We remember Roberto Clemente (1934-72)

Roberto Clemente was killed in a plane crash many years ago:

"On December 31, 1972, an airplane chartered by the professional baseball player Roberto Clemente to bring food and other relief supplies to survivors of a recent earthquake in Nicaragua crashes shortly after takeoff from San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Five people were killed in the crash, including Clemente, whose body was never recovered."

Like most of you, I was shocked to hear the news.       

Clemente hit .317 and got # 3,000 on his last at-bat of the 1972 season.   He was the MVP of the 1971 World Series and hit .318 in the postseason.

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1972: President Harry Truman died in Missouri

We remember that Pres Truman died on this day in 1972.  He was the 33rd president of the US and one of the most consequential figures of the 20th century.

VP Harry Truman became president when President Roosevelt died in April 1945.  As President, he faced some huge challenges in Europe and Japan, such as dropping two atomic bombs in Japan.  It was a tough decision but it ended the war.

President Truman was elected on his own in 1948 but his second term was very tough, from economic problems to the war in Korea.  As a consequence, he left the presidency with very low approval ratings and was succeeded by the very popular President Eisenhower.

Today, we think of President Truman as a decisive and strong president.  His legacy gets stronger and stronger with time.  He made decisions and that was his greatest asset.

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"Mary had a baby" by Mary Hopkin........

Mary Hopkin was 18 years old when she recorded "Those were the days"!

It was one of the biggest hits in pop music history.

She has a beautiful voice and recorded many songs many Christmases ago!

Here is "Mary had a baby":

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"Virgin Mary had a little baby

Oh, Glory Hallelujah

Oh Pretty little baby

Glory be to the newborn king

what will you name that pretty little baby

Oh, Glory Hallelujah

Oh pretty little baby

Glory be to the newborn king

some call him David

Think I'll call him Jesus

Oh Glory Hallelujah’

Oh Think I’ll call him Jesus

Glory to the newborn king

Some call him Jesus

Think I’ll call him Savior

Oh Glory Hallelujah’

Oh Think we’ll call him Savior

Glory be to the newborn King

My name is Mary

and I’m going to have a baby

Oh Glory Hallelujah

Jesus save my little baby

From a life of suffering"

MERRY CHRISTMAS.....FELIZ NAVIDAD....HAVE A NICE DAY WITH YOUR FAMILY

MERRY CHRISTMAS.....FELIZ NAVIDAD.... 

HAVE A NICE DAY WITH YOUR FAMILY.......

 Guest:  Frank Burke, author, businessman and contributor to American Thinker......we will look back at our Christmas experiences........is Christmas too commercial?   wasn't Christmas declared a federal holiday........plus Frank's annual message.......plus a few other stories..........

 

1972: Immaculate reception and Franco Harris

The AFL and NFL merged in 1970.   The Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Colts and Cleveland Browns moved to the AFC.     

The first big game of the new post-merger era took place on this day in 1972:     

The historic play took place during the semifinal playoff game of the American Football Conference (AFC), in Pittsburgh. Ken Stabler of the Raiders scored a touchdown with 73 seconds left in the game, putting Oakland up 7-6. Things looked dark for the Steelers, a struggling franchise that had finished 31 of the previous 39 seasons with a losing record. Bradshaw’s pass, launched from the Steelers’ 40-yard-line, was intended for halfback Frenchy Fuqua. 

When the Raiders safety Jack Tatum collided with Fuqua at Oakland’s 35-yard-line, the ball bounced backwards in a huge arc for a total of seven yards, where Harris scooped it up before it hit the ground and ran 42 yards into the end zone."

The victory put the Steelers on the football map.   They won 4 Super Bowls in the 1970's and became one of the greatest teams in NFL history. 

It all started with a crazy play in an AFC playoff game.

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1972: Operation Linebacker had the communists running for their lives

By Election Day 1972, most U.S. troops were out of Vietnam.  The election results had confirmed that most Americans were supportive of the Nixon approach.

