Arsenal of Freedom… America’s Leaders Work to Inspire…

February 16, 2026 by  
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The saying, “History never repeats itself, but it does often rhyme” is popularly attributed to author and humorist Mark Twain. Two weeks ago I wrote a post covering FDR and his famous “Arsenal of Democracy” speech. which was printed in several newspapers of the day, including The New York Times dated Dec. 30, 1940. Ironically, this week, I noticed something current with a Mark Twain history rhyming vibe. On January 5, 2026, Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth began his, “Arsenal of Freedom” tour. One of the fascinating benefits of reading historic newspapers is the ability to see patterns and, in this case, to see leaders, separated by decades, using similar rhetoric to rally America to step up in an era where she is needs to be her brightest and strongest. Despite the years between them, both FDR & Sec. Hegseth work intentionally to inspire and while we have yet to see the outcome of the “Arsenal of Freedom” tour, our hope is that we will indeed stand strong and be a beacon on a hill.

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