I went to Memphis yesterday and I actually got to walk across a bridge over the Mississippi River. Frankly it was so frightening that I turned around and came back since the bridge was shaking so much.
George Washington wore a lot of hats: JUDGE; MEMBER OF THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS; COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE CONTINENTAL ARMY; PRESIDENT OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION; FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES; “FATHER OF HIS COUNTRY”
You do well to wish to learn our arts and ways of life, and above all, the religion of Jesus Christ. These will make you a greater and happier people than you are.122
While we are zealously performing the duties of good citizens and soldiers, we certainly ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties of religion. To the distinguished character of Patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished character of Christian.123
The blessing and protection of Heaven are at all times necessary but especially so in times of public distress and danger. The General hopes and trusts that every officer and man will endeavor to live and act as becomes a Christian soldier, defending the dearest rights and liberties of his country.124
I now make it my earnest prayer that God would… most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of the mind which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion.125
President Reagan and Bob Hope performing at the Bob Hope Salute to the United Sates Air Force 40th Anniversary Celebration at the Pope Air Force Base in Fayetteville, North Carolina. 5/10/87.
The full “Doctor, Doctor” scene including classic cameo by Bob Hope at the end!
I love Bob Hope movies. Hope came to play golf at the Pro-Am at the Danny Thomas Memphis Classic several times at Colonial Country Club. I grew up going to that tournament from 1975 to 1982 I went every year.
Former President George W. Bush delivers a eulogy for Ronald Reagan
Size of this preview: 800 × 536 pixels
(I got to visit the Parliament in August of 1979 and I was amazed at all the great history.)
Funny SNL skit about the Queen.
My son Wilson loves this short from SNL about British movies
England is our best friend now This is an excerpt from the great address Ronald W. Reagan gave to Members of the British ParliamentJune 8, 1982My Lord Chancellor, Mr. Speaker:The journey of which this visit forms a part is a long one. Already it has taken me to two great cities of the West, Rome and Paris, and to the economic summit at Versailles. And there, once again, our sister democracies have proved that even in a time of severe economic strain, free peoples can work together freely and voluntarily to address problems as serious as inflation, unemployment, trade, and economic development in a spirit of cooperation and solidarity.Other milestones lie ahead. Later this week, in Germany, we and our NATO allies will discuss measures for our joint defense and America’s latest initiatives for a more peaceful, secure world through arms reductions.Each stop of this trip is important, but among them all, this moment occupies a special place in my heart and in the hearts of my countrymen — a moment of kinship and homecoming in these hallowed halls.Speaking for all Americans, I want to say how very much at home we feel in your house. Every American would, because this is, as we have been so eloquently told, one of democracy’s shrines. Here the rights of free people and the processes of representation have been debated and refined.It has been said that an institution is the lengthening shadow of a man. This institution is the lengthening shadow of all the men and women who have sat here and all those who have voted to send representatives here. This is my second visit to Great Britain as President of the United States. My first opportunity to stand on British soil occurred almost a year and a half ago when your Prime Minister graciously hosted a diplomatic dinner at the British Embassy in Washington. Mrs. Thatcher said then that she hoped I was not distressed to find staring down at me from the grand staircase a portrait of His Royal Majesty King George III. She suggested it was best to let bygones be bygones, and in view of our two countries’ remarkable friendship in succeeding years, she added that most Englishmen today would agree with Thomas Jefferson that “a little rebellion now and then is a very good thing.”
Little known presidential facts:
The only president to be unanimously elected was George Washington (1732-1799). He also refused to accept his presidential salary, which was $25,000 a year.b
Grover Cleveland was the only president in history to hold the job of a hangman. He was once the sheriff of Erie County, New York, and twice had to spring the trap at a hanging.k
3 Of 3 / Faith Of The Founding Fathers / American Heritage Series / David Barton
Last night at 10:45 after a visit to Walmart, I noticed 5 Bryant Policemen running across Reynolds Road and Murphey and I pulled in a parking lot to see all the action. Evidently someone tried to rob the McDonalds and then he ran across the street to the Taco Bell parking lot where he was handcuffed and surrounded by these 5 policemen.
