Author: webuiltitblog

1.  First of all, I would like to offer a little historical perspective regarding presidential debates. Generally, in my opinion, debate performances have not affected the polls appreciably. Most viewers have a preconceived judgment of the candidates, and absent a momentous blunder they are not likely to change their opinion. According to Pew Research some 60% of voters consider them to be “useful, but not determinative.” Yes, there have been a few notable exceptions. For example, when Nixon debated JFK in 1960, JFK, who had been largely unknown, came across on tv as young, vibrant, and full of “vigah.” On the other hand, Nixon appeared to be gloomy and sweaty and displayed his habitual foreboding appearance and “5 o’clock shadow.” Interestingly, most persons who listened on radio thought Nixon had “won” the debate, whereas a majority of those who viewed it on tv thought JFK had.

2. Eight participants is too many for an effective debate. It’s too hard for any single person to make a strong, lasting impression. I think the significant exception was Trump in 2016.

3. Trump skipping it was wise for him, although bad for the tv ratings. He has a big lead in the polls, which is not likely to change. Why jeopardize it by allowing himself to be the focus of attacks by the other candidates looking to make a splash?

4. In my view, Haley was the big winner, but at this point I still see her as a possible vp or a candidate for the next cycle.

5. On the other hand, I think DeSantis was the biggest loser. Based on his exemplary record as governor of Florida he was generally viewed as the strongest challenger to Trump. Unfortunately for him, he was flat, and he failed to distinguish himself from the rest of the pack. He could be this cycle’s Jeb Bush.

6. In any debate the best way for a candidate to resonate is to come up with a memorable soundbite. This is especially true when there is a crowded field. Few viewers watch the entire debate, but most will catch a soundbite on the news. In my opinion, the best ones from Tuesday were: (a) Haley quoting Margaret Thatcher. “If you want something said, ask a man. If you want something done, ask a woman.“ and (b) Vivek Ramaswamy on the climate change issue. “The anti-carbon agenda is the wet blanket on our economy. “

7. Abortion is a minefield. It is a highly emotional issue with radical viewpoints among the voters that absolutely killed the GOP in 2022. The latest poll I have found, conducted by Pew Research in 2022 disclosed that about 70% of Americans support abortions under certain circumstances, the later the term, the lesser the degree of support, which is logical. Pew reported very few hardliners. Only 19% thought it should be legal in all cases; only 8% thought it should be illegal in all cases. Obviously, there is plenty of room to carve out a reasonable law that would satisfy most people. The big question for me is can medical science reach a consensus at which point a fetus feels pain and could survive outside the womb.

8. I would prefer fewer candidates in future debates, but it seems like the GOP wants more participants in the future, not fewer.

8. Vivek is running as an unknown, non-politician, outsider. This strategy worked for Obama and Trump. Will it work for him? I don’t think so, but we’ll see? Also, many, if not most, Jews will interpret his anti-Israel comments as anti-Semitic.  Is he one?  He needs to walk back those comments or it will hurt him in certain key states.

9. Don’t read too much into the debate’s tv ratings. Fox News estimated that as many as 50 million watched some part of it. But, it is not known how much of the debate they watched. Also, many viewers watched in groups or streamed it. By contrast the in 2016 the first Clinton-Trump debate drew 84 million.

Conclusion

Don’t get too excited yet. It is very early. The NH primary is not until February 6. The list of candidates for both parties needs to trimmed to a workable number, perhaps, three or four, before the process gets serious. Candidates will drop out as their financing dries up and the primary season gets underway.

The GOP MUST embrace early voting and voter harvesting in order to compete with the Dems.

More to come.

Below please find a list of significant historical events that have occurred during the month of August.

August 1, 1838 – Slavery in Jamaica, which had been introduced by Spain in 1509, was abolished.

August 1, 1944 – Fifteen year-old Anne Frank, who was fated to be captured by the Nazis three days later and killed at Bergen-Belsen, wrote her final entry into her famous diary – “[I] keep on trying to find a way of becoming what I would like to be, and what I could be if … there weren’t any other people living in the world.”

August 2, 1776 – Most of the 55 signatories to the Declaration of Independence signed the original document (not on July 4, as is commonly believed).

August 2, 1923 – President Warren Harding died suddenly and was succeeded by Calvin Coolidge.

August 3, 1492 – Christopher Columbus set sail from Palos, Spain seeking the elusive Northwest Passage to Asia. Do you remember the names of the three ships in his convoy? See below.

August 5, 1583 – Explorer Sir Humphrey Gilbert founded the first British colony in North America in present-day Newfoundland.

August 5, 1861 – President Abraham Lincoln signed into law an emergency war measure to levy a 3% income tax on income in excess of $800.

August 5, 1962 – Actress Marilyn Monroe (born Norma Jeane Mortenson), symbol of Hollywood glamor and sexuality, was found dead from an overdose of sleeping pills.

August 6, 1945 – The US drops an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, killing hundreds of thousands of Japanese civilians, destroying the city, and hastening the end of WWII.

August 6, 1962 – Jamaica achieved independence, ending some 450 years of colonial rule first by Spain and then by England.

August 6, 1965 – President Lyndon Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965 into law.

August 7, 1964 – Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which provided legal “cover” for the US’s entry into the Vietnam War.

August 9, 1945 – The US dropped a second atomic bomb (on Nagasaki).

August 9, 1974 – President Richard Nixon resigned as a result of the Watergate scandal.

August 11, 1965 – Six days of racial riots began in the Watts section of LA. The riots resulted in a reported 34 deaths, over 3,000 arrests and property damage estimated at $40 million

August 13, 1961 – East Germany put up the Berlin Wall separating West and East Berlin.

August 14, 1935 – FDR signed the Social Security Act.

August 14, 1945 – V-J Day commemorating Japan’s surrender, which marked the official end of WWII.

August 15, 1969 – The Woodstock festival began in Bethel, NY.

August 16, 1896 – Gold was discovered along the Klondike River in Alaska, precipitating what became known as the Great Klondike Gold Rush.

August 18, 1920 – Ratification of the 19th Amendment gave women the right to vote.

August 21, 1959 – Hawaii was admitted to the Union as the 50th state.

August 24, 79 A. D. – The volcano, Vesuvius, erupted destroying the cities of Pompeii, Stabiac and Herculaneum.

August 24-25, 1814 – During the War of 1812 the British attacked Washington D.C. and burned much of the city, including the White House and the Capitol.

August 26, 1883 – One of the most catastrophic volcano eruptions ever recorded occurred on the island of Krakatoa in Indonesia. It produced tidal waves of 120 feet and killed 36,000 persons.

