MAY 27 — 1813 Jefferson and Adams renew friendship; 1941 FDR gives National Emergency Speech; 2016 O’Brady completes the Explorer Grand Slam; 1937 Happy Birthday “Wild Bill” Hicock
MAY 27
1813 – Thomas Jefferson reaches out to his old pal John Adams.
…The two men first became friends at the 1775 continental congress in Philadelphia. They worked together in 1776 to draft the Declaration of Independence. They worked together on diplomatic missions in France and England and toured Shakespeare’s house together. They were besties, as illustrated to their writings of affection to each other.
Politically however, they disagreed. When Jefferson succeeded Adams as President of the US, Jefferson took on a whole new cabinet of Adam’s worst political enemies. The two men stopped speaking and writing to each other for twelve years, until 1809 when Jefferson retired from office. A mutual friend and co-signer of the Declaration of Independence.
Philadelphia physician Dr. Benjamin Rush tried to get the two men to start talking again, and Jefferson took it upon himself to renew their suspended friendship. But Adams was stubborn and wouldn’t respond until later.
When Dr. Rush died, Jefferson and Adams realized how short time really can be and recon ciliated their mutual friendship on May 27 1813. Adams and Jefferson remained great friends until both of them passed away within hours of each other, on July 4, 1826, the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence that all three friends had signed.
1941 – FDR gives his unlimited national emergency speech.
…During one of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s fireside chats, he justified the event of having to go to war against the Nazis and called the American public to take loyal part from this moment forward. This was not a declaration of war, just reminding about America’s dedication to projecting the seas safe for traders, which could result in escalation that may lead to war.
He warned that the Nazis seek to dominate the world and that the US has already taken steps to defeat them, for instance concentrating more on the international situation than domestic business, increased the military strength, and providing aid and weapons to the allies.
He also mentioned how life would be if America was under Nazi rule, saying that Germany would literally parcel out the world; and that there would be no rights for workers and exportation and trade with other nations would cease. There would be no money for FDR social programs, including education, housing, public works, flood control and health. Even the rights of worship would be threatened, FDR continued that the Nazi’s recognize no got except Hitler.
Seven months later, the US entered WWII after Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor in December 7, 1941.
2016 – Colin O’Brady becomes the fastest male to climb the Seven Summits
and ski the polar last degrees, otherwise known as The Explorer Grand Slam.
Born 1985 in Olympia Washington, O’Brady was raised in Portland Oregon as an athlete and graduated from Yale in 2006 not thinking he would be a professional athlete. But after suffering near fatal burns from a tragic accident, he was told he’d never walk again, and his competitive edge came back. By the time he was done with rehab, the triathlon became too easy for O’Brady, and he set his eyes on the Explorer Grand Slam. Working with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, O’Brady set out on a quest to raise money to promote physical activity and other healthy habits in youth. Training for the Explorer Grand Slam became a lot more than staying healthy and physically fit; it took endurance, patience, and a little craziness. He dealt with problems beyond his control, staying focused. After reaching Carstensz Pyramid, he skiid the polar last degrees, and finally on this day, reached the summit of Denali in Alaska, setting the new speed record of 139 days.
These days, O’Brady and his wife maintain their non-profit organization Beyond 7/2 which promotes physical fitness and healthy lifestyles.
1930 – Richard Drew invents masking tape.
… Why? Because he worked for 3M in St. Paul, MN, who at the time manufactured sandpaper. While testing their new Wetordry sandpaper at auto shops, Drew was fascinated to learn that the two-tone auto paintjobs so popular in the Roaring Twenties were difficult to manage at the border between the two colors.
That’s why!
The first masking tape, a two-inch wide tan paper strip backed with a light, pressure-sensitive adhesive. Brilliant! Richard Drew also transparent cellophane adhesive tape, but it’s a lot easier to call it by its common name: scotch tape.
1837 – Happy birthday Wild Bill Hickok.
Known mostly for being a skilled gunfighter and gambler, Wild Bill fought for the Union Army during the civil war and after that was a scout, marksman, and actor. He was shot in the back while playing poker in a saloon in Deadwood Dakota Territory. The poker hand he held that the time was aces and eights, now known as Dead Man’s Hand for that reason.