Later firetrucks and an ambulance showed up with several police cars. That is the first excitement we have had in Bryant since seeing a drunk getting stuffed into a car by 3 policeman who had to kick the back of his legs in as he resisted getting into the car. My kids eyes were as big saucers that day, but I wanted them to see the end results of drinking and driving.
I found this on David Barton’s website. This is the text of George Washington’s October 3, 1789 national Thanksgiving Proclamation; as printed in The Providence Gazette and Country Journal, on October 17, 1789.
By the President of the United States of America.
A Proclamation.
Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me “to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.”
Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted; for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.
And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations, and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally, to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.
Given under my hand, at the city of New York, the third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine.
Former President George H. W. Bush delivers a eulogy for Ronald Reagan
Well my high school basketball teams that I was following both lost yesterday. Valley Springs Boys beat my Arkansas Baptist Eagles and Rogers beat my Bryant Lady Hornets. I traveled to Searcy to watch the Eagles play a 8:30pm game (which started 45 minutes late) with my grandson Luke. We got home at 12:15 am and Luke was still wide awake!!!
In the video clip above you will see George H. W. Bush speaking. I got to meet him in 1980 when a student at Memphis State. I also got to meet Lamar Alexander who the governor of Tennessee and now is the U.S. Senator from Tennessee.
By Stewart D. McLaurin, Executive Director, The Ronald Reagan Centennial Celebration
Planning a Centennial such as this takes on the form, feel, and intensity of a national political campaign, with millions of dollars to be raised, scores of events to be organized, deadlines to be met, and strong, widespread interest for participation. Leadership to plan and execute this year of events is a privilege as we honor a man whose life and legacy stands on its own and whose lasting lessons of leadership can still provide a road map for the next generation. It is a purposeful tribute to a man who began with humble Midwestern roots, began his career in sports broadcasting, found success in the entertainment industry, became the national spokesperson for GE Theater, ran for Governor of California and served two successful terms, then became President of the United States – and one of the greatest Americans in history.
This issue of CSQ Magazine contains perspectives of just a few of the Reagan Centennial partners. Many more than those reflected on these pages have made this celebration possible. The Centennial Web site (www.reagancentennial.com) gives in-depth information on the Centennial, all of our partners, and the events and initiatives that will take place around the globe over the
coming months.
The Reagan Library and Museum is the most visited of the 12 presidential libraries in the United States. The National Archives maintains and curates the archival elements of the Museum through extraordinary exhibits. And the Reagan Foundation hosts programs year-round to educate young and old about American government, the Presidency, and President Reagan.
As America honors our 40th President of the United States
on the Centennial of his birth and throughout 2011, we invite everyone to visit the Reagan Library and enjoy this incredible museum experience.
____________________________________
Little known presidential facts:
The “S” in Harry S Truman doesn’t stand for anything; therefore, there is no period after his middle initial.j
Lincoln Logs are named after Abraham Lincoln and the log cabin where he was born. John Lloyd Wright, son of famous architect Francis Lloyd Wright, invented them.k
2 Of 3 / Faith Of The Founding Fathers / American Heritage Series / David Barton
I really enjoy the basketball tournaments every year this time of the season when the highschool state playoffs are being played. My Bryant Lady Hornets take on Rogers in Rogers today and last night my Arkansas Baptist Eagles beat Charleston (Dale Bumpers’ old stomping ground) 62 to 43. The state finals will be in Hot Springs next weekend.
While just government protects all in their religious rights, true religion affords to government its surest support.
(Source: George Washington, The Writings of George Washington, John C. Fitzpatrick, editor (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1932), Vol. XXX, p. 432 n., from his address to the Synod of the Dutch Reformed Church in North America, October 9, 1789.)
Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of man and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connexions with private and public felicity. Let it simply be asked, Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths, which are the instruments of investigation in Courts of Justice?
And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle. It is substantially true, that virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government. The rule, indeed, extends with more or less force to every species of free government. Who, that is a sincere friend to it, can look with indifference upon attempts to shake the foundation of the fabric?
(Source: George Washington, Address of George Washington, President of the United States . . . Preparatory to His Declination (Baltimore: George and Henry S. Keatinge), pp. 22-23. In his Farewell Address to the United States in 1796.)
[T]he [federal] government . . . can never be in danger of degenerating into a monarchy, and oligarchy, an aristocracy, or any other despotic or oppressive form so long as there shall remain any virtue in the body of the people.
