History Monday #112

A new week is upon us and it’s time for another edition of #HistoryMonday. Today’s entry is dedicated to the demise of a musical fad and the fallout that ensued afterwards. I know, kind of an odd topic, but given the half-life of TikTok dances and songs, it seemed somewhat apropos.

A sign at Comiskey Park proclaiming an anti-Disco message on Disco Demolition Night

On this day in 1979, the interlude of a doubleheader between the Chicago White Sox and Detroit Tigers devolved into a riot. The break between the day and night game of the doubleheader had been organized as part of Disco Demolition Night.

Radio DJ Steve Dahl planned the event in response to having lost his job when radio station WDAI went from Rock to a Disco format 7 months prior. Dahl began harboring ill feelings towards the musical trend along with many other musical critics who disliked its reliance on synthesizers and mechanical sounds along with suspicions about the foreign influences of the music.

Dahl coordinated with Mike Veeck, promotions director for the White Sox to destroy disco records for discounted admission. Veeck’s father, Bill was known for extreme promotions from his early days as a team owner, including hiring a little person as a player who could easily draw a walk and amuse the fans at the same time. Dahl and the younger Veeck worked with local station WLUP in Chicago to promote the event that would feature a dumpster of disco records being blown up to the delight of the crowd.

The promotion hoped to draw around 20,000 fans to the nighttime game of the doubleheader and the Disco Demolition Night beforehand. Roughly, 20-30,000 more fans than expected showed up with disco records planning to destroy them. Security was unable to contain the unruly fans who began setting fires near the dumpster that Dahl had filled with ‘disco records’ and other pyrotechnics. The fans also began breaking and throwing their records while trampling all over the field. Due to the unruly fans on the field and the destruction they produced, MLB officials ruled the surface of Comiskey Park unplayable and awarded the Tigers a win by forfeit.

Of course, the popularity of disco began to wane even further after the event and many record labels repackaged anything resembling disco as dance or funk music. The popularity of the phrase ‘Disco Sucks’ also began to trend after the riot.

Both Bill and Mike Veeck would be forced out of the White Sox organization and struggled to find work in baseball for many years afterwards. Eventually, Mike Veeck would become owner of a minor league team that hosted a destruction of Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus records night in 2014. Thankfully, this promotion learned from the mistakes of 1979 and took precautions to prevent a disaster.

Fans of disco and performers of Disco also lamented that the reaction to their music was an overreaction to their music and that it was comparable to Nazi book-burnings when they wanted to remove objectionable material from their society. Historians support this reaction and note that much of the disco movement celebrated African-American rhythms and the gay scene, that white heterosexuals were over-reacting to the encroachment of new influences. Historians also note that many of the same who rejected disco would reject the Democrats in the 1980 election and vote for Ronald Reagan and Republicans down-ticket.

Disco Demolition Night and other events like it always create debate over the freedom and responsibility of free speech. Anybody can listen to whatever music they want or not, but sometimes peer pressure and mob mentality prevail, and the results can be disastrous as even the events of January 6, 2021, have shown us.

What’s your favorite Disco album?

History Monday #111

Hope you’re enjoying Memorial Day and honoring the importance of this holiday and three-day weekend. Today’s #HistoryMonday details a tragedy for many Americans but is not connected to armed forces veterans or Memorial Day.

Ruins of the Hulbert House of Johnstown, PA after the 1889 Flood

On this day in 1889, a dam of the Little Conemaugh River failed and released over 3.8 billion gallons of water upon the town of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Steady rain over the day before sustained for several hours had caused enough damage for the dam to fail.

Johnstown is a town about 60 miles from the town of Pittsburgh and many of its residents were blue-collar workers in the local steel industry. The South Fork Dam which failed was built in 1840 on the Little Conemaugh River, 14 miles upstream from Johnstown. Almost a decade before the flood, investors purchased the dam and many others that had been erected as part of a canal system in the early 19^th Century. Many of these investors were connected to the Carnegie Steel Corporation, including Carnegie’s chairman Henry Clay Frick. Hoping to develop the land, these speculative investors saw opportunity to use the dam and Lake Conemaugh for their own personal interests. Frick and others created the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club on the lake and adjusted the dam by lowering the height and removing overflow pipes.