President Nixon had two objectives: first, get North Vietnam to agree to ending the conflict and arrange for the release of POW’s.

Like good communists, North Vietnam decided to play games with secretary of state Henry Kissinger.  The North Vietnamese decided to delay the accords and play games with international opinion.

President Nixon had enough and decided to send a Christmas greeting to North Vietnam.  It was called Operation Linebacker II.  We call it the Christmas bombing of 1972:

President Nixon initiated the full-scale bombing campaign against North Vietnam on December 18, when the North Vietnamese – who walked out of the peace talks in Paris – refused an ultimatum from Nixon to return to the negotiating table.  

During the 11 days of the operation, 700 B-52 sorties and more than 1,000 fighter-bomber sorties dropped an estimated 20,000 tons of bombs, mostly over the densely populated area between Hanoi and Haiphong. 

President Nixon was vilified at home and abroad for ordering the “Christmas bombing,” but on December 28, the North Vietnamese did agree to return to the talks in Paris. When the negotiators met again in early January, they quickly arrived at a settlement. 

The Paris Peace Accords were signed on January 23 and a ceasefire went into effect five days later. 

Naturally, President Nixon was called every name on the book, from war criminal to Hitler to whatever else the left could come up with.

However, the bombing worked, and the accord was signed, ending the war and recognizing South Vietnam.

Also, a timetable for releasing POWs was accepted.  They started coming home in March.  That was also awesome – to watch those men get out of the planes and greet their families.

Operation Linebacker was a great name, and it clearly stymied the communists’ offense.  It was fun to watch a U.S. president exercise power and get results.  Unfortunately, Vietnam was lost later, when the Democrats pulled the plug.

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December 1972: Apollo 17 and the last mission to the moon

On December 19 1972, Apollo 17 turned out to be the last NASA lunar mission:

"The Apollo lunar-landing program ends on December 19, 1972, when the last three astronauts to travel to the moon splash down safely in the Pacific Ocean. Apollo 17 had lifted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, 10 days before."

Who would have believed that years ago?  I certainly did not!

The moon landing program was one of our greatest accomplishments.  

First, we beat the USSR to the moon.   By the way, that was no small feat considering the the Soviets had an early start with Sputnik in 1957.

Second, we expanded technology and showed the world that the US was indeed a superpower.  NASA's scientists and engineers gave us computers, calculators and paved the way for what we have today.

Will we go back to the moon?  I don't know for sure.  However, it is hard to believe that we spent the 1960's committed to a lunar program and then just pulled the plug.

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We remember Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)

We used to read her poetry in school.      Emily Dickinson was born on this day years ago in Amherst, Massachusetts.  She wrote 1775 poems but only 7 were published in her lifetime.

One of my English teachers loved her work and would give us a full share of her poetry to read.    Glad that she did!

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December 10, 1898: The Treaty of Paris

We remember today The Treaty of Paris signed in 1898.    It concluded the short Spanish American War of the same year.

The Spanish Empire came to an end: Puerto Rico and Guam were lost, the Philippines Islands were bought for $20 million, and Cuba became a US protectorate until independence in 1902.

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1956: We can not forget what happened in Hungary many years ago

The Cold War is over. The USSR is the answer to a trivia question.  We call them Russia now.

Nevertheless, an amazing thing happened in Hungary this week in 1956. It started with simple protests and then students, workers, and even some soldiers demanded more freedom.

The Soviet tanks eventually crushed the rebellion and the dream was not realized until 1989.

However, we can never forget what the brave citizens of Hungary did this week in 1956. They stood up to communism and we can not forget their bravery.

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We remember Jesse James 1847-1882

We remember Jesse James who was born on this day in 1847.

Jesse and his brother robbed banks and trains.     They stole over $200,000 and killed a lot of innocent people. 

I saw in a documentary that Jesse James robbed banks and trains because he never accepted the South’s defeat in The Civil War.     

James became a folk hero after his death. 

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"Cuba" & Trio Matamoros!

