WASHINGTON — In an afternoon's walk through the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History , objects around every corner invite one question: What could possibly be more American than this?

The museum explores "the complexity of our past" in accord with its mission statement. There's the enormous Star-Spangled Banner , Dorothy's ruby slippers from "The Wizard of Oz" and totems of achievement throughout.

There are also testaments to pain and cruelty, illustrated by shackles representing slavery and photos of Japanese Americans confined to detention camps in World War II.

President Donald Trump wants Smithsonian museums to mirror American pride, power and accomplishment without all the darkness, and threatened to hold back money if they don't.

Genius and ugliness on displa

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