It’s National Tie One On Day – Apron that is. The day before Thanksgiving is a day most of us are prepping for Thursday’s main event. Wear an apron to protect your clothes and, if you really want to tie one on, have a glass of wine in the kitchen – and throw on a playlist since it’s also National Jukebox Day!
As for what you’re cooking, this is a bit contentious. It’s National Cranberry Relish Day which, in my view, is Thanksgiving heresy. The only cranberries served at my table are jellied, imprinted with can marks, and cut into beautiful slices. Fight me.
Now let’s get onto today’s history…
In Government…
Exactly 60 years ago, on this day in 1963, President John F. Kennedy was riding in a convertible in Dallas, Texas, waving to adoring American crowds, when he was shot to death. The official story was that Lee Harvey Oswald – who was known to authorities at the time – shot the President from a book depository building.
The official story required belief in a magic bullet theory, ignored contrary evidence, and led to the government coining the term, “conspiracy theorist,” to refer to anyone who questioned the government’s official narrative.
Now, six decades later, we know for certain that the official narrative was a lie. If you want to learn more, the details about the 35th President’s life, politics, and death are all over today. Here are some links to the (updated) official narrative:
And, if you’re looking for truth, check out the many Badlands Shows on the assassination of JFK:
Obviously, it was also the day that 36th President Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in and, as we discussed last week, that was the tipping point for the US sending troops to Vietnam.
More broadly in US government history, the second First Lady Abigail Adams was born on this day in 1744. Consider watching Laura Linney play Adams in the John Adams Miniseries – she was excellent.
A couple other events on this day seem relevant to today. In 1972, the US ended a 22 year travel ban to China. And in 1985, the largest ever swearing-in ceremony for new US citizens occurred, although we cannot find any footage of it – which is weird. Allegedly, 38,648 immigrants were sworn in following President Reagan’s Amnesty legislation that we discussed last week.
In world government history today…
1492: The Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria break up
1794: The French prohibited circumcision and wearing of beards
1830: Earl Grey became Prime Minister
1890: Charles de Gaulle was born
1906: Russia allowed peasants to withdraw from the communes
1930: Elijah Muhammad formed Nation of Islam in Detroit
1960: French decided to build own nuclear weapons
In Culture…
Firsts & Other Milestones
There were many cultural milestones in history today, including the engagement of Franklin Roosevelt and Eleanor Roosevelt in 1903. This is also the day that the flying boat "China Clipper" took off from California on the first trans-Pacific airmail flight in 1935. It was carrying 100,000 pieces of mail.
In patents today:
1809: Steel Pen (Peregrine Williamson)
1910: Steel Shaft Golf Clubs (Arthur Knight)
1927: Snowmobile (Carl Eliason)
1932: Pricing Pump
The Humane Society formed in 1954 in Washington, D.C., the price of silver hit a record of $2.17/oz in 1967, and the first interracial kiss on television took place in 1987. It was on Star Trek between Captain Kirk and Uhura.
Also in 1987, two Chicago television stations were hijacked by an unknown pirate dressed as Max Headroom. Similarly, in 2017 Uber admitted that hackers stole personal information affecting 57 million people worldwide – and the company paid $100,00 to keep quiet.
Sciencey Goodness
It was a lighter day for science, but in 2017, Vanellope Wilkins became the first UK baby to survive birth and the operations required to reinsert her heart. Wilkins was born with her heart outside her body. She is now six years old!
The (Tarnished) Silver Screen
In 1967, "The Producers," Mel Brooks' first film had a disastrous premiere and was almost shelved. It went on to win an Academy Award, and remains a cult class – as do all Mel Brooks movies. In 1991, "The Addams Family" premiered.
Finally in film, "Toy Story" premiered in 1995 – the first feature-length film created completely using computer-generated imagery. So many Pixar films would follow. On the Idiot Box, Simon & Garfunkel appeared on "American Bandstand" as "Tom & Jerry” on this day in 1957.
On the music front, "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" was first heard on Eddie Cantor's show in 1934. It’s now a classic. In 1957, the Miles Davis Quintet debuted at a jazz concert in Carnegie Hall in New York. The Beatles released "The Beatles" (White Album) in 1968 – it was their only double album – and in 2010, Kanye’s 5th studio album, "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" was released.
There are also a few key entertainer birthdays today as well:
1819: George Elliot (Victorian Novelist)
1921 Rodney Dangerfield (Legend)
1950: Tina Weymouth (Bassist on Psycho Killer)
1958: Jamie Lee Curtis (Painkiller Addicted Psycho)
1984: Scarlett Johnson (Black Widow and Lucy)
In Death & Destruction…
It was this day in 2014 that Tamir Rice, a 12-year-old boy, was shot dead by police in Cleveland, after brandishing a toy gun on a playground. Three years later, Ratko Mladic – the "Butcher of Bosnia" – was convicted of genocide and other war crimes during the Bosnian War. He was jailed for life in The Hague.
A lot of people died today. Like, a lot. Here is just a sample:
1247: Robin Hood (Hero)
1955: Shemp Howard (Three Stooges)
1963: Aldous Huxley (Prophet)
1963: CS Lewis (Prophet)
1980: Mae West (Legend)
Other updates in D&D today, include:
1891: Edward Bernays was born
1950: 79 killed in train crash in Richmond Hills, NY
2012: 2 killed and 120 injured in 100-vehicle pile-up in Texas
2012: 37 killed, 92 injured in 6 attacks across Pakistan
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!