As most of you know February Black History Month. Accordingly, I think that this is an appropriate time to pay homage to some of the people of color who have made outstanding contributions to the history of blacks and to America. Some of them, such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Barack Obama, Muhammed Ali, and Jackie Robinson, to name a few, are household names and have been the subject of movies, tv productions and books; others are only known to students of history and the civil rights movement. It is the latter group that I will highlight for this blog. I don’t have the time and space to write about all of them, but below please find brief summaries of some:
Shirley Chisholm – She was the first Black woman to be elected to Congress. She represented NYC’s 12th district in the House of Representatives from 1969 to 1983. In 1972, she became the first woman to run for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination.
Bayard Rustin – He was a prominent civil rights leader in the 1960s. He is best known for organizing and strategizing the famous March on Washington in August 1963, the one in which Dr. King delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech.
Claudette Colvin – Before Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1955, there was a brave 15-year-old who also chose not to surrender her seat on a bus to a white person and move to the back. She was arrested for her impudence. Few people know her story. She was fifteen and pregnant at the time. Therefore, civil rights leaders declined to sue preferring to wait for a case with a better fact pattern in order to enhance their chances of winning.
James Baldwin – He was writer and civil rights activist best known for his essays, novels, plays, and poems. Time magazine ranked his 1953 novel Go Tell It on the Mountain as one of the top 100 English-language novels. In addition, he was an influential public figure and orator during the early days of the civil rights movement.
Jesse Owens – He was a track-and-field athlete best known for winning four gold medals in the 1936 Olympic Games, which were held in Nazi Germany. His performance embarrassed Hitler and all those who believed the Nazis were the Master Race and blacks were inferior. In 1976, Owens received the Presidential Medal of Freedom and was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 1990.
Jane Bolin – She was the first Black woman to attend Yale Law School in 1931. In 1939, she became the first black female judge in the United States.
Benjamin O. Davis, Sr. – He was the first Black general in the U.S. Army. His long and distinguished 50-year career included stints as a first lieutenant during the Spanish American War, a professor of military science at Tuskegee and Wilberforce University, commander of the 369th Infantry of the New York National Guard, and Special Assistant to the Commanding General, among many other positions. He is a recipient of the Bronze Star Medal and the Distinguished Service Medal and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler – She was the first Black woman to earn a medical degree in the United States. After working as a nurse for eight years she was accepted to the New England Female Medical College (which later merged with Boston University) in 1860.
Gerald Wilson – Before Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and other famous black jazz musicians there was Gerald Wilson. He was a trumpeter, jazz composer, arranger, and bandleader known for “redefin[ing] Big Band.” His band was considered to be one of the greatest in the jazz world, with a sound heavily influenced by the blues mixed with other styles.
Moses Fleetwood Walker – Who was the first black MLB player? No, it was not Jackie Robinson. According to The Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) Moses “Fleetwood” Walker is credited with being the first African American baseball player in the major leagues. He was a catcher who played 42 MLB games in 1884. It should be noted that five years’ prior in 1879 William Edward White played one professional baseball game for the Providence Grays of the National League. However, White’s light complexion enabled him to “pass” as white, and he identified as such. Therefore, unlike Walker who was open about his black heritage, he was spared the racial bigotries, indignities and hostilities that were prevalent at the time. Hence SABR credits Walker with being the first.
Thurgood Marshall – He was an American civil rights lawyer and jurist who served as the first black associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1967 until 1991. As an attorney for the NAACP he defended numerous blacks who had been accused of crimes. His most famous case was Brown vs the School Boards of Kansas, South Carolina, Delaware, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. His landmark victory overturned the then-prevalent “separate but equal” Plessey decision, which had stood since 1896 and paved the way for the integration of public schools.
Crispus Attucks – He was a black whaler, sailor, and stevedore who is generally regarded as the first person killed in the American Revolutionary War.
CONCLUSION
The foregoing are just a few of many black Americans who have made significant contributions to black history and American history. I’m sure I omitted some that were equally worthy, but time and space dd not enable me to mention everyone. Besides, the blog would have been so long no one would have read it.
What is “commonsense?” We’re all familiar with the expression, but for many of us it is hard to define. It’s reminiscent of former Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart’s response when asked to define pornography: “I know it when I see it.” According to the dictionary commonsense is characterized by “sound and prudent judgment based on a simple perception of the situation or facts.” Sounds good, so let’s go with that.
In his first month in office Donald Trump has accomplished a great deal, arguably more than any other president in history. However, perhaps his greatest achievement has been to cop-opt the common- sense approach to the key issues facing the country, relegating the Dems to the fringes. As I said, we may not be able to define it, but we know it when we see it, and we see it in what Trump is doing.
There have been a plethora of obvious examples, but just a few will suffice to make my point:
Immigration. Open borders with no security and no vetting never made any sense. It’s akin to leaving your home unlocked and the doors and windows open allowing anyone unfettered access. No one in their right mind would do that. Most of the advocates for open borders were those who enjoy the security of walled and gated communities or doormen and/or travel with private security. The obvious results have spoken for themselves. It’s commonsense that people and countries need secure barriers such as walls and other security measures for protection. The Vatican Wall and the Great Wall of China have served this purpose for centuries. The original Vatican Wall dates back to 846, although it has been expanded over the years. The Great Wall of China was constructed over a period of over 2,000 years beginning in the third century BC. Both walls were built to protect citizens from marauders. It is inane to claim they are not needed or don’t work as the Dems have maintained. On the other hand, look at the European Union. The borders between member states generally resemble a sieve. In the past decade some 29 million immigrants, both legal and illegal have entered causing political, social, criminal and economic problems. Trump’s security measures are commonsense, and they are working.
Biological males’ access to females’ bathrooms and locker rooms and competing against them in sports. This is another commonsense issue. Only a sliver of the populace advocates this. I doubt that very many females would be comfortable with this, nor be would any sane parent of a young girl. Similarly, females should not have to compete against biological males in sports. Males are generally physiologically bigger and stronger. It is not fair, but more importantly it is dangerous. Anyone who watched a biological male boxer beat up a biological female boxer in the last Olympics would attest to that. For years the Dems have ignored this issue or even defended it. Trump has vowed to resolve it. Again, it’s commonsense.
Crime. The Dems’ ill-conceived and ill-advised sanctuary jurisdiction policy and lenient attitude toward crime and criminals has rendered “blue” cities unsafe. Criminals operate with impunity. Law-abiding citizens fear for their safety. Many businesses have been unable to survive. Thousands of people have relocated from “blue” to “red” jurisdictions. This is another commonsense issue.
Government waste, fraud and abuse. This is another obvious issue. For decades people have wanted politicians to deal with this issue. Finally, someone, Trump, is doing something about it. Trump, through Homeland Security and ICE, is cracking down, hard. How could any reasonable person object to tackling this issue? Yet, many Dems are objecting, which has led many people to conclude that they have been complicit and have something to hide.
CONCLUSION
In my view, Trump’s policies and actions to date cannot be categorized as either Dem or Republican, liberal or conservative. He is more of a populist. He is working on behalf of all Americans, regardless of political persuasion.
