Donald A. Ritchie (born December 23, 1945) is Historian Emeritus of the United States Senate.
Donald A. Ritchie | |
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2nd Historian of the United States Senate | |
In office 2009–2015 | |
Preceded by | Richard A. Baker |
Succeeded by | Betty Koed |
Personal details | |
Born | December 23, 1945 |
Education | City College of New York (BA) University of Maryland, College Park (MS, PhD) |
He graduated from the City College of New York in 1967; and received a master's degree, in 1969, and a Ph.D., in 1975, from the University of Maryland, College Park.[1]
Ritchie served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1969 to 1971.[2]
As associate historian in the Senate Historical Office, beginning in 1976, Ritchie conducted oral history interviews with former senators and retired members of Senate staff as part of the Senate oral history project.[3] In 2009 he became the Senate historian, succeeding Richard Baker, and held that post until his retirement in 2015.[4]
Ritchie was responsible for editing the closed hearing transcripts of Senator Joseph R. McCarthy's investigations,[5] and has authored a number of books including Electing FDR. His book Press Gallery: Congress and the Washington Correspondents won him the Richard W. Leopold Prize of the Organization of American Historians.[6] He has served as president of the Oral History Association and on the councils of the American Historical Association and the International Oral History Association,[6] as well as on the board of the Society for History in the Federal Government.[7]
External videos | |
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Booknotes interview with Ritchie on Press Gallery, July 7, 1991, C-SPAN | |
After Words interview with Ritchie on Reporting from Washington, March 6, 2005, C-SPAN | |
Washington Journal interview with Ritchie on Our Constitution, April 6, 2007, C-SPAN | |
Presentation by Ritchie on Electing FDR, February 14, 2008, C-SPAN | |
Q&A interview with Ritchie on The U.S. Congress: A Very Short Introduction, August 15, 2010, C-SPAN | |
Interview with Ritchie on The Columnist, February 12, 2021, C-SPAN | |
Q&A interview with Ritchie on The Columnist, July 11, 2021, C-SPAN |
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