The Presidents Continue: Part III

Dear Avid Blog followers,

I have let you down. I know this.

Unfortunately I have no good excuse, but if you would like a bad one, please email me or write on my Facebook wall. Like all mistakes in history, I figure the past can be the past and we can all move on. Forgive and forget, right? Resuming with our previous series of American Presidents, I bring you…

Thomas Jefferson: Father of the Declaration of Independence, Father of the University of Virginia, and Father of a few Children from his Slaves

First off, I have to admit something. While TJ undoubtedly contributed a lot to the founding of our country, and he was a clear “Renaissance Man” of his generation, he is not one of my favorite Founding Fathers. ::GASP:: I’m sorry to all UVA alumni and to all you TJ lovers out there, but I feel the man is slightly overrated in terms of his presidency and overall contributions. Yes Alison, I know he was one of America’s first oenologists, and I know he could leap tall buildings in a single bound (not to mention being the Father of the Tomato in a sense, since he was one of the only people of his time to trust red foods not to be poisonous). So instead of focusing on all his accomplishments, since most people know about those, I am going to pick and choose some instances of where I can do some historical constructive criticism. But I’ll end on a good note, don’t worry. Onward ho’s!

My first scruple with Jefferson is with his military leadership. As Governor of Virginia from 1779-1783, Jefferson presided over the state’s first invasion by the British during the Revolutionary War. Not an easy position for anybody when a foreign enemy attacks, just ask the Romans in 410 when Rome was sacked by the Visigoths. My critique is that Jefferson, instead of raising an army and organizing local militias, sat and hoped that Virginians would come together by themselves to defend their homeland. Virginia was invaded by the traitor Benedict Arnold and then Lord Cornwallis later. Cornwallis later got what was coming to him at Yorktown, so I won’t dwell at this. The same libertarian view cost TJ’s successor dearly during the War of 1812. James Madison inherited a Navy consisting of about 20 small boats, and an army of less than 12,000 untrained soldiers, compared to the Royal Navy of over 600 war vessels and the biggest army in the world. Jefferson’s downsizing of the military showed that there is such a thing as limiting government too much.

TJ’s wife Martha died at a young age (32), and Jefferson went into serious depression. As is evident from his letters with her (and the movie/musical 1776) they were very much in love. The primary architect of the Declaration, delegate to the Continental Congress, and Governor of Virginia got himself appointed Minister to France and gallivanted around Paris for a few years. During this time it is speculated that he begun his long-term relationship with his slave Sally Hemmings. While that may have been a long-term physical fling, Jefferson undoubtedly used his time there to cure his depression by falling in and out of love. I will give Jefferson props during this time for writing of my favorite writings, my head and my heart, a love dialogue between his reason and his lust for a married English woman named Maria Cosway. Jefferson, therefore, was not a part of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, but chose to keep in touch with the proceedings through his good friend, James Madison. Jefferson returned stateside in 1789 to be the first Secretary of State to President Washington.

As President, Jefferson made a huge etiquette blunder that almost made the War of 1812 the War of 1803… ok a little extreme but it definitely did not help to ease tensions between Britain and the U.S. Anthony Merry became the new Ambassador to the U.S. from Britain and was invited to the White House for dinner. Jefferson, deciding it was not a big deal and striving to be a man of the people, greeted the new ambassador in his pajamas infuriating Merry and causing him to denounce the Americans as uncivilized. Imagine Mr. Obama greeting the British Prime Minister in his pajamas with a gift of American DVDs (now that’s only half true). The “Merry Affair” created an unnecessary diplomatic nightmare for Secretary of State James Madison and his wife Dolley who was a surrogate first lady and unofficial social secretary who ended up dealing with the ramifications of the incident for years. Several other etiquette no-no’s that Jefferson chose to ignore showed his disdain for simple etiquette and pride.

Lastly, I have some qualms with what Jefferson preached and what he practiced. Namely his inconsistency with slavery. Jefferson wrote in his draft of the Declaration that all men were created equal and specifically mentioned those bound in servitude. This provision was stricken in the final compromise. However, in his will, Jefferson did not free any of his slaves. Because of his reckless spending and enormous debts, Jefferson’s slaves were sold upon his death to settle his debts. This, to me, represents a serious character flaw with Jefferson that is sometimes overlooked.

Jefferson contributed greatly to the founding of our country, architecture, science, political philosophy, and history. Let’s not forget he also made the Louisiana Purchase that more than doubled the size of the country. However, his lack of humility and sense of entitlement often caused unnecessary problems and, for me, demonstrates his serious flaws. I didn’t even mention his Embargo Act of 1807 that was so unpopular and damaging to American business, it was repealed by the end of his second term, and his falling out with John Adams. It’s not that I don’t think TJ was a good president and want to gloss over his accomplishments. I simply want to point out that there were serious mistakes Jefferson made and should not be overlooked.

Next up, one of my personal favs….

Let's Play Political Ball

I know I know, it’s been awhile. Thanks to a select few (you know who you are) I have been persuaded to stop being lazy, and turn on my brain to the world of the obscure knowledge once again. Since baseball (with the coming of Strasburg) and politics (with the coming of… um, independence) have been consuming the Washington scene lately, I figured why not combine the two around a unique area event…

The Congressional Baseball Game

Those involved in the political scene in Washington, D.C. mark this day down months in advance. Those outside the beltway probably don’t even know it exists. But it is just what it sounds like. Each year, Members of the House and the Senate, clad in their political party’s uniform, take the field to duke it out in America’s favorite pastime. Rather than throwing politically charged insults and critiques in the Capitol, they are throwing baseballs AND politically charged insults at Nationals Park today. How did this masterful way for our elected leaders to take their argument to the field instead of the chamber begin?

