Footnotes to History: A Primer on the American Political Character

Griffin Bell, former attorney general for the United States, presents Footnotes to History: A Primer on the American Political Character as a first reader on American politics for any and all Americans. Studies show that Americans do not understand the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, or the history behind our founding and our survival as a nation. These vignettes, standing alone or together, outline certain traits of the American political system. While the United States is a relatively young nation, many Americans seem to be unaware of the important traits of the American political system and of the struggles required to ensure its survival. Judge Bell points to the stories of a handful of Americanssome famous, some notto illustrate the defining characteristics of our system of government.

Griffin Bell has served as attorney general, federal circuit judge, advisor to Presidents George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush, Georgia campaign chair for John F. Kennedy, chief of staff to Georgia s governor (1958 1960), trial lawyer, and managing partner for King and Spalding.

John Cole is a lawyer with a special interest in history, having served in the Army National Guard and Reserve as an infantry officer and having worked in higher education for more than thirteen years.