#116, December 27, 2006

Xtreme History®

The X-Games, bringing together a multitude of Xtreme Sports, have been going on for many years. I learned the other day at a Christmas party that there is now something called Xtreme Programming taking shape. This is a new approach to programming founded on a relationship between programmer and client that is far more interactive than previously was the case. Heretofore, a programmer would be given a task by the client and would work away at her/his computer returning with a finished product, a program that would hopefully meet the needs of the client. Now, though, Xtreme programmers are approaching their task in a new way and based upon altered assumptions. They believe, quite reasonably, that the client doesn’t really know what he or she wants when hiring the programmer, and so, rather than hibernating until the project is done, the programmer needs to be engaging the client in the process of creating the program. Programmers need to present their clients with all the possible alternatives, make suggestions about different ways of approaching the project, and share their sense of the new vistas that get opened up as the programs take form. In this way they can more effectively teach the client how to use the program once it is finished and, they believe, the program can more efficiently meet the client’s needs. In addition, the program will spawn new approaches to programming that will continue to push the boundaries of interactivity. All this sounds promising. Perhaps we can apply this thinking to the world of History.

Now is the time, then, to establish Xtreme History®. Here, historians will work more closely with their clients (however these are to be defined), bringing them into the process of creating a history that is more usable for them. We could introduce historians into all walks of life, having them shadow public figures, to offer the historical alternatives. Let’s take American presidents as our example. Instead of having to wait around for popular historians to write their over-priced evaluations of the work of presidents who are long gone, we can have a historian sitting on the cabinet to provide instant historical assessments. “No, Mr. President, if you invade Iraq and you do not have a shred of evidence that Saddam is producing WMDs, it may not look good for your reputation in the future. Look what happened to Richard Nixon when he tried to lie to the American people. Mind you, in his case, impeachment was followed by scholarly rehabilitation. In your case, it might mean you get through your presidency unscathed, but your historical legacy may be forever scarred.” Such Xtreme historical interventions might work wonders in an evenly divided cabinet dealing with tough issues. You know that Presidents are constantly thinking about their legacies, particularly in their second terms, so why not give them help in this area? After all, if they have to turn to other cabinet members for advice, people who have their own legacies and ambitions for higher office to take care of, they may not get the advice that they really need. Assign them an Xtreme Historian®, however, and they will be much better served. [Additional consideration: as we develop our Xtreme methodologies, we would need to go back to study some of the proto- Xtreme Historians® – there’s Arthur Schlessinger giving advice on matters historical to JFK, and, of course, Woodrow Wilson providing Divine historical guidance for himself.]

If we follow this bold historiographical path just think of the possibilities for the members of our American Historical Association to become bona fide public intellectuals. The President of the AHA could be assigned a space in the closet adjacent to the Oval Office, used so effectively by Monica Lewinsky, and services could be provided very directly to the President of the United States. The AHA President’s message every January at the Convention would become a national media event, as the Most Extreme Xtreme Historian® provided his “State of the President’s Legacy Address.” Once this becomes firmly established as a yearly ritual we might find Xtreme History® filtering down into all areas of American society and culture. Just imagine in season nine of the Sopranos, the show is revitalized by the introduction of an Xtreme Historian® who shadows Tony Soprano providing advice on how he will look to posterity if he blows away some minor character. “No, Mr. Soprano [Xtreme Historians® lose the appearance of objectivity if they use first names],” Ricordo Heatstatter says, “don’t ice Michael [Xtreme Historians® should endeavor to learn the language of their clients]; it won’t look good for the historical record if you kill one of your close relatives. If you’ve got to do it, have someone else take him out – and don’t let me know about it, as I’ll have to include it in my historical account.”

The possibilities are endless. We finish with a possible public service announcement, or caption for AHA Perspectives:

Xtreme Historians® needed! Help save your ailing profession; help save the nation, even the planet! Opportunities available! You must be prepared to provide your services anytime, anywhere, and in any unsavory capacity. No job is too small. No history is too dirty. You too can help launder the historical record.