Fact or fiction?

A collection of Outlook’s favorite recently debunked myths.

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Myth: Gingrich is an academic. John Pitney says, "A typical Gingrich work is full of aphorisms and historical references — and devoid of the hallmarks of academic research: rigor, nuance and consideration of alternative views." Five myths about Newt Gingrich

DARON DEAN / REUTERS

Myth: Ronald Reagan was a bad actor. Actually, biographer Edmund Morris says Reagan "was transformed into a superb actor when he took on the roles of governor of California, presidential candidate and president of the United States." Five myths about Ronald Reagan

Frank Johnston / The Washington Post

Myth: Betsy Ross made the first American flag. Marc Leepson says the "iconic 1893 painting of Ross sitting in her Philadelphia parlor with the sun beaming down on the flag in her lap is a scene invented by Charles H. Weisgerber, the artist and entrepreneur who profited from the Betsy Ross legend." Five myths about the American flag

/ AP

Myth: The south seceded over states' rights. James W. Loewen says "Confederates opposed states’ rights — that is, the right of Northern states not to support slavery." Here, a third-grader dresses as a confederate soldier at the Manassas Museum Camp. Five myths about why the South seceded

Pouya Dianat / The Washington Post

Myth: Lincoln was gay. Harold Holzer says the 16th president was attracted to women and "was a regular customer in prairie brothels before his marriage at age 33." Five myths about Abraham Lincoln

Gerald Martineau/The Washington Post / The Washington Post

Myth: Ninety percent of what Planned Parenthood does is provide abortions. Former Planned Parenthood affiliate chief executive Clare Coleman "Planned Parenthood’s abortion care represents 3 percent of its medical services." Here, members of Planned Parenthood rally in Washington on April 7. Five myths about Planned Parenthood

JOSHUA ROBERTS / REUTERS

Myth: U.S. civil liberties were decimated after the attacks. Brian Michael Jenkins says "The 9/11 attacks did lead to some expansion of executive authority ... [but] Congress pushed back on the Bush administration’s warrant-less wiretapping program and in 2008 restored judicial oversight." Five myths about 9/11

/ AFP PHOTO/NTV

Myth: Mormons practice polygamy. Joanna Brooks says "members who marry more than one spouse are excommunicated, but ultra-orthodox splinter groups continue the practice." Pictured: Washington's temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Five myths about Mormonism

Sarah L. Voisin / The Washington Post

Myth: The biggest problem with nuclear energy is safety. According to Michael A. Levi, "the biggest challenge to sustainable nuclear energy hasn’t been safety, but cost." Here, a young evacuee is screened at a shelter for leaked radiation from the damaged Fukushima nuclear plant in Fukushima, Japan. Five myths about nuclear energy

Wally Santana / AP

Myth: The debt ceiling is an effective way to control spending and deficits. According to Bruce Bartlett, raising the debt limit is about paying for past expenses, not controlling future ones." Pictured: Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio) at the Capitol on Dec. 13. Five myths about the debt ceiling

J. Scott Applewhite / AP

Myth: People in poor neighborhoods lack acces to fresh fruits and vegetables. Katherine Mangu-Ward says "farmers markets, often overlooked in surveys of rich and poor neighborhoods alike, have tripled since 1994." Here, a street vendor sells fresh vegetables at the streets of Kathmandu. Five myths about healthy eating

REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar / REUTERS

Featured Photo Galleries

Chip Ganassi Racing driver Dario Franchitti of Scotland (L) celebrates as he crosses the finish line ahead of teammate Scott Dixon of New Zealand and KV Racing Technology driver Tony Kanaan of Brazil during the Indianapolis 500 autorace at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Indiana, May 27, 2012. REUTERS/John Sommers II(UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT MOTORSPORT)

Dario Franchitti wins the Indianapolis 500

Dario Franchitti wins his third Indy 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis.

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 27: Christian Slayton, 12 prays to a fallen soldiers memorial as motorcycles from the Rolling Thunder event pass by in Washington, DC on May 27, 2012. Slayton, who is from Raleigh, NC ran out to the makeshift memorial to say a prayer of thanks for all the veterans living and fallen. He said he wanted to thank them for letting us be free and able to have the rights that some countries never had. Riders from across the nation come together every year to ride from the Pentagon over to the National Mall as a rememberance those POW and MIAs in the Vietnam War. (Photo by Linda Davidson/The Washington Post)

Rolling Thunder descends on Washington

Motorcyclists take part in the annual parade ahead of Memorial Day.

Visitors stop to read the names on the Vietnam Memorial at sunrise on the fist day of the Memorial Day weekend in Washington Saturday, May 24, 2008. (AP Photo/J. David Ake)

Honoring the Vietnam War’s fallen

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is one of the most visited sites in the nation’s capital.

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 24: Aaron Rubinstein, center, with fellow students, lights candles before the annual Mass for family members of the cadavers used in anatomy studies on May, 24, 2012 in Washington, DC. At right are Steven Kazuska and Meghan Kuska. (Photo by Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post)

Students express gratitude for cadavers

Georgetown University students thank the families who allowed the use of cadavers for study.

Cambodian Grilled Corn is basted with a mix of coconut milk and sugar, then grilled until caramelized. Recipe by grilling expert Steven Raichlen, for a Chef on Call lesson. (Michael Temchine for The Washington Post) Freelance Photo imported to Merlin on Fri May 16 15:10:05 2008

Memorial Day recipes

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FAIRFAX, VA - MAY 23: US Army Veteran Sandra Strickland embraces her daughter, Heaven, 8, after dinner Wednesday May 23, 2012 in Fairfax, VA. After losing her job, custody of her children and being evicted from her apartment, Strickland moved into a home for homeless female veterans provided by Final Salute, Inc. (Photo by Katherine Frey/The Washington Post)

Fairfax shelter becomes a lifeline for homeless female veterans

A former Army captain opened the shelter with last fall.

Speaker of the Ukrainian parliament Volodymyr Litvin (Bottom) looks on as deputies of the Ukrainian opposition fight with deputies of the pro-presidential majority during a session of parliament in Kiev, as opposition parties protest a bill proposed by the ruling party which would make Russian an official state language along with Ukrainian. AFP PHOTO/STRINGERSTR/AFP/GettyImages

Ukrainian parliament fight, SpaceX cargo craft, Mars rover Opportunity and more in the day in photos

Ukrainian parliament fight, SpaceX cargo craft, Mars rover Opportunity and more.

Red Panda Bears sleep in the Panda Bear enclosure at the Beijing Zoo on May 22, 2012. The zoo grounds were originally a Ming Dynasty imperial palace and finally opened to the public in 1908. The zoo's history states that during the WWII, most of the zoo's animals died of starvation with only 13 monkeys and one old emu surviving the war. AFP PHOTO/Mark RALSTONMARK RALSTON/AFP/GettyImages

Barn owls, pit bulls, red pandas, cheetah cubs and more in animal views

Barn owls, pit bulls, red pandas, cheetah cubs and more.

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Fact or fiction?

A collection of Outlook’s favorite recently debunked myths.

Featured Photo Galleries