The first baseball game between Members of Congress took place in 1909 but started as a casual way to vent some frustration and engage in some old fashioned sports competition. The game was organized by Representative John Tener (R-Pa) who had actually played professional baseball in the minor leagues for awhile, and even one game in the major league with the Baltimore Orioles and later for the Pittsburgh Burghers. He was elected to Congress from Pennsylvania for one term before being elected governor of the state in 1911. For the first 6 years the game was played, Democrats dominated the field winning the first game 26-16. Republicans captured their first game in 1916.

Over the years the game has seen many venues, many types of players, and occasionally been interrupted by wars, depressions, or by congressional leadership who became frustrated that the baseball game occupied more time and energy than legislation. A few highlights.In 1917, Representative Jeannette Rankin (R-Mo) became the first woman to participate in the game. Coincidentally she was the first woman elected to Congress and, as a pacifist, was the only Member of Congress to vote against the declarations of war for both WWI and WWII. The first game covered by radio was in 1928. In 1958, Speaker of the House Sam Rayburn cancelled it because he deemed the game a distraction and claimed it had become too contentious. Sadface.

Have no fear! In 1962, with the cooperation and sponsorship of the Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Call, the game was revived and has been played annually ever since. With the new sponsor, a best-of-five game trophy series was created, awarding a trophy to the team that won three of the five games. To date, 10 trophies have been awarded, 8 to the Republicans and 2 to

the Democrats. From 1969-1975, Wilmer Mizell (R-Nc), who was a former pitcher for the Cardinals, Pirates, and the Mets, led the Republicans to victories in each year he played. The total tally for games won and lost stands at 41 wins for the Republicans, 33 for the Democrats, and 1 tie in 1983. In 2009, the Democrats won their first game since 2000 with the election of numerous younger members with the Democratic sweep in the elections of 2006 and 2008.

This year, 87-year old Rachel Robinson, wife of baseball legend Jackie Robinson, threw out the ceremonial opening pitch. Each year the game raises more than $100,000 for charity, this year the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington, D.C. and the Washington Literacy Council. Tensions are hot again this year after a tumultuous political year in Congress.

What I like most is this shows that Members of Congress are not some elite class of people, they enjoy the same pastimes as the rest of America – talking smack before a sporting match, sweating it out over a classic American game, and kicking back to a beer and recapping their brief escape from the tensions of politics. Despite disagreements over policy, there's nothing like a good ol' sports match to let off some steam.

President II

Having just attended my first Nationals game of the season, I am inspired to write more before this week’s busy-ness starts. Although I may have to write a blog post about the Orioles this season who it seems are shooting for the worst record in baseball history, ay yi yi… Anyway, the Presidents posts continue! This time we resume with the plump, brash, outspoken, and often frustrated Mr. Adams, our 2^nd President.

Sit down John, for God’s Sake John, Sit down! (From the musical 1776, feat. Mr Feeney)

John Adams was born on October 30, 1735 in Quincy, Massachusetts, just a hop, skip, and a jump from Boston. His family had emigrated from Wales and England in 1638, making his family one of the oldest in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. This is something that Adams took very seriously as he sought to uphold his family’s heritage. He attended Harvard College, graduating in 1755, and then decided to become a lawyer and was admitted to the bar in 1758. A few years later, in 1764 he married Abigail Smith, who bore him 5 children, including future POTUS John Quincy Adams.

While Adams was never as popular as his cousin Sam Adams (who obviously was famous enough to have a brewery named for him), John was often outspoken and his approach was unyielding. Both were fervent patriots and gained reputations as such in Massachusetts. However, as a man of principle, Adams served as the defense counsel for the British soldiers who shot and killed several Americans during the Boston Massacre in 1770. I too was surprised when I first read about this, but not only did Adams take a bold stance by defending the wildly unpopular soldiers, he was paid only pennies for his services. LAME!

A few years later, Massachusetts sent John Adams to the 1^st and 2^nd Continental Congresses where he made a name for himself as an outspoken critic of King George III and a diehard patriot for independence (in fact it was Adams who nominated Washington to be commander-in-chief of the Continental Army). Something to remember about these first Congresses was that they did not assemble for the purpose of declaring independence. There were still many loyalists who attended these Congresses fully expecting to reconcile differences with Great Britain but who wished to remain under English rule. This is why Adams’s passionate support for independence was so critical in swaying votes among its skeptics.

So long story short, the Declaration of Independence was written by Jefferson under Adams’s supervision, we won the war, and Adams assumed a new role- diplomat. During the final years of the war and under the Articles of Confederation, Adams was in Europe, in France to solicit support for the American cause, in Britain to negotiate terms of surrender and smooth a transition, and finally to Amsterdam, Netherlands attempting to secure loans for the infant nation. He returned to America under the new Constitution as the country’s first Vice President under Washington.

One of my favorite Adams quotes is his opinion on the position of VP, "My country has in its wisdom contrived for me the most insignificant office that ever the invention of man contrived or his imagination conceived." Adams had a weak case of little man’s complex where he envisioned himself to be the wisest of his colleagues, and was very aware that his ego and intellect weren’t being used to their potential. This is why Adams was narrowly elected to succeed Washington (big shoes to fill) as the country’s 2^nd President.

The Adams administration had one big success, preventing an escalating conflict with France, and several huge blemishes. The biggest being the Alien and Sedition Acts, which legalized the incarceration of any citizen who talked smack about the government and required a longer period of residence for an immigrant to become a U.S. citizen. This was done to prevent the registration of immigrants with Jefferson’s growing Democratic-Republican Party. These acts were extremely unpopular and were eventually repealed. Adams was also the first President to reside in the White House. When he arrived, he and Abigail were shocked to find hundreds of black slaves constructing their future home. As a lifelong New Englander, slavery was something that Adams resented and opposed his entire career.

The election of 1800 saw the election of Thomas Jefferson, by this point Adams’s bitter enemy, to succeed him after one term. Adams so resented his former colleague that he skipped town

and left for Massachusetts before Jefferson’s inauguration, but not before appointing several last minute (midnight) appointments to the Supreme Court, which became the thorn in Jefferson’s side during his presidency. John and Abigail lived a long life together on their farm in Massachusetts, and John even lived to see his son elected president in 1824. Adams died on July 4, 1826, 2 hours after Jefferson, at the ripe old age of 90 years and 247 days (beaten only by Reagan and Gerald Ford).

