"Let peace and prosperity be restored to the land. May God bless this people: may God save the Constitution."
Andrew Johnson, 17th President, 1865-1869. From a speech given to a special session of the Senate on March 22,1875. Ten years after the end of The Civil War, Reconstruction had attempted to bring the nation back together. However, the nation was still in turmoil, with among other issues, disputes in elections as Republicans accused Democrats of of unfair and violent election practices and Democrats accused the Republicans of corruption. In one instance, government troops were sent to Louisiana to attempt to restore order. In that state, two competing legislatures had been elected and each attempted to send their chosen Senator to Congress. A dispute ensued whether or not President Grant had the right to send government troops to solve state election issues. Johnson, who had been recently elected to the Senate, gave his speech opposing the Federal intervention, siting numerous examples from the Constitution. It was to be his last public speech, as he died on July 31, 1875. From The Senate, 1789-1989: Classic speeches, 1830-1993, Volume 3, edited by Wendy Wolff.
Saturday, October 29, 2011
October 30, Birthdate of John Adams, 1735
"I always consider the settlement of America with reverence and wonder, the opening of a grand scene and design in providence, for the illumination of the ignorant and the emancipation of the slavish part of mankind all over the earth."
2nd President, 1797-1801
2nd President, 1797-1801
October 29
"Liberty must be allowed to work out its natural results, and these will, ere long, astonish the world. "
James Buchanan, 15th President, 1857-1861
James Buchanan, 15th President, 1857-1861
October 28
"Forgive your enemies but never forget their names."
John F. Kennedy, 35th President, 1961-1963-attributed to Kennedy. Kennedy never wanted to make political friends so likewise he never really considered opponents to be enemies. One telling journal entry reads, "In politics you don't have friends-you have confederates." (Matthews, Chris; Jack Kennedy: Elusive Hero, Simon & Schuster, New York, New York, 2011, p. 79) Rather, he held on to his old friends from school and his World War II years. After the war, he worked for a time as a reporter and columnist for The Chicago Herald-American. He soon came to realize he wanted to influence policy rather than report on it. He had high ambitions and rose from being elected to Congress in 1946, to the Senate in 1953, and to the Presidency in 1961. Because of his ambitions and desire to be independent, Kennedy did not consider himself indebted to any one individual nor group despite their rank or experience, nor to his party, despite whatever help they may have given him. On the other hand, they might have considered him beholden to them. Thus, his enemies may have thought that he needed to ask them for forgiveness, rather than the other way around. When Kennedy was assassinated, there was much conjecture and speculation as to who might have actually been responsible. Fifty years later, conspiracy theorists have placed blame on many groups. Within the government, the CIA and its leaders were suspect. They were angry that he did not support the invasion of Cuba at The Bay of Pigs in 1961, nor follow their recommendations to bomb Cuba during the Russian Missile Crisis in 1962. Also, the FBI and J. Edgar Hoover may have motivated to eliminate Kennedy, whose powers he and his brother, Bobby, as Attorney General, sought to curtail. There is speculation that "The Mob" or organized crime leaders had a hand in the conspiracy. Kennedy's father, Joseph, a "businessman" had gained much of his fortune in the 1920's and 1930's. Allegedly he had his "friends" influence and rig elections around the country to help John get elected. Despite their "help", many bosses were prosecuted and imprisoned for interstate racketeering as Kennedy again oversaw his brother, Bobby, in his bid to lessen the influence of organized crime. Even Kennedy's Vice-President, Lyndon Johnson, of Texas, has been implicated. Supposedly, his motivation would have been his own desire to be President. Johnson, a career politician with a reputation for heavy handed power plays, had also aspired to the Presidency in 1960, but was picked for Vice-President to get the Southern vote, and then was marginalized and left out of decision or policy making processes. On November 22, 1963, Kennedy was shot and killed in Dallas, Texas. Charming and popular as Kennedy was, he was also a calculating politician who left many angry and "influential" people in his wake.