August 28, 1963 – Over 250,000 persons participated in the March on Washington in support of civil rights. One of the many speakers was the Reverend MLK, who gave the famous “I Have a Dream” speech.

August 31, 1997 – Princess Diana died from injuries suffered in an auto accident while fleeing from pursuing paparazzi.

Birthdays – Francis Scott Key (wrote the “Star Spangled Banner”), 8/1/1779 in Maryland; Herman Melville (wrote “Moby Dick”), 8/1/1819 in New York City; Ernie Pyle (WWII war correspondent), 8/3/1900 in Dana, IN; Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong (Jazz trumpeter), 8/4/1901 in New Orleans; (Quiz question #2 – Do you know the derivation of his very unusual nickname?); Raoul Wallenberg (saved 33,000 Jews from the Holocaust), 8/4/1912 in Stockholm; Barack Obama (44th US President), 8/4/1961 in Honolulu; Alfred Lord Tennyson (poet, wrote “Charge of the Light Brigade”), 8/6/1809 in England; Alexander Fleming (discovered penicillin), 8/6/1881 in Scotland; Herbert Hoover (31st US President), 8/10/1874 in West Branch, IA; Alex Haley (wrote “Roots”), 8/11/1921 in Ithaca, NY; Cecil B. DeMille (directed “The Ten Commandments”), 8/12/1881 in Ashfield, MA; Annie Oakley (sharpshooter), 8/13,1860 in Ohio; Alfred Hitchcock (British film director, “The Birds,” “Psycho”), 8/13/1899 in London; Fidel Castro, 8/13/1927 in Cuba; Napoleon Bonaparte, 8/15/1769, on the island of Corsica; T. E. Lawrence, 8/16/1888 in North Wales, Quiz Question #3 – Who played Lawrence in the Oscar-winning movie, Lawrence of Arabia?); Menachem Begin, 8/16/1913 in Poland; Davy Crockett, 8/17/1786 in Tennessee; Meriwether Lewis, 8/18/1774 near Charlottesville, VA; Orville Wright, 8/19/1871 in Dayton, OH; William Jefferson Clinton (42nd US President), 8/19/1946 in Hope, Arkansas; Benjamin Harrison (23rd US President), 8/20/1833 in North Bend, OH, (Quiz question #4 – He was the grandson of another president. Who?); Leonard Bernstein (conductor and composer), 8/25/1918 in Lawrence, MA; Lyndon Baines Johnson (36th US President), 8/27/1908 near Stonewall, TX; Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu (aka Mother Teresa), 8/27/1910 in Yugoslavia.

Quiz Answers

1. Nina, Pinta, Santa Maria
2. The most likely story is as a youth Louis would dance for pennies in the streets of his home city of New Orleans. To prevent other boys from stealing the pennies he stored them in his mouth, which would then become so stuffed as to resemble a satchel. Someone dubbed him “satchel mouth,” which became shortened to “Satchmo.” Many of his friends called him “pops.”
3. Peter O’Toole
4. William Henry Harrison

THIS IS AN AMENDED BLOG. PART OF THE PREVIOUS VERSION WAS ERASED IN ERROR.

I have been finding it extremely difficult to keep up with all of the allegations and indictments against Donald Trump. Quite frankly, in my view, at this point they have become “white noise.” One might ask, which indictments are legitimate, and which are vindictive, merely intended to taint his reputation in advance of the 2024 presidential election?

Polls have shown that the country is deeply divided on this matter. Trump haters tend to believe all the allegations and want him imprisoned for life without the possibility of parole, whereas Trump supporters feel just as strongly that he is a victim of selective or unfair prosecution.

I don’t know for sure (and, in reality, neither does anyone else including the bloviators in the media), but I strongly suspect it is the latter. What I do know for sure is that that pesky little document called the US Constitution holds that Trump, like anyone else who is accused of a crime, is deemed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. His accusers and the media seem to have forgotten or chosen to overlook that fact.

For purposes of this blog I would like to focus on the indictment for Trump’s challenging the results of the 2020 election. A thorough analysis of all the various indictments would require an extremely long blog that few would care to read.

Again, what follows is my opinion. I am merely seeking to add some historical perspective, and demonstrate that Trump’s actions are not unique. In the US’s history there have been many instances of losing candidates challenging the legitimacy of the elections they have lost verbally, in the media and in the courts, and, according to my research, none has been prosecuted. In point of fact, I maintain that such protestations are protected by the first amendment to the Constitution.

Below please a few examples.

1. 1824 Presidential election – This was a four-way race among Andrew Jackson, Henry Clay, John Quincy Adams and William Crawford. Even though Jackson garnered the plurality of both the electoral college and the popular vote, he failed to gain a majority of the electoral college. Thus, according to the Constitution, the House of Representatives was tasked with choosing among the top three – Jackson, Adams and Crawford. As you can imagine there was heavy political intrigue. Clay disliked Jackson and particularly disapproved of his “militaristic” bent. Ultimately, Clay, as Speaker of the House, was able to influence the vote in favor of Adams. In return, following his inauguration Adams rewarded Clay by appointing him as Secretary of State. Jackson raised holy hell. He decried that the election was “stolen” as a result of a “corrupt bargain” between Adams and Clay. He continued to “rail” against the “devils.” Adams and Clay’s actions, though suspicious, could not be proven. Was Jackson indicted for any “false allegations,” any “crimes?” No, of course not. He got his revenge by campaigning vociferously against Adams in 1828 and winning.
2. 1876 presidential election – In my opinion, this election “took the cake.” Books have been written about it, and to this day it remains the most disputed and controversial election with far-reaching historical, political, economic and social ramifications. First of all, it was plagued by widespread fraud, violence and voter suppression of Black voters. That was before and during the election. But, the real intrigue occurred afterwards. Democrat Samuel Tilden won the popular vote over Rutherford B. Hayes by some 250,000 votes, 51.5% – 48.5%. However, he only garnered 165 electoral votes. Twenty electoral votes in SC, FL and LA were in dispute which meant that Tilden was one short of the required majority of 166. It was left to Congress to decide the matter. Talk about the proverbial “smoke-filled room!” Most historians agree that ultimately the GOP stole the election by promising the Southern Dems in Congress that if they supported Hayes he would withdraw Federal troops from the South, which would end Reconstruction . This ushered in a return to segregation and Jim Crow laws, whcih, as I said, had inclacuable politcal, historical, economic and social ramifications.
3. 2016 presidential election – Most of you are very familiar with this one. Briefly, from the day the election results were in Hillary Clinton began to challenge the legitimacy of the election. She insisted that she, not Trump, was the rightful winner. Moreover, she has continually encouraged many of her supporters in the Dem party and the media to echo her allegations. Her actions cast a pall over the entire Trump presidency. They are still espousing these unfounded allegations to this very day despite the fact that after all this time no evidence has come to light to support them. Has she been indicted or prosecuted? No.

