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This is an ultimate feel-good story. It is about a person who refused to be limited by his handicap. Indeed, he might insist that he is not handicapped at all, and in view of all that he has achieved in his life it would be hard to argue with him.

Erik Weihenmayer was born on September 23, 1968. At the age of five he was diagnosed with juvenile retinoschisis. Soon after, he went totally blind. To be clear, Erik is not merely legally blind; he is TOTALLY blind. He sees nothing.

Even as a child, Erik refused to make concessions to his blindness. For example, as his sight deteriorated he resisted using a cane and learning braille. Instead he held on to living like a person with normal sight as long as possible.

In High School, despite his blindness,he became a champion wrestler, competing in the National Junior Freestyle Wrestling Championships. Imagine, he would routinely defeat opponents he couldn’t even see. Later, he tried rock climbing. Incredibly, even though he couldn’t see the rock face he became proficient at using his hands and feet to locate the proper “holds.” He was a “natural.” He graduated from Boston College with a double major in English and Communications. He became a school teacher and wrestling coach.

But, Erik was not satisfied. He wanted more. So, again, refusing to acknowledge his physical limitations he began to challenge himself. Below please find some highlights of his achievements:

a. He started mountain climbing in 1995. His first conquest was Mt. McKinley. Since then, he has scaled many other noteworthy mountain peaks, including El Capitan in Yosemite, Carstensz Pyramid in New Guinea, and the biggie, Mt. Everest, the only blind person to have done so. He has completed the famous Seven Summits, again, the only blind climber to have done so.

b. He has developed into an athlete, adventurer, author, activist and motivational speaker.

c. He was the subject of a Time Magazine cover story.

d. He is the author of “Touch the Top of the World: A Blind Man’s Journey to Climb Farther Than the Eye Can See”and “The Adversity Advantage, Turning Everyday Struggles into Everyday Greatness.”

e. In 2005 he co-founded “No Barriers USA,” which assists and encourages those with special challenges to live more active and meaningful lives. The organization’s motto is “What’s Within You Is Stronger Than What’s In Your Way!” Injured soldiers are a major focus of the organization.

f. In 2011, his 3-person team competed on ABC’s Expedition Impossible, a race across the deserts and mountains of Morocco, finishing second.

g. He has completed the Leadville 100 Mountain Bike Race, at elevations above 10,000 feet, and Primal Quest, an adventure race over 460 miles with 60,000 feet of elevation gains.

CONCLUSION

Erik’s accomplishments speak for themselves. They stand as an inspiration not only to other special needs individuals, but to all of us.

Long-time readers of my blogs realize that lately I have refrained from writing about controversial political issues.  The reason is that my experience has been that regardless of the topic or my opinion on it I have found that I end up offending some of you. Consequently, I have been blogging on “feel-good” stories, historical pieces, quizzes, humor or sports. However, this blog on the “Black Lives Matter” Movement will be an exception.  To paraphrase the late Lesley Gore: “It’s my blog, and I can write what I want to.”

The BLM Movement has been gaining traction. Many supporters, not just blacks, but other liberal-minded people as well, have expressed the opinion that the police routinely target blacks. Others feel just as strongly that the aforementioned opinion is based on a false narrative. They say the overwhelming majority of police are just trying to do a difficult job as best they can and that in very few of the police-on-black incidents have the police been at fault. I have been following this issue closely for many months as I’m sure many of you have, and my opinion is as follows:

1. The overwhelming majority of police do not target blacks.  They are just trying to do their jobs as well as they can and go home to their families at the end of the day.  Yes, there are some bad cops, just like there are bad accountants, plumbers, and politicians.  But, it is ludicrous to think that the typical policeman goes to work with the attitude: “I’m going to kill me a black or Hispanic today.”
2. The press and politicians have inflamed the situation. For example, whenever there has been an incident of police versus a black person the press has covered it extensively, both on television and in print.  Fair enough, but I don’t believe the coverage has been fair and balanced.   For example, in the Ferguson incident most of the press had prejudged that Officer Wilson was guilty. “Hands up, don’t shoot” became the famous mantra that still resonates. However, when the local and Federal investigations, including the one by Eric Holder’s Department of Justice, exonerated Wilson and debunked the story that Mr. Brown had ever even raised his hands, the press coverage was scant and the politicians were nowhere to be seen.
3. Furthermore, the press underreported the extensive, massive looting in Ferguson. Businesses, most of them, minority-owned, were destroyed. Looters, most of them outsiders, merely used the protests as an excuse to steal, destroy and even murder.
4. Many politicians, from the President on down to local officials, and even those now running for President took partisan positions that were not always based on fact, but rather were designed to appeal to their political supporters.
5. Black leaders, such as Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton have also inflamed the situation with their rhetoric and prejudgment.
6. Most egregious of all have been the protest marches in which people chanted inflammatory anti-police statements such as “What do we want? Dead cops. When do we want it? Now” and the descriptive “Pigs in a blanket.”  One could argue that the recent cop assassinations were a direct result of their actions.

