The man who spotted Castro

The man who spotted Castro: We remember President Richard M. Nixon, who was born on this day in 1913 in California and died in 1994.  Our family was on the way to a baseball game when we heard the news of his death on the radio. You may remember that President Nixon…

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The man who spotted Castro - American Thinker https://t.co/IqvFKjaM4e

— Silvio Canto. Jr. (@silvio_canto) January 9, 2025

We remember President Richard M. Nixon, who was born on this day in 1913 in California and died in 1994. 

Our family was on the way to a baseball game when we heard the news of his death on the radio. You may remember that President Nixon suffered a stroke earlier in the week, and Mrs. Nixon died the year before. He was never the same after she died, or so I hear from those around him.

Cuba, the Castro brothers, and Nixon will always be a part of my childhood, from leaving Cuba to growing up in the U.S. In 1959, then VP Nixon met the recently appointed Prime Minister Fidel Castro in Washington, D.C. It did not take VP Nixon long to figure out the Cuban visitor.

This is an account of the visit from Andrew Glass:

During his stay, Castro placed a wreath on George Washington’s grave, toured the Bronx Zoo, ate hot dogs and hamburgers at Yankee Stadium and generally made a big media splash. Wherever he went, the 33-year-old bearded Cuban leader invariably wore his trademark rumpled green fatigues.

President Dwight D. Eisenhower snubbed him, although the Cuban leader did meet with Vice President Richard Nixon and acting Secretary of State Christian Herter. Nixon later said he came away from the meeting with the conclusion that Castro was “either incredibly naive about communism or under communist discipline — my guess is the former.” On the other hand, after meeting with Castro, former Secretary of State Dean Acheson called him “the first democrat of Latin America.”

With all due respect to late Secretary Acheson, it was VP Nixon who got it right that day.

In 1968, Nixon was elected president and then re-elected in 1972. As we know, he resigned in 1974 over the Watergate scandal. On the subject of Cuba, Nixon was right. I think that the Bay of Pigs would have turned out differently with Nixon in the Oval Office.

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

January 1970: "Winter world of love"

As I recall, it was a typical Wisconsin winter......cold and very cold.    

On the radio, we had a great song from Englebert Humperdinck........

it made it to # 16..............

"Winter world of love".......

"My love, the days are colder, so, let me take your hand

And lead you through a snow white land, oh, oh, oh, oh

My love, the year is older, so, let me hold you tight

And while away there is winter night, oh, oh

I see the firelight in your eyes, come kiss me now before it dies

We'll find a winter world of love, 'cause love is warmer in December

My darlin', stay here in my arms till summer comes along

And in our winter world of love, you see we always will remember

That as the snow lay on the ground, we found our winter world of love

Because the nights are longer, we'll have the time to say

Such tender things before each day, oh, oh, oh, oh

And then, when love is stronger, perhaps, you give your heart

And promise me you'll never part, oh, no

And at the end of every year, I'll be so glad to have you near

We'll find a winter world of love, 'cause love is warmer in December

My darlin', stay here in my arms till summer comes along

And in our winter world of love, you'll see we always will remember

That as the snow lay on the ground, we found our winter world of love...."

P.S.  You can listen to my show (Canto Talk).  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column.

“Mr Ed” and those early days in the US

Back in our early days in Wisconsin, we spent a lot of family time watching TV.   It was also a way of learning English and watching the snow fall on the grass.

One of our favorites was “Mr. Ed”, or “Que cosa mas grande, un caballo que habla” as my mother used to say!

The Amazing “Mr. Ed” made its debut on this day in 1961.

It was first on syndication and then became a part of the CBS lineup in the fall or October 1961.   Our family picked it up in 1964-65.

One of my favorite shows was when Mr. Ed went to Dodger Stadium.

By the way, Mr. Young (or Wilbur as Mr. Ed called him) died in May 1996.

I loved this show!

P.S.  You can listen to my show (Canto Talk).  If you like our posts, drop a dime here.

 

January 1972: Don McLean's "American Pie" was # 1 this week

Back in January 1972, Don McLean's "American Pie" was the # 1 song in the country and probably most of the world.  

As I recall, many people enjoyed the catchy chorus ("bye bye Miss American pie") but struggled with the meaning of the lyrics and the story behind the song.

'American Pie" did have one wonderful benefit for me and many others.  It introduced us to the story of Buddy Holly of Lubbock, Texas, Richie Valens ("La bamba") and the Big Bopper ("Chantilly Lace").  They were the three musicians who were killed in that winter storm over Iowa in 1959, or "the day that the music died".

"American Pie" may have also opened the door to "American Grafitti", "Grease", "Happy Days" and all of that 1950's music revival of the mid-70's.  

You can hear the song here:  CLICK.

