A few people died centuries ago, but they're not that interesting. So we'll start with the incomparable Blackbeard, aka Edward Teach. He bit the big one on this date in 1718. But his ghost came back to star in a movie or two for Disney. Which I hadn't thought of in about 30 years, until just now. I wonder if the film was as good as I recall, or if I was just awfully young. That might warrant further investigation...
Also dying today was John Hanson, who served in the Continental Congress. Some folks call him the first American President, but I'd argue they're wrong. But he was no Washington, so it doesn't really matter. I mean really- who'd want the Capital to be in the District of Hanson? What would be the national anthem then, Mmmbop?
Some folks will mourn, others will celebrate the passing of Shemp Howard. He was one of the 3 Stooges, of course, but it would be kinda like noting the life of a latecomer to the Beatles, if there had been one. Only not as interesting. Sorry.
Some guy named Kennedy died today, in Dallas Texas. Bummer. Apparently somebody didn't like him. I'm not much for conspiracy theories, but somebody once wrote an article which made the interesting argument that Oswald spent a few years in the USSR, and married a Russian woman, niece of an influential KGB officer, and that she was not only allowed to marry him, but was also allowed to leave the Country with him when he decided it wasn't the Workers Paradise he'd expected. As the article argued, there are some odd things about the whole Marina Oswald story, which have never been explained. And probably never will be.
Michael Hutchence also died on this date. He was in INXS, until he got bored and tried wanking while hanging himself. Yeah, that's a good idea. And it won't end well. Maybe that's why orgasm is sometimes called "the little death", though in his case, it would be more accurately called The Great Big Final Death. Hope it was worth it. Finding a bunch of models to dress up as cheerleaders apparently wasn't adequate for him. Oh well.
Pat Dobson also died. He was a baseball pitcher. He played for the Tigers for a few years, so good for him. Then he went to Baltimore, and did pretty well for them too, being one of 4 pitchers to win 20 games for them in 1971, which was a pretty good feat for them. Alas, he died of leukemia in 2006.
I, on the other hand, would argue that those people who call Mr. Hanson the first President of the US, would be correct. Certainly the position didn't exist then as it did when President Washington was elected, nor did the original Articles of Confederation have an Executive Branch, but even without that he was the first person elected to lead the country, which makes him, in effect, the first President. Good thing too, since after the war ended all those pesky troops who spent years away from their home wanted to get paid when there wasn't any money. They were actually threatening to overthrow the new government and install George Washington as king. George, by the way, also voted for Hanson to be new countries first leader. Also an interesting factoid, that while George was off winning the war, it was Hanson who actually ran the government. Honestly, I don't think you spent anywhere near enough time on Mr. Hanson.
ReplyDeleteWell remember that I'm being succinct here. And I would mention that Washington also had a hand in the fact that he wasn't named king- going all the way back to his appointment as General in Chief, he was always very deferential to the civilian authority. At times, like the winter of 1776-77, they gave him dictatorial powers, but he still deferred to Congress. And he could have become either a ruling king or at least a constitutional monarch, and he still refused. So while you might have a point about Hanson, he certainly wasn't the only one.
ReplyDeleteBut others also can be claimed- Hancock was the leader of the Second Continental Congress when independence was declared, so does that make him any less valid as a "first" president? Or the guy who took charge (briefly) while Hancock signed? (Don't recall his name off the top of my head) To forestall your objection, perhaps Mr. Hanson was the "first person elected to lead the country", but if Hancock was elected by the delegates to lead the government, then that would seem to be a pretty solid claim, right?
In the end, it all comes down to how you define the term, which often has a built in bias.
But thanks for the comment, and happy turkey day to you and your gang!