The following series of tweets indicate why I resigned a prestigious, though informal and largely honorary position at Yale University's Calhoun College. Named for one of the towering figures in 19th Century America, the college had been under mounting pressure to change its name since Senator John C. Calhoun, also our 7th vice president, was a slave holder in his native South Carolina. I resigned because he was much more than that, at least during his very different times. Additionally, once we start messing with history to bend it to contemporary ideals and sensitivities, it might as well be written with disappearing ink.

Resigned yesterday as Associate Fellow of #CalhounCollege at #Yale. Been an honor but intolerant insistence on political correctness is lame.

His ideas are repugnant but #CalhounCollege name change would shock #JFK who named John C. Calhoun 1 of 5 "greatest" all-time senators in 1957

To judge a 200 yr old early 19th century historic figure by standards of the 21st century as #Yale is doing is more Orwellian than inspired

Slavery was abhorrent sin.Will #Yale students now petition to change name of #USA capital? #Washington was a slave holder as was #Jefferson