JANUARY 2 — 1811 Pickering becomes 1st U.S. Senator to be censored; 1980 Detente between U.S. and U.S.S.R. ends; 1788 Georgia ratifies U.S. Constitution; 1973 Tex Ritter, father of actor John Ritter, dies bailing friend out of jail; 2007 Isaac Hayes tops U.K. Chart with TV Show South Park’s Chocolate Balls
JANUARY 2
1811 – Pickering becomes the first US senato to be censored. From Massachussets, Timothy Pickering served in the American Revolution as a Colonel, and after the war got into politics. However he was somewhat of a thorn in the side of the first four US presidents because of his pro-British alliances. He served under President George Washington, whom Pickering called a jmuch overated; semi-literate mediocrity. He also served under President John Adams, who requested him to resign due to not only his opposition to Jay’s Treatie, but his alliance with Alexander Hamilton who was egging on a war with France. Adams requested his resignation, and Pickering refused. So Adams fired him. In 1810 when President James Madison attempted to annex West Florida from the Spanish as being part of the Louisiana Purchase; Pickering somehow came up with a classified document stating clearly that West Florida was not part of the Louisiana Purchase, he was sushed in the Senate. Turned out Pickering was right, it would appear that West Floida was not part of the Louisiana purchas; problem was the fact that that was classified information and he shouldn’t have been able to get a hold of it. So that’s how Timothy Pickering becaue the first US senartor to get censored on January 2, 1811.
1980—Détente between the US and USSR ends. During the 60s and 70s, the Cold War was just a daily part of life. There was always a threat of nuclear destruction that could happen any minute. However these tensions becan thawing a little bit in the 70s after the Vietnam War ended, until the Russians decided to invade Afghanistan. If the Middle East would become dominated by communism, they could control much of the world’s oil supply. Niett!So much for the SALTII peace discussions with the Soviets. At this poin, President Jimmy carter got a little tougher on the Soviet Union by cfreating an embargo including grain and high technology and boycotted the 1980 Summer Olympics, which was cute but pointless. Carter woiuld lost oe Ronald Regan who took a much much tougher stand on communism.
1788 – Georgia becomes the first southern state and the fourth in the US to ratify the U.S. constitution. Georgia was named after King George III and Euopeans began settling there in 1733. Blah blah blah, let’s get to the trivia. Thanks to 40states.com, we learn that St. Mary’s IS THE SECOND OLDEST CITY IN America. In Gainesville, the chicken capital of the world,, it’s illegal to eat chicken with a fork. The popular theme park Six Flags of Georgeia represent flags that flew over Georgia, including England, Spain, Liberty, hgeotgia, the confederate States and United statutes of America. The worlds largest infantry training center in the world is located at Ft. Benning.
1973 — Country singer Tex Ritter died of a heart attack at the age of 67, while trying to bail a member of his band out of jail. Tex’s son John Ritter was the star of the US TV sit-com, Three’s Company. Soul singer Isaac Hayes topped the UK chart with a tune called “Chocolate Salty Balls”, using the exaggerated deep voice of Chef, his character in the animated TV series South Park.