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FDR’S NOTHING TO FEAR SPEECH AMERICA’S HIGHEST CITY BELL’S TELEPHONE
AMERICAN PATRIOT LEADVILLE CO AMERICA’S HIGHEST CITY
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6 JOHN MARSHALL
8 THE LEGEND OF
BETSY ROSS
FATHER OF THE SUPREME COURT
10 GROVER CLEVELAND EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNT REMINDER
AMERICAN PATRIOT
12 AMERICA’S FUN FOODS
LOLLIPOPS
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK
THIS WEEK IN AMERICAN HISTORY
AMERICA’S HIGHEST CITY
LEADVILLE CO
Now the small town seems sleepy and quaint. However, as the highest established city in the U.S. — perched at 10,152 feet in the heart of the Rocky Mountains — Leadville has experienced a remarkable history, and in the 19th Century rivaled Denver in size and as the political center of the state. 4 AMERICAN PATRIOT
Founded as a mining town in 1876, prospectors discovered deposits of lead with a high content of silver. Mine owners, Horace Austin Warner Tabor and August Meyer established the town near the mines. By 1880, over 40,000 people had flocked to Leadville. Everyone in town knew Horace Tabor and his wife “Baby Doe,” who had become legendary millionaires; Tabor was thought to be the wealthiest man in the West.
Between 1877 and 1893, Leadville produced over 240 million troy ounces of silver and one million short tons of lead. From this wealth arose a major opera house, named after the Tabor Family and considered the finest between St. Louis and San Francisco, as well as spectacular hotels and resorts, the massive Leadville Ice Palace, and a trail of famous visitors including Doc Halliday, Susan B. Anthony, Frank and Jesse James, Oscar Wilde and Buffalo Bill. However, by the mid-1890s, the town went into steep decline, driven there by repeal of the Sherman Silver Purchase Act, which had pre-
viously increased the U.S. government’s silver purchasing for coinage in order to stimulate the economy. Having invested their fortune in the mines, the Tabors lost everything — though he was appointed Postmaster of Denver, a gift from his politically connected friends. Wife “Baby Doe” remained the town’s enigma; Legend goes that Horace’s dying words were “hold onto the Matchless Mine, it will make millions.” She did not and it did not. “Baby Doe” was forced to sell the mine in 1927 to settle some debt. She died in a shack next to the mine in 1937. Despite Leadville’s collapse as a mining town, the city remained a cornerstone of western history. During World War II, Leadville regained some of its prominence as the site of the training grounds for the Army’s Tenth Mountain Division. In 1942, 15,000 soldiers reported for duty at Camp Hale just 17 miles north of the city. Camp Hale offered soldiers comprehensive training in winter conditions. The Tenth Mountain Division is credited with freeing much of northern Italy in 1945. Now Camp Hale has become an active ski resort. Today, the city is a ghost of its former self, but that is much of its charm. There are authentic streets with Victorian charm, two historical museums, and plentiful outdoor activities. It is the hub of the “Top of The Rockies” Scenic and Historic Byway, a 76 mile highway with spectacular views. In all, Leadville lives on with a small but hardy permanent population and as an increasingly popular destination vacation. A PHOTO GALLERY OF PRESENT DAY YET HISTORIC LEADVILLE CO AMERICAN PATRIOT 5
JOHN MARSHALL FATHER OF THE SUPREME COURT
6 AMERICAN PATRIOT
The U.S. Supreme Court is again the focus of political controversy because those appointed to the Court wield so much power. But it is interesting to remember that this august body began its life with unclear duties and vague powers. It took John Marshall, who was not appointed to the court until a decade after it was created, to define the Supreme Court’s role and change the course of history. As the Founding Fathers struggled to structure a new government, Article III of the U.S. Constitution was written to create a judicial system but it did not spell out the Supreme Court’s role. It merely stated: “[t]he judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish.” The very first bill introduced in the U.S. Senate was the Judiciary Act of 1789, which simply divided the country into judicial districts and creating a court consisting of a Chief Justice and five Associate Justices. It was left to Congress and the first set of justices to work out all the other details. The first Supreme Court assembled in New York City, then the nation’s capital, with John Jay as the Chief Justice. Lacking any specific direction, the new system was at first the weakest of the three branches of government. Early federal courts failed to issue strong opinions and avoided hearing controversial cases. The entire tone changed drastically in 1801 when President John Adams appointed John Marshall of Virginia as Chief Justice. Marshall, frustrated with the confusion and timidity, wanted to define the role of the Supreme Court as an active and powerful national institution that would help bind together a great new empire.