John F. Kennedy, 35th President, 1961-1963-attributed to Kennedy. Kennedy never wanted to make political friends so likewise he never really considered opponents to be enemies. One telling journal entry reads, "In politics you don't have friends-you have confederates." (Matthews, Chris; Jack Kennedy: Elusive Hero, Simon & Schuster, New York, New York, 2011, p. 79) Rather, he held on to his old friends from school and his World War II years. After the war, he worked for a time as a reporter and columnist for The Chicago Herald-American. He soon came to realize he wanted to influence policy rather than report on it. He had high ambitions and rose from being elected to Congress in 1946, to the Senate in 1953, and to the Presidency in 1961. Because of his ambitions and desire to be independent, Kennedy did not consider himself indebted to any one individual nor group despite their rank or experience, nor to his party, despite whatever help they may have given him. On the other hand, they might have considered him beholden to them. Thus, his enemies may have thought that he needed to ask them for forgiveness, rather than the other way around. When Kennedy was assassinated, there was much conjecture and speculation as to who might have actually been responsible. Fifty years later, conspiracy theorists have placed blame on many groups. Within the government, the CIA and its leaders were suspect. They were angry that he did not support the invasion of Cuba at The Bay of Pigs in 1961, nor follow their recommendations to bomb Cuba during the Russian Missile Crisis in 1962. Also, the FBI and J. Edgar Hoover may have motivated to eliminate Kennedy, whose powers he and his brother, Bobby, as Attorney General, sought to curtail. There is speculation that "The Mob" or organized crime leaders had a hand in the conspiracy. Kennedy's father, Joseph, a "businessman" had gained much of his fortune in the 1920's and 1930's. Allegedly he had his "friends" influence and rig elections around the country to help John get elected. Despite their "help", many bosses were prosecuted and imprisoned for interstate racketeering as Kennedy again oversaw his brother, Bobby, in his bid to lessen the influence of organized crime. Even Kennedy's Vice-President, Lyndon Johnson, of Texas, has been implicated. Supposedly, his motivation would have been his own desire to be President. Johnson, a career politician with a reputation for heavy handed power plays, had also aspired to the Presidency in 1960, but was picked for Vice-President to get the Southern vote, and then was marginalized and left out of decision or policy making processes. On November 22, 1963, Kennedy was shot and killed in Dallas, Texas. Charming and popular as Kennedy was, he was also a calculating politician who left many angry and "influential" people in his wake.
Friday, October 21, 2011
October 27
"Get action. Seize the moment. Man was never intended to become an oyster."
Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President, 1901-1909- attributed to Roosevelt in letters to his children. First quoted from a letter to J. A. Roosevelt (Roosevelt's uncle) written by Theodore's father, Theodore Roosevelt, Senior. (McCullough, David, "Mornings on Horseback", Simon and Schuster, New York, New York, 1981, p. 31) Although this phrase may not have been originally uttered by the future President, it certainly is a standard theme and motivating idea and a driving force in his life. Roosevelt was quite sickly as a young boy, nervous and afraid of many things, and suffered from severe asthma. When little Theodore would suffer an attack at night, his father would " take him in his arms and walk the floor with him for hours." (ibid, p. 36)The rest of the time, Roosevelt's father was an authority figure but also a great companion. He taught his children to ride horses and to climb trees. As they grew older he tried to include them in his own outside activities. Roosevelt's father hated idleness. From that point of view, the phrase and sentiment most likely arose: "Get action. Seize the moment. Man was not intended to become and oyster." Perhaps the phrase had some reference to the Roosevelt's summer home at Oyster Bay on Long Island. Oysters are similar to clams, but early in their life, they attach themselves to a safe spot and remain there their entire lives. Young Theodore became interested in, almost obsessed, with natural history and wild life. He began a collection of birds that he would capture and stuff them himself. He became a reader of books on poetry, science, and history would report on what he had read to anyone who would listen. However, he remained sickly until his father took him aside and told him that he had to build and take charge of his body. He began an exercise regimen and his father even hired boxing coaches and took him on summer hikes and camping expeditions. He started to "get action" and never stopped. Even long after his father passed away, he remained a strong guiding influence on Roosevelt. When Theodore left to go to college at Harvard, his father wrote to him, "Take care of your morals first, your health next, and, finally, your studies.'' (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/transcript/tr-transcript/) Theodore was a boon companion to his children as well. He became President at the age of 42 and he and his second wife, Edith, brought their six children and the Roosevelt rambunctiousness to the White House. One child had been born to his previous wife, Alice, who had died as a result of complications from giving birth. The children had free run of the White House and were known to have dropped water balloons on the guards and given elevator rides to their shetland pony, Algonquin. Their menagerie also included six dogs, snakes, a macaw parrot, cats, rats, guinea pigs, and a flying squirrel. Roosevelt also took great pleasure in telling ghost and cowboy stories and in leading the children and guests on hikes and swims at their Sagamore Hill summer home.
Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President, 1901-1909- attributed to Roosevelt in letters to his children. First quoted from a letter to J. A. Roosevelt (Roosevelt's uncle) written by Theodore's father, Theodore Roosevelt, Senior. (McCullough, David, "Mornings on Horseback", Simon and Schuster, New York, New York, 1981, p. 31) Although this phrase may not have been originally uttered by the future President, it certainly is a standard theme and motivating idea and a driving force in his life. Roosevelt was quite sickly as a young boy, nervous and afraid of many things, and suffered from severe asthma. When little Theodore would suffer an attack at night, his father would " take him in his arms and walk the floor with him for hours." (ibid, p. 36)The rest of the time, Roosevelt's father was an authority figure but also a great companion. He taught his children to ride horses and to climb trees. As they grew older he tried to include them in his own outside activities. Roosevelt's father hated idleness. From that point of view, the phrase and sentiment most likely arose: "Get action. Seize the moment. Man was not intended to become and oyster." Perhaps the phrase had some reference to the Roosevelt's summer home at Oyster Bay on Long Island. Oysters are similar to clams, but early in their life, they attach themselves to a safe spot and remain there their entire lives. Young Theodore became interested in, almost obsessed, with natural history and wild life. He began a collection of birds that he would capture and stuff them himself. He became a reader of books on poetry, science, and history would report on what he had read to anyone who would listen. However, he remained sickly until his father took him aside and told him that he had to build and take charge of his body. He began an exercise regimen and his father even hired boxing coaches and took him on summer hikes and camping expeditions. He started to "get action" and never stopped. Even long after his father passed away, he remained a strong guiding influence on Roosevelt. When Theodore left to go to college at Harvard, his father wrote to him, "Take care of your morals first, your health next, and, finally, your studies.'' (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/transcript/tr-transcript/) Theodore was a boon companion to his children as well. He became President at the age of 42 and he and his second wife, Edith, brought their six children and the Roosevelt rambunctiousness to the White House. One child had been born to his previous wife, Alice, who had died as a result of complications from giving birth. The children had free run of the White House and were known to have dropped water balloons on the guards and given elevator rides to their shetland pony, Algonquin. Their menagerie also included six dogs, snakes, a macaw parrot, cats, rats, guinea pigs, and a flying squirrel. Roosevelt also took great pleasure in telling ghost and cowboy stories and in leading the children and guests on hikes and swims at their Sagamore Hill summer home.
October 26
"A conservative is a man with two perfectly good legs who, however, has never learned to walk."
