History is usually defined as a chronological record of significant events (as affecting a nation or institution) often including an explanation of their causes. Sometimes the interpretation of history along with its presentation can cause some problems. There’s a local kerfuffle over “Walking Tours of Civil War Boston’’ – the…
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From AOL/Huffington Post, here are comments by ultra-wealthy Warren Buffett on the political game being played by national Republicans in Congress concerning the national debt limit. The clip is from a CNBC interview. In May, Buffett stated at a Berkshire Hathaway shareholder’s meeting that if the Congress failed to raise the debt…
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If the debt ceiling talks fail, independents voters will see that Democrats were willing to compromise but Republicans were not. If responsible Republicans don’t take control, independents will conclude that Republican fanaticism caused this default. They will conclude that Republicans are not fit to govern. And they will be right.…
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CIO organizing poster, circa 1935 On this day July 5, 1935 – President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the National Labor Relations Act, which among other provisions, allowed labor to organize for the purpose of collective bargaining. The National Labor Relations Act or Wagner Act (named for its sponsor, Senator Robert…
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In today’s New York Times “The Opinion Pages” – Harold Holzer reminds us that in that simmering time after the Confederacy opened fire on Fort Sumter in April 1861, after the Baltimore Riots of April 18-19, 1861, after Lincoln ordered a naval blockade of Southern ports and after his call…
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Happy Independence Day! Happy Fourth of July!
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The Baltimore Riot – April 19, 1861 Remembrances of the Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War are being marked in various ways in the communities – North and South – that sent tens of thousands of their citizens to participate in this bloodiest of wars. Massachusetts and the Merrimack Valley…
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On this day July 2, 1964, U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law the historic Civil Rights Act in a nationally televised ceremony at the White House. After the assassination of President Kennedy in November, 1963, President Johnson pledged to follow-through with Kennedy’s commitment to a civil rights bill…
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There are many food traditions connected with celebrating Independence Day on the Fourth of July. Cooking food on the grill – hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken and corn with all the fixin’s is one of them. Another is the celebratory picnic – fried chicken, potato salad, strawberry shortcake, watermelon – maybe…
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Essex Dam on the Merrimack River in Lawrence Massachusetts The mayoral term of William Lantigua could be “water over the dam” if the petition for his recall is successful. The Eagle-Tribune is reporting that the citizen group collecting signatures to recall Lawrence Mayor William Lantigua is ready to start the…
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