As I have written in previous blogs, he has not only been resolving America’s problems, more significantly he is on the verge of rendering the Dems a minor party. The Dems hate Trump so much that they are blindly and instinctively committed to opposing anything he says or does regardless of the consequences or if they make sense. As a result, they have found themselves on the wrong side of each of the above issues as well as most others. These are not closely contested issues either. Trump has staked out positions favored by 80-90% of the voters, leaving the Dems stuck with positions favored by a very slim minority.
In addition, they are leaderless at the present time. No one has stepped up to try to unite the Party. It is dominated by its far-left wing. The moderates have been cowed into silence.
The Dems have not offered any viable alternative policies or solutions. They have become the party of “no” and name-calling. They still have not come to terms with the reasons why they lost the 2024 election much less corrected them. That does not augur well for them in 2026 or 2028.
Historically, there has been an ebb and flow to politics in the US. Political philosophies and voters’ attitudes and preferences swing from liberal to conservative, from “left” to “right” like a pendulum. With respect to political parties, the Party that loses a presidential election, and often Congress as well, appears to be in trouble, but then it normally rallies in the next one, usually in two years. In politics nothing is forever. A few months can be a lifetime.
More recently, just think back to the political landscape in 2016. The Dems were dominant. Obama had just completed two terms. His presumptive successor, Hillary Clinton, was on the cusp of winning the presidency, which would likely mean eight more years of Dem dominance. She was comfortably ahead in all the pre-election polls. Apparently, she was going to be the first female president.
The GOP was in disarray. nearly a dozen candidates had vied for the nomination. Most of them, like Jeb Bush, Chris Christie, Ted Cruz, Mike Huckabee, John Kasich, Rand Paul, Marco Rubio, and Scott Walker, were solid, experienced politicians. However, the ultimate nominee was an upstart, an outsider with no political experience, Donald Trump. He was perceived by many to be an ego-driven buffoon, who was certain to lose and drag his Party down with him. But lo and behold he came from nowhere, to win a “Trumanesque” election victory. Trump turned out to be a reformer. He accomplished much, but he was hamstrung by the Dems, the “swamp” dwellers, the mainstream media, and even some in his own Party.
Four years later he was defeated. The Dems were back. They were ascendant as was their philosophy of progressivism, wokeism, DEI, white-guilt and worldview. Americans were told they should sacrifice to help the unfortunate even those in other countries. Stop drilling for fossil fuels to save the planet. Adhere to the precepts of the Green New Deal. The legal system became corrupted. Critics and perceived enemies of the Administration were hounded and punished, often based on false information. Constitutional rights such as free speech and the right to bear arms were being whittled away slowly but surely. A cancel culture developed to punish those who did not toe the line. Open the borders, let everyone in, not just legitimate amnesty-seekers, but also criminals, drug dealers, terrorists and psychos. Come one, come all. Well, all that was unsustainable. It was bound to fail sooner or later, and it did.
Now, Trump is back. Now the voters’ attitude has swung 180 degrees. The pendulum has swung the other way again. Now the mantra is “America first,” “America strong, “close the borders, deport illegals, “drill, baby, drill,” etc.
Now, once again, it is the Dems who are in disarray. History shows they should bounce back, maybe as soon as 2026, and maybe they will. But at the moment in my opinion, it does not appear that way. Here’s why:
We all know that the first step in solving a problem is to admit you have one. Think of drug addicts and alcoholics. The Dems have not ascertained why and how they lost the 2024 election. They refuse to acknowledge their mistakes. The election was not a nail-biter. It was a wipe-out, a landslide. Trump won the popular vote, which has been rare for a Republican. He swept the swing states. He made huge inroads into traditionally Dem voting blocs such as blacks, Hispanics, blue collar workers, and youngsters. This has the feel of a lasting change. These blocs had been reliably Dem supporters since 1932. The GOP now controls both houses of Congress. Truly, the Dems have a big problem and must effect major changes in order to win the next election.
The Party is not in the mainstream. It is dominated by its small, but vocal, far left wing. All we see in the news and read about are radicals such as AOC, Elizabeth Warren, Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, Ayanna Pressley, Maxine Waters and Linda Sanchez.
The Party has no visible leader. No one has stepped up to rally the troops. No one appears to be capable of uniting all of the various factions. Former President Biden and former VP Kamala Harris have been discredited and have virtually disappeared. The Obamas and the Clintons have lost much of their influence. Bernie Sanders has reverted to his former role of the crazy radical uncle you hide in the attic when company comes to visit. CA Governor Gavin Newsome, the once heir-apparent, has been exposed as an ineffective governor who has bankrupted his once flourishing state with his extreme wokeism and allowed large portions of it literally to burn to the ground. In lieu of accomplishments he is banking on his looks and glib personality. As they say in Texas, he is “all hat and no cattle.” Chuck Schumer has been an ineffective Senate Majority leader. He has become a caricature, hanging out with the far-left radicals, cursing f**k Trump, chanting slogans and singing on national tv.
They are perceived to be on the wrong side of every significant issue. For example, Trump is in tune with what 80+% of Americans want, “America first,” MAGA, a strong foreign policy, energy independence, paring the bloated bureaucracy, parental rights, separation of girls and boys in sports, bathrooms and locker rooms, and, generally, “common sense,” among many others. That’s what the voters voted for, that’s what they want, and that is what he is giving them. Instinctively, the Dems continue to reject anything Trump says or does. All they do is criticize. They fail to offer any alternatives. They are the party of “no.” He continues to live rent-free in their minds. Consequently, they have been forced into opposing those highly popular philosophies. Somehow, they have become the Party in favor of migrants, transgender rights, the Green New Deal, and allowing boys access to girls’ bathrooms and locker rooms and to compete against them in sports.
Their strident opposition to DOGE is particularly ill-advised. Polls have shown consistently that over 80% of Americans want to eliminate government fraud, waste and abuse, and why not? What normal rational person could be against that? They have fully embraced Trump’s and Elon Musk’s efforts to do so. The Dems’ strong, unwavering opposition makes one think that they are afraid of what will be uncovered. It makes them seem like the abettors and perpetrators of the aforementioned fraud, waste and abuse (and maybe many of them are). To borrow a famous phrase from William Shakespeare’s play “Hamlet,” they “Doth protest too much” meaning that it seems as if they have something to hide and leads one to doubt the veracity of what they’re saying.
Their criticism of Musk, who incidentally has declined to accept a salary, as being unelected is ridiculous given the plethora of nameless, faceless, unelected bureaucrats who have been running the government for years, especially under the Biden presidency.
Most critically, their allies in the media have been exposed as biased and rendered ineffective. Ratings at CNN and MSNBC have declined precipitously. The NYT and Washington Post have lost much of their luster in the eyes of the public.
Conclusion
Trump has managed to accomplish more in under four weeks than Biden did in his entire presidency. He has been a strong, effective leader. Once again, America is respected by its friends and allies and feared by its enemies. He means what he says and says what he means. He has repeatedly demonstrated his acumen as a businessman and negotiator. Everything is negotiable, tariffs, hostage releases, cease fires. EVERYTHING.
Virtually all of his Executive Department nominees have been approved, and their departments are running full throttle to accomplish their respective agendas. He has executed numerous Executive Orders. He is negotiating major legislation with a reluctant Congress. He has been a whirling dervish of activity. His critics can’t keep up. By the time they organize a protest to one of his EOs he has signed three more. He seems to be everywhere. Americans love it! His approval rating has consistently been over 50%.