CONCLUSION

The rhetoric on both sides has become overwhelmingly strident, and neither side has been in a mood to listen to the other. I would like to believe that the protest marchers, slogan-chanters, and looters represent a very small minority. They are just the ones getting the press coverage, which goes back to my earlier point. Furthermore, they are part of the problem, not the solution, because their actions, rather than garnering support, appall most Americans.

The only way we have a chance of resolving this issue is if we discuss it calmly and rationally. To paraphrase the late Vice President, Spiro Agnew, I believe there is a “silent majority” with respect to this issue that wants a peaceful resolution.

No one wants even to talk about the major underlying issues.

1. The deterioration of the family structure in minority families. Approximately, 74% of blacks are born out-of-wedlock. It has been proven that a child, any child, in a single parent household has a significantly lesser chance at success in life. Typically, a single mother has to devote all her energy to earning a living wage; she has scant time and energy to address raising her children.  Thus, the cycle of poverty and violence is perpetuated from generation to generation.
2. Children of single parents are more likely to drop out of school and fall under the influence of the streets. Again, it has been proven that lack of a good education is the biggest single indicator of economic success or failure in life. We all know the inevitable results of hanging out in the streets – death, prison or poverty.
3. The overwhelming percentage of crime in the cities is black on black. Therefore, the supreme irony is that the same cops that are being vilified are actually protecting law-abiding blacks.

If Dr. Martin Luther King were alive today he would be appalled at the violence surrounding this issue. He was a great leader because he was able to address and resolve issues without violence. He was able to convince others that violence does not solve the problem; it exacerbates it by hardening the positions on both sides and it impedes progress.

I would welcome your comments on this issue. As I said, I know there are strong feelings and emotions on both sides. In particular, I would welcome comments from readers who reside outside the US.  What do you think of us when you see the strident rhetoric and violence?

Thirty-nine years ago this past July commandos of the Israeli Defense Forces pulled off a bold rescue mission that stunned the world.  Briefly, the background of the operation was as follows:

1. On June 27, 1976 terrorists belonging to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine hijacked an Air France jetliner with 248 passengers on board.
2. The stated objective was to trade the hostages for various Palestinians that were being held in jail in various countries.
3. They forced the crew to fly the jet to Entebbe Airport in Uganda where they would be under the protection of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin who was sympathetic to their cause.
4. Over the ensuing couple of days the hijackers released the non-Jewish passengers and continued to hold the Jewish passengers.
5. The French crew insisted on staying with the Jewish captives.
6. The hijackers made it clear that if their demands were not met they would kill the hostages.
7. To put this incident in perspective it was just four years after the terrorist group, Black September, had slaughtered eleven members of the Israeli Olympic team at the Munich Olympics in 1972. Some of you may recall that the German police had botched a rescue attempt at the airport, which precipitated the carnage.
8. In addition, it was less than three years after Israel had defeated a coalition of Arab States in the “Yom Kippur War.” Relations between Israel and the Arab World were “not so good,” to put it mildly.
9. There seemed to be no way to resolve the situation satisfactorily, either by negotiation or rescue. No country was willing to help Israel overtly. It looked like another disaster in the making.
10. But, unbeknownst to the rest of the world, the Israelis had other ideas.

“Operation Thunderbolt” was conceived, planned and executed by the Israelis to rescue the hostages. Consider the audacity of the mission:

1. The hostages were being held over 2,000 miles away from Israel.
2. The Israelis had to fly through hostile territory, undetected, and carry out the mission in a hostile land.
3. Refueling was an issue until Kenya finally gave permission to fly through its airspace and refuel at one of its airports.
4. Reliable intelligence was very limited. For example, at one point the Israelis considered a plan whereby they would drop naval commandos into Lake Victoria, but they had to abandon that idea when they ascertained that the lake was infested with crocodiles.
5. But, against all odds, they managed to pull the raid off successfully.