These adjustments would cause irreparable harm for the people of Johnstown. Although the townsfolk knew their town was in a floodplain and saw deluges before, the 1889 flood was unexpected. A dam engineer attempted to warn the residents of Johnstown, but the telegraph lines were down, and local officials did not receive the warning cable and the engineer’s message on horseback reached the town too late.

Sadly, as a result of the flood 2,209 people perished. Property losses to the town are estimated at $17 million ($493,000,000 in today’s money) and destroying 1600 homes and Cambria Iron and Steel’s facilities. Bodies of victims was found as far away as Cincinnati and as late as 1911.

After the flood, local residents were angered at the efforts of the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club and attempted to sue them for damages. The club’s defense team argued that the flood was an act of God and they should not be held liable. The court would rule in favor of the defendants and the club was not made to pay damages to the plaintiffs.

Some members of the club, including Frick donated thousands of dollars to the town for aid in rebuilding the town and showing at least some sympathy for their misfortune that was likely due to the dam’s adjustments. Andrew Carnegie donated money to build a library for the town as a token of sympathy along with many of his corporate officers like Frick who were involved in the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club. Carnegie would of course continue to donate millions to charitable organizations including libraries which still bear his name.

The Red Cross that had been formed a couple of decades earlier in the U.S. Civil War became one of the first organizations on the scene at Johnstown and aided the survivors with medical care and disaster recovery. This practice continues today as the Red Cross is involved early on with disaster relief efforts due to natural disasters.

Several structures in Johnstown have been converted for use as memorials in recent years. Remnants of the Stone Bridge have been made part of the Johnstown Flood National Memorial. The Carnegie Library was converted to the Johnstown Flood Museum.

Oddly enough, floods continue around Johnstown in 1894, 1907, 1924, 1936, and 1977.  The 1936 flood resulted in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to erect large concrete river walls that would provide more protection. The 1977 flood saw even more water than was safely expected with the river walls and resulted in more property damage and loss of life, but thankfully less than the 1889 flood. City officials have erected markers in town to demonstrate the level of the crests of the 1889, 1936, and 1977 floods.

Have you ever been to Johnstown, Pennsylvania?

History Monday #110

Hope you had a good Pentecost yesterday if you’re a churchgoer. As yesterday celebrated the beginning of the Church in the first century, fittingly today’s #HistoryMonday is about the beginning of a church denomination unexpectedly.

Rev. John Wesley

On this day in 1738, Rev. John Wesley of the Church of England felt his heart “strangely warmed” while attending a group meeting on Aldersgate Street in London. This experience would lead to the start of the Methodist Church.

John Wesley had grown up as a son of a clergyman in the Church of England, Samuel Wesley. The elder Wesley encouraged his children to be an active part of the church. The younger Wesley would heed that encouragement and become a priest in the Church of England who was assigned to preach the Gospel in the United States. Unfortunately, John Wesley struggled with assurance of his Salvation which made him uncomfortable preaching concepts he did not personally believe.

Wesley found a group of Moravians who encouraged him to attend a meeting of their congregation that evening. As Wesley was reading a preface to Romans penned by Martin Luther, he realized that he could have the assurance he longed for personally.

This experience would also connect with John Wesley’s brother Charles who had a similar experience around the same time. Inspired by this renewing of their faith, the Wesley brothers used lessons from their time as founders of the Holy Club a decade earlier to grow a new movement.

As the movement grew with ministers and proclaimers of this interpretation of the Gospel, it would eventually become separate from the Church of England. Charles Wesley had hoped to remain an Anglican minister, but the novel ideas he and John preached were unwelcome with church leaders.

Methodists began as groups of class meetings or bands, which would be spread throughout various communities and the members would encourage each other through the week and promote spiritual disciplines. As there was opportunity, a circuit rider ordained by John Wesley and other bishops of the Methodist church would preach to these bands and dispense sacraments. The circuit rider’s appearance to the meetings usually happened on a monthly basis which is why many Methodist churches celebrate Communion monthly.  