February may be the shortest month, but there has been no shortage of significant historical events during the month. For example:
2/2/1848 – The US-Mexican War ended with the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. The US paid $15 million for a huge swath of land that encompasses parts of present-day CA, AZ, TX, UT, NV, NM, CO and WY. 2/3/1870 – The 15th amendment to the Constitution was ratified, guaranteeing all citizens the right to vote. 2/3/1913 – The 16th amendment to the Constitution was ratified authorizing Congress to collect income taxes.
2/5/2020 – The Senate voted to acquit President Trump of all Articles of Impeachment.
2/6/1933 – The 20th amendment to the Constitution was ratified, which changed the presidential inauguration date from March 4 to January 20. 2/6/1952 – Queen Elizabeth II ascended to the throne of the UK with the death of her father, King George VI. 2/8/1010 – The Boy Scouts of America was founded by William Boyce. 2/9/1943 – In one of the bloodiest battles of WWII the US captured Guadalcanal after six months of intense fighting. The KIA included 2,000 Americans and 9,000 Japanese. 2/10/1967 – The 25th amendment to the Constitution was ratified, which clarified the procedures for presidential succession. 2/11/660 BC – The date of the founding of the Japanese nation. 2/11//1990 – Nelson Mandela was released from a SA prison after 27 years. 2/12/1999 – The impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton concluded with a “not guilty” verdict. 2/13/1635 – Boston Latin, the first taxpayer-supported public school in America, was founded in Boston. 2/14 – Celebrated around the world as St. Valentine’s Day. 2/14/1849 – Photographer Mathew Brady took the first photograph of a US President in office (James K. Polk). 2/14/1929 – The infamous St. Valentine’s Day Massacre occurred in Chicago, as members of Al Capone’s gang, posing as police, gunned down members of the Bugs Moran gang. 2/15/1898 – The USS Battleship Maine blew up under mysterious circumstances while anchored in Havana harbor. Although culpability was not proven, this incident precipitated the War of 1898 with “remember the Maine” as the chief battle cry. 2/15/1933 – A failed assassination attempt on FDR resulted in the death of Chicago mayor Anton Cermak. 2/19/1942 – The US commenced the internment of Japanese Americans. 2/20/1962 – Astronaut John Glenn became the first American to be launched into orbit. 2/21/1965 – Former Black Muslim leader, Malcolm X, was shot and killed in NYC. 2/21/1972 – President Richard Nixon arrived in China for the first State visit with communist China. 2/23/1991 – US ground troops initiated Operation Desert Storm versus Iraq. 2/24/1582 – Pope Gregory XIII replaced the Julian calendar with the Gregorian calendar. The latter has become the standard worldwide.
2/24/2022 – Russia invaded Ukraine. 2/24/1867 – The House of Representatives voted to impeach President Andrew Johnson. The Senate acquitted him by one vote. 2/27/1950 – The 22nd amendment to the Constitution was ratified, which limits the president to a maximum of two terms or ten years in office. 2/27/1991- Operation Desert Storm concluded.
Birthdays – Hattie Caraway, Bakersville, TN – 2/1/1878, first woman elected to US Senate; John Ford – 2/1/1895, Cape Elizabeth, ME, Oscar winning director; Elizabeth Blackwell – 2/3/1821, Bristol, England – first female physician in US; Norman Rockwell – 2/3/1894, NYC – artist and illustrator; Thaddeus Kosciusko – 2/4/1746, Poland, Revolutionary War hero; Charles Lindbergh – 2/4/1902, Detroit, MI, first non-stop solo cross-Atlantic flight; Aaron Burr – 2/6/1756 – killed Alexander Hamilton in a duel; George Herman (“Babe”) Ruth – 2/6/1895, Baltimore, MD, considered, by many, to be the best baseball player ever; Ronald Reagan – 2/6/1911, Tampico, IL, entertainer, 40th President; Charles Dickens – 2/7/1812, in England, British novelist; Sinclair Lewis – 2/7/1885, Sauk Center, MN, novelist and social critic; William Henry Harrison – 2/9/1773, Berkeley, VA, 9th President (died after having served only 32 days); Thomas Edison – 2/11/1847, Milan, OH, inventor; Abraham Lincoln- 2/12/1809, Hardin County, KY, 16th President, preserved the Union, freed the slaves; Charles Darwin – 2/12/1809, England, author; Galileo Galilei – 2/15/1564, astronomer and physicist; Susan B. Anthony – 2/15/1820, Adams, MA, women’s suffrage pioneer; Sonny Bono – 2/16/1935, Detroit, MI, entertainer; Nicolaus Copernicus – 2/19/1473, Poland, first to declare the sun, not earth, was the center of the solar system; George Washington – 2/22/1732, Westmoreland County, VA – “father” of US, 1st President; W.E.B. DuBois – 2/23/1868, Great Barrington, MA, AA educator; William (“Buffalo Bill”) Cody – 2/26/1846, Scott County, IN, reputedly killed 4,000 buffalo; Henry Wadsworth Longfellow – 2/27/1807, Portland, ME, poet (“Paul Revere’s Ride”).
This one may be too difficult for non-football fans, but I have to challenge the hard core football fans. You know who you are.
Remember, no peeking at the internet. Don’t ask Siri.
1. The first Super Bowl was played in what year?
a. 1966 b. 1967 c. 1968 d. 1969
2. The losing team in the first SB was:
a. Cowboys b. Raiders c. Giants d. Chiefs
3. How many different major cities (or their environs) have hosted a Super Bowl?
a. 10 b. 12 c. 15 d. 17
4. Which city has hosted the most games?
a. Miami b. Dallas c. Los Angeles d. New Orleans
5. Super Bowl 2026 will be played in which city area?
a. Los Angeles b. San Francisco Bay c. Dallas d. Miami
6. Two franchises are tied with the most SB wins -6. One is New England. Which is the other?
a. Dallas b. San Francisco c. Pittsburg d. New England
7. Each of the following teams is undefeated in SBs except:
a. Jets b. Ravens c. Bucs d. Green Bay
8. The name “Super Bowl” was derived from:
a. College “bowl” games b. Fan vote c. Media feedback d. Child’s toy
9. Other than Patrick Mahomes, who was the only other quarterback to start and win a Super Bowl with the Kansas City Chiefs?