One of the reasons we know the most about John Adams and his contemporaries is through Adams’s extensive letters, especially to his wife Abigail, who, while Adams was despised by many of his colleagues, remained truly in love and supportive of her husband. Their letters represent one of the most passionate and affectionate love stories of the time and tell a lot about Adams’s true feelings and constant frustration. Adams’s letters with Jefferson, particularly after their reconciliation later in life are also fascinating.

Next up, everyone’s favorite, Thomas Jefferson.

The first of the Presidents

It’s been awhile since my last post of modesty, and I have to apologize for the delay. Between birthdays, work trips, and a move to a new apartment life has been kind of hectic recently. But now I am set up with internet in my new apartment, and I’m ready not only to announce a new post, but a new SERIES of posts. Today begins the American Presidents series. Since I just moved to Virginia, George Washington seems even more appropriate to start with. Especially since I already posted about the pre-first President, Mr. Hansen from Maryland. Without further delay…

The Father of Our Country

George Washington was born on February 22, 1732 near Colonial Beach, VA. Educated at home, Washington worked as a surveyor for his first career, not including his help around the family farm. While many may have read that this was the youthful Washington’s early career, most don’t realize what a tremendous impact this had on his effectiveness as future general due to his unique knowledge of the terrain of the land. Another little known fact is that Washington’s one and only trip outside the United States was in 1751 to Barbados in hopes of curing his half-brother of tuberculosis. His half-brother died the following year, leaving Washington the owner of his first estate, Mount Vernon. During this time, Washington also joined the militia as a Major and also expanded his estates around Mount Vernon and in the Ohio territory.

In 1754, Washington suffered his only military surrender at Fort Necessity where he was defeated by the French Canadians and their Indian allies during the Seven Years War. After the French and Indian War, Washington retired as a Brigadier General to his farm as a tobacco farmer and local politician. In 1759, Washington married Mary Custis, from which he inherited additional lands and wealth that made him one of the richest and most successful men in Virginia. Into the marriage, Martha brought her children, and eventually grandchildren, from a previous marriage who were Washington’s only heirs. It is believed that Washington’s earlier fight with smallpox may have made him sterile.

In the 1770s Washington began to become more political, sending letters suggesting a boycott of English goods until certain taxes were repealed. He attended the First Continental Congress as a delegate from Virginia, and was from there elected as the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army. Washington’s greatest asset as general was his ability to raise the ever-fleeting morale of the army even during the most desperate of times when his soldiers resorted to eating dogs and starving for days during harsh winters.

The most notable of these instances was Washington’s successful Battle of Trenton on Christmas Eve 1776. After a series of degrading losses, Washington rallied his army to cross the Delaware River and take the British by surprise. This was followed by the battle of Saratoga, where Washington successfully enlisted the support of the French, who ultimately helped us win the war. But without going into much more detail, we won. Yay independence!

After the war, Washington resigned his command, and again retired to Mount Vernon. Another not-so-widely-known fact is that Washington became quite the successful businessman and farmer. Mount Vernon was very successful after Washington changed the main cash crop from tobacco to wheat. His entire life, Washington was very self-conscious of his image and ensuring his legacy, a point made well by Joseph Ellis in his book His Excellency: George Washington.

In 1787, Washington was summoned out of retirement to preside over the Constitutional Convention to revamp (get rid of) the Articles of Confederation. Washington was the only figure at the time (short of maybe Ben Franklin) who could bring legitimacy to the proceedings, and he was chosen unanimously by the Electoral College to be the nation’s first President. Washington’s two terms as Commander-in-Chief set many precedents that we respect today, such as the two-term limit, using the term “Mr. President,” and the utilization of an executive cabinet of advisors. During his later years, including his eight years as President, Washington’s health was mired by constant toothaches that caused him immense pain. Contrary to popular belief, Washington did NOT have wooden teeth. Fake teeth at this time were made from ivory mostly, but also using human teeth of slaves who were given special privileges for “donating” their teeth.

After his two terms as President, Washington AGAIN retired to Mount Vernon to manage his estate and live out his life with Martha. In his last year of life, 1798, President John Adams commissioned Washington to be the General of the armies that were being raised for a potential war with France, but his service was largely symbolic and Alexander Hamilton served as the physical general present. Washington died on December 14, 1799 at Mount Vernon where he is buried today.

Washington’s legacy is like none other in American history. Very rarely are Washington’s shortfalls and negative attributes discussed or even known. In fact, on the ceiling of the Capitol rotunda is a painting entitled, The Apotheosis of Washington, which shows Washington being raised up to Heaven and being made a god. Probably won’t find that depiction of any other figure in our history. Washington is on the one-dollar bill, the 25-cent coin, Mount Rushmore, 11 universities carry his name, our nation’s capital is named for him, 1 state, 30 counties, and over 250 towns, townships, and cities are as well. There is even a statue of Washington in Trafalgar Square, London. He’s kind of a big deal.

Next up, John Adams. (I promise after the first few presidents, the posts will get shorter)

Some history you may not know

Today marks the 24^th anniversary of a great day in world history where one of the world’s most passionate, and unknown figures was born. He is a man of obscurity except to a limited number of facebook friends, but his influence ranges from Meadowcroft Lane to Harrisonburg to Scotland to Washington, D.C. Ladies and gentlemen, here is the history of my life…

Who am I?

Lee Brooks was born on March 27, 1986 in Rockville, MD at approximately 7:57pm. He was the first child to Joe and Paula Brooks, but was later joined by Robert Brooks 3 years later. Lee grew up with a small play group, and attended the exhilarating and memorable Camp Tiny Feet in the summers of 1990-1992. Lee and his neighbor Stefan, first formed the Meadowcroft Lane Gang around this time. This group would be expanded on the high school volleyball court later on. A product of the public school system, Lee attended local schools in the area, having never moved during his 24 years of life (except during college).

