As someone who could interview someone in your position, I don't understand your terminology. Direct hire? Contract?
Maybe these are specific US terms I am not familiar with. Personally, if I was out of work I would not be turning down job offers . A commute of 'nearly a hour every day' probably looks like heaven to many people.
You don't explain your skills, qualifications and experience?
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.