a. Trent Green b. Bill Kenney c. Joe Kapp d. Len Dawson
10. Who was the only MVP from the losing team?
a. Chuck Howley b. Len Dawson c. Bruce Smith d. Icky Woods
11. How many defensive players have been MVP of a SB?
a. Two b. Five c. Eight d. Ten
12. Which franchise lost four consecutive Super Bowls? a. Green Bay b. San Francisco c. Buffalo d. Pittsburg
13. Who was the headline performer at halftime last year?
a. Beyoncé b. Bruce Springsteen c. Usher d. Lady Gaga
14. Each of the following has not appeared in a SB, except:
a. Browns b. Bengals c. Lions d. Jaguars
15. In SB I a 30-second advertisement cost $37,500 on NBC and $42,500 on CBS. The approximate cost of a 30 second commercial this year is:
a. $2 million b. $5 million c. $8 million d. $10 million
16. How many times has a team played the SB in its home stadium?
a. 0 b. 1 c. 2 d. 3
17. Who is the only player to win three consecutive Super Bowls?
a. Ken Norton, Jr. b. Bob Lilly c. W. K. Hicks d. Robert Jackson
18. The coldest temperature for a SB held outdoors was 39 degrees in which city?
a. Houston b. New Orleans c. New York d. Cleveland
19. Which of the following coaches has taken more than one team to a SB?
a. Don Shula b. Tom Landry c. Bill Belichek d. Vince Lombardi
20. Only two wide receivers have won the SB MVP. One was Deion Branch. Who was the other?
a. Jerry Rice b. Drew Pearson c. Hines Ward d. Randy Moss
21. The TV audience for SB I was approximately 65 million (on two networks, (CBS and NBC). How many people are expected to watch Super Bowl LIX on Sunday,
a. 200 million b. 100 million c. 120 million d. 150 million
22. After whom is the SB trophy named?
a. Pete Rozelle b. Paul Brown c. Al Davis d. Vince Lombardi
23. Tom Brady has won the most SB rings (7). What player is next?
a. Adam Vinatieri b. Charles Haley c. Terry Bradshaw d. Bob Lilly
24. Which half-time entertainer became (in)famous for a “wardrobe malfunction?”
a. Beyoncé b. Janet Jackson c. Madonna d. Lady Gaga
25. What marginal player became famous for the “helmet catch” in SBXLII (Giants vs. Pats)?
a. Plaxico Burris b. Randy Moss c. David Tyree d. Bob Schnelker
Bonus question: Who were the first two teams in the NFL?
Answer: Chicago Cardinals (now the Arizona Cardinals) and the Decatur Staleys (now the Chicago Bears). Commenced in 1920.
Reporter to Trump: “So, Mr. President, how did your first two weeks as president go? What did you accomplish?”
Trump’s reply: “Not much. It was a quiet two weeks. I’m just familiarizing myself with matters. However, I did manage to accomplish a few things.”
Reporter: “Such as?”
I have done precisely what I said I would and what I was elected to do. The voters have spoken. They gave me a resounding mandate, and I am implementing it.
In stark contrast to my predecessor, I have implemented a policy of transparency. My Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, will be holding frequent, impartial and open press conferences.
My first and most critical accomplishment was gaining control of our borders, both northern and southern.
A recent NY Times poll disclosed that 87% of voters are in favor of deporting illegal immigrants with criminal records, and a recent WSJ poll reported 74% in favor of it. (It is unheard of for 87% of Americans to agree on anything.) Additionally, the same NYT poll revealed that 55% of Americans favor deporting ALL illegals.
The number of illegal entries has decreased to a trickle. According to Fox Newsthe number of migrants seeking entry at the southern border has dropped by over 60% since Trump’s inauguration. There were 7,287 migrant encounters at the southern border in the first seven days (Jan 20-26) after Trump’s inauguration by both Border Patrol between ports of entry and by the Office of Field Operations (OFO) at ports of entry, including a low of 600 on January 26.
That compares to 20,086 encounters in the final seven days of the Biden administration (Jan 13-19) prior to Trump’s inauguration, (2,869 encounters per day).
I have dispatched military troops to the border to support CBP personnel.
ICE has been rounding up thousands of illegals, focusing on criminals, drug dealers, cartel members, gangbangers, psychos and other undesirables. Thousands have been deported to their home countries. After some reluctance on their part, I have convinced Mexican and Canadian authorities to render assistance. Thousands of others (the “worst of the worst”) have been and will be transferred to Gitmo pending their deportation. The capacity of the facility is being expanded to accommodate up to 30,000 inmates. Furthermore, I will be dispatching up to 500 troops to augment the force presently there.
Congress approved the Laken Riley Act, which I had championed, and I signed it into law.
I will be investigating FEMA, whose performances most recently with respect to disasters in NC and CA, have been woefully inadequate, with the possibility of reforming or eliminating it entirely and turning over its duties to the individual states.
ICE will be “cross-designating” local police to assist in enforcing immigration laws, including detaining illegals in their jurisdictions. Already, several local police units have volunteered to participate.
As reported in the Wall Street Journal the US Postal Service placed a tariff on packages that some Chinese and Hong Kong companies had been shipping into the US duty-free.
I placed a 25% tariff on imports of certain goods from Mexico and Canada and a 10% tariff on certain goods imported from China. I have employed these tariffs as a negotiating tool to secure cooperation, and they have been very effective. Mexico and Canada have acceded to my demands. China has retaliated by imposing “targeted tariffs” on U.S. imports. I am not concerned about a trade war. I will commence negotiations with President Xi in due course to obviate one.
The US has proposed to assume responsibility for rebuilding and resurrecting Gaza. Currently, much of it is a wasteland of destroyed and burned-out buildings and unexploded ordnance owing to years of war. Basically, it is unlivable. I fear that if the Palestinians were to return to those conditions the seeds of further wars will have been planted, and the cycle of endless wars will continue. To date, no country has stepped up with a viable solution. Therefore, I have suggested that the US assume responsibility for resurrecting it and in the process bring stability and jobs to the area. Sounds good, but I can foresee some hurdles. For example, this would involve the relocation of the current residents. President Netanyahu and various other ME leaders have expressed support for the plan, in general, but the devil will be in the details. For instance, to which country(ies) would the Gazans be relocated? Already, Egypt and Jordan have declined to accept them. Also, the plan presupposes that the Hamas terrorists would be eliminated beforehand, which will necessitate further conflict.
DOGE has commenced cutting waste, fraud and abuse in the federal government. USAID is a prime example. It has strayed from its original purpose. The agency’s doctrine of promoting democracy and supporting programs for disadvantaged people worldwide sounds good on the surface, but it has devolved into a veritable slush fund for fraudulent, radical and wasteful woke projects including some that benefit “miscellaneous foreign awardees” that are anti-American, anti-Israel, and/or affiliated with terrorist groups such as Al Awda, the Marxist Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and the Palestinian Medical Relief Society. Examples abound, but some include (1) $20 million for condoms for Gazans (not just for safe sex but more likely as casings for IEDs), (2) $20 million for a Sesame Street show in Iraq, (3) $56 million to boost tourism in Tunisia and Egypt, (4) $40 million to build schools in Jordan, (5) $11 million to instruct Vietnam how to burn garbage, and (5) $2 million to strengthen “Trans-Led” organizations. What are the common denominators of these pet projects? They are wasteful; they were authorized by nameless, faceless unelected bureaucrats; and they DO NOT BENEFIT AMERICAN CITIZENS who paid for them with their tax dollars and could also use the money. The good news is that DOGE has uncovered these abuses; the bad news is that it has just scratched the surface of government fraud, waste and abuse. No wonder the swamp-dwellers are squawking so vociferously.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has assumed the role of acting director of USAID. He will ensure that USAID funds will go to true humanitarian organizations as originally intended.
I have targeted various areas of waste, anti-Americanism and antisemitism in the UN. For example, I have declared my intention to withdraw the US from WHO and UNRWA unless they reform their policies.
I am requiring all Federal employees who have been working remotely to return to their offices. In a related matter I have offered most of them the option of taking deferred retirement. I offered full pay plus benefits through September 30. The goal is to reduce the payroll by as much as 10%, which would save about $100 billion. Some 20,000 have already accepted. Also, the CIA has offered buyout packages to all of its employees.