On July 4, 1976, while the attention of the rest of the world was focused elsewhere, for example, Americans were focused on their bi-centennial celebrations the Israelis successfully rescued the hostages and flight crew. Many of you will recall the shock of waking up on July 4 to hear about the successful raid. Only three of the hostages were killed (out of 106). All seven terrorists and some 40 Ugandan troops were killed. Unfortunately, one Israeli commando (Yonatan Netanyahu, brother of the current Israeli Prime Minister) was killed.  The Israelis went in and out fast.  The entire operation lasted 53 minutes, 30 minutes of which included the actual battle.

CONCLUSION

The daring rescue was a rousing success. The hostages were rescued; the terrorists were killed. Much of the world admired Israel’s audacity in pulling off the operation successfully. The US and the UK called the raid an “impossible operation.”  France and Switzerland also offered praise. West Germany went so far as to label it “an act of self-defense.”

Unfortunately, as always, some people had a different view. The Chairman of the Organization of African Unity filed a complaint with the UN accusing Israel of aggression. It took the UN Security Council all of five days to convene to consider it. (It’s not often that the UN takes such prompt action, is it?  But such was the degree of antipathy toward Israel in many countries.)   The Secretary General of the UN, Kurt Waldheim, called the raid “a serious violation of the sovereignty of a Member State of the United Nations.”   I’m not aware of any comment by Waldheim condemning the actual hijacking, but that was no surprise considering his well-documented antipathy toward Jews. The UK and the US sponsored a “wishy-washy” resolution that deplored the loss of life resulting from the hijacking while, at the same time, re-affirming the principle of territorial integrity of all States, and the matter faded away.

Various books have been written on the raid. In addition, Hollywood produced a movie “Raid on Entebbe,” starring Charles Bronson, Peter Finch and Martin Balsam, which was released in 1977.

I believe the main takeaway from the raid was Israel demonstrating to the world that it would not take aggression against its civilians lying down. Terrorists would be hunted down and punished. This point was hammered home as Israeli operatives eventually hunted down and killed all the surviving members of the Black September terrorist group that had been responsible for the Munich Massacre.

JULIUS ROSENWALD

Most of you have probably never heard of Julius Rosenwald. Who was he, and why was he so significant to the advancement of African Americans in the US?  Read on.

JR was born on August 12, 1862 in Springfield, IL. His parents were German immigrants who owned a small clothing business. The family lived near and was acquainted with Abraham Lincoln.

At the age of 16 JR’s parents sent him to NY to apprentice with his mother’s relatives who were also in the clothing business. JR received no more formal education, but he became an extremely successful businessman.   While in NY he made the acquaintance of Henry Goldman, co-founder of the investment firm, Goldman, Sachs, who would become a key player in his later endeavors.

In 1890 he married Augusta Nusbaum, the daughter of a very successful competing clothier. Soon after, he moved his business to Chicago because he wanted to be closer to his clientele, which was located primarily in rural areas. Also, he developed the idea of selling men’s clothing in standardized sizes, which increased the efficiency of his operation considerably.

JR’s big opportunity came in 1893. At the time, Sears & Roebuck, had been primarily a watch manufacturer, however, its owners, Richard Sears and Alvah Roebuck were beginning to diversify.  As it happened, JR’s company was their primary supplier of men’s clothing.  S & R got overextended during the Panic of 1893 and ran up a substantial debt to JR, which they couldn’t pay. One thing led to another, and soon JR became half owner of S & R for an investment of less than $1 million.

JR’s forte was management. Under his direction, S & R flourished. It diversified into virtually every type of product, including dry goods, consumer durable goods, drugs, hardware, and furniture.  Whatever a rural household needed S & R could provide.   He developed the famous S & R Catalogue, which became the retail customer’s bible.  The catalogue enabled a customer in a remote location to order practically any product,  and after a short time it would be delivered.  This type of service was extremely valuable.   In reality, it was a primative version of shopping online.  Remember, at that time, America was largely a rural country comprised of farms and small towns.  Few people owned cars.  There were no highways.  One could not simply hop into the family car and go to the mall to shop.  Thus, S & R became very profitable and grew into a retail colossus.  As an aside, JR realized his chief competitor, Montgomery Ward, was also distributing a catalogue to the same clientele. JR came up with the idea of making his catalogue smaller so a customer who had both of them would likely stack his on top on the table.

