This series of articles covers the history of the Democratic Party – the oldest continuous political party in the world, one whose history goes back 223 years to nearly the very beginning of the United States government. Its story is as complex as America’s: at times, inspiring; at other times, shameful; and, oftentimes, somewhere in between. There is a thread that connects the party’s history, in my view: namely, that the Democratic Party has always stood, at least in principle, for the ordinary American that deserves as fair a shot at getting ahead as their more privileged, fellow citizens. Even though the Democratic definition of the “ordinary Americans” they stood for has changed over time, this commitment has always been at the core of the party’s values. This series will cover it all – the good, bad, and ugly – and I hope you’ll enjoy it! –
Stephen Yellin