Greetings, I am Donald A. Ritchie. I was born on December 23, 1945, and I have had the privilege of serving as the Historian Emeritus of the United States Senate. My academic journey led me to graduate from the City College of New York in 1967, attain a master's degree in 1969, and earn a Ph.D. in 1975 from the University of Maryland, College Park. My time in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1969 to 1971 greatly shaped my perspectives, and my work in the Senate Historical Office conducting oral history interviews has been a cornerstone of my career.