CONCLUSION

I want to make it clear that I am not blindly supporting Trump’s position in this matter. I am merely advocating the application of equality of justice. In this vein I should like to denote that Stacey Abrams has not been indicted or prosecuted for her continued unproven allegations that she was the rightful winner in the last Georgia governor election. The only difference I can see is that she is a Democrat.

The First Amendment guarantees that Trump, or anyone else, is entitled to the presumption of being not guilty until and unless found guilty in court of law. Over the last several years Trump has been accused of various crimes and conspiracies, all of which have been debunked. His supporters view this as one more instance and a thinly veiled attempt to prevent him from winning the 2024 election. Furthermore, they realize that an attack on Trump’s right to free speech is really an attack on everyone’s right to free speech.

I tried to resist it. I really, really tried. But, try as I might, the pull was just too strong like a riptide in the ocean. What the heck am I talking about you might ask?  Alcohol?  Drugs?

No, I am most assuredly not an alcoholic or a drug addict.  Of course, I’m referring to politics or more specifically blogging about politics. 

A few months ago I declared a voluntary hiatus from blogging about politics. The news was just too upsetting.  Day after day we were being bombarded relentlessly with horrific news stories. Random, wanton violence, carjackings, innocent children being shot in their homes, or worse, their beds, muggings in the subways where bystanders look away afraid to intercede, or worse merely watch and record the crimes on their cellphones, mobs ransacking businesses at will, perpetrators of crimes going unpunished, our jails being turned into a revolving door where perpetrators are being released without bail faster than the arresting officer can even complete the paperwork, illegal migrants pouring over our borders as if it were a turnstile, a two-tier justice system in which one’s political viewpoint determines the extent to which the authorities seek to prosecute, a president who is an embarrassment, who acts not like a strong take-charge leader but rather a doddering old uncle that you hide in the attic when company visits so he won’t embarrass you and furthermore, gets a free pass from most of the media, and don’t even get me started on the vice president who has continually demonstrated that she is both ignorant and lazy.

Right now my liberal (excuse me, “progressive “) friends are thinking, enough ranting. Where are your facts.  You need to back this up with facts. No… I don’t. This is not a debate. This is not a court of law. I don’t have convince anyone I’m right. This is a blog, my blog. I am expressing my opinion. To paraphrase the late singer Leslye Gore “it’s my blog, and I can write what I want to.”

Whew! Writing the foregoing has made me feel better already. This is better than therapy and cheaper than paying a psychiatrist. When I woke up this morning I was angry, frustrated, and depressed about everything going on in the country. Now I feel refreshed and ready to tackle the day. I feel like that actor in Network who opened his window and bellowed “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore. “

Conclusion

All kidding and sarcasm aside, our country is in trouble, real, deep, serious trouble. We are dealing with existential threats from both external and internal forces. Our very way of life is being threatened and half the country is ignorant and/or oblivious to it. They get their news from biased sources that slant, omit or exaggerate the news to reflect their own political agendas.

Our country’s critics are out of control. The anonymity of social media has give them license to do and say whatever they want without regard for facts and truth and no fear of counterargument.

Moreover, they have a revisionist attitude. They view life through the rear window rather than the windshield. They denigrate our Founding Fathers and other historical figures with impunity without any regard for the facts or historical context. They’re more concerned with who owned slaves 300 years ago rather than with what China, Russia, Iran and our other enemies are doing to us today.

No, the US is not perfect. It has flaws that should be and are being addressed. But, name me a better country. Where else would you prefer to live?  Would the members of the so-called “squad” prefer to live in, for example, Saudi Arabia where women have virtually no rights? (If so, I know several people who would be happy to buy their plane tickets – one-way, of course.)

There’s a reason why millions of people desperately want to come here.  We were all lucky to have been born in the US.  We won the genetic lottery. Let’s start showing that we are deserving of that good fortune. It’s time to wake up or else we will be leaving our grandchildren an empty shell of a country.

Now, as political commentator Mark Levin would say, “That’s it. I’m done.”

Now it’s your turn. How do you feel? Agree?  Disagree?  No opinion? Not interested?  I invite your comments.

Some of you have requested another quiz, so here it is. Be careful what you wish for. See if you can identify the person described in the question.

As always, I tried to make it challenging but not too hard. Have fun.  You know the drill; no peeking at the internet, and don’t ask Alexa or Siri.

1. I was a famous tv personality during the 1950s. I hosted my own show, and it was very popular. Earlier in my career I was a sports and entertainment reporter and a syndicated columnist. (a) Arthur Godfrey, (b) Ed Sullivan, (c) Jackie Gleason, (d) Milton Berle.
2. My birth name was James Todd Smith. (a) Busta Rhymes, (b) Jay Z, (c) Lil Wayne, (d) LL Cool J
3. My birth name was Terry Jean Bollette. (a) Hulk Hogan, (b) Rock Hudson, (c) Spencer Tracy, (d) Robert Mitchum
4. I am a famous best-selling author. My real name is Theodore Geisel. (a) J. K. Rowling, (b) Thomasino Gomez, (c) Stephen King, (d) Dr. Seuss
5. I am the only one in this group that was NOT Australian-born. (a) Eric Bana, (b) Chris Hemsworth, (c) Rachel McAdams, (d) Hugh Jackman
6. I was a famous actor. I starred in many Westerns. My birth name was Marion Mitchell Morrison. (a) Randolph Scott, (b) John Wayne, (c) Ronald Reagan, (d) James Arness
7. I won the most Academy Awards. (a) Edith Head, (b) Meryl Streep, (c) Walt Disney, (d) Katherine Hepburn
8. I was a 15th century explorer/cartographer. America was named after me. (a) Columbus, (b) de Gama, (c) Magellan, (d) Vespucci
9. I was the first person to die for the colonies in the Revolutionary War.  (a) Red Gerard, (b) John Burgoyne, (c) Nathan Hale, (d) Crispus Attucks
10. I was responsible for many inventions, including dynamite. (a) Alfred Nobel, (b) Thomas Edison, (c) Benjamin Franklin, (d) Eli Whitney
11. I am a well-known pop singer.  My real name is Stefani Germanotta. (a) Sia, (b) Haile Steinfeld (c) Lady Gaga, (d) Ariana Grande
12. I was the longest-serving Prime Minister of Canada. (a) MacKenzie King, (b) Pierre Trudeau, (c) John MacDonald, (d) Lester Pearson
13. I hosted a kiddie tv show for 30 years. My real name was Bob Keeshan. Can you name my show? (a) Howdy Doody, (b) Mr. Rogers, (c) Captain Kangaroo, (d) Johnny Jellybean
14. I was an English explorer and cartographer.  I discovered many lands in the Pacific Ocean, including , among others, Australia and New Zealand. (a) Sir Walter Raleigh, (b) Martin Frobisher, (c) John Cabot, (d) James Cook
15. I am a well-known actor.  My birth name was Maurice Joseph Micklewhite.  (a) Cary Grant, (b) Spencer Tracy, (c) Michael Caine, (d) Richard Attenborough
16. I was a 16th century Spanish explorer best known for conquering the Aztec Empire. (a) Ponce De Leon, (b) Hernan Cortes, (c) Francisco Pizarro, (d) Vasco de Balboa
17. I coined the phrase “80% of success is just showing up.” (a)  Samuel Clemens, (b) Benjamin Franklin, (c) Bob Hope, (d) Woody Allen
18. I coined the phrase “Nothing is certain except for death and taxes.”  (a) Benjamin Franklin, (b) Woodrow Wilson, (c) Teddy Roosevelt, (d) Alexander Hamilton
19. I am a well-known author.  I have written a few stories under the “pen name” Richard Bachman.  (a) James Patterson, (b) Dean Kuntz, (c) Stephen King, (d) Tom Clancy
20. I was a WWII American general responsible for the defense of Bastogne.  When the German army surrounded the city and they demanded I surrender, I replied “nuts.” (a) Anthony McAuliffe, (b) Chester Nimitz, (c) Omar Bradley, (d) George Patton

