July 14th

"Le Jour de la Bastille" is celebrated as the dawn of democracy in France. On this day in 1789 citizens of Paris (more like a mob of 20,000) stormed the Bastille prison and released the seven prisoners inside. The prison was a symbol for absolutism of the monarchy of Louis XVI. The prisoners were four forgers, an accomplice to murder, a nobleman jailed for incest, and an insane Irishman. The prison guards had a very bad day and the warden's head ended up on a pike but in about a year Louis XVI lost more than just his crown.

On July 14, 1798 the Constitution of the United States was under seige. Yea so what else is new? Because John Adams had a very thin skin and supporters of Thomas Jefferson were calling him names like "bald," "blind," "crippled," and "toothless," on this day in American history Congress passed a law making it a federal crime to publish false, scandalous or malicious writing about the U.S. government.

To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that we are to stand by the president right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public. — Theodore Roosevelt

The Sedition Act was actually the last of four passed on that dark year. One act—the Alien Enemies Act—is still in force in 2009, and has frequently been enforced in wartime. Thomas Jefferson held them all to be unconstitutional, pardoned and ordered the release of all who had been convicted because of The Sedition Act. Where is Thomas Jefferson when we need him?

On July 14, 1834 James McNeill Whistler, the famed American-born painter and designer, was born. Following his death on July 17, 1903, his obituary appeared in The New York Times. (Go to obit.)

Today is also an historic day for Glass Houses. On July 14th in 1853 America's first World's Fair began in the Crystal Palace, a huge iron and glass structure on the site of today's Bryant Park in New York City.

In 1867, Alfred Nobel (of Peace Prize fame) first showed off his explosive invention. Dynamite was demonstrated at Merstham Quarry in Redhill, Surrey.

In 1868, Alvin J. Fellows of New Haven, CT patented the tape measure. Alvin’s measurements: 40-46-42.

July 14, 1868 was also the day that Gertrude Bell was born. Gertrude Bell had the nickname "Uncrowned Queen of Iraq." Her knowledge of the Middle East earned her an appointment to the British intelligence services during World War I. She was largely responsible for the selection of Faisal I as king of Iraq and the proposed borders within Mesopotamia to include the three Ottoman Empire vilayets that later became Iraq. Bell's influence led to the creation of a country dominated by an oil rich Shi'ite majority in the south and denied the Sunni Kurds a separate, autonomous area or state. The British attempt to control the potential oil fields has been causing trouble ever since.

In 1912, a hero of the people was born. Woody Guthrie who wrote "This Land Is Your Land," "Bound for Glory," "Union Maid" and other American classics, crisscrossed the nation, living & singing among the dispossessed.

A folk song is what’s wrong and how to fix it or it could be
who’s hungry and where their mouth is or
who’s out of work and where the job is or
who’s broke and where the money is or
who’s carrying a gun and where the peace is.
– Woody Guthrie

His music and lyrics helped remind Americans of government actions like The Ludlow Massacre.

In 1916 the Dada Manifesto by Hugo Ball was read for the first time.

How does one achieve eternal bliss? By saying dada. How does one become famous? By saying dada.

Well it worked for a while for Idi Amin.

In 1921, after massive miners' strikes, both private army and government induced violence, three separate declarations of martial law and The Matewan Massacre and the Battle of Blair Mountain the Senate Committee on Education & Labor begins a three-month investigation of the crises in West Virginia's coal mining industry.

In 1933 Germany, the Nazi Party banned all opposition parties. As we all know here in the U.S.A. two is always better than one.

On this day in 1951 Citation began a glorious retirement as a million dollar horse by winning the Hollywood Gold Cup. The great Citation was the eighth American thoroughbred horse-racing Triple Crown champion, and one of two major North American thoroughbreds (along with Cigar in 1994-96) to win 16 races in a row in major stakes competition.

In 1958, the pro-West government of Iraq was overthrown by ‘Abd al-Karim Qasim. King Faisal was assassinated along with his entire household and his prime minister in a coup by army officers which resulted in Iraq's becoming a republic. Baghdad Radio announced the Army has liberated the Iraqi people from domination by a corrupt group put in power by "imperialism" and would "maintain ties with other Arab countries."

On this day in 1965, Adlai E. Stevenson Jr. the Democratic presidential nominee in 1952 and 1956, died at age 65. It is claimed that during his 1956 presidential campaign, a woman called out to Adlai E. Stevenson: "Senator, you have the vote of every thinking person!". Stevenson called back "That's not enough, madam, we need a majority!"Had Americans been smart enough for Adlai Stevenson, he could have been a contender for best president ever.

"Patriotism is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime."

"I have been thinking that I would make a proposition to my Republican friends... that if they will stop telling lies about the Democrats, we will stop telling the truth about them."

"I have tried to talk about the issues in this campaign... and this has sometimes been a lonely road, because I never meet anybody coming the other way."

"I'm not an old, experienced hand at politics. But I am now seasoned enough to have learned that the hardest thing about any political campaign is how to win without proving that you are unworthy of winning."
-Adlai E. Stevenson

Today the Adlai Stevenson Center on Democracy lives on.

In 1970, La guerra del fútbol began on July 14th! The Football War was a six-day war fought between El Salvador and Honduras. The increasing hostility between the two countries was further inflamed by rioting during the second North American qualifying round for the 1970 FIFA World Cup. Though short-lived, the war claimed thousands of lives and displaced approximately 100,000 people. But they both made it to the World Cup that year?

Was it a Curve or a Sinker? On this day in 1970, the most deceptive pitcher of all time threw out the first pitch in the All Star Game, Richard M. Nixon.

Jimmy Carter won the Presidential nomination during the Democratic National Convention at Madison Square Garden on this day in 1976 . The following day Jimmy Carter made a great speech. Later in a response to the Watergate scandal Carter won the popular vote by 50.1 percent to 48.0 percent over a man that more sensible Americans called the alleged president, Gerald Ford.

In 1977, the U.S. House establishes the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Among their many dysfunctions, they too maintain an "On This Day" page. On this day in espionage!

On the 200th Anniversary of Bastille Day, the French did it with style, flair and bliss. During the biggest street party since France was liberated after World War II there was an official opening of the concert hall, Opera Bastille, which has been built on the site of the Bastille prison. Well there was a few scuffles but everyone kept their heads.

In 1987 Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North concludes 6 days of Congressional testimony. Americans gladly return to their Soap Operas until The White Bronco.

In 2002, French President Jacques Chirac escapes an assassination attempt at Arc de Triomphe during Bastille Day celebrations. The gunman was a 25 year old neo-Nazi.

One year ago today: George W. Bush lifted an executive ban on offshore drilling which had stood since his father was president. What took him so long?