Sounds to me like the IRS Chief is not quite as much of (an independent/nonpartisan civil servant) as you think.
Just shows you the level of thought, or lack there of, that went into the Bush administration tax policy. At a time when there was massive debate in the US about tax policy it seems smart and prudent for the White House to be discussing options and alternatives with someone knowledgeable in current tax law.
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.