Bruce D. Thatcher

Bruce D. Thatcher is founder of History Speaks Today (www.historyspeakstoday.com), which shares truths learned from accomplishments and failures of those in our past, to help us avoid making the same mistakes today. He is also author of that project's first five full-length books - Adamant Aggressors, Immigration, Rise and Decline, Gun Mania and Too Big?.

On his web site and in his talks, Thatcher distills lessons from historical cases that provide clear guidelines about what we should do and not do when confronted by critical issues today -- matters of national security, national unity, social programs, immigration and other critical areas of stumbling by nations' leaders.

Early on he recognized that 'adamant aggressors' confront many government leaders in the world today, affecting their national security ... even existentially! And some of those aggressors are in positions of significant power. ADAMANT AGGRESSORS, released in 2011, is a collection of historic cases that demonstrate unassailable dos and don'ts for dealing with today's international threats.

While researching that first book, Thatcher came across cases of mishandled immigration that led to disastrous consequences. Because immigration impacts America and so many other countries, it became a natural subject for IMMIGRATION, which draws on the experiences of seven countries to present guidelines that consistently produce successful immigration policies.

RISE and DECLINE, examines life cycles of six nations, from ancient Athens to the United States, and shows that the degree of citizen commitment to founding principles parallels the rise, maturity, decline and end of each. It shows that the United States is in decline, and suggests what we can do about it ... if we will.

Demands for gun control follow every high-profile shooting in America, but subsequent actions never seem to change much. GUN MANIA, published in 2019, compares cultural aspects of guns in five nations that are similar except in how they relate to guns, and it shows why conventional approaches haven’t, don’t and won’t reduce violent deaths in America. In it, Thatcher urges redirection of attention toward ways that will.

Daily news is full of references to powerful people who act as if rules that govern us don’t apply to them. "Too big to fail" has become a mantra used to shield leaders of organizations from accountability for their actions. TOO BIG?, released in 2023, examines five high-profile historical and current cases where accountability was/is flawed or missing. It shows how such people are not subjected to effective accountability. And it suggests remedies to improve accountability of those at the top of business, governmental and other organizations.

Thatcher graduated from Iowa State College and the University of Chicago. He served in the navy and marine corps reserves, worked in marketing and management with General Electric and the Vendo Company, then founded and led a telecommunications consulting firm, TelCon Associates, for 30 years until his retirement.

While living in the Chicago area, he became involved in politics and served as President of a high school board of education. He has taught classes at Avalon University, William Jewell College and the University of Missouri at Kansas City.

Thatcher and his wife Carol now live near New Braunfels, Texas.