Eventually the Methodist Church would become the British Methodist Church and the Methodist Episcopal Church and establish the class meetings as full-fledged congregations. The Methodist Episcopal Church would separate in the middle of the 19^th Century over the issue of slavery and join together again in the 1930’s. This Church would also unite with the Evangelical United Brethren in 1968 and become the United Methodist Church (UMC). The American Methodist churches have also produced the Wesleyan Church and the Nazarene Church over issues of polity and doctrine as well as the Salvation Army. Currently, the UMC is considering a split over issues with human sexuality and obedience to church law. It is expected that a new denomination known as the Global Methodist Church will reduce the influence of Bishops and more strictly enforce the current language of the UMC regarding LGBT+ issues. The UMC is expected to permit more freedom to its ministers and churches with how they interpret their response to LGBT+ people.

Regardless of which Methodist expression or denomination, most churches in the Methodist system celebrate May 24 or the nearest Sunday as Aldersgate Day to remember it as the day when John Wesley found himself renewed in the faith.

Have you celebrated Aldersgate Day?

History Monday #109

It’s been a whirlwind of a year already, and for sure the same can be said for 2020. So, in that spirit let’s talk about a day in history connected to a whirlwind and the effect on media. Today’s #HistoryMonday looks at a classic work of literature published on this day.

The first edition of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

On this day in 1900, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is published by the George M. Hill Company. The book was written by L. Frank Baum who had some modest success in the Dakota Territory writing for a local newspaper. Prior to his time as a newspaperman, Baum performed and worked for a handful of theater companies. Baum also worked as a storekeeper in the Dakota Territory before working at the newspaper.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz tells the story of Dorothy Gale, a young farm girl from Kansas. One day, she and Toto are spirited away in the farmhouse by a tornado to Munchkin Country in the magical Land of Oz. The falling house kills the Wicked Witch of the East, the evil ruler of the Munchkins. The Good Witch of the North arrives with grateful Munchkins and gives Dorothy magical silver shoes that belonged to the Wicked Witch. The Good Witch tells Dorothy that the only way she can return home is to follow the yellow brick road to the Emerald City and ask the great and powerful Wizard of Oz to help her

On her way down the yellow brick road, Dorothy encounters a Scarecrow in need of a brain, a Tin Woodman looking for a heart, and a Cowardly Lion. The travelers arrive at the Emerald City and are required to wear green tinted glasses to safely view the city. The Wizard agrees to help the travelers if they kill the Wicked Witch of the West, who rules over Winkie Country.

The Wicked Witch of the West sends three rounds of creatures to attack the travelers and prevent her demise. Each round of creatures is defeated by one of Dorothy’s companions.  Finally, the Witch sends Winged Monkeys who capture Dorothy, Toto, and the Lion, unstuff the Scarecrow, and dent the Tin Woodman. The Wicked Witch enslaves Dorothy, and devises schemes to retrieve the silver shoes.

Dorothy eventually reacts to the witch’s schemes to recover the shoes and throws a bucket of water at the witch resulting in the witch melting. Dorothy frees the monkeys and returns to the Emerald City where Toto reveals the Wizard is an ordinary old man. Originally from Omaha, the Wizard arrived in the city by way of a hot air balloon. For defeating the Wicked Witch, he provides the Scarecrow with brain materials, the Tin Woodman with a silk heart stuffed with sawdust, and the Lion a potion of “courage”. He also agrees to take Dorothy and Toto home and then go back to Omaha in his balloon. At the send-off, the wizard appoints the Scarecrow as ruler of the Emerald City after his departure. Unfortunately for Dorothy, she exits the balloon to retrieve Toto who has escaped to chase a cat. Before Dorothy and Toto can return to the balloon, the Wizard has already take-off, leaving Dorothy and Toto behind. Worried, Dorothy summons the Winged Monkeys and asks them to carry her and Toto home, but they are unable to cross the desert that surrounds Oz. An Emerald City soldier tells Dorothy that Glinda, the Good Witch of the South might be able to help her return home. Dorothy asks the Winged Monkeys to bring them to Glinda’s castle. Glinda tells Dorothy the silver shoes can take her anywhere she wishes to go. Dorothy then clicks her heels together three times and wishes to return home. Instantly, she begins whirling through the air and returns to her Kansas prairie farmhouse.

