Happy # "2,000 something" to the city of Roma

They tell us that this is the day that the city of Rome was founded:  

According to tradition, on April 21, 753 B.C., Romulus and his twin brother, Remus, found Rome on the site where they were suckled by a she-wolf as orphaned infants. Actually, the Romulus and Remus myth originated sometime in the fourth century B.C., and the exact date of Rome’s founding was set by the Roman scholar Marcus Terentius Varro in the first century B.C.

OK.   We won't argue details.    Nevertheless, happy birthday to Roma.     It gives us a good excuse to listen to Dean Martin's "On an evening in Roma".

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April 21, 1865: Abraham Lincoln's funeral train left Washington

On this day in 1865, the Lincoln funeral train left Washington DC.     The train traveled through 180 cities and seven states on its way to Illinois.   Millions lined up to say goodbye to the 16th president.

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The Barcelona conference with lots of Trump Derangement Syndrome. Pope & war. Iran negotiations.

 The Barcelona conference with lots of Trump Derangement Syndrome.  Pope & war.  Iran negotiations.

A ship of fools fueled by TDS

A ship of fools fueled by TDS:

Minnesota’s Gov. Tim Walz and Connecticut’s Sen. Chris Murphy made fools of themselves at a leftist get-together in Barcelona, where they badmouthed Trump.

Click to read:

https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/04/a_ship_of_fools_fueled_by_tds.html

We remember Mother Angelica (1923-2016)

She was born Rita Rizzo in Canton, Ohio, on this day in 1923.   She died in 2016.

In 1944, Rita entered the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration in Cleveland.   Later in 1981, she was one of the founders of EWTN and became a favorite of millions around the world.

Mother Angelica was a very consequential woman.   Thank you for everything!

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We remember Mariel 1980 with Marcos Nelson Suarez

On April 20, 1980, the Castro regime announced that all Cubans wishing to leave were free to board boats at the port of Mariel. 

Shortly after, the first wave of 125,000 Cuban refugees reached Florida the next day. 

Mariel brought thousands to the US and most of them turned out to be very good additions to Florida.   Unfortunately, there were some criminal elements but they were a very small number. 

Years later, most of the “Marielitos” have contributed much to Miami and the US.  One of them is my friend Marcos Nelson Suarez who came to Dallas and started a very successful newspaper, "El Hispano". 

For me, Mariel was a turning point in rediscovering my Cuban roots.   It reconnected me with the Cuban cause, specially as I saw boats and people leaving the same island that I left as a kid in 1964.

This is our chat with Marcos Nelson Suarez.

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We remember Tito Puente (1923-2000)

Like many of you, I’ve spent a few hours of my life listening to the music of Tito Puente.   

Ernesto Antonio "Tito" Puente was born in New York City, the son of Puerto Rican immigrants and already playing music by age 13.  

He was quite a musical pioneer, mixing musical styles with Latin sounds and experimenting in fusing Latin music with jazz.

Tito Puente won 5 Grammys, including “Homenaje a Beny“, a tribute to Beny More.

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A look at Texas politics with George Rodriguez from South Texas.....

 A look at Texas politics with George Rodriguez from South Texas......The latest from the Paxton vs Cornyn GOP primary.  Governor Abbott vs cities attacking ICE.  The international left meets in Barcelona.  Justice Thomas about the ideas of 1776.  We remember Henry Hyde  (1924-2007).

CANTO TALK podcasts from last week

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

Click to listen:

Another rich Democrat wants to wreck California harder

Another rich Democrat wants to wreck California harder:

Tom Steyer is the embodiment of Trump-derangement pie in the sky.

Click the above link to read.

Happy # 85 Roberto Carlos

We say happy birthday to Roberto Carlos who was born in Brazil on this day in 1941.

Over the years, Roberto Carlos has sold records in his native Portuguese as well as Spanish.  He has a long list of hits.

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 Gus Gil (1939-2015)

Tomás Gustavo Gil Guillén was born in Caracas, Venezuela on this day in 1939.   He died in 2015.

We knew him as Gus Gil who played with Cleveland (1967) then the Seattle Pilots who became the Milwaukee Brewers (1969-71).

