A History Primer For America's 250th Birthday

Over the past weekend, numerous No-Kings Rallies were conducted nationwide.  They were aimed mostly at President Donald Trump's constitutionally questionable assertions of executive authority, and this has angered many of his supporters. But if truth be told, Americans have long been very leery of executive overreach.  They also resented people who, once elected, make it a career. 

In the Articles of Confederation that existed before we actually ratified the Constitution, there was no executive branch of government and no federal courts. States' rights, echoes of which can still be heard today, was the guiding principle. Delegates to Congress were limited to three years in office. 

We quickly learned that we did actually need an executive branch but were still suspicious of the tyranny that could result from a strong national government. Hence the Constitution. When George Washington was elected (unanimously) as the first President, he actually highlighted and underlined all mentions of his office. After his inauguration, he made it a point to visit every member of Congress instead of having them come to him and swear their loyalty. He also made it a point to leave his office every day at about 4 pm for a brief walk to demonstrate that he is just like everyone else. 

And so things remained until Andrew Jackson was elected President. He was the first to push the authority of the executive branch, ignoring acts of Congress and the courts when they acted contrary to his agenda. He even called for some of his critics to be "Houstinized" (assaulted). He was a populist who despised effete intellectuals like John Quincy Adams.

After Jackson, the power of the Executive branch continued to grow under different Presidents, especially during times of crisis. 

If you'd like an overview of our history from the beginning to present, I highly recommend a series of lectures from Yale University professors David Blight, Joanne Freeman and Beverly Gage called America at 250.  A course syllabus is included. You can view the lectures online as well. 

LV History at Karen Samuels' Blog

It's a treasure.

I continue to be amazed by the LV's rich local history. And nobody chronicles it better than Karen Samuels. Whether it's the Great White Hurricane of 1888, or her most recent story about Broughal school, Samuels' Lehigh Valley History is a MUST READ for anyone interested in a good story.

She has great pictures, too.

Dick Cowen: Why We Have No-Fault Divorce

Retired Morning Call reporter Dick Cowen has learned why we now have no-fault divorce. Here's his ditty.

There used to be a column labeled Out of Lehigh's Past that ran in The Call for a time. Here's one bit that was missed, tucked away in a Lehigh County divorce file that is tucked away at the Lehigh Valley Heritage Center (nee Lehigh County Historical Society):

In 1900, married couple Frank and Mary Ritter were no longer living together. She had her own place. A helpful young neighbor told the husband that Mary was letting people in her house "that had no business there. I told him he should attend to it and get a divorce." It seemed a chap named Knauss was a frequent visitor at Mary's, even helping to install a screen door.

The husband advised the helpful neighbor to talk to his (Mr. Ritter's) lawyer, T.F. Diefenderfer. "I told him (Diefenderfer) what I had seen. The lawyer told me to watch a little bit. I then did watch. I made it my business and then did watch.

"After that, I saw Mrs. Ritter and Mr. Knauss come home . . . about ten minutes after twelve on a Saturday night. They both went into the house. I soon saw a light upstairs in her front room.

"Then, I got a ladder, climbed up and looked into the window. The painter had left it (the ladder) in my yard.

"I put the ladder at the front of her house. I looked into the room through (the) fly-screen. The shade was about two or three inches from the bottom. There was a light in the room. I saw Mrs. Ritter undressed there and Mr. Knauss undressed. Then, Mrs. Ritter went into bed and Mr. Knauss, too. into the same bed. I did not wait to see what was going on further.

"I took the ladder away and sat down on my alley-step and put the ladder in my alley. I waited till Mr. Knauss came out. . .at a quarter to one o'clock."

So much for neighborliness.

Remember, you heard it first on WKAP

LV Veterans History Round Table This Thursday

Vonnegut, my dad and WWII.

That's the name I've given to some vivid letters penned by author Kurt Vonnegut, as well as a compelling diary my father briefly kept. My dad and Vonnegut, Army buddies, endured captivity together after being captured during the Bulge. They survived the Allied firebombing of Dresden, Easter Europe's most beautiful city. Their writing was done shortly after being liberated by the Russians. In a series of posts, I did next to no writing. I consider it my best work, perhaps for that reason.

Monday night, I met a man who is trying to keep those memories alive. His name is Paul Fiske. I was about 15 minutes late for our meeting, and had to drop and give him 20. We talked, and before I knew it, nearly two hours had gone by. Paul is a fascinating man with a wonderful memory of Allentown and the Lehigh Valley. I hope I'll be telling you his story soon. But for now, he's promoting a group that is collecting oral histories from veterans of all conflicts.

What: Lehigh Valley Veterans History Project Round Table.

When: Thursday night, 7 PM.

Where: Lehigh County Senior Center, 1633 Elm Street, Allentown, Pa.

Who: Colonel Harry Yoder, who flew 38 combat missions during WWII. I don't have time to list his numerous commendations.

After Yoder's speech, there will be refreshments. Will they be C-Rats or MREs? I'll let you know because I'm going.