Associated Press reporter Beth J. Harpaz was right when she recently wrote, “Good luck finding someone who can explain in 10 words or less what the War of 1812 was all about.” Some historians will say it was over “Impressment,” namely, that the U.S. declared war against England because the British were wrongfully seizing their [...]
Where in our Constitution does it state that the Supreme Court has the power to over-rule and declare as unconstitutional acts by our President and Legislature? Nowhere! This was precisely a key issue facing our Founding Fathers in their trying to creating a nation based upon individual rights that never previously existed. With little historical [...]
The most unforgettable person I ever met was Arthur I. Snyder. I first met him some twenty years ago when we were part of a tennis group at Turnberry. With Aventura’s creation in 1996, Arthur ran for Mayor, asking me to be his campaign manager. A former judge, Arthur had previously served as a three-time [...]
While completing her doctorate degree in 1932 in Cologne, Germany, Gruber heard Adolph Hitler’s vicious anti-Semitism. She returned to America, became a journalist and wrote about Hitler’s threats against the Jews. In 1944, Harold Ickes, FDR’s Secretary of the Interior, asked Gruber to “take on a secret mission, escorting a group of 1,000 Jewish refugees [...]
The Village of Pinecrest became one of the incorporated cities in Miami-Dade County on March 12, 1996. Immediately thereafter, an election was scheduled and more than 25 people ran for the new council positions and Mayor’s office. One of the key issues at that time was the future of the Parrot Jungle property, which had [...]
New Rochelle N.Y. has offered a reward for the remains of Thomas Paine for re-burial. A corset-maker by trade in England, Paine immigrated to the American colonies in 1774 in time to play a major role in the American Revolution. With little journalistic experience, Paine wrote a powerful, widely read pamphlet “Common Sense,” which advocated [...]
The Memoirs by Harry S. Truman (Years of Trial and Hope) are revealing as to the future State of Israel. According to Truman, his first official contact with the issue of Palestine (Israel) took place shortly after he became President on the death of FDR, by Secretary of State Stettinius who “briefed” him. Truman was [...]
The Memoirs by Harry S. Truman (Years of Trial and Hope) are revealing as to the future State of Israel. According to Truman, his first official contact with the issue of Palestine (Israel) took place shortly after he became President on the death of FDR, by Secretary of State Stettinius who “briefed” him. Truman was [...]
Although I was only age seven, I remember vividly what happened on Sunday evening October 30, 1938. Our family was glued to our favorite media – the radio (before television). My father’s favorite dramatist was Orson Wells. With his program “Mercury Theatre on the Air,” Wells decided to adapt and update H.G. Wells’ well known [...]
On occasion, you have made positive reference to words from Progressive Republican President Teddy Roosevelt. Kindly consider posthumously correcting Teddy’s biggest blunder in his otherwise outstanding presidential career, by your revoking his order concerning the 25th Infantry and granting an honorable discharge, with survivorship benefits, to the 160 Negro soldiers. On August 16, 1906 Teddy [...]
Patrick Henry uttered his immortal words on March 23, 1775 to encourage the American Colonies to mobilize against the encroaching British military force: “Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but [...]
Several media pundits continually raise the possibility that a current Republican presidential candidate may eventually run for president as an independent. A fascinating question? Has any such independent candidate ever defeated the successfully nominated Republican Party candidate? Yes, exactly one century ago and his campaign platform was remarkably similar to today’s issues. Although Republican incumbent [...]
Few people realize that John Wilkes Booth’s conspiracy to assassinate Lincoln also included the killing of Vice President Andrew Johnson and Secretary of State William Seward. The time of the three assassinations was to be ten-fifteen on April 14, 1865. Atzerodt, a twenty-nine year old co-conspirator, was instructed by Booth to kill Johnson, who was [...]
Mary Surratt’s life should have been spared. Mary, together with Lewis Powell, George Atzerodt and David Herold, were found guilty before a Military Tribunal of conspiracy with John Wilkes Booth to kill Lincoln and, in a rush to justice, all four were hanged on July 7, 1865 – less than three months after Lincoln’s death [...]
