Talk:James Ford Rhodes

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[edit] Rhodes a Bourbon Democrat?

It strikes me, that Rhodes is labelled as a Bourbon Democrat here. Where does that information come from? Rhodes is generally described as "the great Republican historian" (James Russell: Lincoln’s Successor: President Andrew Johnson, in: History Today 4 (1954), No. 9, p. 626) or with having "staunch Republican affiliations" (Donald Sheehan/Harold C. Syrett: Essays in American Historiography. Papers presented in Honor of Allan Nevins. New York 1960, p. 38). I cannot find any proof for Rhodes being a Bourbon Democrat in at least one of the listed references, too. I think this should be deleted unless the author can give any verification for that claim. (Flohru (talk) 07:52, 20 April 2008 (UTC))

Rhodes is called a Democrat in James Ford Rhodes, American Historian By Mark Antony De Wolfe Howe (1929) p 21 and p 24. He was a friend and supporter of Grover Cleveland says Am Ntl Biograp, but after 1901 supported Teddy Roosevelt . Rjensen (talk) 18:02, 20 April 2008 (UTC)

Thanks for that, I don't have access to that sources! Looking at the citations I offered and the fact you mentioned that Rhodes later supported Teddy Roosevelt, I nonetheless think the paragraph should be changed, as the sentence as it stands now gives the impression that he was a life-long, active supporter of the (Bourbon) Democrats. Flohru (talk) 18:43, 21 April 2008 (UTC)

well the Bourbon Dems lost power in 1896 and most supported McKinley, but still thought of themselves as Democrats. Rhodes was a Bourbon when he wrote his most important books (down to 1876)--his father was a close friend of Stephen DouglasRjensen (talk) 19:40, 21 April 2008 (UTC)

When Rhodes wrote the 6th Volume of his "History of the United States" (originally published in 1906 I believe) dealing with Reconstruction, he was apparantly considered as a Republican though. Some historians dealing with Reconstruction historiography (like the ones I cited above) are surpised by how harsh Rhodes treats his own party in that context. Of course, that makes much more sense knowing of the development of his political affiliations, so thanks again! Maybe you could change the sentence a little bit (something like: ... but Rhodes himself was a Bourbon Democrat, only later supporting Theodore Roosevelt) and insert the citation you gave? Flohru (talk) 11:13, 22 April 2008 (UTC)