Marshall’s opportunity came with the 1803 case of Marbury v. Madison. The facts of the nowlandmark case were fairly trivial; the controversy dealt with a justice of the peace appointed of President Adams, who newly elected President Thomas Jefferson refused to commission. In the course of deciding the case, Chief Justice Marshall ruled that a particular section of the Judiciary Act was unconstitutional because it gave the federal courts authority over judicial commissions, something not actually in the Constitution. Accordingly, Marshall argued, that section of the law was invalid and did not have to be followed. With this single historic decision, the Chief Justice established the Supreme Court’s power to interpret the Constitution, and to review the constitutional validity of laws passed by Congress and state legislatures. That changed everything in its relationship with the legislative and executive branches. Marshall continued to serve as Chief Justice for more than three decades. During this prolonged period he took every opportunity to shape the federal judicial system and enshrine the concept of judicial review of the validity of legislation. He put the Court on a trajectory to become what many consider the most powerful of the three branches of government.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH A VIDEO OF JOHN MARSHALL’S LIFE
AMERICAN PATRIOT 7
The most dangerous animals in the forest don’t live there.
ONLY YOU CAN PR E VE N T W I L D FIRE S. w w w. s m o k e y b e a r. c o m
THE LEGEND OF
BETSY ROSS 8 AMERICAN PATRIOT
Betsy Ross made the first American flag. Maybe. The story told is that she sewed the flag after a visit to her shop in June 1776 by George Washington, Robert Morris, and a relative, George Ross. According to lore, she demonstrated how to cut the five pointed stars. Today, it is generally believed that she was one of the early flagmakers — though not necessarily the first — and records show that she made flags for Pennsylvania during the Revolutionary War era. Born Elizabeth Griscom in Philadelphia,
gest that her tale resonated for several
Betsy attended Quaker schools and learned
reasons. Among them: the discovery of a
needlework there and at home. She married
“founding mother” to stand alongside
John Ross in 1773 and eventually joined
“founding fathers” became attractive at a
the Free Quakers or “Fighting Quakers” who
time when the role of women in American
did not adhere strictly to pacifism. John
society had started to change. The story
and Betsy began an upholstery business
also hit at a moment of growing patriotic
together, drawing on her needlework skills
fervor over the flag as a symbol of America.
and, after John was killed, Betsy kept the
Betsy Ross’ story felt true, whether it was
business and began to make flags for Penn-
literally true or not.
sylvania. Records show that she remarried several times and lived on until 1836.
Today, a tour of Betsy Ross' home in Philadelphia is a “must-see” when visiting
It was Betsy’s grandson, in 1873, who first
historical sites. The home, established with
told the story of her flagmaking. The story
the aid of contributions by American school-
quickly became the stuff of legend, was
children, is an interesting and informative
published in the popular Harper’s maga-
look at the lives of women who helped
zine, and by the next decade had become
make the American Revolution a success.
part of school textbooks and curriculums. Since it is uncertain whether the story is true, strictly speaking, why did it catch on so fast and burrow so deep? Experts sug-
WATCH A SLIDE SHOW OF THE BETSY ROSS HOUSE A POPULAR NEW HISTORY BOOK BETSY ROSS AND THE MAKING OF AMERICA, BY MARLA R. MILLER
AMERICAN PATRIOT 9
GROVER CLEVELAND OUR NON-CONSECUTIVE PRESIDENT
10 AMERICAN PATRIOT
Grover Cleveland was elected to two terms as President of the United States, but was the only man not elected twice in a row. Cleveland served from 1884-1888, then was defeated in 1888, and came back to win the White House from 1892-1896. Cleveland spent most of his life in upstate New York. His father, a Presbyterian minister, died young. Cleveland became a lawyer in Buffalo, joined the Democratic Party, and moved quickly up the ranks while continuing to practice law. Appointed Sheriff in 1870, he became known for honesty and efficiency at a time of widespread urban graft and corruption, was elected as a reform Mayor, and then elected New York Governor as his reputation as a clean government-type grew. The national Democratic Party tapped him as presidential nominee in 1884 and he defeated Republican James G. Blaine, even winning over reform-minded Republicans. By all accounts, Cleveland ran an upright administration, and made progress toward reforms of the civil service, the executive departments, and Civil War pensions. Renominated by his party in 1888 without challenge, Cleveland was defeated by a business-friendly and well-organized opponent, Republican Benjamin Harrison of Indiana. The race was close: Cleveland won a plurality of the popular vote but lost the Electoral College.