 P.S.  Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

We remember President Richard Nixon (1913-94)

We remember President Richard Nixon (1913-94)

 P.S.  Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

 

We remember Bart Starr (1934-2019)

We remember Bart Starr who was born in Montgomery, Alabama, on this day in 1934.  We learned of his death in 2019.

Our family landed in "Packer crazy" Wisconsin in the fall of 1964.

My brother and I had never seen a football game. We were raised playing and thinking baseball 24/7.

However, it didn't take us long to fall in love with the Packers and the game of football.

My first football hero was Bart Starr, the legendary Packers' QB.     He won the NFL title five times:  1961, 1962, 1965, 1966, and 1967.   He led GB to the first two Super Bowl championships and was named MVP twice.  In 1966, he earned the NFL MVP.  

In fact, I loved Starr so much that I always wore # 15 on every sports jersey. It's still my favorite number today!

Greatest game? Probably the so called "Ice Bowl".

With all due respect to Unitas, Namath, Staubach, Bradshaw, Montana, Aikman, Young, Brady and even Favre, I will always pick Starr to start my big game.

 P.S.  Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

1913: We remember that President Nixon was born on this day

We remember President Richard M. Nixon who was born in California on this day in 1913.  He died in 1994 and I heard about his death on the way to a baseball game.

Nixon was one of the most consequential presidents of our youth, from his election in 1968, massive reelection in 1972 and then his resignation in 1974.     The word "Nixon" is all over our lives, from footnotes to speeches to front page stories.

After leaving the presidency, President Nixon wrote some rather good books.   His memoirs were very good and the ones about foreign policy were brilliant.    He became a national security statesman, a role that he was uniquely qualified for and that he enjoyed.    My guess is that he always wanted to be a foreign policy president and he was.

We remember # 37 today.     Let me recommend his book "Leaders".

 P.S.  Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

January 1965: "Beatles' 65" was released in the US

Getting old or big Beatles' fan? I guess that a little bit both!

In January '65, The Beatles released their 5th US album:  Beatles '65.   By the way, many of the songs in this LP were in the UK LP "Beatles for sale".

It included some wonderful Lennon-McCartney songs, such as:

"I'll be back", John lead with Paul;
"I'll follow the sun", Paul lead, and;
"No reply", John lead with Paul.

It also included the single:   "I feel fine", a # 1 song, and the strong B-side, "She's a woman".

P.S.  You can listen to my show (Canto Talk).  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column.

 

We remember President Nixon (1913-94)

We remember President Richard M. Nixon, who was born on this day in 1913 and died in 1994.  Our family was on the way to a baseball game when we heard the news of his death on the radio.  You may remember that Mr. Nixon suffered a stroke earlier in the week, and Mrs. Nixon died the year before.  He was never the same after she died, or so I hear from those around him.

Cuba, the Castro brothers and Nixon will always be a part of my childhood, from leaving Cuba to growing up in the U.S. In 1959, then VP Nixon met the recently appointed Prime Minister Fidel Castro in Washington, DC.  It did not take VP Nixon long to figure out the Cuban visitor.

This is an account of the visit from Andrew Glass:

During his stay, Castro placed a wreath on George Washington’s grave, toured the Bronx Zoo, ate hot dogs and hamburgers at Yankee Stadium and generally made a big media splash. Wherever he went, the 33-year-old bearded Cuban leader invariably wore his trademark rumpled green fatigues.

President Dwight D. Eisenhower snubbed him, although the Cuban leader did meet with Vice President Richard Nixon and acting Secretary of State Christian Herter. Nixon later said he came away from the meeting with the conclusion that Castro was “either incredibly naive about communism or under communist discipline — my guess is the former.” On the other hand, after meeting with Castro, former Secretary of State Dean Acheson called him “the first democrat of Latin America.”

With all due respect to late Secretary Acheson, it was VP Nixon who got it right that day.

In 1968, Mr. Nixon was elected president and then re-elected in 1972.  As we know, he resigned in 1974 over the Watergate scandal. On the subject of Cuba, Nixon was right.  I think that The Bay of Pigs would have turned out differently with Mr. Nixon in The Oval Office.  

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

Happy # 84 Joan Baez

Joan Baez was born on this day in 1941.  She started singing in the late 1950's and recorded many Bob Dylan songs in the 1960's.

Did you know that Joan has a connection to Mexico?  Her father was born in Puebla, Mexico.

It's hard to pick a song but "The night they drove Old Dixie down" and anything from "Any day now" or the album of songs by Bob Dylan.

 P.S.  Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

We remember President Nixon (1913-1994)

We remember President Nixon, the 37th president of the US.....born on this day in 1913 in California.....one of my favorite books about this very complex man was "The Memoirs of Richard Nixon by Richard Milhous Nixon".

 P.S.  Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.