Christopher Klein Archives

US Whistleblowers First Got Government Protection in 1777

The Founding Fathers passed the country’s first whistleblower protection law just seven months after signing the Declaration of Independence. The government even footed the legal bills.

How Did Food Stamps Begin?

The program was designed to aid American farmers and businesses—as well as the hungry—and had its largest expansion under a Republican president.

Andrew Carnegie Claimed to Support Unions, But Then Destroyed Them in His Steel Empire

The magnate with humble roots claimed to be pro‑union, but his actions didn’t match his rhetoric.

Construction of the Brooklyn Bridge Took 14 Years—And Multiple Lives

Horrific workplace accidents claimed a string of lives and left its designer dead and his son crippled.

How Much Did the First‑Ever Social Security Check Pay Out?

Over her lifetime, the first Social Security recipient received nearly 1,000 times what she paid into the system.

Why the Bay of Pigs Invasion Went So Wrong

A series of poor decisions and mistakes led to one of the worst foreign policy failures in American history.

The Epic Motorcycle Trip That Turned Che Guevara Into a Revolutionary

A coming‑of‑age adventure through five South American countries set Che Guevara on the path to becoming a Marxist revolutionary.

Mobster Al Capone Ran a Soup Kitchen During the Great Depression

America’s most notorious gangster sponsored the charity that served up three hot meals a day to thousands of the unemployed—no questions asked.

When Irish‑Americans Attacked Canada—With the White House’s Blessing

These Civil War veterans orchestrated one of the most audacious acts of the Fenian Brotherhood in the Americas.

St Patrick: Kidnapped by Pirates and Enslaved at 16

The patron saint of Ireland first arrived in Ireland in the hold of a slave ship.

How St. Patrick’s Day Took on New Life in America

St. Patrick may be the patron saint of Ireland, but many St. Patrick’s Day traditions were born in the United States.

Why Did Pontius Pilate Have Jesus Executed?

Historical accounts of the man who sentenced Jesus to death paint him as arrogant and cruel; the Bible goes easier on him, shifting the blame.