Franklin D. Roosevelt, 32nd President, 1933-1945- Radio Address to the New York Herald Tribune Forum, October 26, 1939. The social media of 1939 was radio and The New York Herald Forum was a program that drew statesmen from around the world to discuss current problems. Roosevelt, a master of "social media" in his time, of course, took the opportunity to participate. 1939 had been a very eventful and historic year in the United States and around the world. Germany had invaded Poland in March of that year, Great Britain had declared war on Germany, in India Gandhi had begun a fast as India continued its quest to gain independence from Great Britain, and Japan was at war with China. In the United States, two now classic movies would be released: "The Wizard of Oz" in August and "Gone with the Wind" in December. Baseball great, Lou Gerhig was forced to end his baseball career with the New York Yankees due to the disease that now bears his name and Ted Williams began his career with the Boston Red Sox. Frank Sinatra began his recording career and Kate Smith belted out her rendition of "God Bless America". As Roosevelt gave his address on October 26, Germany had recently plundered Nazi occupied areas on October 19. Two weeks prior to his address, he had met with Albert Einstein and had been briefed on the possibility of developing the atom bomb. In the radio forum, on October 26, Roosevelt speaks of the speed and pace of progress and democracy. He states that some governments and individuals seek to move too quickly and arbitrarily, causing conflict and war. Others wish to move too slowly or not at all, with the same results. He gives his definitions of Radicals, Conservatives, Reactionaries, and Liberals: "A Radical is a man with both feet firmly planted— in the air"; "A Conservative is a man with two perfectly good legs who, however, has never learned to walk forward"; "A Reactionary is a somnambulist walking backwards" and "A Liberal is a man who uses his legs and his hands at the behest-at the command—of his head". Roosevelt states that those of the extreme right or left sharpen to the "argument" or discussion, but they should merely serve to make us realize the value of "the democratic middle course", where he states he plots a course "just a little bit left of center." He ends his address stating that the United States, in regards to the growing European and Asian conflicts, "is neutral and does not intend to get involved in war". As we know know, however, his stated policy of neutrality changed over the subsequent two years, as we increased our amount support to Great Britain, and the United States was eventually drawn to declare war after the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
Franklin D. Roosevelt, 32nd President, 1933-1945- Radio Address to the New York Herald Tribune Forum, October 26, 1939. The social media of 1939 was radio and The New York Herald Forum was a program that drew statesmen from around the world to discuss current problems. Roosevelt, a master of "social media" in his time, of course, took the opportunity to participate. 1939 had been a very eventful and historic year in the United States and around the world. Germany had invaded Poland in March of that year, Great Britain had declared war on Germany, in India Gandhi had begun a fast as India continued its quest to gain independence from Great Britain, and Japan was at war with China. In the United States, two now classic movies would be released: "The Wizard of Oz" in August and "Gone with the Wind" in December. Baseball great, Lou Gerhig was forced to end his baseball career with the New York Yankees due to the disease that now bears his name and Ted Williams began his career with the Boston Red Sox. Frank Sinatra began his recording career and Kate Smith belted out her rendition of "God Bless America". As Roosevelt gave his address on October 26, Germany had recently plundered Nazi occupied areas on October 19. Two weeks prior to his address, he had met with Albert Einstein and had been briefed on the possibility of developing the atom bomb. In the radio forum, on October 26, Roosevelt speaks of the speed and pace of progress and democracy. He states that some governments and individuals seek to move too quickly and arbitrarily, causing conflict and war. Others wish to move too slowly or not at all, with the same results. He gives his definitions of Radicals, Conservatives, Reactionaries, and Liberals: "A Radical is a man with both feet firmly planted— in the air"; "A Conservative is a man with two perfectly good legs who, however, has never learned to walk forward"; "A Reactionary is a somnambulist walking backwards" and "A Liberal is a man who uses his legs and his hands at the behest-at the command—of his head". Roosevelt states that those of the extreme right or left sharpen to the "argument" or discussion, but they should merely serve to make us realize the value of "the democratic middle course", where he states he plots a course "just a little bit left of center." He ends his address stating that the United States, in regards to the growing European and Asian conflicts, "is neutral and does not intend to get involved in war". As we know know, however, his stated policy of neutrality changed over the subsequent two years, as we increased our amount support to Great Britain, and the United States was eventually drawn to declare war after the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
October 25
"The truth is that all men having power ought to be mistrusted."