Trio Matamoros was formed in the 1920's by the legendary Miguel Matamoros, a great Cuban singer and composer. (His partners were Rafael Cueto and Siro Rodríguez)

Over their career, they recorded many songs.   They are one of my favorite Cuban groups.

This is "Son de la loma", a wonderful tune to remember their wonderful contribution to Cuban music.

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2013: Let's meet Nilda Cepero, Cuban American author & poet..

2013: Let's meet Nilda Cepero, Cuban American author & poet...click to listen... https://t.co/BSrvyGx7nh

— Silvio Canto, Jr. (@SCantojr) August 7, 2017

 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.

Remembering Rick Huxley of The Dave Clark 5

We remember Rick Huxley who was born in the UK on this day in 1940. He died in 2013 at age 72. 

Looking back, The Dave Clark Fiive were one of the biggest rock groups of what was called "The British invasion".

I was a big fan and loved their sound.     

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We remember Bob Dole (1923-2021)

We remember Bob Dole who was born in Russell, Kansas, on this day in 1923.  He died in 2021.

Dole was a congressman, the 1976 VP nominee with President Ford, a very successful US Senator and the 1996 GOP candidate for president.     He was also a decorated soldier and this is his story.

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We love the movie: "The Pride of the Yankees"!

It’s July 4 and we recall another anniversary of Lou Gehrig's 1939 farewell speech.

We also love watching "Pride of the Yankees", the greatest baseball movie ever. (Maybe "Field of Dreams" is second!)

We love baseball history.  We love Lou Gehrig's life, and specially the courageous way that he fought adversity.

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Cardinal Joseph Mindszenty and mothers

Cardinal Joseph Mindszenty of Hungary is one of the great heroes of the 20th century. His life was amazing, from standing up to Hitler and then the communists.

We recall today the Cardinal's poem:

"MOTHER The Most Important Person on earth is a mother.

She cannot claim the honor of having built Notre Dame Cathedral. She need not.

She has built something more magnificent than any cathedral-a dwelling for an immortal soul, the tiny perfection of her baby's body. . . The angels have not been blessed with such a grace.

They cannot share in God's creative miracle to bring new saints to Heaven.

Only a human mother can.

Mothers are closer to God the Creator than any other creature; God joins forces with mothers in performing this act of creation. .. What on God's good earth is more glorious than this: to be a mother?

Celebrate Mother's Day every day of the year.

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We remember President Truman (1884-1972)

We remember President Harry S. Truman who was born in Lamar, MO, on this day in 1884.   

Truman assumed the presidency following the death of President Franklin Roosevelt in April 1945.    Truman made the decision to drop two atomic bombs against Japan.  He helped rebuild postwar Europe, worked to contain communism and led the United States into the Korean War (1950-1953). 

Truman left the presidency with very low ratings.   However, he has risen over time and most see him today as a very consequential president.

President Truman died in 1972.    

A few years ago, David McCullough wrote a wonderful book about President Truman.

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“55 days at Peking” is a great movie!

Once in a while, we have a little free time to catch an old movie.    Not long ago, they were showing “55 days at Peking”.   This is a story based in China during The Boxer Rebellion.   The cast is rather good:

Charlton Heston as Maj. Matt Lewis;  

Ava Gardner as Baroness Natalie Ivanoff; and,  

David Niven as Sir Arthur Robertson.

Again, it is rather good.

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.

 

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We remember David Jannsen (1931-80)...."The Fugitive".

We remember David Jannsen (1931-80)...."The Fugitive"......

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1972: "The Godfather" and still a great movie!

We take a minute and say happy birthday to The Godfather.  It opened on this day in 1972 and took the country by storm.

In my opinion, Gone with the Wind (1939), Casablanca (1941), and The Godfather from 1972 are the three greatest American movies ever.

Some of you will agree or disagree or select different movies.  However, it’s hard to argue that The Godfather took violence, revenge, and even brotherly love to a new level.

Furthermore, The Godfather is just as good today as it was many years ago.  My sons were born in the late 1980s, and they enjoy the movie as much as I do.  (This is also true of Casablanca and Gone with the Wind.)