Gil's career was very short:  a .186 hitter over 227 games.   He was primarily a defensive replacement in the infield and occasional pinch hitter.

On August 16, 1970, Gil had the winning hit that scored Davey May.   It was a meaningless game for both teams.    

However, the victory sparked the post game celebration that brought Bernie Brewer down from top of the scoreboard.   He had been living up there until the team drew 40.000 fans.

I was there, saw the hit and enjoyed the celebration.

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 Rep. Henry Hyde (1924-2007)

We remember former Rep. Henry Hyde of Illinois, who was born on this day in 1924.  He died in 2007.

He was one of my favorite members of Congress.

Most people remember Rep. Hyde because of the Clinton impeachment proceedings. Yet, I recall his work against abortion and wonderful command of the English language.

We miss Rep. Hyde!

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.

1956: Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier got married

Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier had a fairy tale wedding on this day in 1956.    

They met during the making of "To catch a thief" and fell in love shortly after.   The very elegant Grace went from movie star to Princess Grace of Monaco.   The couple had 3 children.

Sadly, Princess Grace died after a car accident in 1982.    She made a lot of films and I always catch "To catch a thief", a fun movie.

 

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Democrats preaching socialism plus other thoughts

 Democrats preaching socialism plus other thoughts

Making socialism fail again

Making socialism fail again:

Elect a self-proclaimed socialist and he will make socialism fail again. 

Click to read:

https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/04/making_socialism_fail_again.html

We remember Barbara Hale (1922-2017)

Barbara Hale was born in Illinois on this day in 1922.  She died in 2017 died at 94.

We remember her as Della Street, or Perry Mason's legal secretary.   She appeared in 270 episodes.

Great work Barbara Hale.

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 Carlos Manuel de Cespedes (1819-74)

Let’s take a moment and remember Carlos Manuel de Cespedes, a Cuban patriot from the 19th century.  

This is from a summary of his life written by Juan Perez: 

Born on April 18, 1819, Carlos Manuel de Céspedes is considered by many Cubans to be the “Father of the Nation”.
Céspedes, who owned a plantation in eastern Cuba, began the 10 Years’ War when he freed his slaves and asked others to join his armed resistance against Spain. He wanted independence for Cuba, which he announced through the Grito de Yara (Cry of Yara).
Guerilla warfare was practiced by the Cuban troops, whose numbers soon grew. Céspedes became the general in chief. His forces captured the city of Bayamo and made it their capital.
When Spanish troops were sent to take the city, the outnumbered Cuban troops left and burnt it to the ground. Céspedes’ birthplace was one of a few buildings that did not burn.
As the war went on, Céspedes’ major goal was to attain American recognition of the new Cuban government, though it was to be an unrealized goal. Céspedes ran a constitutional convention, which decided upon a representative government for Cuba and proposed the abolition of slavery.
Céspedes was deposed by other revolutionaries in 1873. A year later, he was apprehended by the Spanish and executed.
Eventually Spain reached a settlement with the revolutionaries, but broke many of its promises.
Céspedes also published Cuba’s first independent newspaper, the Cubano Libre (The Free Cuban).

It's important for young Cuban-Americans to hear about men like Cespedes.  They are an important part of 19th century Cuban history.

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Ernie Pyle: The man who wrote about the soldiers rather than the war

(My new American Thinker post)

Before Skype or internet chats, soldiers used to write letters to their parents, sweethearts, or families back home.

Furthermore, families had very little information about their sons at war.  The news reports were about battles and soldier movements.  Often, families would hear about the boys at war when a neighbor would be burying his son.

Enter Ernie Pyle, who was killed in 1945:

Pyle, born in Dana, Indiana, first began writing a column for the Scripps-Howard newspaper chain in 1935. Eventually syndicated to some 200 U.S. newspapers, Pyle’s column, which related the lives and hopes of typical citizens, captured America’s affection.

In 1942, after the United States entered World War II, Pyle went overseas as a war correspondent. He covered the North Africa campaign, the invasions of Sicily and Italy, and on June 7, 1944, went ashore at Normandy the day after Allied forces landed.  Pyle, who always wrote about the experiences of enlisted men rather than the battles they participated in, described the D-Day scene: “It was a lovely day for strolling along the seashore. Men were sleeping on the sand, some of them sleeping forever. Men were floating in the water, but they didn’t know they were in the water, for they were dead.” The same year, he was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished correspondence and in 1945 traveled to the Pacific to cover the war against Japan.

