The saying “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty” is often used in commentary about the need to continually guard against efforts by the government or political pressure groups to…
“The business of America is business” – a famously unfair misquote…
When President Warren G. Harding died from a heart-related problem in 1923, Vice President Calvin Coolidge became the 30th President of the United States. The following year, with his popularity…
“J’Accuse!” (“I Accuse!”) – Émile Zola defends Alfred Dreyfus
On January 13, 1898, the front page of the French newspaper L’Aurore featured a scathing letter about the “Dreyfus Affair” written by popular author Émile Zola and addressed to the…
“Love me, love my dog.”
In the Catholic religion, August 20 is the Feast Day of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, a medieval French monk who died on that date in 1153 A.D. I’m not a…
“Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition!”
On December 7, 1941 — which President Franklin D. Roosevelt would memorably name “a date which will live in infamy” on the following day — hundreds of Japanese warplanes made a…
How “God Bless America” created a musical duel between Woody Guthrie and Irving Berlin
In 1917, during World War I, American songwriter Irving Berlin was drafted into the U.S. Army. He was already a successful songwriter at that point, known for major hits like…
“The Silent Majority” — from Nixon to Futurama
On November 3, 1969, President Richard M. Nixon (1913–1994) made a televised address to the nation about the war in Vietnam that popularized one of the most famous political phrases of the 20th century: “the silent majority.”
“Who’s on first?” — Abbott & Costello’s famous baseball sketch
Bud Abbott (1895-1974) and Lou Costello (1906-1959)—the comedy team known as Abbot & Costello—performed many versions of their legendary “Who’s on first?” routine in vaudeville and burlesque stage appearances, on…
“Not fade away…”
On October 27, 1957, American Rockabilly and rock music pioneer Buddy Holly and his band the Crickets released their second 45 rpm single, as a follow-up to their first smash hit “Peggy Sue.” This…
Is Nathan Hale’s legendary line “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country” a true quote, a misquote or pure fiction?
On September 22, 1776, during the Revolutionary War, a former school teacher named Nathan Hale was hanged by the British for being a rebel spy. According to legend, Hale uttered…