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Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signs the golden book as he meets Norway’s king on October 20, 2026, at the Royal Palace in Oslo. (Getty Images)
On October 17, Hudson Institute hosted a book discussion with Senior Fellow Melanie Kirkpatrick and Kimberley Strassel on Kirkpatrick's latest book, Thanksgiving: The Holiday at the Heart of the American Experience
Drawing on newspaper accounts, private correspondence, historical documents, and cookbooks, Thanksgiving brings to life the full history of the holiday and what it has meant to generations of Americans. While the rites and rituals of the holiday have evolved over the centuries, its essence remains the same: family and friends feasting together in a spirit of gratitude to God, neighborliness, and hospitality. We thank those who joined us for a discussion of Kirkpatrick's enlightening new book and the importance of America's oldest tradition.
“A short, beautiful history of our oldest national custom.” — Amity Shlaes
__“Melanie Kirkpatrick shows brilliantly how from cooking pot to melting pot, America is a product of Thanksgiving as much as Thanksgiving is a product of America.” — Andrew Roberts__
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Front of the Smithsonian Castle as seen from the National Mall. (Wikimedia Commons)
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President Ronald Reagan signs the Social Security Act Amendment with Vice President George Bush, Senator Bob Dole, and Congressmen Tip O'Neill and Daniel Moynihan on hand as witnesses on April 20, 1983. (Getty Images)