On April 18, 1945, Ernie Pyle was killed by enemy fire on the island of Ie Shima. After his death, President Harry S. Truman spoke of how Pyle “told the story of the American fighting man as the American fighting men wanted it told.”

Pyle is buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific on the Hawaiian island of Oahu.

About 20 years ago, or on the 50^th anniversary of his death, I took the time to read some of his columns.

One of my favorite columns was “Digging and Grousing” from Africa 1943.  It related the story of some GIs talking about a letter:

To get to the point, it was written by a soldier, and it said: “The greatest Christmas present that can be given to us this year is not smoking jackets, ties, pipes or games. If people will only take the money and buy war bonds … they will be helping themselves and helping us to be home next Christmas. Being home next Christmas is something which would be appreciated by all of us boys in service!”

Ernie Pyle had an amazing gift.  He understood that his war reports would be read by soldiers at war, a wounded GI at a hospital, and a mother back home desperate to know what her son was going through.

I hope that our kids in school are learning about men like Ernie Pyle.

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April 18, 1942: The Doolittle Raid with Barry Jacobsen

April 18, 1942: The Doolittle Raid...

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Listen to "The Doolittle Raid and other stories of World War II with Barry Jacobsen" on Spreaker.

1960: Camilo Pascual and 15 K's on opening day

Like many of you, I grew up trying to throw a curve ball like my idol Camilo Pascual. 

On this day in 1960, Camilo Pascual of the Washington Senators (now The Minnesota Twins) set an opening day record of 15 strike-outs.   In other words, 15 of the 27 outs were either a called strike three or swing and miss.

The opening day record still stands. Randy Johnson came close twice with 14.

From 1959 to 1965, Pascual won 100 games and led the AL in complete games and strike outs 3 times.   He retired with 176 wins and a 3.63 ERA.  

Pascual pitched for the 1965 AL champs Twins. Unfortunately, injuries limited him that season. He did start game 3 of the World Series against the Dodgers. 

On this day in 1960, Camilo’s curve ball was the talk of baseball.

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.

Houston Mayor vs Governor Abbott. Mayor Mamdani and the new socialism. Bay of Pigs 1961.

 Houston Mayor vs Governor Abbott.  Mayor Mamdani and the new socialism.  Bay of Pigs 1961.

Houston, you have a problem

Houston, you have a problem:

Democrats apparently want to learn the hard way what happens when the flout law and order.

 Click to read:

https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/04/houston_you_have_a_problem.html

Happy # 62 to the Ford Mustang

We celebrate another anniversary of the 1964 Ford Mustang.   

The car was named after a World War II fighter plane. 

The Mustang sold more than 400,000 units within its first year of production, far exceeding sales expectations.

I never owned a Mustang but maybe I should go out and buy one!

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.

1937: Daffy Duck made his debut

We say happy birthday to Daffy Duck who made his debut in 1937.    He appeared with Porky Pig in "Porky's duck hunt".   

Over the years, we loved Daffy because of a "hyperactive, at times silly, character whose madcap capers were fueled by an unpredictable personality."    

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 Olivia Hussey (1951-2024)

Back in my younger days, they released a version of "Romeo & Juliet" starring a pretty young woman named Olivia Hussey.  She was very young when she made this movie, i.e. 17 or 18.  

I learned years later that Olivia was born in Argentina on this day in 1951.  Her father was British and the mother was from Buenos Aires.   Wonder how they discussed the Falklands War in that marriage?

Olivia died in late 2024.

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 Roberto "Bob" Peña (1937-82)

Roberto Peña was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on this day in 1937.  

By the time Roberto Peña got to the Brewers in 1970, he was 33 and had played for the A's, Phillies, Cubs and the expansion 1969 Padres.   

Nevertheless, he became very popular in Milwaukee because he hustled like Pete Rose and played all 4 infield positions.  His 42 RBI in 1970 were 4th best in the team.

