Gil Troy
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Gil Troy (born 1961) is an American presidential historian and a popular commentator on politics and other issues. He is a professor of history at
McGill University McGill University (french: link=no, Université McGill) is an English-language public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1821 by royal charter granted by King George IV,Frost, Stanley Brice. ''McGill Univer ...
. Troy is the author of nine books, and the editor of two. He writes a column for ''
The Daily Beast ''The Daily Beast'' is an American news website focused on politics, media, and pop culture. It was founded in 2008. It has been characterized as a "high-end tabloid" by Noah Shachtman, the site's editor-in-chief from 2018 to 2021. In a 20 ...
'' on forgotten history, putting current events in historical perspective and is a columnist for ''
The Jerusalem Post ''The Jerusalem Post'' is a broadsheet newspaper based in Jerusalem, founded in 1932 during the British Mandate of Palestine by Gershon Agron as ''The Palestine Post''. In 1950, it changed its name to ''The Jerusalem Post''. In 2004, the pap ...
''.


Biography

Troy was born in
Queens, New York Queens is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Queens County, in the U.S. state of New York. Located on Long Island, it is the largest New York City borough by area. It is bordered by the borough of Brooklyn at the western tip of Long ...
. He is the brother of Dan Troy and Tevi David Troy. He attended
Jamaica High School Jamaica High School was a four-year public high school in Jamaica, Queens, New York. It was operated by the New York City Department of Education. Jamaica High School was founded as the Union Free School in 1854, and located within a three-story ...
, and received his bachelor's degree, master's degree, and doctorate from
Harvard University Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of highe ...
.


Academic career

Troy taught history and literature at Harvard University from 1988 to 1990. He has taught history at McGill University since 1990. Troy has authored seven books on the American presidency and the history of presidential campaigning, including biographies of
Ronald Reagan Ronald Wilson Reagan ( ; February 6, 1911June 5, 2004) was an American politician, actor, and union leader who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. He also served as the 33rd governor of California from 1967 ...
and
Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton ( Rodham; born October 26, 1947) is an American politician, diplomat, and former lawyer who served as the 67th United States Secretary of State for President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2013, as a United States sen ...
, and edited two others, including a revised edition of a comprehensive reference guide to American presidential elections previously edited by noted historian
Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. Arthur Meier Schlesinger Jr. (; born Arthur Bancroft Schlesinger; October 15, 1917 – February 28, 2007) was an American historian, social critic, and public intellectual. The son of the influential historian Arthur M. Schlesinger Sr. and a s ...
He has written numerous articles on the presidency and presidential elections that have appeared in ''The New York Times'', '' The Wilson Quarterly'', and other newspapers, magazines and journals. He has served as visiting scholar at the
Bipartisan Policy Center The Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) is a Washington, D.C.–based think tank that promotes bipartisanship. The organization aims to combine ideas from both the Republican and Democratic parties to address challenges in the U.S. BPC focuses on is ...
and on the advisory board of the
History News Network History News Network (HNN) at George Washington University is a platform for historians writing about current events. History History News Network (HNN) is a non-profit corporation registered in Washington DC. HNN was founded by Richard Shenkman ...
. The History News Network designated him one of the first "top young historians," and Maclean's Magazine has repeatedly identified him as one of McGill's "popular Profs."


Zionist activism

Troy is a prominent activist in the debate over Zionism and the future of Israel. He has been a Shalom Hartman Center Research Fellow and helped found the center's Engaging Israel Program. His articles on the subject have appeared in ''
The New Republic ''The New Republic'' is an American magazine of commentary on politics, contemporary culture, and the arts. Founded in 1914 by several leaders of the progressive movement, it attempted to find a balance between "a liberalism centered in hu ...
'' and elsewhere, and he has written two books, ''Why I am a Zionist'' and ''Moynihan's Moment: America's Fight Against Zionism as Racism'', which
David G. Dalin David G. Dalin (born 28 June 1949) is an American rabbi and historian, and the author, co-author, or editor of twelve books on American Jewish history and politics, and Jewish-Christian relations. Career Dalin received a B.A. from the University ...
, writing in the ''
National Review ''National Review'' is an American conservative editorial magazine, focusing on news and commentary pieces on political, social, and cultural affairs. The magazine was founded by the author William F. Buckley Jr. in 1955. Its editor-in-chief ...
'', called "beautifully written, and rich in its insight and analysis ... the definitive account of this episode and of why its legacy is an enduring one." Jewish Ideas Daily designated Moynihan's Moment one of its "best books" of 2012, it was the winner of a 2014 J.I. Segal Award in the category of English Non-Fiction Award on a Jewish Theme, and his article "Democracy, Judaism, and War" won a 2014
Simon Rockower Award A Simon Rockower Award is an award presented by the American Jewish Press Association for "Excellence in Jewish Journalism", at a banquet in November each year. They were created in 1979 by the children of Simon Rockower. List of categories A ...
for Excellence in Single Commentary.


Personal life

Troy is married to lawyer Linda Adams, daughter of Canadian real estate investor
Marcel Adams Marcel Adams (2 August 1920 – 11 August 2020) was a Canadian real estate investor, billionaire, and Holocaust survivor.
.


Published works


Books

* ''The Zionist Ideas; Visions for the Jewish Homeland — Then, Now, Tomorrow'' (2018) * ''The Age of Clinton: America in the 1990s''. St. Martin's Press, 2015. * ''Moynihan's Moment: America's Fight Against Zionism as Racism''. Oxford University Press, 2012. * ''History of American Presidential Elections 1789–2008''. (4th edition, Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., Gil Troy & Fred L. Israel, editors). Facts on File, 2011. * ''Living in the Eighties''. (Gil Troy & Vincent J. Cannato, editors). Oxford University Press, 2009. * ''The Reagan Revolution: A Very Short Introduction''. Oxford University Press, 2009. * ''Hillary Rodham Clinton: Polarizing First Lady''. University Press of Kansas, 2008. * ''Leading from the Center: Why Moderates Make the Best Presidents''. Basic Books, 2008. (In paperback: ''Why Moderates Make the Best Presidents: From George Washington to Barack Obama''. University Press of Kansas, 2012. ) * ''Morning in America: How Ronald Reagan Invented the 1980s''. Princeton University Press, 2007. * ''Why I Am a Zionist: Israel, Jewish Identity and the Challenges of Today''. Bronfman Jewish Education Center, 2002. * ''Affairs of State: The Rise and Rejection of the Presidential Couple Since World War II''. Free Press, 1997. . (In paperback: ''Mr. & Mrs. President: From the Trumans to the Clintons''. University Press of Kansas, 2000. ) * ''See How They Ran: The Changing Role of the Presidential Candidate''. (Revised and expanded edition.) Harvard University Press, 1996.


Articles

* "Campaign Stops" columns in ''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...
'' * "Center Field" columns in ''
The Jerusalem Post ''The Jerusalem Post'' is a broadsheet newspaper based in Jerusalem, founded in 1932 during the British Mandate of Palestine by Gershon Agron as ''The Palestine Post''. In 1950, it changed its name to ''The Jerusalem Post''. In 2004, the pap ...
'' * "Open Zion" blogs on ''
The Daily Beast ''The Daily Beast'' is an American news website focused on politics, media, and pop culture. It was founded in 2008. It has been characterized as a "high-end tabloid" by Noah Shachtman, the site's editor-in-chief from 2018 to 2021. In a 20 ...
'' * "The Campaign Triumphant," "Bury the Hatchet" and "Money and Politics: The Oldest Connection" in '' The Wilson Quarterly'' * "No, Israel Isn't Turning into an Iran-Style Theocracy" '' in
The New Republic ''The New Republic'' is an American magazine of commentary on politics, contemporary culture, and the arts. Founded in 1914 by several leaders of the progressive movement, it attempted to find a balance between "a liberalism centered in hu ...
''


References


External links


''Moynihan's Moment'' book site

Moment'' video

''The New York Times'' "Campaign Stops" columns by Gil Troy

''The Jerusalem Post'' "Center Field" columns by Gil Troy



''Age of Clinton'' book site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Troy, Gil Living people Harvard University alumni 21st-century American historians 21st-century American male writers Jewish activists Historians of the United States McGill University faculty Writers on Zionism Jewish American historians American male non-fiction writers 1961 births 21st-century American Jews