In the early 1900s JR became interested in the plight of African Americans. He realized there was a severe lack of quality education available to them, especially in the South.  He was one of the first to recognize what we all know today to be true.  That is, a good education was the key ingredient in enabling poor people to break the cycle of poverty. Under the prevailing educational doctrine of “separate, but equal” AAs were being saddled with inadequate schools, lack of materials, such as books, and insufficient and/or unqualified teachers.  Although their education was indeed “separate,” it was far from “equal.”  Basically, they had very little chance to succeed virtually guaranteeing a continuation of the cycle of poverty. In addition, there were no funds available to remedy the situation.

Improving the quality of education became JR’s primary mission. In cooperation with prominent black educators, such as Booker T. Washington and William Baldwin over the rest of his life he arranged funding for the construction of over 5,000 schools in poor black areas throughout the South. They became known as “Rosenwald Schools.”  The aforementioned Henry Goldman assisted him in financing.

JR’s methodology was brilliant. He set up a fund, the Rosenwald Fund, to administer the program.  JR would agree to donate funds provided that the community matched it. This gave the community a stake in the success of the project.  In this manner, the Fund contributed matching funds in excess of $4 million for schools.  Furthermore, the Fund donated millions to build and support museums, housing developments, charities and universities.

Perhaps, the Fund’s crowning achievement was the Michigan Boulevard Garden Apartments on Michigan Avenue in Chicago, which was completed in 1929. Housing segregation was prevalent in the North at the time.  Therefore, as AAs fled the South to seek better opportunities in the North a severe housing shortage had developed. The purpose of this complex was to accommodate these working class minorities. It was one of the first complexes to combine residential and commercial properties. The Fund also supported the construction of YMCAs for minorities, some of which are still active today.

CONCLUSION

Through his fund JR had a substantial impact on the lives of thousands of AAs. It is impossible to quantify the effect precisely, because it is difficult to determine the precise value of a first-rate education. However, there is general agreement that it was a crucial component of their economic and social advancement from one generation to the next. Suffice to say, thousands of middle class AAs and their descendants owe their success, at least in part, to the opportunities presented to them by a Rosenwald School.

JR died on January 6, 1932. Despite his largesse he left an estate valued at more than $80 million, which was equivalent to $1.4 billion in today’s dollars.

July 4 was the 75^th anniversary of Lou Gehrig’s “Luckiest Man” speech, arguably the most famous speech in baseball history.  The name, Lou Gehrig, is all too familiar to many people who wouldn’t know a baseball from a football and could care less.  (Baseball fans would be surprised to know that there are an awful lot of people who fall into that category.)  He is one of the few people who is famous for more than one thing.  He is famous not only for being one of the greatest baseball players in history, but also for the fatal disease, which bears his name, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS.  Laymen commonly refer to it as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease.”

The cause of ALS is unknown.  It  attacks and destroys the motor function of the central nervous system, but, at the same time, the patient’s mind remains fully cognizant of what is happening.  It is a progressive disease, relentless and incurable.  It is one of the most horrible ways to die, for the patient, his caregivers, his relatives, and his friends.

Lou Gehrig, aka “The Iron Horse,” or “Larrupin Lou,” was born in NYC on June 19, 1903.  He played 17 years in the Major Leagues, all for the Yankees.  He is generally regarded as one of the best baseball players in MLB history (#6 on the Sporting News’ all-time list) and the best first baseman (as voted by the Baseball Writers’ Association in 1969).  His accomplishments and awards would fill many pages, but I have listed the highlights below:

• Lifetime “slash” line (batting average, slugging percentage and on-base plus slugging percentage) of .340/.447/632 with 493 home runs and 1,995 RBI.  If the home run total seems relatively modest, remember that Gehrig played before the home run “inflation” of the last 40 years, and at the time of his retirement his total ranked near the top.
• Triple Crown winner in 1934, one of only 13 players to accomplish that feat in the “Modern Era” (after 1901).
• Seven-time all-star.
• Six-time World Series champion.
• Voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
• Played in 2,130 consecutive games
• Hit 23 grand slams.
• Hit four home runs in one game, one of only 14 payers to do and the first in the “Modern Era.”
• Two-time AL MVP.
• Leading vote getter on All-Century team voted by fans in 1999.

CONCLUSION

When Gehrig was diagnosed few people had even heard of the disease, much less understood it.  In fact, it was often confused with the more familiar polio.  The well-known sportswriter, Jimmy Powers, even wrote in his column that Gehrig had contributed to the Yankees sub par 1938 season by introducing the “polio germ” into the “Yankees clubhouse” as if ALS were some communicable disease.