As he grew up, Lee had many aspirations of what he wanted to be when he grew up (none of which was a congressional staffer, even though he loves where he is now). They ranged from an astronaut, to a movie director, to an archaeologist, and of course every kid’s dream, POTUS. In high school, Lee played JV football, boys and coed volleyball, and served in SGA. He carried this SGA experience on with him to James Madison University, where he joined the centennial class and served in the organization all 4 years. Lee kept himself busy in college joining many organizations and keeping a challenging class schedule, with such classes as GKIN100: Walking and Jogging.

Upon graduation, he ventured across the Atlantic to attend the University of St. Andrews to complete a master’s degree in ancient history. Lee loves the Romans, and old walls. During this time, he traveled extensively throughout Europe and Turkey. After finishing the program, he came back to the New World in America to look for a job, and took an unpaid internship on Capitol Hill. The stars were in alignment, and after a few months of working for free, he was hired full-time. This is where Lee has been ever since. As a lifelong resident of the DC metro area, Lee loves the city more than any other, and in general thinks life is pretty awesome.

In the past, Lee’s birthdays have been held at Chuck E Cheese, Discovery Zone, his backyard, Garber Hall at JMU, Westport Village, and the St. Andrews Deans Court Common Room. His favorite color is blue, navy blue to be specific. He loves watching quality movies, reading about history, drinking beer out of a straw on occasion, spending time with the wandering blonde wine o, a good cigar every now and then, and just like every guy, he loves long walks on the beach at sunset. His life can pretty much be summed up and understood through John Mayer lyrics depending on the day. His favorite foods are sushi, pasta, nachos, and ranch dressing. He has a miniature dachshund named Fritz.

Well that is a glimpse into the life of one of histories most forgotten figures. Enjoy your weekend!

The Lost City

So I missed a lot of events last week: Ides of March, James Madison’s birthday, St. Patrick’s Day… I apologize. Today’s post is a special request from a special fan…

Atlantis: No, not the Resort

Everyone’s heard stories about the mysterious island that existed thousands of years ago, and boasted some of the most advanced technology and greatest leaders of ancient times. Then, all of a sudden, it vanished. The island sunk supposedly? A natural disaster wiped out the entire population? Where did this fairy tale story come from? I feel sort of like the History Channel with this post because I’m writing about a conspiracy theory, and while this story does not include aliens (at least in my version) I’ll try to give you some facts and some myths.

The first mention of Atlantis is by Plato in his Timaeus and Critias. He mentions that it was a great civilization that conquered North Africa and much of the Mediterranean roughly around 9600 B.C. FYI, ancient Egypt flourished around 3000-1000 B.C., ancient Greece had its high point from 500-200 B.C. (Plato was writing in 355 B.C.), and Rome ruled the Mediterranean and most of Europe from 200 B.C. – 400 A.D., so this was theoretically MUCH earlier. The civilization was supposed to have been unrivaled in technology and grandeur until Plato’s time, or even after his time. As the story goes, Atlantis was founded by well-intentioned, smart men who expanded the civilization to dominate the Mediterranean. Over time though, the leaders became greedy and power-hungry. Poseidon thus decided to erase their existence. And just like Emeril, BAM, they’re gone.

It is unclear whether Plato meant this mystical story to be an allegory for what would happen to civilizations who the gods looked down upon, or if he had some factual basis for an island that was destroyed before recorded history even began. As most tradition was carried orally until the Egyptians, and really the Greeks, it is possible that there may have been some factual basis for his tale. However, let’s be honest, it sounds like a Plato parable to teach a lesson combined with a good bed time story. Other evidence that he is speaking from fact is that he repeats several times that this is “history” he is telling, whereas in other parables, like the Cave, he makes it clear that he is telling this to prove a point. Adding on to the “he said she said,” it is recorded much later that Aristotle, Plato’s student, claimed that Plato made up the parable for moralistic reasons. Who knows. Aristotle also went on to disagree with much of what his teacher wrote.

Several locations have been claimed for the island as well, and almost all of these have been “backed up” (in the loosest sense of the word) with archaeological discoveries and underground photographs. Some claim the island was in the Caribbean, some say it was in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean giving the ocean its name, others say in the Mediterranean, and some say it was in the Indian Ocean. For logistical reasons, the most likely location was in the Mediterranean, seeing as this was the only part of the known world at the time. There are also theories that the Atlantians dispersed through Africa, Europe, and even South America and that’s why we find similar stone structures, specifically pyramids, in those locations. Highly doubtful.

As we know from places like Pompeii and Herculaneum, natural disasters can indeed wipe out entire civilizations. Modern scholars who are bent on “discovering Atlantis” often study Crete as an example of a Mediterranean island wrought with natural disasters. In reality, the story of Atlantis has been blown so far out of proportion with crazy theories that it can be tough to figure out where this myth even came from. The only ancient source we have that mentions Atlantis is Plato, thus all later sources are based on him.

Unfortunately, the myth of Atlantis will continue to perplex and frustrate skeptics and believers alike who will never agree. It will remain one of histories mysteries conjuring up images of an ancient utopia and spawning bad movies and TV shows for years to come.

Time after Time

Hopefully your clock is correct, because it’s that time of year, Daylight Savings Time! Unfortunately, this time we spring forward and it feels like we are losing an hour of sleep. Although, it does mean we have extra sunlight, which will be nice when I leave work. I’m sure Robert (see Robert’s Random Science Facts) will have some scientific explanation for Daylight Savings Time (DST), but here is the history behind it…

What time is it again?

