NO PODCAST — APOLOGIES FOR THE DELAY ON THIS ONE!
Today is National Ding-a-Ling Day. According to National Day Calendar, “National Ding-a-Ling Day on December 12th encourages us to reconnect with people we once talked to often.” Call someone and say hi.
It’s also National Gingerbread House Day and National Poinsettia Day.
Finally, it’s National Ambrosia Day — I wish they’d let this one die.
Now let’s get onto today’s history…
John Jay (1745-1829) was born on December 12, 1745. He was a founding father, one of the drafters of the Constitution, and the first Chief Justice of the United States from 1789 to 1795.
Jay's legal expertise and influence were crucial in establishing the early principles of the American legal system. He also negotiated the Treaty of Paris in 1783, served as the second Governor of New York from 1795 to 1801, and co-wrote several essays in the Federalist Papers, advocating for ratification. Speaking of ratification, Pennsylvania became second state to ratify the constitution on this day in 1787.
Another NY Governor born on this day was William L. Marcy (1786–1857). A Democrat, Marcy served as the Governor of New York from 1833 to 1839. He also served as Secretary of War under Andrew Jackson (1831-1833), and Secretary of State under James K. Polk (1845–1849).
Marcy is credited with the adage, "To the victor belong the spoils of the enemy," referring to the practice of rewarding political supporters with government positions.
Speaking of corruption and political favors, in 1946 John D. Rockefeller, Jr. gifted six Manhattan blocks to the United Nations.
In President history, Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter announced his candidacy for President in 1974, Sara Jane Moore pleaded guilty to trying to kill US President Gerald Ford in 1975 — she served 32 years — and, in 2000, George W. bush was declared President by the US Supreme Court in a 5-4 decision. I’m so ashamed that, at the time, I thought the decision was a win.
Finally in US government, in 1980 national copyright law was amended to include computer programs. Remember life in 1980? I was one. It was a simpler time.
In World Government Today:
1731: Erasmus Darwin, grandfather of Charles Darwin, born
1858: First Canadian coins circulated
1894: Canadian PM John Thompson died of a sudden heart attack at 49
1941: Germans search homes in Paris, looking for Jews
1941: Soviet 20th army recaptured Soljetsjnogorsk
1961: Adolf Eichmann was found guilty of war crimes in Israel
1988: Yasi Arafat accepted Israel's right to exist
2018: China built 88 out of world's 143 skyscrapers in 2018
2020: Xi Jinping claimed the country will reduce its carbon intensity by 65% by 2030
2020: UN begs world to declare "climate emergency"
In Culture…
In 1966, the Wisconsin Supreme Courts voted 4-3, allowing the Braves to move to Atlanta. Wisconsin appealed to the Supreme Court, who declined to take up the case and the Braves stayed in Atlanta. This case showcased the intersection of sports, antitrust laws, and constitutional considerations about interstate commerce in America’s national pastime.
Other sports notables include Arthur Ashe becoming the first black person be ranked #1 in tennis in 1968, and Joe Namath playing his final game with the NY Jets in 1976.
There was also Rollermania at Madison Square Garden in 1987, and Mike Tyson was sued for sexual harassment in 1988.
Firsts
There were a number of firsts and key moments today, including:
1899: First case of plague in Hawaii
1899: First wooden golf tee patent
1901: First transatlantic radio signal
1915: First all-metal aircraft test flown
1946: First 'Tide' laundry detergent
1955: First hovercraft patent
Money
In addition to Canadia minting money today, gold hit a record high of $462.50 an ounce in 1979, and 44 years later it’s $1,992.
Exactly one year after gold’s record, in 1980, Apple made its IPO at $22/share. 38 years later it would become the first US company valued at over $1 trillion. Apple is currently valued at $3T, with a share value of $195/share.
In 1982, a Sentry armored transport was robbed of almost 11 million dollars by the transport’s guard Christos Potamitis and his accomplices. Five people went to prison, but only $1.2M was recovered. That $11M is around $44M in 2023.
Science
The UN established their Committee on Peaceful Use of Outer Space in 1959, and two years later in 1961, the Amateur radio satellite Oscar 1 was launched with military Discoverer 36.
The deepest point on land, on earth, was identified in 2019 under Denman Glacier in east Antarctica. It was a depth of 11,500ft (3.5km) below sea level.
In Print
Joseph Pulitzer was a Hungarian-American newspaper publisher and editor, best known for establishing the modern newspaper and for founding the Pulitzer Prizes. On this day in 1878, Pulitzer began publishing the "St. Louis Post-Dispatch."
In 2022, Emma Tucker was appointed editor-in-chief of The Wall Street Journal, becoming the first woman to lead the paper.
On Screen
Sammy Davis, Sr. was born in 1900, and 23 years later, Bob Barker was born 1923. 47 years after that, Jennifer Connelly was born in 1970, followed by Mayim Bialik in 1975.
Last week, we talked about Frank Sinatra, Jr. being kidnapped, and on this day in 1963, he was returned after his father paid the $240,000 ransom. It was also his — the father, Frank Sinatra — birthday (1915).
Films released today include:
1969: "The Magic Christian" (Comedy)
1972: "The Poseidon Adventure" (Drama)
1977: "Saturday Night Fever" (Drama)
1988: "Rainman" (Drama)
In 1997, Autumn Jackson was sentenced to 26 months for trying to extort $40 million from Bill Cosby after claiming to be his daughter, and in 2001, Winona Ryder waa arrested on shoplifting charges in Beverly Hills.
Music
Dionne Warwick was born in 1940, and Dickey Betts in 1943.
Mildred Bailey, "The Queen of Swing,” died of heart failure at 44 in 1951.
Religion
There were several notable moments in religion, though some of these would be properly categorized in D&D.
1098: First Crusaders plunder Syria
1279: Mary Magdalene’s sarcophagus allegedly found in France
1408: Order of the Dragon created
1479: Jews expelled from Schlettstadt Alsace
1524: Pope Clement VII approved Organization of Jewish Community of Rome
1694: The Royal Society censured Edmond Halley for suggesting that Noah's flood could have been a comet
1769: Pope proclaimed a universal jubilee
In Death & Destruction…
In 1946, 38 were killed when an abandoned ice plant in Manhattan collapsed during a fire. Ironic.
Other D&D today includes:
1917: 543 killed in French troop train derailment in the French Alps
1939: 750 killed when Russ Indigirka capsized in blizzard off Japanese coast
1942: 100 killed in a hostel fire in Newfoundland
1948: 24 killed in Malayan Emergency, aka Batang Kali Massacre
1969: 14 killed in Milan, office bombing
1975: 138 killed when gas stove exploded, fire in Mecca
1985: 248 killed in Arrow Air charter crash
1985: 258 killed in DC-8 crash near Newfoundland
1986: 70 killed in Russian Tupolev-134 crash in East Berlin
1988: 40 killed when three trains collide in London
1992: 3,000 killed in tsunami caused by 6.8-7.5 earthquake in Flores Island
On This Day is published Monday through Friday. Watch the Today’s History podcast weekdays at 12PM ET! Don’t forget to visit bootlegproducts.com and use coupon code MYAMERICA!