I just got back from a Food Network event in Atlantic City. Debbie was able to get us press passes through her JerseyBites.com blog and we had the pleasure to talk to Paula Deen, Deb's favorite. What does this have to do with history? Bear with me.

Each press person was allowed to ask one question. Most did the obvious. They asked about food. There were some great questions but Debbie chose a different tact. She referenced Paula's difficult past; divorcing an alcoholic husband, raising two boys on her own, battling agoraphobia and finally getting her own restaurant against all odds. Debbie asked for words of wisdom for other single mom's who aspire to be entrepreneurs. Paula loved the question and offered a moving and lengthy response. She even gave Deb a hug! (check out Jersey Bites)

So, Debbie had the chance to ask one of her idols a great question while sitting next to her at a table. It was a big thrill for her. We history geeks don't quite have that opportunity do we? Most of the people that inspire us are all long gone. Woe is us!

One of my favorite historical characters is U.S. Grant but I'm not getting a hug or a handshake from him anytime soon! I can ask him a question though. No, this has nothing to do with mystic mediums or seances. If you do your research you can make a reasonable idea of how a person would answer a question. Granted it might be a lot of homework and you can't hear the answer in their own exact words, but it's an interesting excercise.

The fun part is coming up with that one, really good question. Oh, I could ask Sam Grant, "What where you thinking at Cold Harbor?" or "How did it feel to capture Fort Donelson?". Hmmm, but what would I really like to know? How about, "After you failed in business and farming, how did you find the courage to soldier on?" or "When you re-entered the military at the start of the Civil War, did you feel like it was a great opportunity or did you just think it was your duty?"

So, maybe it's a good idea to approach history as a journalist would. Ask a deeper question, get a meaningful answer.

What one question would you ask your favorite historical personality? Pick up book and see if you can figure out their answer.