Many people have goals they hope to accomplish in their lifetime. Robert Whealey has three.
Whealey, 77, is an associate professor emeritus of history who retired in 2001. He is trying to complete three nonfiction books.
He already published one book, Hitler and Spain: The Nazi Role in the Spanish Civil War 1936-1939, in 1989 as well as about 40 articles.
Whealey said his drive to write comes from a desire to provide people with information, adding that if the facts are hidden, people are forced to guess what is true.
The job of the historian is to tell the truth the way he sees the truth
he said.
In his search for truth, Whealey has faced challenges during his research.
One of Whealey's books, American Stalemates, examines U.S. domestic and foreign policy. He started it in 2000, but after the events of Sept. 11, policies changed so drastically that he needed to scrap most of the information, he said.
He's encountered a similar scenario with another project, American Intervention in the Yugoslav Civil War 1991-1999. Since the situation in Kosovo is an ongoing issue, the book is in limbo. The last chapter needs revising because he is always finding new facts, Whealey said.
Whealey grew up conscious about what was going on around him. His father was drafted in WWI, and when he was 15, he heard about the dropping of the atomic bomb while working as a newsboy.
Whealey himself was drafted in 1955 during the Vietnam War. However, it was the Korean War that motivated him to become a historian.
I thought my purpose as a historian was to prevent WWIII Whealey said.
After a two-year stint of teaching history at the University of Maine, Whealey and his wife moved to Athens in 1964, where he taught contemporary European diplomacy for the next 37 years.
Whealey's books aren't the only things keeping him involved with history. He hosts a Public Access talk show on Channel 23 called Athens Speak Out.- Mykel said. (Whealey) is colorful and spontaneous
and interesting to watch
as is Lois.
Along with his busy schedule, Whealey has found that his aging is also taking a toll on his work.
When Whealey first retired, his daily routine consisted of visiting the library from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. to do research.
Now
because I'm slower
he said, I'm lucky to get in at 10 a.m.
and I leave earlier. I'm slacking.
Whealey is nearly finished with American Intervention in the Yugoslav Civil War 1991-1999 and another book about WWII. However completing American Stalemates is a lengthy ambitious venture, and he probably will need someone to finish the writing for him, he said.
(But) I'm not giving up
he added.
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