ANSWERS: 1. (b), 2. (d), 3. (a), 4. (d), 5 (c), 6. (b), 7. (c) (26), 8. (d) (Amerigo Vespucci), 9. (d), 10. (a), 11. (c), 12. (a)(21 years), 13. (c), 14. (d), 15. (c), 16. (b), 17. (d), 18. (a), 19. (c), 20. (a)

Well, there you have it. Let me know how you did.

I love stories like the ones described in this blog. Most of us are familiar with Holocaust heroes, such as Oskar Schindler (Schindler’s List) and the Zabinskis (Zookeeper’s Wife), but there were many other heroes who were just as brave, who took just as many risks, and who were just as heroic, whose feats were accomplished below the surface in anonymity and have been lost to history. Thanks to the US Holocaust Memorial Museum some of these acts of bravery have been coming to light. I have endeavored to relate some of these in previous blogs. Below please find a brief summary of two additional stories. As you read about these heroes ask yourself what would you have done in their circumstances. Would you have provided assistance, or would you have stood aside as so many others did?

Josephine Baker

Freda Josephine Baker was born on June 3, 1906 in St. Louis, MO. Later, she dropped her first name and became known as Josephine Baker.

Like most performers of that era she began her career in vaudeville as a teenager. She soon became an iconic actress and dancer. For example, in 1927 she was the first Black woman to star in a major motion picture (the silent film Siren of the Tropics). Later, after moving to France she became a star as an erotic dancer and a headliner in the renown dance troupe, the Folies Bergere in Paris.

In the US Baker, despite her fame and accomplishments, was subjected to the same restrictions, prejudices and “Jim Crow” laws as any other Black person in the early 20th Century. The fact that she was bisexual exacerbated the situation. After she moved to Paris she felt liberated. At the time, life in France for Blacks was very different from the US. The French were much more tolerant. Suddenly, Baker could live where she wanted, travel where she wanted, and sit wherever she wanted on a train or bus. She loved France. It became her new home.

With the advent of WWII Baker sought to use her fame to spy for the French resistance. She was recruited by a French intelligence agent named Jacques Abtey. Her attitude was that she owed her adoptive country for having welcomed her, and she ready, willing and even eager to repay that debt. As she often averred, “the Parisians gave me their hearts, and I am ready to give them my life.”

Baker was a very successful spy. Her notoriety gave her access to various parties, events and gatherings that were attended by high-ranking Nazis. Normally, she would merely mingle, observe and listen. However, on occasion, she would have the temerity to write important notes on her person. She was confident that she was above suspicion even though she epitomized all that the Nazis hated and fervently persecuted: Black, bisexual and Jewish (by marriage). As it turned out, she was right.

When the Nazis invaded France and occupied Paris Baker fled to Marseilles, which was controlled by the Vichy French collaborators. Abtey accompanied her disguised as her ballet instructor. Encouraged by Baker’s fame and naturally vibrant personality they were able to continue their espionage activities. They got even more aggressive. For instance, they would travel freely throughout southern France and, even to Portugal. Two of their tactics were to smuggle information written on the back of Baker’s sheet music in invisible ink and pin photographs to the inside of Baker’s clothes. They became a most effective conduit between the French resistance and British intelligence under the very noses of the Nazis. They were never caught.

Commencing in 1943 Baker came into the open. She began touring to entertain the Allied troops, mainly in North Africa. She raised in excess of 3 million francs for the Free French. In recognition of her service the women’s auxiliary of the French air force made her an honorary officer. She was so honored by this that she wore her uniform at every public performance, even at the March on Washington in 1963 at which she was one of the few women’s speakers.

Following the liberation of Paris in 1944 she sold many of her valuables to raise money for refugees in Paris who were living in dire poverty. In 1945 General Charles de Gaulle awarded her two most prestigious honors – the Croix de Guerre and the Rosette de la Resistance and named her a Chevalier de Legion d’honneur. Back in the US Baker continued her fight for civil rights for Blacks.

Baker passed away on April 12, 1975.

Roswell and Marjorie McClelland

In contrast to Baker the McClellands were not celebrities, but rather normal, everyday Americans. They also took extraordinary actions to save Jews and other victims from Nazi atrocities during the Holocaust. Their rescue and relief efforts spanned some five years and transpired in three separate countries – Italy, France and Switzerland.

Roswell McClelland was born on January 25, 1914. He was well-educated, possessing degrees from Duke and Columbia Universities. Upon graduation Ross had been awarded a fellowship from the American Friends Service Committee (“AFSC) to study in Switzerland but had been unable to use it due to the outbreak of WWII in 1939. The AFSC was the largest non-Jewish organization that sought to aid refugees to escape Nazi persecution.

Marjorie Miles was born on August 7, 1913. She was a graduate of Stanford University, had completed graduate work in child psychology at the University of Cincinnati and Yale and was the director of a nursing school in NY when she and Ross first met. They were married in 1938.

Through friends of Marjorie’s who worked for the AFSC she ascertained that the organization was actively recruiting aid workers to work overseas. It was particularly interested in multi-lingual persons. Ross, who spoke German, French and Italian, was an ideal candidate. The couple did not have to join up. They were both well-educated professionals who could have ridden out the war in the US and made a comfortable living, but they decided they wanted to help others who were less fortunate.

The AFSC first assigned the couple to work in its Rome office. During the first year they helped over 100 persons by arranging for food, clothing, shelter and other necessities and helping them to emigrate. They also helped to place orphaned children (particularly Jewish children) in new homes. Essentially, they were a lifeline to desperate people who had fled the Nazi horror.

Unfortunately, during the summer of 1941 the US halted immigration of refugees from Italy forcing the AFSC to close the office. The McClellands were despaired by this turn of events telling friends “we comfort ourselves by thinking of the 108 [The exact number is unknown.] people that we have helped to emigrate… but we wish that the number could have been larger.”

Later on they performed similar services in France and Switzerland. Obviously, this was dangerous work, but the McClellands were committed to do their part. Moreover, of necessity, most of it was accomplished in secret and therefore unknown by the general public.

In 1944 the US created the War Refugee Board, which focused on providing relief and rescuing Jews stuck in occupied countries. The Board was nominally run by the US Secretaries of State, Treasury and War, but Ross was the chief officer in Switzerland. Ross appreciated the Board’s efforts, but he lamented that it should have been created earlier in the war “when the opportunities for saving people were far greater.”

The McClellands had four children – two boys and two girls. After the war Ross joined the US Foreign Service and eventually became an ambassador. They remained in Switzerland until 1949 after which they returned to the US.

Marjorie passed away on June 12, 1978, Ross on May 6, 1995.

Conclusion

Josephine Baker and the McClellands are but two examples of the many brave people who risked their lives selflessly to help the persecuted during WWII.

Thousands of Jews and other refugees are alive today because of their efforts. Although they operated primarily behind the scenes their deeds should not be forgotten. Kudos to the US Holocaust Memorial Museum for keeping their stories alive.

Their stories and others like it remind me of the famous quote from Martin Niemoller. At the advent of WWII Niemoller was a virulent antisemite and Nazi supporter. Later, after the Nazis had imprisoned him for having criticized their policies regarding churches he realized the error of his ways and penned the following famous quotation – “First They Came.”

“First, they came for the communists, and I did not speak out because I was not a communist. Then, they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a socialist. Then, they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist. Then, they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then, they came for me, and there was no one left to speak out for me.”

That quotation still resonates today.

Thousands of Jews and other refugees are alive today because of their efforts. Although they operated primarily behind the scenes their deeds should not be forgotten. Kudos to the US Holocaust Memorial Museum for keeping their stories alive.

Tomorrow, July 4th, we will celebrate our nation’s independence. Many of you will celebrate by gathering with family and friends at barbecues, going to the beach or pool club, attending a baseball game, or simply relaxing and enjoying a day off from work.

Many of you have requested a quiz, so In honor of the holiday I have prepared one to test your knowledge, or lack thereof. As usual, no peeking at the internet and do not consult Siri or Alexa.

1. The primary author of the Declaration of Independence was
   a. George Washington
   b. Henry Lee
   c. Benjamin Franklyn
   d. Thomas Jefferson

2. The oldest continuous Independence Day celebration is in what city?
a. Bristol, RI
b. New York, NY
c. Waterbury, CT
d. Philadelphia, PA

3. The origin of the song, “Yankee Doodle Dandy,” was
a. American troops during the Revolutionary War
b. French troops during the RW
c. British military before the RW
d. Hessians at the battle of Trenton, NJ

4. The movie, “Independence Day” starred
a. Tom Cruise
b. Will Smith
c. Morgan Freeman
d. Daniel Day-Lewis

5. The Statue of Liberty was donated by which country?
a. France

b. Spain

c. Canada

d. England

6. Each of the following was a member of the Committee of Five (assigned to draft the Declaration), except:
a. George Washington
b. Roger Sherman
c. John Adams
d. Benjamin Franklyn

7. Who was the only President to have been born on the 4th of July?
a. John Adams
b. Grover Cleveland
c. Calvin Coolidge
d. James Polk

8. Each of the following Presidents died on July 4th, except:
a. John Adams
b. Thomas Jefferson
c. James Monroe
d. James Madison

9. Each of the following is considered to be a “Founding Father,” EXCEPT:
a. John Adams
b. Andrew Jackson
c. Alexander Hamilton
d. James Madison

10. The “Star Spangled banner” was written by Francis Scott Key during which war?
a. French and Indian War
b. American Revolution
c. Civil War
d. War of 1812

11. The origin of the nick-name “Uncle Sam” is purportedly:
a. The Continental Congress
b. The Sons of Liberty
c. Meat packer who supplied meat to the US Army
d. British troops during the RW

12. Who, along with John Adams, is responsible for designating the bald eagle as the US’s National Bird?
a. George Washington
b. Thomas Jefferson
c. Benjamin Franklyn
d. Patrick Henry

13. Which battle was the turning point of the Revolutionary War?
a. Brooklyn Heights
b. Charleston
c. Baltimore
d. Saratoga

14. How many persons signed the Declaration of Independence?
a. 13
b. 26
c. 40
d. 56

15. Which was the first state to ratify the Constitution?
a. Virginia
b. New York
c. Delaware
d. Massachusetts

16. Purportedly, the Independence Day Nathans Hot Dog Eating Contest was first held in
a. 1876
b. 1930
c. 1945
d. 1916

17. Who was one of only two signers of the Declaration of Independence to be elected President?
a. John Adams
b. Andrew Jackson
c. Alexander Hamilton
d. Aaron Burr

18. Although July 4 is recognized as Independence Day, the Continental Congress approved a “resolution of independence” on this date.
a. June 15
b. July 1
c. July 2
d. July 3

19. The first capital of the US following ratification of the Constitution was
a. Washington DC
b. York
c. Philadelphia
d. Boston