The book was mass-published just a few months later in 1900 and found success and began to be republished several times over in just a few short years. Much of the successful publishing of the book was due to the novel being adapted into a musical play The Wizard of Oz in 1902. Around this same time, the original publisher went bankrupt, and Baum agreed to have the Bobbs-Merrill Company continue the printing of the book.

The book reached a million sales around 1938 and was shortly after adapted into the live-action film which most of us are familiar. The film adaptation included some of the usual edits for time and brevity, but also drastically changed the shoes from the novel so that they would be displayed more easily on film, resulting in the ruby slippers most people associate with the story.

Baum’s success with the novel which eventually was shortened to The Wizard of Oz produced sequels that detailed further adventures of Dorothy and the many characters of Oz as well as introducing new characters and lands that surround the mythical area.

Wicked, the Broadway Musical written as a prequel to the Wizard of Oz

Other film adaptations and homages to the novel have been produced including the hit Broadway musical Wicked, which explains the witches of Oz are inaccurately portrayed in the Wizard of Oz. Additional works include Oz the Great and Powerful, The Wiz, and Return to Oz, among others.

Strangely, the novel has spawned at least two alternative connections to culture beginning in the 1960’s. In 1964, an American history teacher suggested that Baum wrote the novel as an allegory of turn of the century politics, particularly the Populist party faithful. The other cultural reference that may be unintended is the film’s connection to Pink Floyd’s album Dark Side of the Moon which supposedly syncs up with the film as you listen to it. These alternative theories still persist but have never been able to be confirmed with any certainty but are nonetheless interesting conversations at dinner parties.

Have you read the book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz?

History Monday #108

Hope you had a great Mother’s Day yesterday, today’s #HistoryMonday looks at the history of the day which is connected to this date in history. So, by providence today’s entry works out conveniently with the most recent holiday.

Anna Jarvis, the founder of Mother’s Day

On this date in 1908, the first official celebration of Mother’s Day was celebrated at Andrew’s Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton, West Virginia. Organized by Anna Jarvis, the day was meant to honor mothers and families torn apart by the Civil War.

Jarvis and other peace activists had worked for decades prior to promote peace and reconciliation after the war and felt celebrating mothers would help. Anna Jarvis borrowed from the work her mother Ann Jarvis had began just after the war and preached a sermon on motherhood at Andrew’s Methodist Episcopal Church in 1907 which would lead to the Mother’s Day celebration a year later.

In 1914 On May 8, after six years of promoting the day to U.S. government leaders, Congress passed a resolution establishing the Second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day. The next day, Pres. Wilson issued a proclamation declaring the day as Mother’s Day.

Eventually, Andrew’s Methodist Church would be renamed as the International Mother’s Day Shrine on May 15, 1962, as a shrine to all mothers. The “mother church” of Mother’s Day offers annual ceremonies commemorating the day and offers tours by appointment.

Mother’s Day has of course become one of the more popularized Western holidays, with other countries besides the United States celebrating similar holidays throughout the year to honor mothers and motherhood. In America, churches will recognize the day with appropriate ceremonies and recognition and often adult children will attend church with their mothers who may not attend regularly. Restaurants often feature Mother’s Day brunches and meals for children to treat their mothers as day off from cooking. Additionally, children will give their mothers gifts, cards, and phone calls in honor of their mothers. In the age of social media, posts that include pictures of mothers and their children are featured prominently on the day as well.

How did you celebrate Mother’s Day?

History Monday #107

A new week is upon us along with a new year, that means it’s time for another installment of #HistoryMonday. Today’s entry is a controversial decision for sports fans, and baseball fans in particular. So, let’s get into it and try to hope it doesn’t stir up too much controversy.

Bowie Kuhn, MLB Commissioner from 1969-1984

On this day in 1973, the American League (AL) owners of MLB voted to allow their teams to use a “designated pinch-hitter” that could bat for the pitcher, while still allowing the pitcher to stay in the game.