As I might have mentioned before, all great things have their roots in ancient Rome, and DST is no different. The Romans were some of the first to have a systematic way of measuring time, although it wasn’t entirely accurate or precise and largely depended on the sun (what would they do if they were getting pounded with 6 days of rain like we are now in D.C.?). The Romans used water clocks to measure time, but the times varied depending on the months of the year. So if the sun rose at 8am, noon would be the 4^th hour of the day. By the way, a.m. and p.m. stand for the Latin words “ante meridiem” (before mid day) and “post medidiem” (after mid day). The 12-hour clock is different now than it was in ancient Rome because we count hours before and after midday and midnight, whereas the Romans measured time before and after sunrise/sunset. Again, so 9AM would be 3 AM to a Roman (3 hours before midday). Does that make sense?

As the Middle Ages roared on, time eventually became more equal as we know it today, whereas before times would be unequal because they depended upon the amount of sunlight, i.e. “hours” would be shorter in winter and longer in summer. In the 1700s, Benjamin Franklin published a letter in a Parisian newspaper that they should take advantage of the daylight by rising earlier and going to bed earlier (following his life mantra that led him to a long life of 84 years), and this would also save them money on candles. Or as National Treasure claims, he invented DST.

The official standardization of time in the U.S. and Canda came in 1883 after the transportation revolution in the 19^th century and the coming of the railroads. Train operators, and the general public, needed to know exactly when trains would arrive and not have it vary depending on which state or which region the train was in. In 1883, North America was divided into time zones, but it was not until 1918 (during WWI) that Congress passed the Standard Time Act, which established daylight savings time. However, Congress being Congress, the law was repealed in 1919 and replaced again with local calculations. In WWII, the U.S. nationalized DST again, but then again ceded the power to local regions. In 1966, DST was again nationalized, but gave states the option to opt out. For instance, the U.S. states Arizona and Hawaii do not observe DST. Starting in 2007, most of the United States and Canada observe DST from the second Sunday in March (hence the blogpost) to the first Sunday in November, almost two-thirds of the year, which was part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

DST’s origin is now credited to George Vernon Hudson from Middle Earth, err I mean New Zealand, who published a paper in 1898 arguing its positive effects. An Englishman, William Willett, was a strong advocate of DST and claimed to have invented the concept independently from Hudson. DST allows people to take advantage of having more sunlight and therefore affects energy costs and can extend the time work or sports can be done by natural light. An obvious drawback to DST is its complexity and non-uniformity. Also recent studies have questioned the effectiveness of DST’s energy savings. DST positively affects some businesses and professions (such as sports related professions and some farmers), but can also negatively affect some businesses and even the stock market (TV companies and farmers whose products depend on the dew evaporating). It has been argued that extra daylight in the summer also increases public safety and health because extra sunlight allows the body to produce vitamin D and generally makes people happier.

So while you’re soaking up those extra sunrays after work, just remember that its all manmade and subject to change.

America's First President

Well heyo I’m back! I know it has been awhile between posts, I apologize. But don’t worry, this is a good one. Or at least I think so because I am from Maryland, home of crabs and the Wire. So here’s some pre-weekend Maryland/Early American History for ya…

John Hanson: The First President of the United States of America

Wait, what? What about the infallible George Washington? Who is this John Hanson character? Well, first of all, his name is John, so you know he was important because half the important Americans during the Revolution were named either John or George. But John Hanson, was born in Charles County, Maryland in 1721 to wealthy landowners and a politically active family (his father served several terms in the Maryland General Assembly). As he grew older, he married, and moved to Frederick, Maryland becoming one of the most ardent patriots in the area. He was elected to the Second Continental Congress in 1779 and became a leading proponent of the Articles of Confederation. He was also largely responsible for convincing the Maryland General Assembly (the final holdout state) to ratify the Articles.

As you may know, before there was James Madison and the Constitution we know and love today, there were the Articles of Confederation. A document that gave a lose connection to all 13 states but left the bulk of governing authority to the states. The “federal government” (if you can call it that) consisted of a Confederation Congress with a President to manage the few powers it had. The one major action the Confederation Congress took, was in 1784 (after Hanson’s death) they approved the Northwest Ordinance, which created the Northwest Territory (modern-day Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois).

Enter our man, John Hanson. When the Articles of Confederation were approved, members of the Second Continental Congress (once led by John Hancock) automatically transferred to the Confederation Congress. The first official session of Congress met on November 5, 1781 after the surrender of the British at Yorktown, and John Hanson was elected to be its President. The Articles specified one-year terms in this position, which Hanson fulfilled, and then chose not to run again. As President, his official duties consisted mostly of signing official documents and presiding over the Congress, which he found rather boring. Thus the one-term. Hanson died a year after leaving office. The Constitution was proposed in 1787 and George Washington was sworn into office as the first President under this new government on March 4, 1789.

Hanson’s legacy was promoted by his son, Alexander Cotte Hanson, Jr. who later became a Senator for Maryland, and his grandsons who claimed he was really the first POTUS. In fact, George Washington (a close friend of Hanson’s) referred to him as President Hanson) when he appeared before Congress in 1781. April 13 is now remembered each year as John Hanson’s birthday in Maryland, and he represents one of the two statues from Maryland in the Capitol Statuary Hall collection (the other being Charles Carroll). The United States’ first governing document as a new nation were the Articles of Confederation, and he was the first president of the federal legislature, albeit with no real power. First President or not? You be the judge.

A Full House for 2 Years

It’s almost March! Can you believe it? Where did the time go? Well today’s post is a mixture of history and government, and a short one to start the week off…

The 86^th Congress: 2 more than usual

Some background information is necessary. First, the official Census is held every 10 years, as specified in the Constitution (this is the year for it by the way). This Census is used for the reapportionment of how many U.S. Representatives each state will have in Congress. Obviously each state gets 2 Senators, but Representatives are determined based on population, i.e. the Census. The number of voting Representatives has been 435 since 1913, and was officially capped at this amount in 1929. Today the average congressional district represents approximately 650,000 citizens.

