American students losing the memories of America, survey shows

NEWS AND OPINION:

The history of America appears to be fading away to college students. The American Council of Trustees and Alumni has released the findings of a telling poll titled “Losing America’s Memory 2.0.”

The 35-question survey of 3,026 undergraduate students in the U.S., assessing their grasp on basic facts about the nation’s history and government.

“The results should concern all Americans,” the council, known as the ACTA, said in a written statement.

“Sixty percent of students do not know the term lengths of members of the U.S. Congress. Only 27% correctly identify Kamala Harris as the president of the U.S. Senate. Only 37% know that John Roberts is the chief justice of the Supreme Court. Only 23% of students know that the phrase, ’Government of the people, by the people, for the people,’ comes from the Gettysburg Address,” the analysis said.

“Only 35% know that Rep. Mike Johnson is the speaker of the House of Representatives. Only 28% of students correctly identify the 13th Amendment as the government action that freed the slaves. Only 32% know that a trial of impeachment takes place before the Senate, despite living through two recent presidential impeachment trials,” it said.

“The dismal results of our survey show that current students and recent college graduates have little idea of the American past or its core principles and values, no guide to take them through the roiling controversies facing us today, or to enable them to defend and protect the free institutions that are the glory of our nation and an inspiration to the world,” said Michael Poliakoff, president of ACTA.

“They cannot uphold what they do not comprehend. There is so much to be proud of as we near the 250th anniversary of our independence and the birth of our democratic republic. But being the world’s oldest democracy is no guarantee for the future of our democratic republic,” Mr. Poliakoff said in a written statement.

Find the organization at www.goacta.org.

A FUND FOR THE FALLEN

An online fundraiser was established Saturday to benefit the family of Corey Comperatore, a former Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Company chief. He died Saturday during the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump in Pennsylvania. The fund will also benefit those who were injured at the event.

As of 6 p.m. Monday, the site had received nearly 58,000 donations — and $4.4 million. Organizers had set an original goal of $1 million.

“President Donald Trump has authorized this account as a place for donations to the supporters and families wounded or killed in today’s brutal and horrific assassination attempt. All donations will be directed to these proud Americans as they grieve and recover. May God bless and unite our nation,” an advisory said.

Find the site at GoFundMe.com. The fund is called “Support For Butler PA Victims - President Trump Authorized.”

BEHAVIOR OF NOTE

“Adversity brings out the best and the worst in individuals. Donald Trump’s exemplary behavior after his assassination attempt showed to the world what John Kennedy used to call ‘grace under pressure.’ Ronald Reagan had it too, telling jokes to doctors and reassuring Americans in other ways during his own shooting,” presidential historian and author Craig Shirley told Inside the Beltway.

“Same with Robert Kennedy when he was shot in 1968. As he lay bleeding and dying on the floor of the kitchen of the old Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, he whispered to an individual attending him, ‘Is everybody OK?’ All three men showed that ’grace under pressure.’ Some men have it and some don’t,” Mr. Shirley said.

‘TAKE THE TEST’

Former President Donald Trump has a proposal of sorts for President Biden.

In an interview Monday with Fox News host Harris Faulkner, she cited one of Mr. Trump’s recent Instagram posts, which suggested Mr. Biden “immediately take a cognitive test.”

In the post, Mr. Trump suggested that from now on, all presidential candidates should be required to take a cognitive test and an aptitude test regardless of their age.

He added Monday that he has already taken a cognitive test. “I aced it. Twice,” he told Ms. Faulkner.

“But you know what? If I didn’t — or if I didn’t do well, I’d want to know about it for myself,” he added, adding that a president has “an obligation” to be frank about such issues.

“I’d like to go take a test — a good, solid, strong test — and go with Joe. I will go with him — same doctors, same everything, and take the test,” the former president said.

’AT A TIPPING POINT’

Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan is a candidate for U.S. Senate in his state. He also has a warning for fellow citizens after the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania.

“While I am grateful that President Trump is safe, we must recognize that the level of hatred that has been building in our politics is not just dysfunctional but dangerous. The country is a tinderbox, and we are clearly at a tipping point right now. I will not stand for it, and neither should any American,” he said.

“All of us have a choice to make. We can continue to go down this dark road of extreme, toxic politics, hatred, and violence or we can return to civility and respect. We’ve got to stop with the rabid tribalism, dividing our country into red and blue teams. We must get back to the red, white, and blue,” Mr. Hogan continued.

POLL DU JOUR

• 29% of U.S. adults say they are “extremely enthusiastic” about voting in the 2024 presidential election in November; 43% of Republicans, 14% of independents and 30% of Democrats agree.

• 13% are “very enthusiastic” about voting; 17% of Republicans, 8% of independents and 14% of Democrats agree.

• 17% are “somewhat enthusiastic” about voting; 20% of Republicans, 13% of independents and 17% of Democrats agree.

• 18% are “not too enthusiastic” about voting; 12% of Republicans, 24% of independents and 17% of Democrats agree.

• 24% are “not at all enthusiastic” about voting in the presidential election; 8% of Republicans, 42% of independents and 21% of Democrats agree.

SOURCE: An Economist/YouGov poll of 1,620 U.S. adults conducted online July 7-9.

• Follow Jennifer Harper on X @HarperBulletin, on Facebook @HarperUniverse.