The idea of a 10th man to the baseball lineup to bat for the pitcher was not that recent, having been proposed in 1906 by Athletics’ manager Connie Mack. Charlie Finley, the colorful owner of the Oakland A’s suggested in the 1970’s that a Designated Hitter (DH) that played the game while the pitcher continued in the game could be a help in drawing fans and increasing revenue. Finley also pointed out that apart from pitchers like Bob Gibson & Babe Ruth, the player was not known for providing needed offense, and that the DH could contribute more to the team’s offensive output.

At a joint meeting of the two leagues in Chicago on January 11, 1973, the owners voted to allow the AL to test the DH rule. Given that the AL struggled in attendance and revenue, they were suggested to try the new rule. Now with two different styles of play, the two leagues would have to make adjustments during interleague play and offer options for minor and amateur leagues whether they wanted to use the DH.

On April 6, 1973 Ron Blomberg of the New York Yankees became the league’s first ever Designated Hitter. In his first plate appearance, he was walked on a full count by the Boston Red Sox pitcher Luis Tiant.

Ron Bloomberg, the first player to play as DH after its approval

Since the implementation of the DH, baseball purists have engaged in arguments with younger fans who appreciate the advantages of the DH. As the DH has become more implemented, it has allowed players who are suspect on defense but excel in offense to contribute to their team. Other players who are aging out of being productive defensively can extend their careers as DH’s. Additionally, AL Pitchers have been able to get more rest by not having to hit and extend their innings pitched and outs recorded while the offense has almost counter-intuitively risen by adding an extra hitter.

David Ortiz, Designated Hitter for the Boston Red Sox

The DH has produced many favorite players who have played most of their career as a DH, including Edgar Martinez and David ‘Big Papi’ Ortiz just to name a few of the more well-known DH’s.

Challenges during interleague and the World Series highlight the differences between the leagues and some executives have argued that these obvious differences are not a strength but rather a weakness. Most recently, as Chien-Ming Wang of the Yankees was injured running the bases during an interleague game with the Astros, the Yankee’s owner Hank Steinbrenner slammed the ridiculousness of pitchers hitting and running.

During last year’s shortened MLB season, the league adopted a universal DH in both leagues, which many expected to be the end of AL-only DH play, but MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred confirmed that the universal DH was only in effect for the 2020 season and that the DH will continue to be only in the AL. The NL nearly adopted the DH in 1980, but failed with five opposed, four in favor, and three abstentions. Those in favor could have been more, but the Phillies GM was unable to contact his boss who was on a fishing trip and unable to answer his phone. With no clear indication of how to vote, the Phillies abstained which triggered their in-state rivals the Pirates to abstain as well. So, if you want to know why the NL does not have the DH, it’s because of fishing.

Should the NL adopt the DH and make the leagues equal?

History Monday #106

A new week is upon us and it’s a holiday week to boot. That means it’s time for #HistoryMonday, and today’s event is one in television history. If you guessed that the event is the first televised broadcast of Macy’s Thanksgiving parade you’d be wrong. Today television history is made across the pond as it were.

William Hartnell as the First Doctor and Susan Foreman played by Carole Ann Ford

On this day in 1963, the BBC aired the pilot episode of a new science-fiction television show. The episode named The Unearthly Child served as the first episode in the now prolific Dr. Who canon. BBC producers hoped to air the show as a bridge between their children’s programming and adult primetime programming. Due to the JFK assassination a day before, the program began almost a minute and a half late.

The episode introduced the character of The Doctor and Susan Foreman, his granddaughter in the show. Susan struggles to fit in at school, and her teachers begin to investigate when they discover the Doctor, who is played by William Hartnell. Upon arriving the teachers find a police box that the Doctor and Susan use to travel through time. The police box is no ordinary police box but is in fact a Time and Relative Dimension in Space (TARDIS).

Dr. Who would become the longest running sci-fi drama airing for 26 seasons until 1989, and then being revived in 2005 and is in its 12^th season in this iteration. Famous in the United Kingdom as well as worldwide, the show is now part of pop culture and elicits fandom on the level of other Sci-Fi enterprises like Star Trek & Star Wars. Fans of the show often will decorate their homes and offices with TARDIS replicas, mostly in miniature.