Bob, or Bobby as I recall, played 6 seasons and retired with a .245 average.    He must have been one of the most popular .245 career hitters in major league history.  Again, the fans loved him in Milwaukee.

Bob was 45 when he died in 1982.    

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 Don Kirshner (1937-2011)

We remember Don Kirshner who was born in New York on this day in 1937.   He died in 2011.

They called Kirsher "The Man with the Golden Ear" because of his talent for understanding what the record buying public wanted to purchase.

His resume included the songwriter teams of Carole King and Gerry Goffin, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, and Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield.     The list of artists and hits includes The Righteous Brothers’  “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’” and the Shirelles’ “Will You Love Me Tomorrow.”   

He ran record labels such as Dimension, Colpix, Colgems, Chairman, Calendar and Kirshner.   

Last, but not least, Tne Monkees & Tony Orlando got his start with him, too.

Quite a story!  Do you see why they called him "the man with the golden ear"? 

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.

1961: 'The Bay of Pigs' with Humberto Fontova

Guest: Humberto Fontova, Cuban-American leader and author of 'Che' plus a few other books.........we recorded this show in 2011, or the 50th anniversary of the invasion.............

Click to listen................

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Listen to "The 50th anniversary of "The Bay of Pigs"!" on Spreaker.

April 17 and Mickey Mantle

We remember Mickey Mantle on April 17th: 

In 1951, he went 1-4 in his major league game; and

In 1953, he hit a 565-foot home run, the longest ever in the old Griffith Stadium in Washington DC.

Of course, he had a lot of other big days in his career:   .298 career average, 536 HR, 1,509 RBI, 2,415 hits in 2,401 games played.    

Mantle was the AL MVP in 1956, 1957 & 1962 and hit 18 HR in 12 World Series.

 

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April 17, 1976: Mike Schmidt hit 4 HR vs Cubs.

 

April 17, 1976:
Mike Schmidt hit 4 HR vs Cubs....retired with 548 HR & 3 MVP's...... pic.twitter.com/JVq7XIYoFT

— Silvio Canto, Jr. (@SCantojr) April 18, 2017

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April 17, 1961: Bay of Pigs by Victor Andres Triay..a good book about that day

April 17, 1961:   Bay of Pigs by Victor Andres Triay..a good book about that day...

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.

Spain and immigration. Iran blockade and negotiation a deal. Pope Benedict (1927-2022).

 Spain and immigration.  Iran blockade and negotiation a deal.  Pope Benedict (1927-2022).  

Spain needs more babies

Spain needs more babies:

What do you do when it's "complicado" to have babies? 

As you probably know, there aren't a lot of babies in Spain. They’re going to more funerals than baby showers.

Click to read: https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/04/spain_needs_more_babies.html

We remember Pope Benedict (1927-2022)

We remember that Pope Benedict was born on this day in 1927.    He retired a few years ago and died in 2022.

We miss Pope Benedict.   He would often speak some blunt truths to all of us in the West, and specially Europe.

Rest In Peace Pope Benedict.

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 Robert Stigwood (1934-2016)

We remember Robert Stigwood who was born in Australia on this day in 1934.  He died in 2016.

In the late 1970's,  just about everyone in the Free World had a 45 or LP from RSO Records or The Robert Stigwood Organization.      I'm sure that there is a copy in one of your boxes or vinyl collections.

In the early days, Stigwood worked with Brian Epstein of The Beatles and groups like Cream.

In 1967, Stigwood signed the very young Gibb brothers (Bee Gees) and managed their international career.   Ten years later, it was The Bee Gees and RSO Records who dominated the pop charts with "Saturday Night Fever", "Grease" and lots of others.

In the 1980's, he produced musicals and movies.   Overall, an incredibly successful entrepreneur and producer.

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 Dusty Springfield (1939-99)

We remember Dusty Springfield who was born Mary Isabel Catherine Bernadette O'Brien on April 16, 1939, in London, England.

Dusty came to the US with what they called The British invasion.   She had several big hits, like "I only want to be with you" and "Son of a preacher man".

She died March 2, 1999 of cancer.

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.

1959: At least Nixon suspected something was off about Fidel

(My new American Thinker post)

Back in April 1959, Fidel Castro visited the U.S. a few months after taking power. 