During the 1939 season the disease had progressed to the point where Gehrig could no longer play effectively, and he was forced to retire.  The Yankees arranged for him to be honored between games of the July 4^th doubleheader at the Stadium.   Gehrig was shy, by nature, so when it came time for him to say a few words, he was reluctant to do so.  But, eventually he summoned the nerve and delivered a short, but poignant speech.  Afterwards, the crowd reacted with a two-minute ovation, and there were very few dry eyes among those who heard the speech either in person or over the radio.

The famous part where he characterized himself as “the luckiest man on the face of the earth” resonated with the public and was subsequently immortalized by Hollywood in the film “Pride of the Yankees.”  If you have the chance I recommend you play it on U-Tube.  It will be well worth your time.

Gehrig died on June 2, 1941, but, ironically the disease that killed him has also ensured that he will always be remembered.

Saturday, July 4th, we celebrate our independence.  Consequently, I thought it might be an appropriate time to test your knowledge of the holiday with a quiz. No peeking at the internet.

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 first person to sign the Declaration of Independence (and the only one to do so on July 4) was

a.  Thomas Jefferson
b.  Patrick Henry
c   Benjamin Franklyn
d.  John Hancock

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.  Which President was 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.  The “Liberty Bell” was cast in:

a.  France
b.  England
c.  Germany
d.  Russia

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 state was the last of the “lower 48” to join the Union?

a.  New Mexico
b.  Oregon
c.  Hawaii
d.  Arizona

14.  How many persons signed the Declaration of Independence?

a.  13
b.  26
c.  40
d.  56

15.  Each of the following celebrities was born on July 4th, except:

a.  Mike (the “Situation”) Sorrentino
b.  Neil Simon
c.  Colin Powell
d.  George Steinbrenner

16. Purportedly, the 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. Washington, DC became the capital in

a.  1776
b.  1800
c.  1820
d.  1920

20.  The 14th state of the union was:

a.  Maine
b.  Georgia
c.  Florida
d.  Vermont

ANSWERS:  1. (d); 2. (a); 3. (c); 4. (b); 5. (d); 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)

CONCLUSION

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

The worldwide Jewish population has been getting much attention lately following the release of a report issued by the Jewish People Policy Institute that shows it is approaching what it was before the Holocaust.   One can view this interesting revelation in one of two ways:

1. It’s great that we have recouped nearly all that we lost during the Holocaust; or
2. It’s unfortunate that it took 75 years to do so.

Some salient points:

1. The last ten years have been characterized by the largest Jewish population increase since the end of WWII.  In early 2015 the worldwide “core” Jewish population was estimated to be 14.2 million compared to 16.6 million in 1939.  Please note that the core population includes only those who, when surveyed, identify themselves solely as Jews. Those are the numbers I am discussing in this blog.  (On the other hand, the “enlarged” Jewish population, which is also used sometimes, basically includes core Jews plus, for example, those with Jewish parentage who have “opted out” of Judaism and/or adopted another religion.
2. Approximately, 82% of the world’s Jews are concentrated in just two countries – Israel (6.1 million) and the US (just under 6 million). (For some reason, in different surveys the US population has ranged from 5.4 million to 6.8 million, so I split the difference.)
3. The total population comparison cannot be viewed in a vacuum as in 1939 the world’s population was only 1/3 of what it is now (2.3 billion compared to 7 billion). Therefore, on a percentage basis we are far below what we were in 1939.
4. In recent years, only five countries have exhibited a net positive migration of Jews. Four of them – Israel, US, Australia and Canada make sense. The fifth one – Germany – will be a surprise to most people, but I believe a major part of the reason is economic opportunity.
5. In many countries, notably the UK, France and Sweden, the negative migration trends have been accelerating as a result of recent, well-publicized anti-Semitic instances. The biggest beneficiary of this has been Israel.
6. Historically sizeable Jewish populations in Eastern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East (other than Israel) have declined significantly, or virtually disappeared.

CONCLUSION

So, why has it taken 75 years to recoup the Holocaust population loss?  In my opinion, there are three reasons:  low birthrate, secularism and assimilation.

With respect to birthrate, the good news is that Israeli Jewish families have been averaging approximately 3 children per family.  Even better, the age distribution of the population has been stable and consistent.  On the other hand, in the diaspora countries the birthrate in Jewish households is at virtually zero growth with a disproportionately and increasingly larger elderly composition.

Moreover, the Jewish population, like that of other religions, has been victimized by the recent trend toward secularism.  Increasingly, more and more people have become indifferent or negative toward religion, in general.