Intending to practice law and enjoy his family as a private citizen, Cleveland found it difficult to retire. Nominated again in 1892, Cleveland led the Democrats to a smashing victory over Harrison, as well as helping to win control of both the House and Senate. The second term was not a happy one, though. Cleveland was almost immediately undone by a financial panic that deepened into an economic depression, one of the most severe and bitter the country has ever seen. His support of the gold standard, when many Democrats from farm states were in favor of a silver monetary system, split the party and left Cleveland deeply unpopular. His use of force to end a Pullman railway strike alienated the labor wing of his party. That was the end. In 1896, Cleveland again sought the nomination, but was soundly rejected. Populist spellbinder William Jennings Bryan represented the Democrats on a platform demanding free and unlimited coinage of both silver and gold. After Bryan was defeated, Cleveland retired to Princeton NJ and lived on until 1908, by which time his reputation had recovered and his death was mourned nationwide.
AMERICAN PATRIOT 11
AMERICA’S FUN FOODS
LOLLIPOPS
As is so often the case with fun foods, Americans may not have invented the lollipop but they made it bigger, sweeter and faster to market. Today, U.S. candy makers produce millions of lollipops a day in all shapes, sizes and flavors. The invention of the lollipop, says the National
stirred by a stick. Within a couple of years, the
Confectionary Association, goes back to the
company began to market these “candy sticks.”
cavemen, who maintained beehives and collected honey by stick. The theory is that they
In 1908 in Racine WI, the first truly auto-
licked the utensil and the first unintentional
mated lollipop production was invented by
lollipop, or, candy on a stick, was born. The
the Racine Confectionary Machine Company.
ancient Arabs, Chinese and Egyptians pro-
The company invented a machine whose sole
duced fruit and nut treats, “candied” in honey
purpose was to find a way to put hard candy
as a preservative, often eaten on sticks.
on the end of a stick. The machine produced 2400 lollipops per hour, then thought to meet
The European Middle Ages added the notion
the needs of the country for an entire year.
of boiling sugar into blocks, to make the ex-
Then, in 1912, Samuel Born, a Russian im-
pensive delicacy last longer. Sometimes the
migrant, developed a machine whose sole
blocks of sugar were formed with sticks and
purpose was to automatically insert sticks into
even ornamental handles. As sugar became
candy. Considered a hero in his hometown of
more plentiful, the treat reached the streets
San Francisco, Born is also credited with in-
and, to make it easier to eat, a stick was
venting sprinkles; these were originally the
inserted. Some linguists believe the word
by-product of lollipop manufacture.
“lollipop” made its appearance among the street vendors in London during this period.
Today, hundreds of modern candy companies produce up to three million pops per day, which
American know-how and expertise in mass-
barely satisfies the national craving. They
production led to the birth of the lollipop as
come in all shapes and sizes, with or without
we know it. As early as 1905, the McAviney
fillings, and even the local candy stores may
Candy Company, now defunct, may have stum-
offer at least three dozen varieties.
bled upon the machine made lollipop by default. The owner created boiled hard candies
LEARN TO MAKE LOLLIPOPS AT HOME
AMERICAN PATRIOT 13
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“This is preeminently the time to speak the truth, the whole truth, frankly and boldly. Nor need we shrink from honestly facing conditions in our country today. This great Nation will endure, as it has endured, will revive and will prosper. So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself — nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance. In every dark hour of our national life, a leadership of frankness and of vigor has met with that understanding and support of the people themselves which is essential to victory. And I am convinced that you will again give that support to leadership in these critical days.” — FDR’S FIRST INAUGURAL ADDRESS, 1933 AT THE HEIGHT OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION, A SPEECH WHICH RADIATED CONFIDENCE AND OPTIMISM THAT HELPED RALLY THE COUNTRY.
14 AMERICAN PATRIOT
THIS WEEK IN
AMERICAN HISTORY
1876. On this day in 1876, 29-year-old Alexander Graham Bell received a patent for his invention — the telephone. Bell, born in Scotland, was living in Boston when he began to develop the possibility of transmitting speech over wires. Building on the telegraph, Bell’s device used sound waves and an electric current to carry and replicate sound from a sending instrument to a receiving instrument. Three days after filing the patent, the telephone carried its first intelligible message — “Mr. Watson, come here, I need you” — from Bell to his assistant. The invention formed the basis of the Bell Telephone, then A&T, and the modern telecommunications industry. CLICK HERE TO HEAR A DRAMATIZATION OF THE FIRST PHONE CALL AMERICAN PATRIOT 15
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