So, onto the story. Alaska joined the United States on January 3, 1959 bringing 600,000 people and 500,000 moose into the union. Hawaii joined on August 21, 1959. This presented a problem for Congress. The number of representatives was capped at 435, but the next reapportionment couldn’t take place until after the 1960 Census. And there was certainly no way any state was going to give up seats. So they decided to give both new states one seat in the House until after the Census and all 435 seats could be reallocated. At the beginning of the 87^th Congress in 1961, the total number was reduced to 435.

Hawaii now has 2 congressional districts, and Alaska has an at-large seat (as does Vermont, North Dakota, and Wyoming) because their populations are smaller than the average district. The cap of representatives at 435 also does not include non-voting members, i.e. Washington, D.C., Guam, Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, and Puerto Rico, all of whom have a non-voting delegate. Further problems will arise if Washington, D.C.’s seat is given voting rights.

But that’s a story for another day.

Washington, D.C. Retrocession and a Brief History of the City

The health care buzz has returned to Washington after a month and a half lull following the Senate’s passage of their health care bill on Christmas Eve. As we roll out of February I figured we’d “March” on into some Washington, D.C. history to show you that partisan politics and young professionals aren’t the only trademark of the city…

Thanks, but no thanks Virginia. Maryland will do

First off, Washington, D.C. has a very unique history. Unlike major metropolises that sprung up in colonial America, such as Philadelphia and New York, Washington, D.C. did not exist even in thought until 1787. The District of Columbia, or as it was known then, Federal City, was actually created in theory by the U.S. Constitution in Article 1, Section 8: “[The Legislative branch shall have the power] to exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States.” The states that the Constitution speaks of end up being Maryland and Virginia, the two states straddling the Potomac River. Many may ask, why is Washington, D.C. where it is? Why isn’t it in the middle of the country? Why didn’t the founders use an existing city like New York?

There are several answers. First, D.C. was in the middle of the country. It is pretty much smack dab in the middle of the 13 original colonies. It also lies on a major waterway, which was a huge source of transportation and commerce. James Madison also argued that a new city was needed for security reasons to avoid mob riots in existing cities. Also, before there was anything built on the swampland that became Washington, D.C., New York City was the capital of the country. It was not until 1800, under the presidency of John Adams that any branch of government moved into the new city. The founders desired the country’s capital to lie on new ground, free from the existing culture of any one particular city. Finally, Washington is a unique city because it was built top-down, rather than bottom-up. That is to say, Washington was designed and laid out in 1791 pretty much exactly how it looks today… except that it’s missing the original southern half…

Which leads me to the retrocession. I am going to do this in timeline format so it is easier to follow:

1787-1791: A federal city is mentioned in the Constitution and remains a pretty sweet idea until G. Dubs (not Bush, George Washington in case there’s any confusion) pulled a Kennedy and said “by the end of this decade, I want a man on the moon.” … err I mean, “I want a place for all branches of government to conduct business.” Washington hires (and then fires) Pierre L’Enfant as the primary architect of the city.

1793-1800: Construction. In 1793, Washington laid the cornerstone of the Capitol building. (Side note: “Capitol Hill” and the Capitol building itself are some of the very few correct ways to use this spelling. Jefferson used this spelling in reference to the Capitoline Hill, which was the seat of the ancient Roman Senate). Maryland and Virginia both voted to cede land to create the District of Columbia. It is important to note that originally there were several separate entities: the city of Washington (downtown federal center), the county of Washington (MD area north of the river), the county of Alexandria (VA area south of the river), and Georgetown. Georgetown existed as an establishment before the creation of the District, therefore it remained its own locale until 1871.

1800-1845: Washington City within the District of Columbia became the center of government with the Capitol building (housing Congress and the Supreme Court) and the White House on the north side of the river. Consequently, Alexandria county to the south fell into a state of neglect. Unhappy with their conditions, residents in this area protested for action to be taken.

1846: Action was taken. Congress approved what is now called the Washington, D.C. retrocession of Virginia. In essence, all lands ceded by Virginia were given back to the state. The District ended the slave trade in 1850, while its neighbor across the river, Alexandria, now became slave territory.

1871: Congress passed the Organic Act of 1871 that merged Washington City, County, and Georgetown into one entity, the District of Columbia.

1961-present: The 23^rd amendment to the Constitution FINALLY allows residents of D.C. to vote for president. Today, the quest for full voting rights and representation continues. Some proposals include using Washington, D.C. as a “congressional district” of Maryland for voting purposes, while still retaining its own self-government. Another suggests simply making it a 51^st voting state, or even a retrocession of D.C. back to Maryland. Nothing has passed to date, and the debate rages on with D.C. residents donning the license plates “Taxation Without Representation.”

The Olympic Games: Lee's Brief History

Well it’s Olympic time in the neighborhood again and I thought it would be appropriate to delve a little bit deeper into this acclaimed world sporting event. Thoughts? Well actually I guess you don’t have a choice on the topic, so read on!

Olympic History and Olympick History

As many of you know, the Olympic games held today are based on the similar event of ancient Greece. These Olympic games allegedly began in 776 B.C. in Olympia, Greece to pay homage to Zeus and the other gods who lived on Mt. Olympus, but also to bring together the Greek city-states in an event that would not result in a scene from the movie 300. Therefore the games were religious and political in nature. These events brought together free men from all over Greece, and eventually Italy after the rise of Rome to compete in athletic competitions. There were also games held for female athletes called the Heraea games, to honor Hera, the wife of Zeus, which began perhaps as early as 100 year after the start of the male Olympics.

