Why American History Is Not What They Say: An Introduction To Revisionism
AN INTRODUCTION TO REVISIONISM
Jeff Riggenbach
Why American History Is Not What They Say
All rights reserved. Written permission must be secured from the publisher to use or reproduce any part of this book, except for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles. For information write: Ludwig von Mises Institute, 518 West Magnolia Avenue, Auburn, Alabama 36832; mises.org.
Copyright 2009 © by Jeff Riggenbach
ISBN: 978-1-933550-49-7
Why American History Is Not What They Say
History, n. An account mostly false, of events mostly unimportant, which are brought about by rulers mostly knaves, and soldiers mostly fools.
—AMBROSE BIERCE
The Devil’s Dictionary (1906)
Why American History Is Not What They Say
This book is for Suzanne, who made it possible.
Acknowledgements
Portions of Chapter Three and Chapter Five appeared earlier, in somewhat different form, in Liberty magazine, on RationalReview.com, and on Antiwar.com. David J. Theroux of the Independent Institute, Andrea Millen Rich of the Center for Independent Thought, and Alexia Gilmore of the Randolph Bourne Institute were generous with their assistance during the researching and writing stages of this project. Ellen Stuttle was her usual indispensable self.
Why American History Is Not What They Say
“Now there are some who would like to rewrite history— revisionist historians is what I like to call them.”
—George W. Bush
June 16, 2003
Preface
ONE — The Art of History
TWO — The Historical Fiction of Gore Vidal: The “American Chronicle” Novels
THREE — The Story of American Revisionism