Finally, increasingly large numbers of Jews have been marrying non-Jews, and, thus, assimilating into the general populace.  These final two factors have a multiplier effect as both the person and his offspring are lost to Judaism.

My expectation is that these factors will continue prospectively.  Therefore, although the absolute Jewish population will continue to grow slowly, the percentage will continue to decline.

This blog is about a person most of you have never heard of, yet he played a crucial role in the colonies’ successful fight for independence from England.  In fact, I believe he was more responsible for the colonies winning the Revolutionary War than anyone else other than George Washington and a very few others.  His name was Haym Salomon, and if you are not cognizant of whom he was and what he did, read on.

Conventional wisdom says an army travels on its stomach, meaning it needs basic supplies, such as food, clothing, weapons, etc., to be able to function effectively.  It is axiomatic that if an army overextends its supply lines, it is in dire trouble.  There have been many examples of this throughout history, Napoleon’s Russian campaign being one of the more egregious ones.  True enough, but it also travels on its pocketbook, as it needs financing to buy those supplies and pay its soldiers to maintain morale.

Much of the Revolutionary Army consisted of volunteers; there was no draft.  The soldiers had left their farms and jobs to join up.  After a year or two as the losses were piling up and it looked as though defeat was inevitable, many of them had become disillusioned and dispirited.  Morale was low.  They were not being paid and needed to be.  If the soldiers were not paid, many of them would simply go home.  Whether or not that constituted “desertion” or “mutiny” would depend on your point of view, but the situation was certainly dire.

The Continental Congress had no ability to raise money through taxes.  It was relying on the largesse of the individual States some of which could not or would not provide funds.  It did print currency, but the currency became worthless as everyone came to realize the CC was broke.  Furthermore, foreign governments, such as France and Holland were only willing or able to extend just so much credit.

Enter Haym Salomon.   He was born in 1740 in Lissa, Poland.  He was a descendant of Ashkenazi Jews who had fled there to escape the Spanish Inquisition.  In his early life he lived in various Western European countries where he became fluent in several languages.  This would serve him well later.  He emigrated to NY in 1772 where he quickly established himself as a successful merchant and financial broker and dealer specializing in foreign securities.

At some point he became friends with the leader of the NY Branch of the Sons of Liberty, Alexander MacDougall.  When war broke out he became very active on the side of the Patriots.  He became a major supplier to the Continental Army.  The British arrested him, but due to his proficiency in foreign languages they freed him hoping he would serve them as a liaison with their Hessian mercenaries.  Instead, Salomon worked covertly against the British by trying to convince the Hessians to desert.   He was arrested again, and all his property was confiscated.  The Sons of Liberty helped break him out, whereupon he fled to Philadelphia, free but penniless.

In Philadelphia he resumed his financial brokering activities.  Again, his language skills came in handy.  The French designated him as paymaster general of their forces fighting in the colonies.  Moreover, both the Dutch and the Spanish utilized him to sell the securities that were financing their loans to the CC.

In 1781 when the CC established the Office of Finance to run fiscal matters for the colonies Salomon befriended the Superintendent, William Morris.  Salomon not only became the most proficient broker of securities to raise funds for the office but also personally loaned money to members of the CC and other federal officers.  One of the above was James Madison, who was quoted as saying “I have for some time…been a pensioner on the favor of Haym Salomon…”

One time when the situation was particularly acute Washington is said to have told Morris “send for Haym Salomon,” as if Salomon was the panacea for any and all financial ills.  One of Salomon’s accomplishments was to raise money needed to finance the campaign for the decisive Battle of Yorktown, which effectively ended the Revolutionary War.

CONCLUSION

Within five years of arriving in Philadelphia Salomon went from penniless to wealthy and respected businessman and philanthropist.  There is no doubt that he played a crucial role in providing financing for the revolution.  He donated his fortune and pledged his personal credit to the patriotic cause.  All this came at a time when the CC had no money, no credit, and little credibility among foreign governments, without whose support the Revolution would have failed.  (Eventually, France and Holland did provide financing.)   One historical footnote:  America never fully repaid its debt to France, which some historians maintain was an underlying cause of the French Revolution.

Salomon was never repaid.  He died in 1785, penniless, leaving behind a wife and four young children.   Many times his descendants have attempted to collect those debts, to no avail.  The government has claimed the documentation supporting the loans has been lost.