I know that there was a little “too much blood” in The Godfather, but the movie was well written and the acting was superb.

My favorite scene is the one about the horse head. Who came up with the idea of putting that horse head on the bed?  Brilliant!

My second is when Michael goes to the restaurant and kills the two guys after finding the gun in the bathroom.  I love when they are speaking in Italian.  Great stuff!

What makes those two scenes so wonderful is that you have no clue what’s coming.  Great stuff!

Great movie.  It’s also a great family story.

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1475: Michelangelo was born in Italy

Michelangelo Buonarroti was born in this day in 1475.   We remember him for some great works, such as the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.       

Charlton Heston and Rex Harrison were great in "The agony and the ecstacy", a movie about him from 1965.

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1972: President Nixon and the China moment

Who remembers Air Force One landing in China this week in 1972?  What a photo.  What a TV image for those who remember that day.

We celebrate another anniversary of President Nixon's trip to China. 

It is still one of the most incredible presidential trips in US history.  Can you think of another one more unexpected or revolutionary?

President Nixon built his career as an anti-communist and strong supporter of the US military superiority.  He was the last person in the world that any would have expected to go to China and shake Mao's hand.

Well, he did and changed international relations.  

His visit to China also created the political phrase or the "Nixon to China" moment.  It became a phrase to describe a presidential move that went against conventional wisdom.

Pres. Nixon's motives were to improve relations with China and divide the two communist superpowers.  He also understood the potential of China, diplomatically and economically.   Eventually, we developed our relationship with China but kept strong ties with Taiwan with care and diplomacy.

Today, China is an emerging superpower with a billion people and lots of challenges.  Time will tell whether China will continue to grow or blow up from within.  Again, time will tell.

Nevertheless, it was an amazing moment this week in 1972.

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.

1972: Nixon to China

Who remembers Air Force One landing in China this week in 1972?   It was quite a TV image for those who remember that day.

We celebrate another anniversary of President Nixon’s trip to China.  

It is still one of the most incredible presidential trips in US history.  Can you think of another one more unexpected or revolutionary?

President Nixon built his career as an anti-communist in the days of The Cold War.  He was the last person in the world that anyone would have expected to go to China and shake Mao’s hand.

His visit also created the phrase “Nixon to China” moment.  It became a popular slogan to describe a presidential move that goes against conventional wisdom.

President Nixon’s motives were to improve relations with China and divide the two communist superpowers.  He also understood the potential of China, diplomatically and economically.   

Today, China is an emerging superpower with a billion people and lots of challenges.  Time will tell whether China will continue to grow or blow up from within.  

Today, the US-China relationship is more complex than ever,  from a trade deficit to a cocky Chinese Navy in the Pacific.  

Nevertheless, it was an amazing moment this week in 1972.

By the way, President Nixon wrote a lot about the trip to China in his wonderful memoirs published in 1978.

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.

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1972: President Nixon in China

One of the benefits of old age is that you remember President Nixon's trip to China in 1972.  

It caught everyone by surprise.  It must be one of the best kept secrets in modern history.

Nobody expected such a move from President Nixon, the anti-communist.  At the same time, it was proof of President Nixon's brilliance and his ability to look forward and promote US interests.

Again, I'm old enough to remember watching the scenes on the evening news.  It's amazing how China has changed, from all of those people in bicycles to huge cities polluted by industries and cars.   

Was it the right thing to do?    We are still debating that today.   

We remember Henry Kissinger, who became Secretary of State a year later in 1973.  Also, President Nixon discussed the trip in his memoirs.

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.

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1972: The 'Nixon to China' moment

On this day in 1972, President Richard M. Nixon made history by landing in China. 

It was the story of the year and one of the most interesting foreign-policy decisions of the post-war period.  After all, who would have believed that anti-communist Nixon would shake hands with Mao?

