How NOT to do History.

Conal Furay and Micheal Salevouris maintian (In our Methods and Skills textbook) that one of the legitimate uses of history is as a tool to shape public policy. Indeed, historians have used their knowledge of the past in order to influence the course of concurrent events since the concept of history was invented. Furay and Salevouris rightly point out the example of wisdom wielding diplomat-historian George Kennan, who developed the policy of 'containment' towards Soviet states during the onset of the Cold War. By drawing from his knowledge of ancient empires, Kennan rightly concluded that empires, built by conquest, cannot survive without it.

We can surmise then that it is not only appropriate for Historians to wield their knowledge of the past (If such a thing can be done) in order to influence public policy, but that it can actually result in beneficial consequences.

But what is the consequence of a group of people, such as a special interest or other lobbyist, uses history as a weapon to augment their arsenal of soft money, white papers and lawyers in pursuit of political gain?