However, Salomon has not been forgotten entirely:

1. His gravesite, though unmarked, has two plaque memorials – one of marble and another of granite. The memorials were donated by William Salomon, a great-grandson and former Managing Partner of the investment firm, Salomon Brothers.
2. There is a monument to him in Chicago.
3. California is home to an organization named “The American Jewish Patriots and Friends of Haym Salomon.”
4. In 1939 Warner Brothers released a film called “Sons of Liberty,” which featured Claude Rains as Salomon.
5. During WWII the US Navy commissioned a ship in his honor, the “SS Haym Salomon.”
6. In 1975 the US Postal Service issued a commemorative stamp citing him as a “Financial Hero” of the American Revolution.

Being that today is Fathers’ Day I thought it would be appropriate to mark the occasion by profiling various famous and successful father-son duos.  As you might imagine there are many, many examples from which to choose.  I have selected the following from the worlds of politics, entertainment and sports:

Politics

• John Adams and John Quincy Adams – The Adams’ were one of only two father-son duos to become Presidents of the US. Political preferences aside, you have to respect that achievement. John was not only the second President (1797-1801) he also served as Vice President for eight years under George Washington. Prior to that, he was a strong advocate of independence, one of the Founding Fathers, and assisted Thomas Jefferson in drafting the Declaration of Independence. Quincy was the sixth President (1825-1829). In addition, he had a long career as a diplomat, a Senator and a member of the House of Representatives. He was one of the architects of the Treaty of Ghent, which ended the War of 1812, and of treaties with Britain, over the Canadian border, and Spain, over Florida. As Secretary of State he helped draft the Monroe Doctrine.

• George H. W. and George W. Bush – The Bushes were the other father-son duo to become President. Again, even if you don’t agree with their politics you have to respect their achievement. HW was the 41^st President (1989-1993). Prior to that he served with distinction in the USN during WWII, ran the CIA, was an ambassador, and served in Congress. Since leaving the Presidency, he has been heavily engaged in humanitarian activities. W was the 43^rd President ( 2001-2009). Prior to that, he was Governor of Texas. His Presidency was marked by controversy, but he did lead us successfully through the trying period after “9/11.”

Entertainment

• Mike and Chris Wallace – Mike had a long and varied career. He began on radio in 1939 when he was still in college. After a stint in the navy during WWII he starred in a short-lived police drama (“Standby for Crime”), hosted game shows and interview shows, did commercials for Parliament cigarettes, and anchored various news shows. However, he is best known for his long-time stint on “60 Minutes” (1968-2006). Chris has spent 40 years as a well-respected network journalist for NBC, ABC and Fox. The highlights of his career include “Today,” “Meet the Press,” “Nightline,” and “Fox News Sunday.”

• Berry Gordy and “Redfoo” – Berry Gordy is a record producer and songwriter, but he is best known as the founder and prime mover of the Motown record label. He has discovered and/or developed numerous music stars, such as the Supremes, the Jackson 5, Mary Wells, and Smokey Robinson. He was inducted into the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame in 1988. Stefan Kendal Gordy, aka “Redfoo,” is a renowned rapper, dancer, record producer, and DJ, however, he is best-known as the founder of the electro-pop band LMAO.

• Kirk and Michael Douglas – Kirk is a classic American success story. Born Issur Danielovich to Russian immigrant parents, he became a successful actor, producer, director and author. He was a leading box office star during the 1950s and 1960s specializing in dramas, war movies and westerns. Perhaps, his finest role was as Vincent Van Gogh in the movie “Lust for Life.”  He has received three Oscar nominations, one Oscar for Lifetime Achievement, authored ten novels and memoirs and is #17 on the American Film Institute’s list of the greatest male screen legends. Michael is a successful actor and producer both on tv and in the movies. He has won two Oscars, four Golden Globes, one Emmy and the AFI’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Sports – I could write a book just on the countless father-son-duos in sports.  Due to time and space limitations I will only profile a few.

1.   Ray, Bob, Bret and Aaron Boone – Ray was an infielder during the 1940s and 1950s for various teams, mostly the Indians. Bob was a catcher in the 1970s and 1980s for the Phillies. He won the World Series in 1980. Bret and Aaron played the infield for various teams during the 1990s and 2000s.

2.   Felipe and Moises Alou – Felipe played the outfield from 1958-1974, mostly for the Giants. He was voted onto three all-Star teams. Moises was a six-time all-Star and won the World Series in 1997 with the Marlins. Felipe also had two brothers, Matty and Jesus, who played in the Majors. On at least one occasion, all three appeared in the same outfield at the same time.