Inexplicably, in a misguided act of defiance NJ Governor Phil Murphy admitted that he was harboring an illegal in his home, and he challenged Tom Homan to “try to get her.” Such actions constitute a violation of Federal law and I’m sure Tom Homan will be up to the challenge. (Murphy’s aides have tried to “walk back” his comments.)
I have canceled the project of building windmills off the coast of NJ.
Venezuela has voluntarily released six hostages that most Americans were not even aware it was detaining.
I informed Panama that we would retake control of the Panama Canal unless it terminated China’s influence over the area. It agreed to do so.
I terminated the security clearances of the 51 “intelligence liars” who had impacted the 2020 election by falsely swearing Hunter Biden’s laptop constituted “Russian election interference.”
I banned biological men from participating in women’s sports or entering women’s locker rooms under Title IX.
Sanctuary jurisdictions that fail to cooperate with ICE will face reductions or elimination of federal funds.
For the safety of the ME and the world Iran cannot be allowed to develop nuclear weapons. I will ensure that it doesn’t.
In a related matter according to a CNN report 60% of employers say they have already terminated some of the Gen Z workers they had hired fresh out of college just a few months ago. Apparently, their work is just not “up to company standards,” and they are “difficult to work with.” Not surprising given the US’s woke educational system and attitudes of many young people.
Conclusion
The Dems are in total panic, shock and disarray. I think they are afraid that DOGE may uncover their complicity in the aforementioned fraud, waste and abuse. I have more bad news for them. DOGE is just scratching the surface. There is significantly more to uncover in other departments such as education, Medicare, Medicaid and social security. There is no intention to reduce legitimate benefits just save the taxpayers money.
Furthermore, they have no effective counterproposals to Trump’s proposals and actions. Moreover, they have given no indication that they realize why they lost the election. If they can’t or won’t identify the reasons, they won’t be able to fix them. Recently, all eight major candidates for the head of the DNC ascribed it to the old standbys, misogyny and racism. The Party and its supporters are continuing to adhere to the same old tired policies, such as DEI, wokeism, and opposing anything Trump proposes or does. They are on the wrong side of every important issue. Quite simply, they are out of touch with the electorate. They epitomize the definition of insanity, repeating the same thing over and over again expecting a different result.
Chuck (the “Chameleon”) Schumer looks like a fool on tv. The divisive Ilhan Omar and AOC have been among their most vocal speakers. Good luck with that.
Trump has been moving at “warp speed.” They cannot keep up. By the time they protest one action he has instituted three more. They are scurrying around like “Lucy in the chocolate factory.” The good news is he is just getting started. To use a baseball analogy, he has not even entered the game yet. He’s just warming up in the bullpen. Fasten your seatbelts. It’s going to be an eventful four years. I, for one, look forward to it and will enjoy it.
According to Wikipedia, January 1, New Years Day, is the most celebrated holiday worldwide. Many historically-significant events have occurred on this date as well as on other dates during the month. Please see below.
1/1/1502 – Portuguese explorers, led by Pedro Alvarez Cabral, landed in present-day Brazil. They named the location Rio de Janeiro (River of January).
1/1/1660 – Samuel Pepys commenced his famous diary, which was to become a definitive chronicle of life in late 17th century London. Famous events described in it include The Great Plague of 1664-1665, which wiped out roughly one-fourth of London’s population, and the Great Fire of 1666, which destroyed much of the city.
1/1/1776 – George Washington unveiled the first national flag, aka the Grand Union Flag.
1/1/1863 – President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed the slaves in the Confederacy.
1/1/1892 – Ellis Island opened. Over 20 million immigrants were processed there between 1892 and 1954 when it closed.
1/1/1901 – The British Commonwealth of Australia was founded.
1/1/1959 – Fidel Castro seized control of Cuba.
1/1/1999 – The currency, the Euro, was born.
1/3/1924 – Howard Carter, British Egyptologist, discovered the burial site of Egyptian King Tut.
1/3/1959 – Alaska became the 49th state of the US.
1/7/1714 – British inventor, Henry Mill, received a patent for the typewriter.
1/8/1815 – The Battle of New Orleans, which many historians consider among the most significant in US history, commenced. The outnumbered and outgunned Americans, under the command of Andrew Jackson, defeated the British.
1/10/1863 – The first underground railroad, appropriately called “The Underground,” commenced operation in London.
1/10/1920 – The League of Nations was born. It was doomed to failure because the US never joined.
1/10/1946 – The first meeting of the United Nations took place in London.
1/11/1964 – The US Surgeon General issued the controversial report stating that smoking cigarettes may be hazardous to one’s health.
1/12/1932 – Hattie Caraway of Arkansas became the first female US Senator, filling the remainder of her late husband’s term.
1/15/1870 – The first use of a donkey to symbolize the Democratic Party appeared as a cartoon in Harpers Weekly.
1/19/1966 – Indira Gandhi became the first female Prime Minister of India. Later, she was assassinated by one of her own bodyguards.
1/19/1983 – Klaus Barbie, aka the “Butcher of Lyon,” was arrested in Bolivia. Eventually, he was extradited to France. He was tried and convicted of war crimes and died in prison.
1/21/1793 – Following the French Revolution King Louis XVI was guillotined.
1/22/1901 – England’s Queen Victoria died after a 64-year reign, the longest in British history at the time.
1/22/1973 – Abortion became legal in the US.
1/24/1965 – Winston Churchill, arguably England’s greatest prime minister ever, died.
1/24/1972 – A WWII Japanese soldier, who had been hiding on Guam not realizing the war was long since over, was discovered.
1/27/1945 – The Russian Army liberated Auschwitz.
1/27/1973 – Representatives of the US and North Vietnam signed a treaty ending the Vietnam War.
1/28/1935 – Iceland became the first country to legalize abortion.
1/28/1986 – The Space Shuttle Challenger exploded, killing all aboard, including Christa McAuliffe, a teacher, who has been slated to be the first “ordinary” citizen in space.
1/29/1919 – Prohibition was ratified. The unintended consequence of this ill-advised constitutional amendment was the substantial growth of organized crime, which was only too happy to provide illegal alcoholic beverages to a thirsty populace. The amendment was repealed on December 5, 1933.
1/31/1943 – The German Army surrendered at Stalingrad in what was generally considered to be the turning point in the European Theatre of WWII.
Birthdays: Paul Revere, 1/1/1735; Betsy Ross, 1/1/1752; Louis Braille, invented the reading system for blind people, 1/4/1809; Joan of Arc, 1/6/1412; Millard Fillmore, 13th President, 1/7/1800; Elvis Presley, 1/8/1935; Richard Nixon, 37th President, 1/9/1913; Alexander Hamilton, 1/11/1755; John Hancock, 1/12/1737; Benedict Arnold, 1/14/1741; Albert Schweitzer, 1/14/1875; Martin Luther King, 1/15/1929; Andre Michelin, pioneered the use of pneumatic tires on cars, 1/16/1853; Benjamin Franklyn, 1/17/1706; Muhammad Ali, 1/17/1942; Robert E. Lee, 1/19/1807; Edgar Allen Poe,1/19/1809; Ethan Allen, 1/21/1738; Douglas MacArthur, 1/26/1880; Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, 1/27/1756; William McKinley, 25th President, 1/29/1843; Franklyn Delano Roosevelt, 32nd President, 1/30/1882; Jackie Robinson, 1/31/1919.
