What the Roman senate’s grovelling before emperors explains about GOP senators’ support for Trump

Unhinged leaders, dynastic intrigue, devastation and plunder: For 15 years I have been researching and teaching the ancient historian Tacitus’ works on the history of the Roman Empire. It has rarely been difficult to find echoes of the history he describes in current events.

I’m not the first person to make this observation.

In a letter dated Feb. 3, 1812, retired President John Adams wroteto fellow retiree Thomas Jefferson about Tacitus and his fellow historian, Thucydides.