Jon Meacham proposes the case for free trade, and the need for innovation and investment in education.
In perspective

In Perspective: The case for free trade and investing in ourselves
Poll: NAFTA, 17 years later

In Perspective: Jon Meacham on America’s regulatory history
Jon Meacham examines the effect that programs initiated by Nixon, FDR and LBJ continue to have on Americans, despite unawareness of the role government plays in our everyday lives.

In Perspective: Marcos Villatoro on the changing American garage sale
A Salvadoran-American writer, teacher and filmmaker who lives in a hardscrabble Latino neighborhood in Los Angeles explains how the American garage sale has changed thanks to harsh economic times.

In Perspective: Jon Meacham on the delicate balance between public and private
As the Republican presidential debates continue, Jon Meacham weighs in on the complicated balance between government and the private sector.

In Perspective: Where does 9/11 stand as a turning point in U.S. history?
A decade after one of the most tragic days in America’s history, Jon Meacham reflects on the legacy of September 11, 2001, and wonders how it will be remembered in the years to come.

In Perspective: Confronting our racial history with ‘The Help’
Guest essayist Desiree Cooper argues that confronting one of the most uncomfortable aspects of the new film “The Help” — the depiction of affection between maids and the families they worked for — can help lead to a better understanding of our racial histories.

In Perspective: Jon Meacham on ‘The Last Mountain’ and ‘moments’ of environmental concern
Jon Meacham discusses a new documentary, “The Last Mountain,” about the destructiveness of the West Virginia coal mining industry, and argues for a consensus on a national energy plan.

Jon Meacham: Why the world won’t end tomorrow
Will the world end tomorrow? Jon Meacham’s take on the latest purported coming of the rapture, May 21.

Jon Meacham: A salute to Defense Secretary Robert Gates
Jon Meacham looks back on the career of Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who retires this year, after serving both Democratic and Republican administrations with distinction.