20. The 14th state of the union was:
a. Maine
b. Georgia
c. Florida
d. Vermont

21. Independence Day became a federal holiday in:

a. 1776

b. 1783

c. 1870

d. 1916

22. In 1778 George Washington celebrated Independence Day with his troops by:

a. Giving everyone a raise

b. A 21-gun salute

c. Giving a rousing speech

d. giving everyone a double ration of rum

23. Each of the following presidents’ faces is sculpted on Mt. Rushmore, EXCEPT:

a. Franklin Roosevelt

b. Theodore Roosevelt

c. Thomas Jefferson

e. George Washington

24. George Washington crossed the Delaware River on December 25-26, 1776 to defeat the Hessians at which city.

a. Philadelphia

b. New York

c. Monmouth

d. Trenton

25. Which English general surrendered at Yorktown, VA effectively ending the Revolutionary War?

a. Howe

b. Cornwallis

c. Burgoyne

d. Kensington

26. Who was the king of England during the RW?

a. George I

b. George II

c. George III

d. Edward I

27. Each of the following famous personalities was born on July 4 EXCEPT:

a. Geraldo Rivera

b. Mike (“The Situation”) Sorrentino

c. George M. Cohan

d. Tom Cruise

ANSWERS: 1. (d); 2. (a); 3. (c); 4. (b); 5. (a); 6. (a); 7. (c); 8. (d); 9. (b); 10. (d); 11. (c); 12. (b); 13. (d); 14. (d); 15. (c); 16. (d); 17. (a); 18. (c); 19. (b); 20. (d); 21. (c); 22. (d); 23. (a) 24. (d); 25. (b); 26. (c); 27. (c)

CONCLUSION

Well, there you have it. Let me know how you did.

Enjoy the holiday whatever you do, wherever you go, and with whomever you spend it. If you are travelling, expect delays and frustrations. Relax and deal with it. Above all, be safe.

July 5 will mark the eight-year anniversary of the most horrific day in the lives of my wife and I, a day no parent should have to endure. Eventually, the ordeal had a happy ending, but it was touch and go for a while. Subsequently, I shared our experiences in a blog entitled “My Hero.”

As the aforementioned anniversary approaches I would like to re-publish the blog as I do every year at this time. (Some of you are new followers of my blogs and may not have seen it.) I believe it is as inspirational now as it was then. Perhaps, you could forward it to a friend or relative who has suffered a stroke, or other live-threatening health issue, and might benefit from reading it. So, read, enjoy and be inspired by “My Hero.”

“Who is your hero? Who has inspired you by exhibiting extreme courage and achievement in the face of adversity? Is it a historical figure, like George Washington or Abraham Lincoln, or a religious figure, like Moses, Jesus or Muhammed, or maybe, a civil rights icon, like Martin Luther King or Nelson Mandela? Or, perhaps, it might be an ordinary person you know or know of who, while not famous, has accomplished something so truly remarkable, against such long odds that you are truly inspired. Not all of us can point to such a person, but I can. It is someone very close to me that I have known all his life. It is my son, Matt.

It all began on July 5, 2015, a day I will never forget. Like the JFK assassination and the 9/11 terrorist attacks I will never forget where I was and what I was doing when I heard the awful news. It was a typical summer’s day in the NYC area, bright and sunny. Matt was enjoying a family day with some friends and his lovely wife and two young children at a local club. Suddenly, after swimming in the lake he became dizzy, lost vision in one eye and collapsed. He had suffered a dissection of his carotid artery, which had triggered a massive stroke.

Luckily, there was a doctor present. He immediately recognized what was happening and knew exactly what to do. This doctor accompanied Matt in the ambulance and stayed with him at the local hospital to ensure that the ER doctors gave him the clot-buster shot and other appropriate treatment, including emergency surgery to remove the clot within the five-six-hour window that is considered to be optimal for treating strokes. This certainly mitigated the effects of the stroke and may even have saved his life.

My wife and I were eating dinner with friends at a local restaurant when we got the shocking telephone call that Matt had suffered a stroke. It seemed impossible. Matt was only 40 and in excellent physical condition. He worked out regularly, ran, and practiced jujitsu. The caller did not know any details, not even if Matt were alive. If you’re a parent, you know that type of telephone call is as bad as it gets. Luckily, our friends insisted on driving us to the hospital in Westchester to which Matt was being transported (the Westchester Trauma Center). I don’t think I was in any condition to drive. We arrived at more or less the same time as Matt. We were able to see him and ascertain that although he was in very serious condition, he was alive. After the surgery he was only able to breathe with the aid of a ventilator, and his skin was the color of white porcelain.

Over the next few days the medical news was very dire. The doctors confirmed that Matt had, indeed, suffered a massive stroke. He was not conscious; he was paralyzed on his right side; he might need a craniotomy; he was blind in his left eye; and he had only partial vision in his right eye. He was in such bad shape that I felt elated a few days later when I squeezed his hand and felt him squeeze mine back.

The doctors told us he was facing a long, arduous recovery, one – two weeks at the hospital followed by six to nine months at a rehab facility. In addition, they said there was a good possibility that he would never recognize us, speak, or be able to walk unassisted. As far as returning to a normal life as a husband and father and resuming his career as a senior research analyst, that was seemingly too unrealistic to even contemplate. (Later, Matt told us that one of the doctors had flat-out told him he would not recover sufficiently to do so. When we asked him if that had bothered him, he said “no, I knew he was wrong.”). I realize that doctors feel compelled to disclose all possibilities, but there is a natural tendency to focus on the most negative ones, and that was an extremely disturbing prognosis.

Over the next year. Matt made a remarkable recovery. He was discharged from the hospital in only six days and transferred to the Burke Rehabilitation Hospital in White Plains, NY for rehab. Not only did he have to rehabilitate himself physically, but he also had to rehab his mind and his memory.

At first, he didn’t even recall very basic elements of his life, such as the names of his wife and children and his current address. He had to relearn how to speak. His rate of progress was beyond anyone’s most optimistic expectations. He attacked his rehab with a vengeance. He attended every session. He never once told them he was in too much pain, too tired, or not in the mood, as many rehab patients do. Many times he would cut short our visit by telling us he had to leave for a rehab session. If they told him to do ten of something, he would do 15. He would complete the most tedious and frustrating of tasks without complaint. His course of rehab included robotics, which helped considerably. Of course, it helped that he was only 40 years old and in excellent physical condition, but, nevertheless, he astounded the doctors, the therapists, and, indeed, even us with his progress.

In August 2016, after less than one month at Burke, he was discharged. For a while, he continued to undergo private rehab once a week. Now, he exercises by running.

CONCLUSION

Matt’s astounding recovery included the following accomplishments:

1. He completed his rehab at Burke and returned home to his family well ahead of schedule.
2. The day he was discharged he accompanied his wife and son to Nassau Coliseum, which was over a one-hour drive, to see Billy Joel’s last concert there.
3. He climbed up to the top of the Statue of Liberty.
4. He has resumed his career as a senior research analyst at a Wall Street firm. This is a remarkable achievement since his job is very demanding, requiring many hours of complex analysis, a high level of prolonged concentration, high-level meetings with clients, and travel.
5. He has completed the NYC marathon and various half marathons and works out regularly. How many non-stroke victims can say that?
6. Most importantly, has resumed his role as husband and father, and my wife and I have our son back.

