:?< 282:? 23@FE H96E96C #@?2=5 #6282? 2?5 v6@C86 (] qFD9 H6C6 =2KJ]Q Wq@E9 p] $4@EE q6C8[ :? 9:D a_`b 3:@8C2A9J @7 (:=D@?[ 2?5 !2EC:4:2 ~V%@@=6[ :? 96C a_`g G@=F>6[ ?@E65 9@H >F49 E96 agE9 AC6D:56?E A=2J65 8@=7[ 6G6? 2>:5 8C2G6 4C:D6D] #6282? ;@<65 H96? 96 H2D =62G:?8 @77:46 E92E 9:D 492:C :? E96 (9:E6 w@FD6 r23:?6E #@@> D9@F=5 42CCJ E96 :?D4C:AE:@?i Q#@?2=5 #6282? $=6AE w6C6]QXk^Am
kAmq@E9 v6@C86 w](] qFD9 2?5 v6C2=5 #] u@C5 H6C6 2H2C565 E96 !C@7:=6D :? r@FC286 pH2C5 7C@> E96 y@9? u] z6??65J {:3C2CJ] #6282?[ H9@D6 $:>: '2==6J[ r2=:7@C?:2[ AC6D:56?E:2= =:3C2CJ @A6?D H:E9 2 BF@E6 C65@=6?E @7 9:D @AE:>:D> WQp>6C:42VD 36DE 52JD 2C6 E@ 4@>6] ~FC AC@F56DE >@>6?ED 2C6 J6E E@ 36QX[ :D C6>6>36C65[ 6G6? 3J 9:D 4C:E:4D[ 7@C 3F@J2?4J 2?5 4966C7F=?6DD[ BF2=:E:6D :? D9@CE DFAA=J :? @FC E:>6] Q*@F 5@?VE 92G6 E@ 36 2 4@?D6CG2E:G6 E@ 24<?@H=6586 E92E 96 492?865 E96 4@F?ECJ 2?5 6?565 FA 492?8:?8 E96 H@C=5[Q D2:5 z6??6E9 |] sF36CDE6:?[ #6282?VD =2DE (9:E6 w@FD6 49:67 @7 DE277]k^Am
kAm(:?DE@? r9FC49:== HC@E6 @7 9:D 72E96C :? `h_e E92E {@C5 #2?5@=A9 r9FC49:== Q925 E96 D9@H>2?VD <?24< @7 5C2H:?8 AF3=:4 2EE6?E:@? E@ 6G6CJE9:?8 96 D2:5 2?5 5:5]Q %96 D2>6 >2J 36 D2:5 @7 E96 4FCC6?E AC6D:56?E] (92E H:== 36 D2:5 @7 s@?2=5 %CF>A :? E96 564256D E@ 4@>6 :D 4@>A=6E6=J F?<?@H?]k^Am
kAmk6>ms2G:5 |] $9C:3>2? :D E96 7@C>6C 6I64FE:G6 65:E@C @7 E96 !:EED3FC89 !@DE\v2K6EE6] w6 42? 36 C624965 2E k2 9C67lQ>2:=E@i5D9C:3>2?oA@DE\82K6EE6]4@>Qm5D9C:3>2?oA@DE\82K6EE6]4@>k^2m[ @C 7@==@H 9:> @? %H:EE6C 2E $9C:3>2?!v] %96 !F=:EK6C !C:K6\H:??:?8 ;@FC?2=:DE 92D 2 G242E:@? 9@>6 :? z62CD2C86]k^6>mk^Am

(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.