President Nixon's move paved the way for the China of today. In other words, cars instead of bicycles and skyscrapers instead of simple buildings. It also contributed to the outsourcing of thousands of manufacturing jobs, i.e. "Made in China" is everywhere!  

The jury is still out on just how much the U.S. got out of this arrangement.   Nevertheless, as Seth Mandel wrote a couple of years ago, President Nixon left us with a great expression, or  ".....any major politician’s rebuke to his ideological compatriots, no matter how superficial, is a “Nixon-to-China moment.”"

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2015: Valentines Day show

  2015:  Our 3rd annual Valentines Day show........ http://t.co/w5FxF8p2bd

— Silvio Canto, Jr. (@SCantojr) February 12, 2015

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February 9, 1964: Over 70 million people watched The Beatles on "The Ed Sullivan Show"

It was February 1964 and Mr Sullivan introduced the US to The Beatles:  73 million Americans watched them!

It was stunning and a "game changer" as people like to say.    By the way, you can get the entire Ed Sullivan performances here!

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Buddy Holly 1936-1959: He is still making fans years later!

In 1972, Don McClean introduced our generation to Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper in the # 1 song"American Pie". 

It started like this:     

"A long, long time ago...I can still remember How that music used to make me smile. And I knew if I had my chance That I could make those people dance And, maybe, they'd be happy for a while. But February made me shiver With every paper I'd deliver. Bad news on the doorstep; I couldn't take one more step. I can't remember if I cried When I read about his widowed bride, But something touched me deep inside The day the music died."

The "day the music died" was years ago, a big triple loss for pop music. 

McClean's tune got me very interested in Buddy Holly, a native of West Texas.

 

I bought his records. I visited his grave during a business trip to West Texas about 20 years ago. I have followed the creation of The Buddy Holly Center in Lubbock, TX.

 

I learned that Paul McCartney was also a huge fan of Buddy Holly. He toured England in 1958!

 

The Beatles recorded Holly's "Words of Love" in one of their early LP's. The Rolling Stones recorded "Not fade away", another of Holly's songs.

 

Buddy Holly was only 22 but ".....In 2004, Rolling Stone Magazine ranked Holly #13 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time."

 

You can hear Buddy Holly's influence in every rock song recorded over the years. You can specially hear it in garage bands or every 15-year old who has played a rock guitar.

 

Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper were killed in the same plane crash. They were not as popular as Holly but Valens had incredible potential since he was only 17!

 

The day "the music died", a sad day in the history of rock.

 

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January 1972: The Bee Gees and "My world"

By January 1972, The Bee Gees were enjoying quite a reputation as hit makers and wonderful songwriters. 

They had just hit # 1 in the US with "How can you mend a broken heart" and sold millions with 'round the world best sellers like "Lonely Days", "I started a joke" and beautifully arranged tunes like "Holiday".

Like many of their fans, I kept up with the group's news on the radio.  We did not have Internet or e-mails back then to warn us of new releases.

"My world" was so catchy that it stuck with me as soon as I heard it on the radio.  I think that I learned the melody & lyrics in minutes. 

I went to my favorite store and said to the manager:  "How about that song by The Bee Gees that goes "my world is your world and your world is my world....."

He gave me the 45 and said "Here it is"!    (By the way, those were the days when you had small record stores and proprietors who actually knew their inventory)

Then it was off to home and the turntable. 

It became a huge international hit.   It was great!  I love the way that they harmonize the chorus!

The B-side was "On Time" with the late Maurice doing the lead vocals.  I was glad that both of these songs were included in the "Tales from The Brothers Gibb" box set released in 1990.

Of course, no one knew that day in 1972 that Barry, Robin & Maurice were just getting started.  By the end of the 1970's the brothers were one of the best selling bands in the world.    At one point, they had six # 1 songs in a row.  They also wrote and produced albums for Dionne Warwick, Barbra Streisand and Diana Ross.  Add Andy Gibb and you had a ton of record sales for the very talented brothers!

You can buy "My world" here.     This is "Best of Bee Gees, volume 2", an album released in the US in 1973.

 

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