Yesterday, January 27 was the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp. During WWII the Nazis created and operated five concentration camps specifically designed to murder Jews and other “undesirables,” such as Soviet POWs, ethnic Poles, homosexuals, Romani (gypsies), and persons with disabilities. The other concentration camps were Chełmno, Belzec, Sobibor, and Treblinka. Auschwitz was, perhaps, the most notorious of them all. Approximately 2.7 million Jews were murdered at the above-mentioned camps (out of the overall total of six million). Of that total Auschwitz accounted for the most, approximately one million.
In addition to the mass murders at these camps some two million Jews were murdered in indiscriminate mass shootings. Most of these people were buried in mass graves. Other methods of extermination included murders in ghettos, labor camps, deliberate privation (of food, water, shelter and medical treatment), disease, brutality, antisemitic riots, and arbitrary acts
The Nazis spent many years and much time and resources to develop the most efficient method of murdering these people before they settled on using gas chambers in these camps. Their goal was complete extermination. Most historians denote that this fixation came at a huge cost to their war effort and likely contributed their ultimate defeat.
These death camps were horrible beyond description, but occasionally we hear of a “feelgood” story. For instance, recently, I came across such a story in the NY Post about two sisters who were imprisoned at Auschwitz as very young girls, miraculously survived and eventually were reunited as adults. The older one, Eva Sbornik, was born in a labor camp and sent to Auschwitz as a toddler. Normally, the Nazis murdered toddlers upon arrival. However, her train was delayed and consequently arrived after the camp guards had destroyed the crematoriums in a vain attempt to hide the evidence of their crimes from the rapidly advancing Allied forces. As a result, she was spared.
The younger sister, Elenora Umlauf, was actually born in Auschwitz’s infirmary on April 30, 1945 after the camp had been liberated. Almost certainly if the camp had still been run by the Nazis she would have perished. Even so, she was very sickly and the Red Cross doctors who treated her doubted she would survive, but she did.
Thus, both sisters survived, but for many years neither one was aware of the other’s existence. Ultimately, they were reunited along with their mother.
Incredibly, both are still alive today. Each one has attained the ultimate revenge on the Nazis, which is to survive and live a long and successful life. Both live in Germany. Sbornik is a doctor specializing in internal medicine, and Umlauf is a pediatrician and psychotherapist.
Both related their remarkable story in an interview with the NY Post in conjunction with the aforementioned 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.
Sbornik took the occasion to tell the world to remember the Holocaust.
Sometimes, luck and happenstance decide who lives and who dies. For example, one survivor, 92, was the beneficiary of such luck. He was nine years old and living with his family in Greece when the Nazis arrived. When they began arresting Jews in the area his family fled. “We were hiding in the mountains in a monastery, but we stayed together,” he remembered. One time, “[a Nazi soldier] took a shot at me, but thank God I had already turned the corner and didn’t get shot. However, another child that was crossing the street at that time took the bullet that was meant for me,”
There were many other similar stories told by other survivors, stories of bravery and fortune. These stories should not be forgotten.
Attendees at Monday’s commemoration in Oswiecim, Poland included several World leaders, including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Britain’s King Charles III and French President Emmanuel Macron, among others, and dozens of Holocaust survivors. The U.S. delegation included Steve Witkoff, President Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, who played a key role in negotiating this month’s Gaza truce agreement between Israel and Hamas, Howard Lutnick, Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Commerce, and Charles Kushner, father of Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and Trump’s choice as ambassador to France. Due to the advanced age and ill health of many of the survivors this year’s ceremony is regarded as perhaps the last major observance of Auschwitz’s liberation that any notable number of survivors will be able to attend.
Various Polish and German officials gave speeches that said all the right things.
For example, prior to the ceremony, Poland’s President Andrzej Duda remembered the victims of the camp in a television address, saying his country has a special role in preserving the memory of Auschwitz. He stated, “We Poles, on whose land occupied by Nazi Germany the Germans built this extermination industry and concentration camp are today the guardians of memory.” At the ceremony on the former grounds of Auschwitz, Duda, accompanied by a group of survivors, laid a wreath at the so-called “Death Wall,” where many shooting executions took place. Some of the survivors wore blue-and-white striped scarves, the colors of the prisoner uniforms they were forced to wear at the camp.
In addition, in several interviews with German media, Scholz stated that it was “depressing how many people in Germany hardly know anything about the Holocaust.” Each state in Germany has control over how the Holocaust is taught in schools, and instruction is inconsistent.
Conclusion
A day after the political rally, Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk posted on X that calls at the rally to forget “German guilt for Nazi[s’] crimes” sounded all too familiar and ominous, especially given the setting. Moreover, in an appearance on Germany’s public broadcaster Deutschlandfunk, Abraham Lehrer, vice president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, said of the horrors Nazi Germany perpetuated at Auschwitz: “We must not allow commemoration to be ‘enough.’ “
According to the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, which represents the world’s Jews in negotiating for compensation and restitution there are only about 1,000 Auschwitz survivors still living. As time has gone by and the survivors dwindle people have begun to forget and some are even beginning to deny it ever happened.
In my opinion that is unacceptable. It greatly increases the likelihood for a recurrence. Already we are seeing a dangerous rise in antisemitism. We must keep the memory alive and never forget!
In the words of ex-NY Giants football coach Tom Coughlin “talk is cheap; play the game.” For the past several years various politicians have been advocating the need for a “comprehensive” immigration policy, but for various reasons nothing substantive has been accomplished. President Trump also has been staunchly advocating strengthening the southern border. This includes preventing illegal immigrants from entering the country and deporting the undesirable ones that are already here. Only five days into his presidency Trump has been demonstrating that, unlike his predecessors, his talk was not cheap. He intends to “play the game.” We are witnessing yet another example that Trump “says what he means and means what he says.”
The Great Deportation has begun. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt proclaimed that “President Trump is sending a strong and clear message to the world that if you illegally enter the [US] you will face severe consequences.” Officials assert that this is just the beginning of the deportation process. Moreover, the US has already deployed some 4,000 active-duty military personnel to render assistance to inundated CBP personnel. This is an obvious tactic that somehow eluded the prior Administration.
While Trump has vowed a campaign of mass deportations, his White House border czar has repeatedly said that initially they will be targeting the low-hanging fruit, people who have committed crimes. That includes known terrorists, spies, psychos, and criminals, such as rapists, pedophiles, gang members and murderers. (The NY Post has dubbed this phase “pervs and perps,” which is an apt moniker.) Many of these people are relatively easy to find. Law enforcement officials have arrested and released them multiple times. They know where to find them. They are not hiding. Heretofore, they have had no fear of law enforcement. That is about to change.
ICE is now be authorized to seek out illegals in locations that were previously prohibited on the grounds of being “sensitive,” such as schools, churches and hospitals. Some rights groups, such as the ACLU, have launched plans to protect immigrants who are detained at these locations even though border czar Tom Homan has declared repeatedly that ICE operations will be focused initially on specific people who have committed crimes.
According to a survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research there is widespread support in America for beefing up security at the southern border and undertaking some targeted deportations, particularly of people who have committed violent crimes. The same poll reported that most Americans think local police should cooperate with federal immigration authorities on deportations in at least some cases. Support declines when it comes to deporting people in the country illegally who have not been convicted of a crime. Some deportations may be controversial, such as those that split families where some members are citizens and others are not, but for now the public is squarely behind these deportations.
