History and Politics   

Field Marshal Montgomery's Sept. '44 offensive fell one bridge short at Arnhem. This allowed Adolf Hitler to begin planning a major offensive to save the Third Reich. His offensive aimed at catching the British and Americans by surprise might splinter their alliance and allow the Germans to concentrate against the might of the Red Russian menace from the East. This winter offensive would be launched under wintry conditions on Dec. 16, 1944, with formidable TIGER and PANTHER tanks that might bring back the magic of the armored might of BLITZKRIEG. Thus, the Germans launched THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE. Tabletop map board is 12' x 6' with 1/72nd scale troops, tanks, trucks, and buildings as well as snow-covered fir trees. This class will be presented through lectures, videos and war-game play. 

You have heard the old saw: “Nothing is certain in life except death and taxes.” Talking about “death” for eight weeks would be rather morbid, but “taxes” are always a popular subject for discussion, or “cussin'." In this class, we’ll explore the origin of taxation and its development over the years, particularly emphasizing the forms utilized by the different levels of government in the United States. The objectives of taxes as well as the many varieties will get attention. Some varieties may be so well disguised we don't realize they are taxes. Also, the tax proposals of the various political candidates involved in the 2024 elections will be aired. No text is required but readings will be provided to inform and encourage class discussions.

Charles de Gaulle remains one of the most powerful historical figures of 20th-century France. His biography and French history are inseparable. He was wounded in the trenches of WWI, leader of Free France in WWII, and architect of the Fifth Republic. He was a devoted husband and father, private in his personal life, and powerfully present in French life and politics from 1945 until leaving office in 1969. We will consider biography, history, and the impact of his powerful sense of national mission in restoring France and her people. The class will read and discuss:  A Certain Idea of France: The Life of Charles de Gaulle by Julian Jackson. 

South Carolina has been known for taking controversial stands. On numerous occasions in its 350-year history, from colonial resistance to British rule through nullification, to fights over roads and even the long struggle over the Confederate battle flag, South Carolinians have debated contentious issues. Join us as we look at eight of these events and learn more about the interesting stories that have helped shape this state that we call home.

Join Dr. Rob McCormick in exploring how World War I and its outcomes brought us much of our modern world. Explore how the war assisted in creating the modern Middle East, including the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Examine how the Nazi Party emerged from the war. Take a look at how the war changed art and architecture giving us, for good or for bad, much of what we see around us. Focus on how the war changed our vocabulary. Study the birth of the first communist state as well as the destruction of the Ottoman Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. We will even explore how the war created the United States as the world's economic power. These and other topics will help answer how we got here.

The period of 250,000 years is an instant in geological time. Still, during that time, the human race has gone from a marginal species whose extinction was highly likely to the dominant species on earth. We will read a recent book by Joseph Henrich entitled "The Secret of our Success" to seek an understanding of the factors that have led to our species's success. Students should borrow or purchase the book for class. 

We will learn about interesting characters each week: 1. The two men who started the A.I. wave of our future - Sam Altman and Jensen Huang, 2-3. Frank Sinatra - his whole life and great music in two sessions, 4. The "Wide Awakes" movement of 1859 and connections to Lincoln and the American Civil War, 5-7. Alexander Hamiliton, 8. Johnny Hartman - a really great singer of the 1947-1963 period of classic easy listening, discussing his life and his music (as an African American singer, he had to be very careful where he sang and how he performed). David looks forward to sharing his research with Lifelong Learners.

This class is a preview of the forthcoming Hub City Press book, NORTH OF MAIN, which fills in many of the gaps in what we know about the 50 years of Spartanburg's Black history post-emancipation. Meet the significant Black citizens, many of whom have completely faded from local knowledge, who carried the banner for civil rights and economic advancement during the most tumultuous era of Spartanburg's history. Among them: newsmen, artisans, clergymen, politicians, musicians, businessmen, educators, attorneys, physicians and more. Get a grasp of the early geography of the first local neighborhoods founded by emancipated people and which ultimately disappeared in the late 20th century. One session of this class includes the book release event at the Chapman Center, on Oct. 22, 5 p.m.

In this course, we will read and discuss Truman, David McCullough's Pulitzer Prize-winning biography of America's thirty-third President. This account of Truman's life is also part of the larger American story from the end of the Civil War to the 1960's, including WWI (for which Truman volunteered) and WWII, when Truman became president upon the death of FDR. This gives us much to talk about, and class time will be devoted to discussing that week's reading. McCullough is an accomplished storyteller, and this book is a memorable portrait of someone who has been described as an ordinary man of extraordinary qualities.