"Odessa": A very interesting song (and very sad love story) by Bee Gees

Today, we recall one of The Bee Gees' most interesting tunes, a very sad love story about a man shipwrecked in the North Atlantic.

Robin sings the lead and Barry & Maurice do some awesome background vocals.    It was the title song of their 1969 LP.

This is "Odessa, city in the Black Sea".

 P.S.  You can listen to my show (Canto Talk).  

Martha Washington (1731-1802): The first First Lady

Martha Washington was born on this day in 1732 and died in 1802.    Her husband, President Washington, died 3 years earlier in 1799.

Martha and George were married in 1759.   She was a widow with two children when they married.   The couple did not have their own children.  

During the Revolutionary War, she frequently followed him and urged the local women to help feed, clothe and tend to the soldiers.

Overall, Mrs.  Washington was a private person and loved Mt Vernon, where the couple is buried.    By the way, Mt Vernon is a wonderful place to visit.

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

Reagan "tear down that wall" 1987 plus Iran deal and President Bush

Reagan "tear down that wall" 1987 plus Iran deal and President Bush.....

 

The line that almost didn't happen

The line that almost didn't happen:

Did President Reagan see the future? We will never know, but he definitely knew the USSR and the Berlin Wall were doomed to fail.

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Time flies. On June 12, 1987, President Reagan was in Berlin and gave another memorable speech. We remember it as President Reagan's call for the USSR to tear down the Berlin Wall.

According to Peter Robinson, a speechwriter, the "line" was discussed and argued about in the State Department. Some of President Reagan's advisers thought that the line might be seen as provocative by the Kremlin. This is what happened:

Top administration officials said the speech was all wrong. Too provocative, said the National Security Council. Too tough, said the State Department.

The president overruled his advisers and, as he rode through the streets of West Berlin on June 12, 1987, he told an aide that his speech at the Brandenburg Gate was simply “the right thing to do.”

Addressing a crowd of thousands as he stood before the Berlin Wall -- the world’s most notorious symbol of Soviet tyranny -- President Reagan declared: “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”

For full context, President Reagan related the story of the two cities, one under Soviet domination and the other under Western values. He compared the two and challenged Mr. Gorbachev to change:

And now the Soviets themselves may, in a limited way, be coming to understand the importance of freedom. We hear much from Moscow about a new policy of reform and openness. Some political prisoners have been released. Certain foreign news broadcasts are no longer being jammed. Some economic enterprises have been permitted to operate with greater freedom from state control. Are these the beginnings of profound changes in the Soviet state? Or are they token gestures, intended to raise false hopes in the West, or to strengthen the Soviet system without changing it? We welcome change and openness; for we believe that freedom and security go together, that the advance of human liberty can only strengthen the cause of world peace.   There is one sign the Soviets can make that would be unmistakable, that would advance dramatically the cause of freedom and peace. General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization: Come here to this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!

Let's remember that there was talk of reform coming out of the old USSR. They called it "perestroika," and it was supposed to be a sign that the winds of change were blowing on the other side.

President Reagan said it anyway, rejecting the fears of his advisors that it might be too provocative and counterproductive. Two years later, the Soviet bloc collapsed, and Mr. Gorbachev didn't have to tear down his wall because the people did it for him.

What a great moment it was.

Did President Reagan see the future? We will never know, but he definitely knew the USSR and the Berlin Wall were doomed to fail.

P.S. Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos.

Click to read: https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/06/the_line_that_almost_didn_t_happen.html

We remember President George H W Bush (1924-2018)

We remember President George H. W. Bush who was born in 1924 and died in 2018.

To my knowledge, President John Quincy Adams never wrote a book about his father, President John Adams.   

Our generation is very lucky.    President George W. Bush, the 43rd president, wrote a book about his father, President George HW Bush, the 41st president.

It is historic and about the special relationship between a father and son.

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

We remember Reg Presley (1941-2013)

We remember Reg Presley who was born on this day in 1941.  He died in 2013.  Reg was the lead singer of The Troggs, a British band that had several Top 40 hits in the late 1960s. 

Reg's songs take me back to those days when we used to listen to AM radio and catch the top 40 every week.  

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

We remember Anne Frank (1929-45)

We remember Anne Frank who was born on this day in 1929.    

In 1942, she received a diary as a birthday present.      

A bit later, her family went into hiding in German occupied Holland.   Later, her diary was found and published.  

It is one of the greatest books of the 20th century.  

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

The Diary of Anne Frank Amazon............ https://t.co/o7v3OvGqVs via @amazon

— Silvio Canto, Jr. (@SCantojr) June 12, 2017

June 12, 1987: The Berlin Wall & President Reagan

Time flies.   On this day in 1987, or many years ago today, we watched President Reagan call on the USSR to tear down the Berlin Wall.    

According to Peter Robinson, a speechwriter, the "line" was discussed and argued about in the US State Department.  Some of President Reagan's advisers throught that the line might be seen as provocative by the Kremlin. 

At the end, President Reagan said it anyway. 

What a great moment it was. 

I can still remember holding our 3-week old son and watching it on TV back then. 

Did President Reagan see the future?  We will never know but he definitely knew that the USSR and the Berlin Wall were doomed for failure.  As we know now, The Berlin Wall eventually came down 30 months later! 

P.S. Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos.

We remember Jim Nabors (1930-2017)

James Thurston Nabors was born on this day in 1930.  He died in 2015 at age 87.     

Besides playing the happy Marine, Nabors also had an amazing singing voice.  

As a singer, Nabors released 28 albums and was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1985.

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

1965: "Satisfaction" is another year older!

Let's remember a landmark moment in pop/rock history.

We are talking about The Rolling Stones and "Satisfaction", their first big hit in the US and moving up the charts quickly this month in 1965.

It was voted by Rolling Stone (the magazine not related to the group) as the # 2 rock song of all time.

"Satisfaction" clearly put The Rolling Stones on the music map. However, I think that "Jumpin' Jack Flash" is the group's greatest song.

Nevertheless, we look back at one of the big moments in rock history.

The Stones were Mick Jagger on vocals and Keith Richards on lead guitar. The other 3 were Charlie Watts on drums, Bill Wyman on bass and the late Brian Jones was the other guitar.

What would rock music sound like without "Satisfaction", Mick Jagger and Keith Richards? It wouldn't be the same!

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.