Just like today, the games were a major international event that fostered pride for one’s hometown or region. Events ranged from discus throws, boxing, chariot racing, to the stade sprint race which was approximately 200 meters (originally measured in stades, which is where our English word “stadium” comes from. My Big, Fat, Greek Wedding is true, every word originates from Greek!). Another interesting tidbit is that the Greeks used an Olympiad (4 years) as a standard unit for measuring time. So, the games began in 776 B.C. therefore the famous battle of Thermopylae (from the movie 300) was held in the year of the 75^th Olympiad (480 B.C.). The ancient Olympics continued even after the Roman occupation of Greece. Just before the beginning of the end for the Roman Empire, the Emperor Theodosius I disbanded the games in 393 A.D. because the collapse of Lehman Brothers and a $787 billion stimulus package put too much of a strain on their economy…. Ok so the real reason was because he believed the games were too “secular” and fostered the ancient pagan religion rather than his new adopted religion for the empire, Christianity. Much of what we know of the ancient Olympics comes from first-hand sources. One of the most important sources is Pausanius who was basically the Rick Steves of the classical period. In 175 A.D. he wrote a travel book of the Mediterranean area after visiting several historic sites in Greece, creating the basis for Lonely Planet today (slight exaggeration).

Skip ahead over 1000 years to 17^th century England. Games were organized under the title of the Olympick Games on Cotswold Hill in Gloucestershire, England by a man named Robert Dover in 1612. These "games" were a series of competitions that mostly revolved around organized fights and brawls. For instance, in one of the early fights a man named Sir German Poole fought a Mr Hutchinson, of Gray’s Inn, during which Poole cut off three of Hutchinson’s fingers before he had even drawn his sword. In revenge Hutchinson sliced off Poole’s nose, picked it up, pocketed it and went off with it so that it could not be sewn on again. What?! Yep. So anyway, the Olympicks were suspended during the English Civil War, but were restored after the Restoration. The games were then disbanded again in the 19^th century, only to be brought back in all their Olympick glory in 1963. Today, the games are more of a mixture of schoolboy fights on the playground, Scottish Highland Games, and Fight Club. The main attraction of the Olympicks today (aside from the massive consumption of alcohol) is the sport of shin-kicking. Yes, shin-kicking. Don’t believe me? Enjoy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iKcDNfIy7w

Right, so then we come to 1896, after 1500 years the Olympic Games return to Greece for the beginning of the modern Olympic Games in Athens. Winter Olympic sports were first added to the games during the 1924 games in Chamonix, France. Until 1992, there were held on the same year as the Summer Olympics, but in 1992 the Winter Games were changed to fall on an alternate schedule falling on even years.

So that pretty much brings you up-to-date with the Olympic Games today. Some things have changed. Athletes do not compete in the nude anymore, and are even allowed to wear outlandish pants that the fashion police should have caught, such as the Norwegian curling team. But many things remain the same: peaceful competition, strict punishments for cheating, and even the granting of citizenship to stellar athletes to allow them to compete for a different country (recorded by Pausanius in 175 A.D. and news media in the 2008 Beijing Games).

Last random Olympic factoid: The entrance of the Olympic torch to begin the games was started with the 1936 Games in Berlin. Leni Reifenstahl (who lived to be 101, dying in 2003), the renowned German filmmaker who created Triumph of the Will, was commissioned by Hitler to document the games to show the power and glory of Germany. In creating this cinematic masterpiece documentary called Olympia, she envisioned a dramatic start to the event. She came up with the idea of the Olympic Torch Run to accomplish this effect. The act of carrying a torch in to start the Olympic grounds has no factual basis from ancient history.

February Holiday Fun with a History

I’m sure I’m not the first to say it, but the Winter Olympics for some reason just aren’t as exciting as the Summer Olympics. Therefore, while I watch paired figure skating, y’all are getting another post, and a timely one at that!

A “Love” for “The Presidents”

Valentine’s Day and Presidents Day back-to-back? Doesn’t happen often. Especially after nearly a week of the federal government being closed for a miraculous 10-day weekend for some. So what’s the deal with these two holidays? One is paired with Hallmark, and the other with history nerds like me (although in all fairness, you’re reading this so you’re just as guilty). But both with a rich and fascinating history.

In chronological order, Valentine’s Day, like all good holidays, has its roots in ancient Rome. There were actually several St. Valentines from the ancient Roman period, all of whom are enshrouded in mystery and vagueness. The first time any St. Valentine was mentioned was not until Pope Gelasius I mentioned him in AD 496 as a man whose good deeds were known to God. Skip ahead 1000 years to 1493, a legend surfaces that St. Valentine was a Roman Christian priest who continued to marry Roman soldiers in the 3^rd century when the emperor Claudius II desired an army of unmarried men, believing they would be stronger. St. Valentine was eventually martyred for performing these marriages. Another legend has St. Valentine as a Christian priest who was interrogated by the Roman Emperor Claudius II. Valentine was sentenced to death. While in prison before his execution he allegedly healed the daughter of the jailor and fell in love with her. He then wrote her love letters signed, “your Valentine.”

No one really knows exactly who St. Valentine was, but it wasn’t until the time of Chaucer (1490s) that the association with love and relationships began. As for the date, some say that it is on February 14 to combat the ancient Roman rite of Lubercalia, celebrating fertility, which was celebrated between February 13-15. Weird, I haven’t mentioned that mischievous little god Cupid, son of Venus? He was not associated with the holiday until it became a romantic holiday in the 1500s. And as our boy Shakespeare would say, “Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind; And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind.”

In America, Presidents Day (or President’s Day, or even Presidents’ Day, all are officially correct depending on your meaning) celebrates all the presidents between the birthdays of Lincoln and Washington. However, the holiday actually differs from state-to-state. For instance, in Virginia the holiday is specifically dedicated to Virginia native George Washington, and no one else. This is actually how the holiday came to pass. In 1885, Washington’s birthday (Feb. 22) became a federal holiday, and the first holiday dedicated to an American citizen. In 1971, the date was changed to be the third Thursday in February, which often times makes it not fall on Washington’s birthday. Since then, several legislative attempts have tried to officially rename the holiday “Presidents Day” but all failed in Congress. It took help from the advertising business to push this unofficial title.

Again, depending on the state you’re in will depend how this day is celebrated. But no matter which state you’re in, it’s a federal holiday, which means no school and for federal employees… no work! Washington is 278 today by the way.