Castro's visit was rather controversial because he faced skepticism from many in the U.S.  He was asked about the promised elections that were delayed and delayed.

Castro was also beginning to hear a lot of criticism from fellow Cubans who kept asking about the surplus of communists and shortage of reforms.

Finally, President Dwight D. Eisenhower did not meet with him, but V.P. Richard Nixon did.

After the meeting, V.P. Nixon said that his bearded visitor was "either incredibly naive about communism or under communist discipline — my guess is the former." 

Castro also appeared on Meet the Press and denied that he was a communist.  He even joked about it, saying some people thought Adam and Eve were communists.

Furthermore, Castro benefited from a lot of people in the U.S. who were caught up in the cult of personality and did not know the truth of pre-Castro Cuba.  It's easy to fall for the narrative when you don't know about the large middle class in Cuba and the number of immigrants who had flooded Cuba in the first half of the 20th century.  They came to Cuba because the island offered opportunities, or the exact opposite of "Cuba is all about casinos" that was peddled to justify what they called revolution.

As my late father used to say when he got questions about casinos, "we had a lot more home-grown prosperity than casinos!"  He should know, because he worked for one of five Cuban-owned banks that operated all over the country.

Down on the island, Castro continued to deny that he was a communist and put people in jail for accusing him of that.  In December 1961, eight months after the failed Bay of Pigs invasion, he declared his allegiance to Marxism-Leninism, and our worst fears were realized.

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.

Blue wave? Justice Alito retiring? Pope vs Trump. April 15th and history.

 Blue wave?  Justice Alito retiring?  Pope vs Trump.  April 15th and history.

The ‘can’t score’ Democrats

The ‘can’t score’ Democrats:

Democrats don’t appear able to hit a teed-up ball.

Maybe part of the problem is that they can’t speak two words without bashing Trump.  On Iran, they can’t deny the risk of a nuclear Iran run by fanatics, but they just don’t like that Trump is cleaning up the mess.  On illegal immigration, they agree that Biden left the border unprotected, but they can’t say anything more imaginative than call for “immigration reform.”  On affordability, it’s all about making the rich, or the mean corporations, pay their fair share.  On everything, it’s Trump’s fault, rather than propose a credible alternative that voters between San Francisco and Washington D.C. can understand.

So let’s see what happens, but don’t bet on any wave coming.  It may be like Texas days when it looks like rain, but the drops don’t fall.

Click to read:

https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/04/the_can_t_score_democrats.html

April 15, 1947 or the day that Jackie Robinson & Dodgers changed baseball

On this day in 1947,  baseball changed when Jackie Robinson opened the season playing first base with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Robinson turned into one of the key players in those Dodgers’ teams that won the NL pennant in 1947, 1949, 1952, 1953, 1955 and 1956.  The Dodgers finally beat the Yankees in the 1955 World Series.    Along t he way, he won the 1949 National League MVP.

Before he broke with Brooklyn, Robinson and his teammates spent spring training in Cuba in 1947. It gave many Cuban fans a chance to see the man who would open the door to so many players from the island. This is how Cesar Brioso recalls the moment:

The overflow crowd spilled into foul territory where ropes cordoned off fans from the field of play. Beyond the outfield wall, those who failed to gain entrance climbed the light towers for a glimpse of the contest.

The decisive game of the Cuban League season riveted the packed house at Havana’s El Gran Stadium on Feb. 25, 1947, but Cuban fans briefly diverted their attention to acknowledge the presence of a special guest.

After Jackie Robinson was introduced over the public-address system, “he took bows to the wild shouting of 38,000 jabbering fans,” Sam Lacy wrote in the Baltimore Afro-American 75 years ago, pointing out that several members of the Brooklyn Dodgers sitting in the same reserved section “were hardly noticed.”

The Cuban fans anticipated the historic moment. First, they were knowledge of major league baseball, Secondly, they knew that Jackie was ready to jump from AAA to the majors. They knew that history would be made in a few weeks.

Of course, Jackie was followed by black Cuban baseball players, from Orestes Minoso to the many others.

Happy Jackie Robinson Day.

 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.    This is Ed Henry's book: