You are correct -- it's pretty expensive there, better to look for a room on the outskirts -- Middletown, RI which isn't that far has some middle of the road hotels which are much less than Newport.
Check on Mapquest for other towns close by. It might be better to plan your trip in advance for better rates.
For hotels I would try hotwire: They don't tell you the exact hotel but it'll let you choose the star ratings etc.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.