As a long-lasting franchise, the show has had 13 different actors portray the titular character. Each of these Doctors have their own quirks that are part of the unique quality of the character designed to travel through time.

Mr. Peabody and his boy Sherman

Time travel is not a new trope with science fiction, even as H.G. Wells penned The Time Machine in 1895, inspired by the science-fiction literature of Jules Verne. My generation and Gen X treasure the Back to the Future trilogy which celebrates the adventures of Doctor Emmet Brown and Marty McFly. Boomers enjoyed the cartoon adventures of Mr. Peabody and Sherman during The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends show. Borrowing from Dr. Who and the aforementioned American time travel shows, Dan Harmon created Rick & Morty in 2013 and has found success with millennials.

Who is your favorite Doctor?

History Monday #105

A new week begins, and that means it’s time for history class. Today’s #HistoryMonday is local for me but is connected to national interests of the Antebellum era in the United States. While it may be more of a niche event, I like looking at those since we can forget about those events given the more popular events.

Rev. Calvin Fairbank

In 1851, Rev. Calvin Fairbank, a Methodist minister was arrested and kidnapped by Kentucky marshals. Fairbanks capture was facilitated by the Indiana Governor Joseph A. Wright and the Clark County, Indiana sheriff in Jeffersonville, Indiana. The marshals carried Fairbank to Louisville for holding until able to convene a trial. Fairbank was arrested and held for violating the Fugitive Slave Law enacted just a year prior.

Fairbank began his career as a minister during the Second Great Awakening, while attending a Methodist church meeting in New York. During the meeting, Fairbank heard the plight of escaped slaves, and was convinced he could and should help to free slaves and promote abolition efforts. In 1837, Fairbank led a lumber raft down the Ohio River aiding a slave to cross the river into free territory. Thanks to these efforts, Fairbank began transporting several slaves through the Underground Railroad with Levi Coffin who would then aid the slaves’ transport to Canada and Freedom.

In 1851, Fairbank helped a slave named Tamar escape from Kentucky to Indiana. This escape was responsible for his abduction and arrest on this day and would lead to his trial in 1852 in Kentucky. Fairbank had already faced trial and was convicted of aiding fugitive slaves in 1849 but was pardoned and released although he had suffered a great degree of corporal punishment while being imprisoned.

Fairbank was eventually convicted of violating the Fugitive Slave Law in 1852 and was sentenced to 15 years in the Kentucky State Penitentiary. During this sentence, Fairbank was again mistreated, including being whipped as part of the imprisonment. Richard Jacob, acting governor of Kentucky pardoned Fairbank in 1864, but the pardon was overturned by Governor Thomas Bramlette, who reinstated the conviction and expelled Jacob for his efforts.

Fairbank released a memoir in 1890, detailing his life and in particular his arrests and imprisonments related to abolition and aiding in slave escapes. Unfortunately, the memoir was not particularly popular, and Fairbank earned little money after its release. Eight years later at the age of 81, Fairbank died and was buried in his home state of New York.

Kentucky Historians of the Antebellum and Civil War era have recently pushed for Fairbank and other abolitionists to have their convictions overturned and receive posthumous pardons in the state, but many of these requests have gone unanswered. Fairbank is credited with helping nearly 50 slaves escape slavery during his time. While this number pales in comparison to others like Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, and Levi Coffin; the slaves Fairbank assisted were grateful that he had helped them.

Have you ever heard of Rev. Calvin Fairbank?

History Monday #104

Everybody has been talking about the Supreme Court all this weekend, and fittingly today’s #HistoryMonday looks at history made with the Supreme Court on this day. It’s interesting how the subject of today’s post lines up with current events by chance and not wholly by design.

Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman appointed to the Supreme Court

On this day in 1981, Pres. Reagan’s Supreme Court nominee was confirmed, and the first woman was appointed to serve in the Judicial Branch. Sandra Day O’Connor was officially named as a nominee for the position August 19. She began her confirmation hearing on September 9, and just days later was approved by the Senate for the position.