In just five days, Tom Homan, Trump’s border czar, has accomplished more than Kackling Kamala did in four years. There have been hundreds of arrests and hundreds more detentions. Fox News reported that this included illegals from dozens of countries. Multiple media outlets have shown the visual of these people boarding C-17s in shackles to be transported to various countries. It’s true what they say: “a picture is worth a thousand words.”
Trump has suspended the entry of all undocumented migrants to the US, and border patrol agents have been instructed to turn people away without granting them asylum hearings. Heretofore, migrants were able to arrive at the US border and had the legal right to seek asylum. He also ended a major Biden-era policy that allowed up to 30,000 migrants per month from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela to fly into the US on “humanitarian” grounds.
People, both foreign and domestic, are getting the message. As these deportees return to their home country other wannabees are realizing the futility of even trying to come to the US. On Friday, Guatemala received three flights from the U.S. loaded with Guatemalan nationals who had been sent back to their home country. A spokesperson for the Guatemalan Migration Institute told NBC News that two of Friday’s flights were on military aircraft and the other was on a non-military plane. The total number of Guatemalans who arrived in Guatemala City from the three flights was about 265.
In another interesting development the city of Huntington Beach, CA, located in deep blue Orange County, passed a “non-sanctuary city resolution” that basically requires local law enforcement to cooperate with ICE and other federal agencies in the performance of their duties with respect to locating, detaining and deporting illegal aliens. I view this as a direct “shot” at Governor Newsome and CA’s sanctuary policies. Could it be the first of many? We’ll see.
According to the AP Mexico denied a U.S. military plane access to land Thursday, at least temporarily frustrating the Trump administration’s plans to deport immigrants to that country. In a press release, Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not go into detail as to why the U.S. plane was not allowed to land. However, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum’s government has said it opposes “unilateral action” by Trump to implement “restrictive immigration standards,” such as the reinstatement of the “remain in Mexico” policy.
The Administration dealt with that issue with alacrity. A White House official said in a text message that “the flights thing was an administrative issue and was quickly rectified.” Indeed, on Friday White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced, that “yesterday, Mexico accepted a record four deportation flights in one day.” President Scheinbaum added, “Mexico has a very good relationship with the United States government, and we cooperate on a wide range of issues, including migration.” She added “when it comes to repatriations, we will always welcome the arrival of Mexicans to our territory with open arms. Mexico embraces you.”
Mexico is anticipating an influx of migrants pursuant to Trump’s deportation orders and has started building giant tent shelters in nine border cities to temporarily house them. For example, according to Reuters as part of the “Mexico Embraces You” program the Mexican border city of Ciudad Juárez has commenced to construct shelters that will be able to house thousands of migrants and should be ready in a few days. The shelters will provide food, medical care and assistance in getting identification documents. Additionally, a fleet of buses will be available to help transport Mexicans back to their hometowns. Other nations, such as Guatemala are planning to launch similar efforts to absorb their returning deportees.
Another significant development was the scrapping of the CBP One smartphone app, which migrants were able to use to schedule appointments with US border patrol agents. The CBP One app was launched by the Biden administration as a way to organize and streamline the entry of migrants who are fleeing persecution. According to CBS News, some 270,000 migrants who had been hoping to utilize the app to obtain appointments have become stranded in Mexico. The American Civil Liberties Union has since filed a legal challenge against the app’s closure.
In other related news the Trump Administration removed Secret Service protection from Anthony Fauci, John Bolton and Mike Pompeo. Trump, somewhat facetiously, offered to “give them some [telephone] numbers of some very good security people” if they wanted to hire their own.
Conclusion
According to Fox News Digital illegal immigrant encounters at the southern border have dropped significantly since Trump’s inauguration compared to the end of the previous administration. It is refreshing to finally have a president who recognizes a problem and proceeds to resolve it quickly and efficiently. Illegal immigration is but one of many problems Trump has inherited, and my hope and expectation is that he will handle the others in a similarly expeditious fashion.
He’s baaaack! The country is ecstatic (most of it anyway, the wokers not so much, but who cares?). Our allies are reassured. Our enemies are wary, or perhaps, even fearful.
Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution states that “The executive Power shall be vested in the President of the United States of America,” and it provided an oath of office for the President-elect’s official swearing-in. This 35-word oath has remained unchanged for more than two centuries, in part because it so clearly and simply describes the responsibilities of the Chief Executive. It says:
“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.” (Washington added the words “so help me God,” which became a permanent part of the oath.)
There is no constitutional requirement that the oath be administered by the chief justice. It has been administered by 15 chief justices (one of whom—William Howard Taft—was also a former president), but due to various exigent circumstances also by one associate justice, four federal judges, two NYS judges and one notary public.
The word inauguration is derived from the Latin augur, which refers to the rituals of ancient Roman priests seeking to interpret if it was the will of the gods for a public official to be deemed worthy to assume office.
Trump’s inauguration took place on Monday at 12:01, yes, the oath of office commenced one minute late, but who cares. There is no requirement that the Bible or any book for that matter, be used to administer the oath, and none is mentioned in the Constitution. John Roberts, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court administered the oath of office to President Donald Trump whereupon Trump officially became the 47th president of the United States of America. Attendees included Trump’s and J. D. Vance’s families, a plethora of other prominent politicians, business leaders, entertainers and other assorted dignitaries, including former politicians Bush, Clinton and Obama and of course Biden, Harris and their spouses.
Biden and Harris, who undoubtedly loath each other, sat side-by-side and listened stone-faced as Trump ripped their failed Administration to shreds. Perhaps, his criticisms were a bit excessive, but I don’t believe he said anything that wasn’t accurate. At the conclusion of the ceremony, they faded away into history. They still have their supporters, but most Americans will breathe a sigh of relief. They depart with one of the lowest approval ratings ever. Prospectively, historians will assess their tenure, and in my view not in a positive way.
For most of us, the resurrection of America has begun. Trump characterized it as the “golden age of America.” The changes will be radical, virtually 180 degrees. For the past four years the country had lost its way. It had morphed from a 250-year democracy into a morass of wokeism, DEI, and divisiveness. The swamp was overflowing and threatening to drown us all. We were unable or unwilling even to defend our borders. The southern border was more akin to a turnstile than a real border. We were wrecking our economy by paying excessively for foreign oil and gas while ignoring a literal ocean of it under our feet. America was being perceived around the world as weak, indecisive, and fatuous. All that changed in an instant at 12:01 yesterday.
There were some unusual facets to Trump’s Inauguration Day. First of all, although Presidential inaugurations have traditionally been held outside and in public, due to the freezing weather it was held indoors. This was to protect the health of the public who wanted to see the festivities. This year’s was not the first one to be moved indoors due to the weather. For example, in 1909, Taft’s inauguration was moved to the Senate Chamber due to a blizzard, and in 1985, harsh weather forced Reagan’s second inauguration to be moved inside. These were wise decisions. History buffs will recall the tragedy that befell William Henry Harrison following his outdoor inauguration. More on that below.