(Source: George Washington, The Writings of George Washington, John C. Fitzpatrick, editor (Washington: U. S. Government Printing Office, 1939), Vol. XXIX, p. 410. In a letter to Marquis De Lafayette, February 7, 1788.)
* For the full text of Geo. Washington’s Farewell Address, click here.
Trivia about Washington: He did not attend college, the only American President not to do so. His birthday is celebrated on February 22, though he was born on February 11. His inaugural speech is the shortest in American History. It was only133 words long.
Yesterday Jane Russell passed away. She was in two of my favorite movies {Paleface (1948) with Bob Hope and Son of Paleface (1952)}. I did not know this until last Sunday, but Bob Hope was the Oscar Host the first 18 years the show was on TV (1951-1968). I saw Bob Hope perform in 1982 in Memphis with my grandfather. It was a great show. Below is a great clip from the movie Son of Paleface with Hope, Russell and Roy Rogers.
Former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney delivers a Eulogy for Ronald Reagan.
By Stewart D. McLaurin, Executive Director, The Ronald Reagan Centennial Celebration
February 5 and 6 was quite a birthday party weekend at the Reagan Library, with a “Concert for America” featuring several musical acts and poignant tributes, and a military ceremony culminated by a fly-over of F-18s off the deck of the USS Ronald Reagan, and the presentation of a 6’ x 4’ x 6’ birthday cake, created by the pastry chef of the Four Seasons Hotel in Westlake Village and a culinary specialist, a sailor from the USS Ronald Reagan. Following the birthday weekend of February 5 and 6, the public was invited for the unveiling of an extraordinary renovation to the Library and Museum in Simi Valley. Made possible through the generosity of the Reynolds Foundation, the 20-year-old museum has been completely refurbished, with exhibits that are interactive, engaging, and informative, thanks to 20 years of post-presidency perspective on the achievements of President Reagan and their subsequent impact domestically and internationally.
James Madison and Thomas Jefferson were once arrested together for taking a carriage ride in the countryside of Vermont on a Sunday, which violated the laws of that state.i
Thomas Jefferson and John Adams once traveled to Stratford-upon-Avon to visit Shakespeare’s birthplace. While there, they took a knife to one of Shakespeare’s
1 Of 3 / Faith Of The Founding Fathers / American Heritage Series / David Barton
My friend Sherwood Haisty Jr. is a minister in Santa Monica, California and he has done a lot of studying on the Founding Fathers. One of his favorites is George Washington. I am going to invite him to comment on the Farewell Address of George Washington.
Two of my sons, Hunter (22yr) and Wilson (14yr) are flying out to California on Spring Break to help Sherwood when he preaches at the Santa Monica Promenade.
In the picture below at Santa Monica Promenade there are 35 people gathered around and the person speaking is a former follower of Islam, but he identified himself as an atheist and on this occasion he was speaking in favor of evolution.
This is a small portion of a Sermon Preached by Sherwood Haisty Jr. in Santa Monica
In the next few days I will post portions of the speech (which really was just a newspaper article) but since it is so long I will put an outline of the speech that is provided by David Barton of Wallbuilders.
Religion and Morality.
Are “indispensable supports” for “political prosperity.”
Are the “firmest props of the duties of Men and Country.”
The oaths in our courts would be useless without “the sense of religious obligation.”
“And let us with caution indulge the supposition, that morality can be maintained without religion.”
“Reason and experience both forbid us to expect, that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.”
“Promote, then, as an object of primary importance, institutions for the general diffusion of knowledge.”
Some anecdotes bring out the character of Washington very well. During the election campaign, there was a bitter war of words. A man called Payne felt that Washington had crossed the line by insulting him. He decided to settle the matter with the help of a hickory stick. The following day, Washington set up an interview with Payne. Payne expected that Washington would seek revenge. However, Washington apologized for insulting him and shook his hand.
Washington in his “Farewell Address,” Washington reminded the nation:
Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness. . . . The mere politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them.
Washington – indisputably a constitutional expert – declared that religion and morality were inseparable from government, and that no true patriot, whether politician or clergyman, would attempt to weaken the relationship between government and the influence of religion and morality.
Former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher delivers a Eulogy for President Reagan.