During his recovery period Matt was fond of saying his full-time job was to get better. He applied the same single-minded determination and dedication to that task as he has to everything else in his life. He is not all the way back to where he was, but if you were to meet him today for the first time you would likely not realize that he had suffered a massive stroke only a few years ago.

My wife and I know that Matt was extremely lucky that there was a doctor present who ensured he received the immediate care he needed as well as benefiting from an amazing support system of friends, relatives and colleagues, and, for that, we will be eternally grateful. However, the determination with which he attacked his rehab virtually willing himself to get better was nothing short of amazing!

We have always been very proud of Matt, but, now, he is and will always be, our hero.”

Even now, eight years later, it is hard for me to read this blog without getting emotional. We know we dodged a major bullet. Matt has pretty much returned to normalcy, although he is still blind in one eye and has a weakness in his right hand. However, I remain optimistic that one day medical science will progress to the point that he will regain his sight. Who knows?

We have suggested to Matt that he could become an inspirational speaker to give others the benefit of his experience. Although he has made a couple of appearances with a friend who was also a stroke victim, for now, he has chosen to focus on his family and career.

Alternatively, his experience would make a fine inspirational movie, although Hollywood would probably dismiss it as too unrealistic. Indeed, as the saying goes, truth is stranger than fiction”

Some of you have been requesting a quiz. So, here it is. Be careful what you wish for. You know the rules. No peeking at the internet, Alexa or Siri.

1. Joe Biden is president # (a) 43, (b) 44, (c) 45, (d) 46.
2. Who was the only president to serve in both WW1 and WW2?  (a) Harry Truman, (b) Dwight Eisenhower, (c) Douglas MacArthur, (d) John F. Kennedy
3.  Each of the following served as generals in the US Army, EXCEPT: (a) Theodore Roosevelt, (b) Franklyn Pierce, (c) Benjamin Harrison, (d) Andrew Johnson.  Bonus – There were 12 in total.  How many can you name?  See below.
4.   Only two presidents are buried in Arlington National Cemetery, JFK and who else? (a) Eisenhower, (b) Jackson, (c) Taft, (d) Teddy Roosevelt.
5.  Who is the only president to serve two terms non-consecutively? (a) Grover Cleveland, (b) James Buchanan, (c) Teddy Roosevelt, (d) Chester A. Arthur.
6. What was Lady Bird Johnson’s real first name? (a) Eugenia, (b) Claudia, (c) Sue Ellen, (d) Darlene
7.  Which president’s grandfather also served as president? (a) John Quincy Adams, (b) Benjamin Harrison, (c) George Bush, (d) Millard Fillmore
8.  Who was the first president NOT to own slaves? (a) George Washington, (b) John Adams, (c) Abe Lincoln, (d) James Monroe
9. Who is the only president to have also served as Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court? (a) Woodrow Wilson, (b) James A. Garfield, (c) Benjamin Harrison, (d) William Howard Taft
10.  Who was the first president for whom “Hail to the Chief” was played? (a) John Tyler, (b) George Washington, (c) Andrew Jackson, (d) FDR.
11.  Which president was elected with the largest popular vote margin? (a) George Washington, (b) LBJ, (c) Joe Biden, (d) Dwight Eisenhower
12. Who was the only president to serve in both the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812? (a) James Monroe, (b) John Quincy Adams, (c) Andrew Jackson, (d) John Tyler.
13.  Who was the only president to serve as president and vice president without being elected to either office? (a) Gerald Ford, (b) John Adams, (c) James Monroe, (d) Martin Van Buren
14.  Who was the first president to live in the White House? (a) George Washington, (b) John Adams, (c) Thomas Jefferson, (d) James Madison
15. Who was the shortest president? (a) John Adams, (b) James Monroe, (c) James Madison, (d) John Quincy Adams.
16.  Who was the first president to be born in the US? (a) Andrew Jackson, (b) George Washington, (c) James Buchanan, (d) Martin Van Buren
17.  Who had the shortest tenure as president? (a) James K. Polk, (b) William Henry Harrison, (c) Rutherford B. Hayes, (d) Samuel Tilden
18.  Who was known as “Old Kinderhook,” which is the source of the popular phrase “okay” or “ok?” (a) Franklyn Pierce, (b) Chester A. Arthur, (c) John Tyler, (d) Martin Van Buren.
19.  How many presidents have died in office? (a) 6, (b) 8, (c) 10, (d) 4
20.  How many presidents were elected despite having lost the popular vote? (a) 4, (b) 5, (c) 6, (d) 8. (Quiz question: Can you name them?)
21.  FDR won four terms as president.  How many VPs did he have? (a) 1, (b) 2, (c) 3, (d) 4.
22. Who was president during the Louisiana Purchase? (a) Thomas Jefferson, (b) James Madison, (c) James Monroe, (d) Andrew Jackson.
23. Who was president during the Alaska Purchase, aka “Seward’s Folly?” (a) Andrew Jackson, (b) Andrew Johnson, (c) Rutherford B. Hayes, (d) Grover Cleveland.
24. Who was president during the Gadsden Purchase? (a) Franklin Pierce, (b) Millard Fillmore, (c) U. S. Grant, (d) Chester A. Arthur.
25. Who was the only president born on July 4? (a) Thomas Jefferson, (b) Franklin Pierce, (c) Teddy Roosevelt, (d) Calvin Coolidge

ANSWERS: 1. (d); 2. (b); 3. (a); [ Washington, Jackson, Zachary Taylor, Franklyn Pierce, Andrew Johnson, US Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes, William Henry Harrison, James Garfield, Chester A. Arthur, Benjamin Harrison, Eisenhower] 4. c;  5. (a);  6. (b);  7. (b);  8. (b);  9. d;  10. c;  11. (b); 12. (c) 13. (a);  14. (b);  15. (c) (5′ 4″);  16. (d); 17. (b) (32 days); 18. (d) (That was the derivation of the term “okay” or “OK”);  19. (b) (How many can you name? See below.) 20. (b), ( John Quincy Adams, Rutherford B. Hayes, Benjamin Harrison, George W. Bush, Donald Trump); 21. (c) (John Nance Garner, Henry A. Wallace, Harry S. Truman); 22. (a); 23. (b); 24. (a); 25. (d).

