The history of radio and the presidency seems to center entirely on Franklin Roosevelt’s famous “fireside chats” beginning in 1933 in the depths of the Depression. But the first president to address the nation from the White House over the […]
Sunday, February 25th. Paper money has circulated in North America since 1690, when the Massachusetts Bay Colony issued some to paper over — so to speak — the shortage of coins. But these were just promissory notes from governing bodies. […]
“Only Nixon could go to China” is a metaphor for a person of an established reputation to defy all expectations by acting in a contrary fashion. That phrase was conceived this week in 1972. President Richard Nixon, an established cold […]
Wednesday, February 21st. In the early days of the telephone, knowing who had one and what the number was quickly became a problem. The first telephone directory in America was published on this date in 1878 in New Haven, Connecticut. […]
Tuesday, February 20th. We live in an age concerned about security. Many homes display signs warning that they are protected by a certain brand of security system, and television ads extol the benefits of competing brands. The first burglar alarm […]
Wednesday, February 14th. While today may not be an official holiday, Valentine’s Day is one of the most popular in the year’s calendar. Its origins are a mix of legends involving two Christian martyrs, a Roman fertility rite, and the […]
Tuesday, February 13. This date marks the anniversary in 1635 of the organizing of America’s first public school — the Boston Latin School — long before there was a United States. Established in April that year, among its later students […]
Monday, February 12. One of the nation’s earliest civil rights organizations is 109 years old today — the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Founded to combat lynching and segregation, the NAACP continues to work toward greater opportunities […]
Sunday, February 11th. Among his very many achievements, Benjamin Franklin played a leading role in the founding of America’s first hospital, decades before the Declaration of Independence. Together with Dr. Thomas Bond, he obtained a charter for a hospital to […]
Friday, February 9th. On this date in 1825, our most unusual presidential election was held; with the winner receiving just 13 votes to the runner-up’s seven, and four to the third-place finisher. The election held in November 1824 saw only […]
Thursday, February 8th. Tomorrow marks the date in 1961 when newly inaugurated President John Kennedy asked Congress to approve a health insurance program for 14.2 million Americans age 65 or older, financed by an increase in Social Security taxes. The […]
Wednesday, February 7th. It’s better to light a candle than to curse the darkness. Two-hundred and two years ago, it was even better to light a gas lamp. On this date in 1816, America’s first gas streetlamp glowed in Baltimore, […]
Tuesday, February 6th. Los Angeles was the first municipality to establish a publicly owned veterinary hospital. The spay and neuter center opened this month in 1971. Veterinary medicine goes far beyond reproduction control, of course. Veterinary organizations have established February […]
February is American Heart Month, dedicated to the serious matter of monitoring and taking care of our beating hearts. This is important because while heart disease has claimed fewer lives in recent years, it is still the nation’s number one […]
Sunday, February 4th. Adding poignancy to Black History Month, today marks the birthday in 1913 of Rosa Parks, a community activist who became a symbol of the fight for civil equality. Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her […]
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