Felt inspired to make one of these after watching this movie yet again. It’s one of the best movies I’ve ever seen. And I know my video can’t possibly do it justice.
My son Wilson and I love the movie “The Pianist,” about Wladyslaw Szpilman. Just like in the end of the movie, Szpilman really did find places to hide in Warsaw and survived with the help of his friends from Polish Radio and fellow musicians. In November of 1944, Szpilman was hiding out in an abandoned building when he was found by a German officer. Surprisingly, the officer did not kill Szpilman, but instead after finding out that he was a pianist, asked Szpilman to play for him on a piano they had found. After that, the officer showed Szpilman a better place to hide and brought him bread and jam on numerous occasions. He also offered Szpilman one of his coats to keep warm in the freezing temperatures. Szpilman did not identify the German officer until 1950. His name was Captain Wilm Hosenfeld. Despite the efforts of Szpilman and the Poles to rescue Hosenfeld, he died in a Soviet Prisoner of War camp in 1952.
Above you will see Reagan giving an award to Vladimir Horowitz who is another great pianist.
By Stewart D. McLaurin, Executive Director, The Ronald Reagan Centennial Celebration
Ronald Reagan began his career in sports broadcasting. Outreach has resulted in several sports-related partnerships, including with NASCAR, where President Reagan will be honored at three races, including the Fontana race here in Southern California on March 27; Major League Baseball, where several teams will honor the President during the early weeks of the 2011 baseball season; the PGA Tour, where special emphasis took place at the LA Open on February 17-20; and the NFL, where just prior to Super Bowl XLV in Dallas on February 6, a tribute to President Reagan was shown on the massive screen in Cowboys Stadium.
_______________________________________
Little known presidential facts:
Rutherford Hayes banished alcohol from the White House and held gospel sing-alongs every night in the White House.k
Andrew Johnson was the first president to be impeached. He was acquitted by one vote in the Senate. It would be another 131 years before another president, Bill Clinton, would be impeached.j
Have you ever heard of the great flood of 1927. My grandfather moved to Memphis in 1927 and he told me about this flood. There was a lady named Memphis Minnie and she wrote about this flood. I always heard that there was lots of great blues music that had come out of Memphis, but I always thought that was overstated and that the Blues was not a significant form of music.
However, at the same time I was listening to groups like Led Zeppelin and the Rolling Stones, I had no idea that many of their songs were based on old Blues songs out of Memphis.
One of my favorite Led Zeppelin songs was “When the Levee breaks.” It was based on a song by Memphis Minnie. When I think about the recent increase of federal Spending and federal Deficits under President Obama, it makes me think of this song. In 1927 the rains kept coming and coming and finally the levee broke. Now the federal spending keeps coming and the deficits continue to build up and I wonder when will our government go bankrupt?
Memphis Minnie and Joe Mccoys original.
Led Zeppelin
_________________________
President Obama admits that the Federal Government is out of money but that doesn’t stop him from still borrowing more and more to keep spending it. When will our government go bankrupt? When will the levee break?
If you think for one second that this isn’t gonna wreck havoc on every industry including advertising then you are living in an illusionary world.
‘WE’RE OUT OF MONEY’
Sat May 23 2009 10:32:18 ET
In a sobering holiday interview with C-SPAN, President Obama boldly told Americans: “We are out of money.”
C-SPAN host Steve Scully broke from a meek Washington press corps with probing questions for the new president.
SCULLY: You know the numbers, $1.7 trillion debt, a national deficit of $11 trillion. At what point do we run out of money?
OBAMA: Well, we are out of money now. We are operating in deep deficits, not caused by any decisions we’ve made on health care so far. This is a consequence of the crisis that we’ve seen and in fact our failure to make some good decisions on health care over the last several decades.
So we’ve got a short-term problem, which is we had to spend a lot of money to salvage our financial system, we had to deal with the auto companies, a huge recession which drains tax revenue at the same time it’s putting more pressure on governments to provide unemployment insurance or make sure that food stamps are available for people who have been laid off.
So we have a short-term problem and we also have a long-term problem. The short-term problem is dwarfed by the long-term problem. And the long-term problem is Medicaid and Medicare. If we don’t reduce long-term health care inflation substantially, we can’t get control of the deficit.
