Joshua Michael Zeitz (born 1974) is an American historian and former Democratic politician. He is the author of several books on American political and social history and has written for the ''
New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'', ''
Washington Post
''The Washington Post'', locally known as ''The'' ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'' or ''WP'', is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C., the national capital. It is the most widely circulated newspaper in the Washington m ...
'', ''
Los Angeles Times
The ''Los Angeles Times'' is an American Newspaper#Daily, daily newspaper that began publishing in Los Angeles, California, in 1881. Based in the Greater Los Angeles city of El Segundo, California, El Segundo since 2018, it is the List of new ...
'', ''
The New Republic
''The New Republic'' (often abbreviated as ''TNR'') is an American magazine focused on domestic politics, news, culture, and the arts from a left-wing perspective. It publishes ten print magazines a year and a daily online platform. ''The New Y ...
'', ''
The Atlantic
''The Atlantic'' is an American magazine and multi-platform publisher based in Washington, D.C. It features articles on politics, foreign affairs, business and the economy, culture and the arts, technology, and science.
It was founded in 185 ...
'', ''
Dissent'', and ''
American Heritage''. Zeitz appeared as a commentator on two
PBS documentaries – ''Boomer Century'', and
Ken Burns' ''Prohibition'' — and has commented on public policy matters on
CNBC
CNBC is an American List of business news channels, business news channel owned by the NBCUniversal News Group, a unit of Comcast's NBCUniversal. The network broadcasts live business news and analysis programming during the morning, Day ...
and
CNN International. He has held faculty positions at
Harvard
Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1636 and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of higher lear ...
,
Cambridge
Cambridge ( ) is a List of cities in the United Kingdom, city and non-metropolitan district in the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It is the county town of Cambridgeshire and is located on the River Cam, north of London. As of the 2021 Unit ...
and
Princeton and is the author of four books.
Biography
Background
Zeitz is Jewish and was born in
Trenton and raised in
Bordentown, where he attended
Bordentown Regional High School, which inducted him into its hall of fame in 1990. He obtained his B.A. from
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore College ( , ) is a Private college, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1864, with its first classes held in 1869, Swarthmore is one of the e ...
(1996), with Highest Honors, and earned a
M.A. (1998) and a Ph.D. (2002) in American history from
Brown University
Brown University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. It is the List of colonial colleges, seventh-oldest institution of higher education in the US, founded in 1764 as the ' ...
. He is the author of three books, co-author and editor of a high school history textbook, and has written numerous academic and non-academic articles. Zeitz has held academic positions at Harvard University, Princeton University, and University of Cambridge. In 2008 Zeitz ran as a Democrat for Congress representing
New Jersey's 4th district. He was defeated by incumbent
Chris Smith 32% to 66%.
Academic positions
Zeitz has held several academic positions including:
*Lecturer on History and Literature, Harvard University (2001–03)
*Lecturer on American history and Director of Studies in History,
Pembroke College, Cambridge University (2003–07)
*Lecturer,
Woodrow Wilson School, Princeton University (2010-2011)
Books
Zeitz has written six books. Zeitz's most recent book, ''Lincoln's God: How Faith Transformed a President and a Nation'', was published by
Viking Press in 2023.
Bibliography
Books
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*
*
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Articles and Commentary
Zeitz's articles and commentary in the popular press include:
*"Does the White Working Class Really Vote Against Its Own Interests?" ''
Politico
''Politico'' (stylized in all caps), known originally as ''The Politico'', is an American political digital newspaper company founded by American banker and media executive Robert Allbritton in 2007. It covers politics and policy in the Unit ...
'', December 31, 2017.
*"When America Hated Catholics" ''
Politico
''Politico'' (stylized in all caps), known originally as ''The Politico'', is an American political digital newspaper company founded by American banker and media executive Robert Allbritton in 2007. It covers politics and policy in the Unit ...
'', September 23, 2015.
*"If Guns Make Us Safer, Why Not Let Them Into the U.S. Capitol?" ''Politico'', July 18, 2015.
*"Fact-Checking Lincoln," ''The Atlantic'', November 12, 2012.
*"Chris Christie's Summer of Self Promotion," ''The Atlantic'', August 7, 2012.
*"1964: The Year the 60s Began," ''American Heritage Magazine'', October 2006
*"Boomer Century," ''American Heritage Magazine'', October 2005, 32-48
*"Saving Grace," ''The New Republic'' (Online), December 30, 2004
*"Miller's Crossing," ''The New Republic'' (Online), September 1, 2004
*"The Big Lie About the Little Pill," ''
New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'', December 27, 2003
*"Disunited Nations," ''American Heritage Magazine'', August/September 2003
*"The Fall (and Potential Rise) of Liberalism," ''Los Angeles Times'', December 22, 2002, M2
*"Dixie's Victory," ''American Heritage Magazine'', September 2002, 46-55
*"Are Our Liberties in Peril?" ''American Heritage Magazine'', November/December 2001, 34-37
*"Back to the Barricades," ''American Heritage Magazine'', October 2001, 70-75
*"Rebel Redemption Redux," ''Dissent'' (Winter 2001), cover 30-37
*"Impeach Andrew Johnson!" ''The New Republic'', January 18, 1999, cover, 13-1
Zeitz's academic writings include
*
*
*
Notes
External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Zeitz, Joshua M.
Living people
Bordentown Regional High School alumni
Brown University alumni
Harvard University faculty
New Jersey Democrats
People from Bordentown, New Jersey
Writers from Trenton, New Jersey
Swarthmore College alumni
1974 births
Writers from Burlington County, New Jersey