On a side note, check out this article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/14/AR2010021403568.html.

It is about slaves who worked for presidents in the White House and eventually lived in D.C. one in particular who worked for Jefferson and Madison with a fascinating story.

Create-a-Nation

Well, the federal government is finally back open tomorrow, my road is finally plowed, and there is a rumor that the metro may or may not be running in full service. Therefore, before I get back in the office tomorrow, here is another random fact for everyone to digest (and believe me this is random)…

Create-a-Nation: The Principality of Sealand

International law entertains some of its most interesting and bizarre cases with the entrance of micro-nations into the world in the 20^th century. Micro-nations are essentially self-proclaimed countries who are almost unanimously rejected by the rest of the world. Excuse me? Yes you heard me correctly, you can create your own nation! For instance, let’s say you were sailing along the coast of Britain one day and stumbled upon an old, abandoned barge. You climb aboard and imagining yourself to be a mixture of a pirate and Christopher Columbus proclaim, “I declare this barge to be ruled by myself, King Lee.” Sound ridiculous?

Well this actually happened! While there is no Leeland (yet), there is a Sealand. The micro-nation of Sealand was “colonized” in 1967 by Major Paddy Roy Bates, a British citizen who intended to set up his own radio station on an abandoned WWII British anti-aircraft fort that was set up on a sandbar 6 miles off the British coastline. In 1968, Roy Bates and his son were summoned to a British court for firing warning shots at a ship that had entered Sealand’s “territorial waters.” The court decreed that Sealand was not part of the United Kingdom because it lay 6 miles off British soil, and international law limits territorial waters to 3 miles off shore.

Bates heralded this as a victory for Sealand. Oh and get ready for this. In 1978, a German citizen named Alexander Achenbach, claiming he was the Prime Minister of Sealand, gathered a group of Dutch and German “soldiers” together and “invaded” Sealand, taking Bates’ son Michael, prisoner in an earth-shattering coup-d’etat. Roy Bates would have none of this. He decided to retaliate by enlisting a small army and a helicopter from Britain and took back the island, in turn holding Achenbach prisoner. To negotiate his release, Germany sent Ambassadors to Sealand. This court ruling along with the visit of German diplomats gave Bates all the de facto legitimacy he needed to claim independence. (Believe me, I couldn’t make this up if I tried).

Sealand now has a constitution, a flag, a national anthem, currency (that is linked in value to the U.S. dollar), a newspaper, athletes who participate in international competitions, and even issues passports (that are not recognized anywhere). Two recent changes in international law have affected Sealand and the future for any of us wanting to create our own island nation. In 1987, the UK pushed back its territorial waters from 3 miles off shore to 12 miles, thus making Sealand entrapped in the UK’s jurisdiction. Also, in 1982, the Law of the Sea treaty forbade any person from creating or claiming artificial islands as independent states. Lucky for Americans, the United States hasn’t ratified the Law of the Sea treaty, so if you stumble across an artificial island, have at it!

More to come on micro-nations at a later date.

Just Your Everyday History for Starters

Well this is the first of the blogs, and to begin I figured I'd share something timely and appropriate...

What Was the Worst Snow in D.C. History?

As those of you who live in the D.C. area (and even into West Virginia and Delaware) are very well aware, we have gotten a maelstrom of snow that has knocked out power, ruined weekend plans, and given all who live here with the worst case of cabin-fever since... well since people actually lived in cabins and had fevers. Forecasts before the storm were calling for anywhere between 6 and 40 inches of snow with the end result being closer to the latter. Most areas in and around Washington, D.C. accumulated more than 30 inches (Washington, D.C. official snowfall according to Reagan Airport was 17.8 inches), and are now bracing themselves for another 10-15 inches to be dumped on the region by the end of Wednesday's follow-up blizzard. Or as some Washington jargon creators have dubbed it, Snowpocalypse 2.0.

You will be interested to know that the worst snowfall on record for the region was in 1922 with 28 inches recorded. So while Gaithersburg, MD reined in 30 inches as its official count, and Crofton, VA recorded a whopping 34 inches, D.C.'s official snowfall is still 17.8 inches (still beating the 1996 blizzard that recorded 17.1 inches in D.C.). Reagan National Airport became the official scorekeeper for D.C. weather in 1941, but has recently come under scrutiny for possible inaccurate measurements. For instance, just a hop, skip, and a jump south (literally) of the airport in Alexandria, VA, snowfall was recorded at 28.9 inches. Conspiracy? Dun dun dunnnnn.

Even more than 1922 is believed to be in 1772 where snowfall was estimated at over 3 feet! Now keep in mind Washington, D.C. was not Washington, D.C. In fact, there was no United States in 1772, but unofficial records maintain that this was the worst snowfall the region has seen in the past few hundred years. Only 13 times since 1870 has there even been more than 1 foot of snow at any given time in the Washington, D.C. area. So not only did we endure a massive snow in December 2009, but now with the prediction of another foot of snow between Tuesday and Wednesday the region could be facing bringing this statistic to 16 times since 1870 .

In fact, one scientist predicted that if all the snow that fell on the East Coast were melted, it would fill 12 million Olympic swimming pools or 30,000 Empire State buildings. Yikes! Even the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate have cancelled votes for the week and Members could be seen hustling and bustling around the District struggling to uncover cars or find public transportation that was still working. So, continue to stock up on food, beer, and wine, charge your phone, keep a flashlight by your side, and let's get ready to brace for Snowmaggedon Redux. You're living through history! Watch it being made out your front-door.

Just in case you were wondering, here are the top 5 worst snowfalls in D.C. history according to the Washington Post:

January 27-28, 1922 ... 28 inches
February 11-13, 1899 ... 20.5 inches
February 18-19, 1979 ... 18.7 inches
January 6-8, 1996 ... 17.1 inches
February 15-18, 2003 ... 16.7 inches