James Madison, 4th President, 1809-1817- from Madison's notes during the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, July 11, 1787. The United States of America didn't just "appear" on July 4, 1776 with the Declaration of Independence. The war for independence was fought until October 19, 1781 when General Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown, Virginia. The Treaty of Paris was subsequently signed on September 3, 1783, officially recognizing the United states as an independent country. Of course, we know George Washington was our first President, but he did not take office until 1789. What happened between those years of 1783 and 1789? The new nation started its existence guided by the Articles of Confederation, which created a nation of pre-existing states, rather than a government over individuals. (http://teachingamericanhistory.org/convention/intro/). The result was strong state and local government but a weak centralized government. In stepped Madison, along with other statesmen, including George Washington. The solution, concluded Madison, was to create an extended republic, in which a variety of opinions, passions, and interests would check and balance each other, supported by a governmental framework that endorsed a separation of powers between the branches of the general government. (http://teachingamericanhistory.org/convention/intro/). Thus, in February of 1787, the Confederation Congress endorsed the meeting of the Grand Convention “for the sole purpose of revising the articles of Confederation and reporting to Congress...(to)render the federal Constitution adequate to the exigencies of government and the preservation of the Union.” It is during these sessions of debate and discussion that Madison makes his quote. On that day, the discussion turned toward representation. Some believed that the majority should rule. Others held that men of wealth and education should have more say. They would be bound by duty, honor, and their oaths. If that were not enough, they should not represent the people. The discussion turned to who would be more trustworthy- those of the North, South, or the West. Here, Madison, ever the wit, gives his opinion: To reconcile the gentleman with himself, it must be imagined that he determined the human character by the points of the compass. Then on a more serious note: The truth was that all men having power ought to be distrusted to a certain degree...(it) had been mentioned where it was admitted that those who were possessed of the power in the original settlement, never admitted the new settlements to a due share of it. England was a still more striking example. The power there had long been in the hands of the boroughs, of the minority; who had opposed & defeated every reform which had been attempted.After much debate, disagreement, and controversy, the Constitution was adopted. The United States would have a centralized federal government and individuals and minorities would have rights and protection under the law; we would not be governed merely by majority rule.
James Madison, 4th President, 1809-1817- from Madison's notes during the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, July 11, 1787. The United States of America didn't just "appear" on July 4, 1776 with the Declaration of Independence. The war for independence was fought until October 19, 1781 when General Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown, Virginia. The Treaty of Paris was subsequently signed on September 3, 1783, officially recognizing the United states as an independent country. Of course, we know George Washington was our first President, but he did not take office until 1789. What happened between those years of 1783 and 1789? The new nation started its existence guided by the Articles of Confederation, which created a nation of pre-existing states, rather than a government over individuals. (http://teachingamericanhistory.org/convention/intro/). The result was strong state and local government but a weak centralized government. In stepped Madison, along with other statesmen, including George Washington. The solution, concluded Madison, was to create an extended republic, in which a variety of opinions, passions, and interests would check and balance each other, supported by a governmental framework that endorsed a separation of powers between the branches of the general government. (http://teachingamericanhistory.org/convention/intro/). Thus, in February of 1787, the Confederation Congress endorsed the meeting of the Grand Convention “for the sole purpose of revising the articles of Confederation and reporting to Congress...(to)render the federal Constitution adequate to the exigencies of government and the preservation of the Union.” It is during these sessions of debate and discussion that Madison makes his quote. On that day, the discussion turned toward representation. Some believed that the majority should rule. Others held that men of wealth and education should have more say. They would be bound by duty, honor, and their oaths. If that were not enough, they should not represent the people. The discussion turned to who would be more trustworthy- those of the North, South, or the West. Here, Madison, ever the wit, gives his opinion: To reconcile the gentleman with himself, it must be imagined that he determined the human character by the points of the compass. Then on a more serious note: The truth was that all men having power ought to be distrusted to a certain degree...(it) had been mentioned where it was admitted that those who were possessed of the power in the original settlement, never admitted the new settlements to a due share of it. England was a still more striking example. The power there had long been in the hands of the boroughs, of the minority; who had opposed & defeated every reform which had been attempted.After much debate, disagreement, and controversy, the Constitution was adopted. The United States would have a centralized federal government and individuals and minorities would have rights and protection under the law; we would not be governed merely by majority rule.
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