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MAY 30 — 1806 Andrew Jackson kills Charles Dickinson; 1908 Aldrich-Vreeland Act passes in response to Panic of 1907; 2009 Melvin Booth grows world’s longest fingernails
1806 – Andy Jackson kills Charles Dickinson.
…Huh? His wife’s….husband…wait what did Old Hickory do? Let me explain.
Future US President Andrew Jackson married Rachel Donelson Robards, whose 26-year old husband Charlie Dickinson had abandoned her, before the couple realized that she was still legally married to Dickinson.
Oops, oh well too late.
It was a technicality, but still Rachel was ostracized by society as a bigamist. Old Hickory would have an incredible 103 duels just to stand up for Rachel’s honor. It seemed all he did was stand up for her, and supposedly kept 37 pistols ready to be used in a duel at all times.
Andrew Jackson, a former Revolutionary veteran was born in 1767 in the Waxhaw’s area along the border between North Carolina and South Carolina. Old hickory Jackson was the last president to be a veteran of the American Re3bvolution and the first president to bring the backcountry values of the Carolinas to the White House. After lightning in the Battle of Hanging Rock in August 1780, he and his brother Robert were captured by British. In prison, the two men contracted smallpox, and Robert didn’t make it through.
Anyway, getting back to the duel.
On May 30, 1806, on the bank of the Red River, Jackson and Dickinson stood 24 paces apart, opposite one another. My money would have went on Dickinson since he was the better shooter. But that’s what I would get for underestimating The Old Hero, King Andrew the First as Old Hickory was nicknamed when he was President.
Both men held a .70 caliber pistol matching set. John Overton, a general in the military present at the duel, looked on as Dickinson aimed and fired towards Jackson’s heart.
Despite smoke and dust billowing from Jackson’s coat and his hand touching his chest, Jackson remained standing, puzzling the accomplished Dickinson. Reportedly, Dickinson asked, My God! Have AI missed him?
Now it was Jackson’s turn. He shot, and dropped Dickinson like a third period French junior college class. Dickinson died later that night, and Jackson suffered two broken ribs and a bullet inches from his heart.
Now it was Jackson’s turn. He shot, and dropped Dickinson like a third period French junior college class. Dickinson died later that night, and Jackson suffered two broken ribs and a bullet inches from his heart.
1908 – Alrdrich-Vreeland Act passes in response to the Panic of 1907.
This would create the National Monetary Commission, and they would create the Federal Reserve. Americans were fed up with unreliable money systems and panics seemingly every generation. Serious banking reform became clearly needed,
According to Minnesota Congressman Charles A. Lindbergh Sr, the father of the legendary aviator, in regards to the Panic of 1907, “Those not favorable to the money trust could be squeezed out of business and the people frightened into demanding changes in the banking and currency laws which the Money Trust would frame.”
Yup, definitely time to get it under control, and President Teddy Roosevelt signed it, just before retiring from his party and creating his Bull Moose Party.
The bill provided short term emergency aid to ease the ongoing credit crisis, gave national banks more flexibility by allowing a wider choice of securities when issuing notes, and allowed banks to use bonds of states, cities and counties. As a result, the money flowed in; William Taft beat William Jennings Bryant yet again and became a popular president.
Like many presidents who serve during times of a booming economy. For now, however, on this day in 1908, America would begin its fourth quest at central banking.
1911 – The first Indianapolis 500 is run.
…The 200-lap, two and a half mile race has since become a Memorial Day weekend tradition. With the exception of a break during the years of American involvement in both world wars, it has been run every year since, and is now the largest sporting event in the world, attended by about 270,000 spectators annually.
At the first Indy 500 in 1911, 40 cars met the qualifications to race. Track founder Carl Fisher felt the large number could lead to danger, so he decided to lead the first lap around the track at about 40 or 45 miles per hour, before pulling off to the side. The pace car has since become standard practice at all auto races.
In the 30th mile of the race, 80,000 spectators watched as a driver from Chicago lost a front wheel, which caused his car to turn over on the track. Both the driver and his mechanic, who rode shotgun, were thrown from the car. The mechanic slammed against a fenced and died instantly, while the driver escaped with a broken arm.
That was the only fatality, and Ray Harroun, driving a Marmon, was declared the winner with a time of 06:41:08. Harroun was the only driver in the race who didn’t ride with a mechanic.
Instead, he employed a rear-view mirror, his own invention, to keep an eye on the other cars on the track.
1992 – Happy Anniversary Paul Simon and Edie Brickell.
I guess life is good, the only exception being a minor domestic violence thing that turned out to be nothing at all.
2009 – Longest fingernails on a set of male hands is grasped by Melvin Boothe of Troy, MI.
Nailed it man! 32 feet, 3.8 inches. I can’t help but wondering if he could jimmy a vending machine. The record remains in his clutches.
Unfortunately Boothe passed away in 2009 when he got in a fight with a barbed wire fence. Ok, so I made that last part up.I think she was mad at him for his choice of the hats he wears in public. Can’t say I blame Edie.