Secondly, over the course of the day Trump delivered three speeches of roughly 33 minutes each, first at the inauguration, itself, then in a separate room to a group of elected officials who had been unable to gain access to the main room, and finally a third speech to a group of supporters. These were followed by a casual impromptu press conference while he was signing some 100 EOs. Unlike Biden, who basically hid from the media, he answered any and all questions. To me, this illustrated the true genius of Trump. It’s not just what he says, which is important; it’s also his style – relaxed, conversational, and transparent.
In his speeches Trump did not say much that was new. Generally, he reiterated what he has been saying for the last four years on the campaign trail, in the debate, and in press conferences. I didn’t object to the repetition. I realize it served a purpose as it was new to some people. Few people doubt that he will follow through. He has demonstrated that he says what he means and means what he says.
As promised, Trump signed a slew of EOs, including, among others:
Reversing 78 EO’s that Biden had signed.
Halt temporarily the Tik Tok ban pending negotiations.
Withdraw from the ill-advised, ill-conceived Paris climate accords.
Declare a “National emergency” at the southern border. This will facilitate the various reforms to our border policy that Trump has been advocating.
Declare a “National emergency” with respect to energy. This will enable us to resume drilling and reopen the Keystone Pipeline.
Designate drug cartels and migrant gangs as terrorist organizations.
Pardon some 1,500 persons who were convicted of crimes related to the January 6 demonstrations at the capitol.
Authorize the creation of DOGE.
Terminate the practice of men competing against women in sports. Prospectively, there will only be two genders – male and female.
Rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America, replace Mt. Denali with the original name, Mt. McKinley, and resume control of the Panama Canal.
Terminate the policy of “birthright citizenship.” The success or failure of this will ultimately be determined by SCOTUS’ interpretation of the 14th Amendment.
Some of these will be enacted immediately; others will take some time; and others will face legal challenges. However, as we have seen, Trump is persistent and persuasive.
What was my favorite part of the inauguration? EVERYTHING! I loved the pageantry. I loved the speeches. I loved it all. Mostly, I loved the fact that it took place at all. It was four years in the making and long overdue. To put it succinctly, the country could not have survived four more years of Biden/Harris.
The initial inauguration (of George Washington) in 1789 in New York City, which was the nation’s first capital, was delayed due to harsh weather, which made travel even more difficult than normally. It was supposed to take place on March 4, the day of the year on which the federal government was to begin operations that year in accordance with the Constitution. But it took until April 6 for a quorum of congressmen to make its way to NYC to even count the electors’ votes and officially declare GW the President (unanimously) and John Adams the Vice President.
Washington wasn’t even there. It took several days for the news to reach him at his home in Mount Vernon. He left for NYC immediately, but he didn’t arrive for several weeks. It was probably an arduous journey by horseback, coach and barge. Inauguration Day was April 30. All subsequent (regular) inaugurations from 1793 until 1933 were held on March 4. Martha did not even join him until later.
One issue was GW’s official title. After much debate finally, a congressional committee settled on the title we still use today: “President of the United States.”
The only ones who heard GW’s Inaugural Address were those members of Congress gathered in Federal Hall in NYC on April 30, 1789. Over the years the Inaugural process has undergone various iterations, but the First Inauguration established many traditions that continue today. For example, President Washington followed his swearing-in with an Inaugural Address, a special speech written for the occasion. In 1793 the oath of office for Washington’s second term was administered by William Cushing, an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court and the first in a long line of Supreme Court Justices to preside over Presidential Inaugurations.
Thomas Jefferson was the first to be sworn in as President in Washington, D.C., the location chosen for the permanent capital and the site of all but a handful of subsequent Inaugural ceremonies. Jefferson showed his taste for simplicity by going on foot to the Capitol for the oath-taking and returning to his boardinghouse afterwards for dinner. Imagine that!
After his second Inauguration, however, Jefferson rode on horseback from the Capitol to the President’s House (the name then used for the White House) amid music and a spontaneous gathering of mechanics from the nearby Navy Yard – a procession that has morphed the Inaugural Parade.
Jefferson’s second Inauguration also began the tradition of the Inaugural Open House, when the executive mansion was opened to all who wished to greet the President after his swearing-in. The popularity of the Open House would later cause our seventh President, Andrew Jackson, to flee through a window after a mob of well-wishers stormed the White House, ruining furniture and breaking china in their eagerness to see him.
James Madison, America’s fourth President, and his wife, Dolley, were the guests of honor at the first official Inaugural Ball, held at Long’s Hotel in Washington, D.C. His inaugural address was the first to be published in the newspapers for all to read. Martin Van Buren’s Inauguration featured two balls.
The most tragic inauguration was that of William Henry Harrison. He was inaugurated as the ninth President of the US on March 4, 1841. The day of the inauguration was overcast with a cold wind, but foolishly, Harrison eschewed an overcoat, hat, and gloves for the ceremony. Furthermore, he delivered the longest inaugural address to date, 8,445 words over nearly two hours. On March 26, Harrison developed a cold, which evolved into pneumonia. In those pre-antibiotic days pneumonia was often fatal. Harrison died on April 4. He was the first president to die in office; his 31-day tenure is the shortest of any President.
James Polk took the oath of office in 1845 while Samuel Morse, inventor of the electric telegraph, sat near him on the platform tapping out the news on his newly invented machine. In 1857 James Buchanan’s Inaugural ceremony became the first to be photographed. Citizens across the country were able to share in the festivities through pictures.
In 1865, despite growing concern about safety, Abraham Lincoln shook some 6,000 hands after his second Inauguration. President Grover Cleveland, realizing that the White House could no longer accommodate such crowds, instead held a review of the troops from a flag-draped grandstand just outside, adding another element to the Inaugural Parade.
In 1897 William McKinley became the answer to a trivia question (Who was the first president to appear in a motion picture?) Most people assume the answer to be Ronald Reagan, but it was McKinley as highlights of his inauguration were recorded by movie cameras.
In 1925 Calvin Coolidge’s oath of office was broadcast on the radio. In 1949, Harry Truman became the first President to whose swearing-in was televised. In 1997 President Bill Clinton’s second Inauguration was the first to feature an official web site and to be seen live on the Internet by people around the world.
Later Inaugurations have featured specially built pavilions for dancing, balls held at several sites throughout the capital, and even Inaugural parties in other cities. Modern Inaugural festivities reflect not only the President they honor, but also the desire to include the many Americans who want to take part in celebrating our nation’s rich history and the transfer of presidential power. Moreover, due to the wonders of modern technology millions of people are now able to view the festivities on television, streaming services or even their phones from the comfort of their own home.
Normally, the content of inaugural addresses is soon forgotten, but there are exceptions. Some examples of enduring moments include:
During the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln called on Americans to “…finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation’s wounds.”
In 1933 Franklin Roosevelt reached out to citizens discouraged by the Great Depression, saying, “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
And the one I remember, in 1961 JFK urged, “…ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.”
Conclusion
At the present time the country is more united than in several years. Trump has a strong mandate, but the people will expect him to fulfill it. History tells us that the public’s patience will wear thin. Winning the election was an important first step. Now, comes the hard part – governing. The GOP has a very slim majority in the House, and the Dems will likely not be inclined to cooperate. Trump will have only 12 or at most 18 months to demonstrate progress before the 2026 midterm elections where history tells us that the president’s Party can expect to lose Congressional seats. We have a great opportunity. Let’s hope we don’t waste it.
We Built It Blog by Larry Jacob 