Pres. Reagan had promised in his 1980 Presidential campaign to appoint the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court and according to his diary dated in June of 1981 that he had decided O’Connor would make a worthy nominee. Some of the evangelicals and members of the Religious Right that had helped elect Reagan were uneasy about O’Connor because of her views on women’s issues, particularly abortion.

Three Senate Republicans were reluctant about confirming O’Connor as a Supreme Court Justice but eventually approved her nomination. The approval of O’Connor was nearly unanimous with 99 yea votes, 0 nay votes, and one absence. O’ Connor sought through her tenure to inspire women to serve as judges and through her efforts she received more mail than any justice given the significance as the first women appointed to the Supreme Court.

Sandra Day O’Connor’s tenure as the only woman on the Supreme Court lasted until 1993, when the now late Ruth Bader Ginsburg was appointed by Pres. Clinton. Pres. Obama would appoint Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor to serve on the Supreme Court. Pres. Trump announced this weekend that Justice Ginsburg’s replacement will be a woman as well making possibly the fifth woman to serve on the court.

O’Connor would serve until 2005 when she retired to care for her husband and was originally to be replaced by John Roberts, but was replaced instead by Samuel Alito when Roberts was named to replace Chief Justice William Rehnquist upon the death of the Chief Justice.

After retirement, O’Connor served as an occasional substitute judge for federal appellate courts and contributed commentary for legal scholars and interested parties. Besides these continued professional efforts, O’Connor helped with fundraising for Alzheimer’s organizations because of her husband’s struggles with the disease until his death in 2009. O’Connor would eventually retire from the public eye in 2017 and disclosed her own diagnosis of an early Alzheimer’s-like style of dementia.

What major case do you associate with Sandra Day O’Connor?     

History Monday #103

Another week begins, and for my mother and brother they’ll celebrate two important days in history as they turn another year older. Today’s #HistoryMonday is about a broader historical event that would shape U.S. policy in Vietnam.

Ngo Dinh Diem, President of South Vietnam 1960-1963

On this day in 1963, U.S Officials with the Department of Defense and the State Department send a telegram known as DEPTEL 243 to the U.S. Ambassador to South Vietnam, Henry Cabot Lodge. The telegram’s content advised Lodge that the Kennedy administration was growing fed up with Pres. Ngo Dinh Diem.

Pres. Diem had drawn considerable negative press both in Viet Nam and its ally, the United States for his brutal treatment of Buddhists in his country. Three days earlier, Diem had ordered raids of Buddhist pagodas. Along with Diem, his brother Ngo Dinh Nhu had persecuted the Buddhists. The Ngo family were longtime Catholics and showed no mercy to the Buddhists who comprised 70% of the population. As Diem arrested and, in some cases, killed Buddhists, Americans were worried that he was abusing his power.

The telegram also known as Cable 243 suggested to Henry Cabot Lodge and his staff at the United States Embassy, Saigon that Diem should encourage Nhu to resign his position in the administration or the United States would encourage the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) to launch a coup against Diem.

Just a month later, ARVN officers along with CIA officials to organize the coup d’état. The ARVN began launching the coup attack in November and were able to chase Diem and Nhu to the presidential palace and offered exile to Diem if he surrendered peacefully. Diem and Nhu escaped by means of secret tunnels and were captured in a Catholic church where they were hiding out after escaping the palace. Rather than serving justice through due process, the soldiers instead shot both brothers at close range. Nhu’s wife and the First Lady Trần Lệ Xuân escaped to France where she lived in exile until her death.

Upon Diem’s death, Dương Văn Minh became the President and served in that capacity for only three months before being ousted in a coup himself. Instability plagued the presidency in South Vietnam for years, before Nguyễn Văn Thiệu would consolidate power.

Nguyễn Văn Thiệu, President of the Republic of Vietnam 1967–1975)

Thiệu also followed the same problems of persecution and corruption until the fall of South Vietnam in 1975. Much of the peace talks with North Vietnam and U.S. officials insisted that Thiệu must be removed before they could agree to the other terms of surrender. U.S. Officials were hesitant to agree on this demand after the coup and the assassinations of Diem and Nhu. As South Vietnam fell, Thiệu resigned and lived his life in exile.

Should the U.S. have sent Cable 243?