A few “anniversaries” have happened this week, which have reminded me about a highly important time in American history. Our early days.
For one, there was Aaron Burr. He died on September 14, 1836. At the age of 80. He came very close to being the third president of the United States. But after a deadlock tie vote in Congress finally broke, he became the third vice president of the United States under Thomas Jefferson. Yet, when people think of Burr, most remember him for shooting, and killing, Alexander Hamilton in 1804. The duel at Weehawken, NJ. Burr escaped death that day, but succumbed 32 years later. A stroke and ill health ending in 1836.
I think of him and I am reminded immediately of the Broadway show, “Hamilton.” That, and I have recently read, “Founding Brothers” by Joseph J. Ellis. Which in turn, brings to mind the HBO movie/series, “John Adams,” which I am currently watching.
Today’s historical anniversary involves George Washington. He laid the cornerstone of the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. on September 18, 1793. Yes, the city of Washington was just being built, a real deal that was, getting the capital moved from Philadelphia to D.C. But there it went.
Construction on the White House began on October 13, 1792. It must have been some extremely slow-building. When the Adams took residence in 1800, the building was still not complete. Yesterday (on the show), I saw Abagail and John Adams move into the White House, then known as the President’s House. What a miserable place that turned out to be for them. A total hapless mess. They were hanging their laundry in the East Room, for crying out loud. But it was short-lived. As I mentioned, Jefferson won the next election, and John served no more.
An item of note, though. Upon arriving at their residence, Adams wrote to his wife Abagail, who would be joining him soon. He said, “Before I end my letter, I pray Heaven to bestow the best of blessings on this house and all that shall hereafter inhabit it. May none but honest and wise men ever rule under this roof.”
I have two thoughts on John’s prayer. 1. He may have not been very good at praying. Or, 2. God was on lunch break when John prayed that day. See the news for the past for years if you have any doubts. z
However, the main thing I have noticed through all of these historical visits — seeing “Hamilton,” reading “Founding Brothers,” watching “John Adams” — the depictions of our history are very different. Widely different. And I am amazed by this.
I hope, upon hope, that the United States as we know it, is not coming to an end. But we are in a time of legendary tumult. All of this makes me wonder how it will be written, when things have gone their way. Every day, I pray for peace.
========
May our Dear Ruth Bader Ginsburg Rest In Peace.
=========
History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people.
— Martin Luther King, Jr.
========
Few will have the greatness to bend history itself; but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total; of all those acts will be written the history of this generation.
— Robert Kennedy
========
That men do not learn very much from the lessons of history is the most important of all the lessons of history.
— Aldous Huxley
==========