3.  Clay Matthews, Jr and III – Both Clay Matthews have been Pro Bowl linebackers in the NFL, and they are the only father-son duo to have won the Defensive Player of the Week award.

4.  Bobby and Bret Hull – Both Hulls were Hall-of-Fame NHL players, the only father-son duo to have been so-honored.  Bobby is considered to be one of the best ever.  He won the Hart Trophy twice, the Art Ross Trophy three times and was a ten-time All-Star. Bret was third all-time in goals scored and tied for first (with Wayne Gretsky) for most game-winning playoff goals.

5.  Man o’ War and War Admiral – Man o’ War was an outstanding thoroughbred, winning 20 of 21 races. War Admiral won the Triple Crown of thoroughbred racing.

6.  Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning – Archie was a two-time Pro Bowl NFL quarterback and a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. Peyton has won four MVPs, one Super Bowl and been to twelve Pro Bowls. He is considered to be one of the all-time greatest quarterbacks. Eli, though not as accomplished, has won two Super Bowls and was voted MVP both times.

CONCLUSION

Well, there you have it.  Obviously, due to time and space constraints I was forced to omit many other worthy duos.  Did I omit one of your favorites?  Let me know.

This year’s US Open Golf Championship is the 115th.  The Open is one of the four major championships in golf.  The others are the Masters, which is held in April, the British Open (July), and the PGA (August).   As in tennis, the majors are considered to be so important that players’ legacies are determined, in large part, by the number they have won.

Originally, the majors were generally considered to include the US and British Opens and the US and British Amateurs.  Those were the tournaments that Bobby Jones won for his Grand Slam.  However, concurrent with the rise of professional golf in the US in the 1940s and 1950s the Masters and the PGA replaced the two amateur tournaments in importance.  After all, it no longer made much sense to include amateur tournaments as majors when most of the best golfers could no longer qualify to compete in them.  The watershed year was 1960.  That year Arnold Palmer, who was the best and most influential golfer at the time, won the Masters and the US Open.  He observed that if he could add the British Open and the PGA he would have completed a “grand slam” equal to that of Mr. Jones.   He failed to do so, but the notion of those four tournaments as the four majors “stuck.”

The Open is always scheduled for mid-June with the final on Father’s Day.  The 2015 tournament is underway right now.  The Open field includes 156 players.  There are four rounds of stroke play over four days.  If a playoff is required a full 18 holes are played on Monday.  If there is still a tie the winner is decided by sudden death.  Do you recall the name of last year’s winner?  See below.

Only about half of the players in the field are required to actually qualify.  The remainder gain entry by one of many exemptions.  Some of the exemption categories include:

1. Winners of the past ten US Opens.
2. Winner and runner-up of the previous year’s US Amateur Championship.
3. Winners of the past five Masters, British Opens or PGA Championships.
4. Winner of the previous year’s Senior Open
5. Top 60 ranked golfers.
6. Special exemptions granted by the USGA. These are usually former top-ranked players who, though past their prime, are deemed worthy. Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus are examples.

There are other exemption categories, but I think you get the idea.  Those who are required to qualify must survive two stages – Local and Sectional.  There is no age requirement, so it not unusual to find a teenager in the field.  The youngest qualifier ever was 14 (Andy Zhang of China).

CONCLUSION

Some interesting facts about the Open that only the most knowledgeable golf fans would know:

1. The winner of the inaugural tournament in 1895 was Horace Rawlins, an Englishman.
2. Last year’s winner was Martin Kaymer.
3. The record score is 268 by Rory McIlroy in 2011.
4. The record for most Open Championships is four and is held by four men. Three of them will be familiar to you – Jack Nicklaus, Bobby Jones and Ben Hogan. If you know the fourth, you are either a golf historian or a trivia buff, and my hat’s off to you (even though I don’t wear one). His name is Willie Anderson. Anderson was an interesting and tragic story. He was born in Scotland and emigrated to the US at the age of sixteen. He was one of the outstanding golfers of his time. He won the tournament in 1901,1903, 1904 and 1905. He was an original member of the PGA Hall of fame and an inductee into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1975. Tragically, he died at the age of 31 from epilepsy.
5. The inaugural Open was contested on a nine-hole course at the Newport Country Club. Only ten professionals and one amateur bothered to enter. They played 36 holes in one day. The winner received $150 out of a total purse of $335 plus a gold medal. By contrast, last year’s winner received $1.62 million out of a total purse of $9 million. I think we can say the tournament and the sport have grown considerably.