By Edwin Cooney
Most of my friends were taught by their parents to figure things out for themselves when suffering through a dilemma. My parents must have been Trumpites because they raised me to realize that I have no problems that ultimately aren't someone else's to figure out. In other words, others tackle the problem and I merely "sop up the syrup," as they say! So, here's your problem for the week!
What is the real significance of the Fourth of July? The problem is greater than most of us realize. So, you want examples? Okay!
Did you know that John Adams, who chaired the five man committee of the Second Continental Congress that was charged with drawing up a "Declaration of Independence,” refused to celebrate the fourth day of July as our national holiday because, after all, Congress voted to support independence on Tuesday, July 2nd, 1776.
Did you know that late 18th Century Virginians considered Independence Day to be a New England holiday since Boston, Cambridge and Lexington, Massachusetts were where most of the trouble was started and where the first blood was shed?
Despite the Virginians’ attitude, President Thomas Jefferson was the first chief executive to celebrate Independence Day at the White House on Saturday, July 4th, 1801. He even handed out sweets and drinks at his own expense to anyone who visited that day. I've also read that they still hand out drinks and sweets each July 4th at Monticello! Hey! Let's drop in!
Most of us know by now that Jefferson and Adams died on Tuesday, July 4th, 1826, the fiftieth anniversary of our independence. A few even know that former President James Monroe became the third president to die on July 4th. Monroe died in 1831 while living with his daughter in New York City. However, few people realize that one president, Calvin Coolidge, was born at midnight on Thursday, July 4th, 1872. (It's been said that Calvin actually cried out a minute or so before the 4th, but his ever vigilant father, Justice of the Peace John Coolidge, nudged the minute hand on the family grandfather clock — just a tiny bit, you understand — to make little Calvin's birth "nationally significant.”)
Although July Fourth became a federal holiday in 1870 under President Ulysses S. Grant, federal workers weren't paid during their federal holiday until FDR changed that for Friday, July 4th, 1941.
Since Tuesday, July 4th, 1916, Nathan's on Coney Island in New York Harbor, has held a worldwide hotdog eating contest. Joseph Christian (Joey) Chestnut is the current competitive eating World Champion. (Surprisingly, Joey is 6 foot 1 inch and weighs only 230 pounds. Apparently there is a healthy methodology for professional overeaters!)
The national dilemma for 2019 is, of course, President Donald J. Trump. President Trump chose to take over our celebration so that he was the focus of our national attention. Presidents usually stay in the background on Independence Day realizing that it is the nation's birthday, not theirs - with the exception, of course, of President Coolidge. Note that "Silent Cal" usually spent summers out of Washington. One year he was in Wisconsin, another year he was in Upstate New York, and still another year he was in South Dakota. That happened to be the year he issued the following statement on Tuesday, August 2nd, 1927, the fourth anniversary of the date he became president: "I do not choose to run for President in 1928.”
Thus my question. What's the celebration on July 4th all about? Is it really all about the independence and freedom of "we the people?" Is it about the military and how tough we are? After all, that's how the Soviets celebrated their national holidays. Is it legitimately about the president or ought it be about Joey Chestnut and the rest of us overeating and beer-swilling American patriots?
Oh ya, I just thought of this and it's worth mentioning. There's one other tremendously important American who was born on the Fourth of July. Specifically, he was born on Friday, July 4th, 1930. His name was George M. Steinbrenner III. He made the New York Yankees "great again." Think of what he could have done for America! Imagine, he might have traded Donald Trump to the Russians for Vladimir Putin! Wow! Should I keep on thinking or is it time for you to take over now and explain the real significance of the Fourth of July?
I now yield the floor!
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,
EDWIN COONEY
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