So, one option is just to do nothing. We say, well, it’s too expensive for us to make some short-term investments in health care. We can’t afford it. We’ve got this big deficit. Let’s just keep the health care system that we’ve got now.
Along that trajectory, we will see health care cost as an overall share of our federal spending grow and grow and grow and grow until essentially it consumes everything…
With the GOP-led House and the Democratic Senate and White House far apart on a measure to pay the federal government’s bills past March 4, Washington is rumbling toward a repeat of the 1995 government-shutdown fight (actually two shutdown fights, one in mid-November of that year and the other in mid-December).
This makes some Republicans nervous. They think Bill Clinton “won” the blame game that year, and they’re afraid they will get the short end of the stick if there is a 1995-type impasse this year.
A timid approach, though, is a recipe for failure. It means that President Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid can sit on their hands, make zero concessions, and wait for the GOP to surrender any time a deadline approaches.
To put it simply, Republicans need to hold firm and fight hard.
In other words, budget hawks in the House have no choice. They have to fight.
But they can take comfort in the fact that this is not a suicide mission. The conventional wisdom about what happened in November of 1995 is very misleading.
Republicans certainly did not suffer at the polls. They lost only nine House seats, a relatively trivial number after a net gain of 54 in 1994. They actually added to their majority in the Senate, picking up two seats in the 1996 cycle.
More important, they succeeded in dramatically reducing the growth of federal spending. They did not get everything they wanted, to be sure, but government spending grew by just 2.9 percent during the first four years of GOP control, helping to turn a $164 billion deficit in 1995 into a $126 billion surplus in 1999. And they enacted a big tax cut in 1997.
If that’s what happens when Republicans are defeated, I hope the GOP loses again this year.
Yesterday I sat next to Terry Tidwell who plays basketball for UCA on a flight back from Dallas. I recognized immediately because he had played for Conway in his 10th and 11th grade year and for North Little Rock his senior year. All three years he was all conference and I personally saw him play against Bryant all three of those years (we lost all three games if I remember right). He told me that his junior year at Conway they lost by 2 in the championship game to Catholic.
2010-11 Men’s Basketball Roster
#35 Terry TidwellPosition: F Height: 6-8 Weight: 230 Class: Sophomore Hometown: Conway, Ark.
Will sit out first semester of the season Previous College: played in six games at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff before transferring to UCA in December of 2009…scored 13 points and shot 50 percent from the field….grabbed 10 rebounds and had one assist and one stealHigh School: played at North Little Rock High School as a senior and attended Conway High School before that…three-time all-conference and two-year all-state selection
Personal: son of Terry and Kim Tidwell…major: Health Science
Video Clip Tribute to Ronald Reagan
“If you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization: Come here, to this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.” Arguably one of Reagan’s best television moments, he urged Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to stop the communist hold over East Berlin and allow the country to unify under a democracy. Two years later, it happened in the dark of night.
By Stewart D. McLaurin, Executive Director, The Ronald Reagan Centennial Celebration
Perhaps the most important focus of the Centennial year’s activities is reaching the next generation of young Americans and future leaders, all of whom are of college age and younger and have no personal recollection of Ronald Reagan as the president. One goal of the celebration planning has been to reach this next generation and invite and engage them to be part of the Centennial in order to better understand President Reagan, not only in historical context, but his relevance and significance in our world and in their lives still today.
Many of these initiatives were only possible thanks to key partnerships. We were honored that General Electric chose to become part of the Centennial Celebration as the presenting sponsor, and other collaborations were established with universities and American corporations, such as Edison International, Jelly Belly Candy Company, Visa, and others. In addition, governments and groups around the world have independently chosen to celebrate the President’s legacy, with significant events taking place in the United Kingdom, Poland, Germany, Hungary, and the Czech Republic, among others. Proclamations and commemorative letters have been received from governors and mayors across the country, as well as international recognition from world leaders such as Prince Albert of Monaco and the former Prime Minister of Japan, Yasuhiro Nakasone.
JFK was the first Roman Catholic to be president, the first Boy Scout to become president, and the first president to be born in the twentieth century.i
Gerald Ford was the first person to be both vice president and president without being elected by the people. He was appointed vice president when Spiro Agnew resigned and he succeeded to the presidency when Nixon resigned.g
The Daily Hatch 