Politics - really not rougher now than then

Every now and then someone starts talking near me in public about the lowered modern tone of civil discourse and I have a hard time not laughing so hard up my sleeve that I choke.

C'mon people.  Really?  We are So Much Nicer Now Than We Were Then.  Just for example, nowadays we hardly ever have one Senator beating the other with a stick on the senate floor and then challenging him to a duel.  If you like American humorous political anecdote, and you enjoy light popular history, may I commend Barbara Holland to your attention?  In addition to the stellar "Hail To The Chiefs" she is also the author of the charming "Gentlemen's Blood: A history of dueling from swords at dawn to pistols at dusk." 
( She has some choice things to say about senators and duelling... )

I think I've burbled about Holland before, but every time I re-read her books I burble again.  What can you do.