Quiz answer: # 1 – (1) William Henry Harrison, (2) Zachary Taylor, (3) Abraham Lincoln, (4) James A. Garfield, (5) William McKinley, (6) Warren Harding, (7) FDR, (8) JFK.

Quiz answer #2 – (1) John Quincy Adams, (2) Rutherford B. Hayes, (3) Benjamin Harrison, (4) George W. Bush, (5) Donald Trump

So, how did you do?  I’d like to know.

Below please find a list of the significant historical events that have occurred during the month of June.

6/2/1937 – The Duke of Windsor, who, as Edward VII, had abdicated the throne of England, married Wallis Warfield Simpson, a commoner and a divorcee.
6/3/1972 – Sally Jan Priesand became the first female ordained rabbi in the US.
6/3/1989 – The Ayatollah Khomeini, notorious leader of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, died.
6/4/1989 – Chinese government troops fired on unarmed demonstrators in Tiananmen Square in Beijing. Upwards of 3,000 were killed; an additional 1,600 were imprisoned; and 27 were later executed.
6/5/1968 – Following a campaign speech Robert Kennedy was assassinated at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles.
6/6/1944 – D-Day, one of the most significant battles in WWII. (Please see my previous blog for details.)
6/8/1874 – Cochise, one of the most notorious of Apache Indian leaders, died while living on the Chiricahua Reservation in AZ.
6/9/1898 – Great Britain signed a 99-year lease for Hong Kong. Control of the colony reverted to China at midnight, June 30, 1997.
6/12/1898 – The Philippine Islands declared their independence from Spain leading to the US’s invasion and occupation.
6/12/1963 – Civil rights leader Medgar Evers was assassinated in Jackson, MS, sparking widespread outrage and providing the impetus for comprehensive civil rights laws.
6/13/1966 – In “Miranda v. AZ,” the Supreme Court ruled that the police are required to apprise a suspect of his right to remain silent prior to being questioned.
6/14/1777 – John Adams introduced a resolution to establish an official flag for the 13 colonies. We celebrate this date as “Flag Day.”
6/15/1215 – England’s King John agreed to a charter, known as the Magna Carta, which granted certain rights and liberties to English nobles, and which has served as the basis for all democracies since.
6/17/1972 – Five GOP operatives were caught breaking into the DNC offices in the Watergate Hotel. Eventually, this precipitated a chain of events, which culminated in the resignation of President Nixon.
6/18/1812 – Congress declared war on Great Britain, commencing the War of 1812.
6/18/1815 – England and its allies defeated France decisively in the Battle of Waterloo, which effectively ended Napoleon’s reign as Emperor of France and precipitated his exile.
6/18/1983 – Dr. Sally Ride became the first American woman in space.
6/19/1953 – Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were executed for the crime of selling information about the atomic bomb to the Soviet Union. They were not only the first married couple to be executed together in the US, but also the first US citizens to be executed for espionage.
6/24/1948 – The Soviet Union commenced its blockade of West Berlin. Eventually, the US and its allies broke the blockade with a massive airlift.
6/25/1876 – General George Custer and all soldiers under his command were slaughtered at the Little Bighorn by thousands of Sioux in what became known as “Custer’s Last Stand.”
6/25/1950 – North Korea attacked South Korea beginning the Korean Conflict, which lasted three years.
6/26/1945 – The UN Charter was signed by 50 nations in San Francisco.
6/28/1914 – Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the Crown Price of Austria and his wife, were assassinated in Sarajevo, by a Serbian nationalist, Gavrilo Princip, which set off a chain of events that culminated in WWI.
6/28/1919 – The Treaty of Versailles was signed, which marked the official end of WWI.
6/30/1971 – The 26th Amendment to the Constitution was enacted, which extended the right to vote to all US citizens age 18 and older.

Birthdays – Brigham Young, patriarch of the Mormon church and founder of the state of Utah, 6/1/1801 in Whittingham, VT; Norma Jean Mortensen, aka Marilyn Monroe, 6/1/1926 in Los Angeles; Marquis de Sade, his name is the origin of the word, sadism, due to his penchant for extreme cruelty and violence, 6/2/1740 in Paris; Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederacy, 6/3/1808 in Todd County, KY; King George III, ruler of England during the Revolutionary War, 6/4/1738; Adam Smith, renowned philosopher and economist, 6/5/1723 in Scotland; John Maynard Keynes, renowned British economist, 6/5/1883 in Cambridge, England; Nathan Hale, Revolutionary War patriot hung by Brits as a spy (“I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.”), 6/6/1755 in Coventry, CT; Frank Lloyd Wright, renowned architect, 6/8/1867 in Richland Center, WI; Cole Porter, renowned lyricist and composer (“Kiss Me Kate,” “Can Can”), 6/9/1893 in Peru, IN; Hattie McDaniel, actress (‘Mammy’ in “Gone with the Wind”), 6/10/1889 in Wichita, KS; Frances Gumm, aka Judy Garland, renowned singer and actress (“Wizard of Oz”), 6/10/1922 in Grand Rapids, MN; Jeanette Rankin, first woman to be elected to Congress, 6/11/1880 in Missoula MT; Jacques Cousteau, undersea explorer, 6/11/1910 in France; Vince Lombardi, renowned football coach 6/11/1913 in Brooklyn, NY; George H. W. Bush, 41st president, 6/12/1924, in Milton, MA; Anne Frank, Holocaust victim, 6/12/1929 in Frankfurt, Germany; Harriet Beecher Stowe, author (“Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” origin of phrases “Uncle Tom” and “Simon Legree”),6/14/1811 in Litchfield, CT; Alois Alzheimer, psychologist and pathologist who discovered the degenerative disease named for him, 6/14/1864 in Germany; Stan Laurel, half of renowned comedy team, Laurel and Hardy, 6/16/1890 in England; Lou Gehrig, Hall of Fame baseball player, died from ALS, which is commonly called “Lou Gehrig’s disease,” 6/19/1903 in NYC; Audie Murphy, Medal of Honor WWII American war hero, 6/20/1924 in Kingston, TX; Jack Dempsey, heavyweight boxing champion, aka the “Manassa Mauler,” 6/24/1895 in Manassa, CO; Eric Arthur Blair, aka George Orwell, British satirist and author (“1984”) 6/25/1903 in India; Mildred “Babe” Didrikson, renowned female athlete, in Port Arthur TX; Mildred Hill, composed song that is sung most frequently; do you know the name? See below.), 6/27/1859 in Louisville, KY; William Mayo, surgeon (Mayo Clinic), 6/29/1861 in Le Sueur, MN.

Quiz answer – “Happy Birthday”