Top Socialstudieswithasmile.com blog “stories” of 2009
The Deaths of Walter Cronkite and Senator Ted Kennedy
Both were great Americans. The following is the post written after the death of Walter Cronkite
It certainly was sad to hear of the passing of an American legend, Walter Cronkite.
I was barely alive when Cronkite retired from the CBS Evening News in 1981 but my lasting memory of him is the clip of Cronkite telling the US about the death of President Kennedy in 1963.
I heard an interesting story about Cronkite last night. When the anchors of news programs are not on TV, their substitute would often begin “Good evening. I’m ________. Walter Cronkite is on assignment.” Typically this would mean the anchor is out doing an investigative report that would air later on once completed. However, according to George Grande, Cronkite’s boat was called “Assignment”. So when Cronkite was out on assignment he was often enjoying one of his passions, boating on “Assignment”.
On This Day In History:
1776-Washington and his men cross the Delaware River for a surprise attack on The Hessians and British (Battle of Trenton). There is a great account of this in David McCulloch’s book 1776. I have the book (and excepts of it printed out if you would like to read it. It is a stunning account of this attack.
Today also marks the deaths of two Martins…Billy Martin of the Yankees and Dean Martin the entertainer.
It was also the birthday of some other famous guy…
11 comments
Comment by Iliana on December 25, 2009 at 8:55 pm
Merry Christmas, Mr. Dowling! (and family) I can’t wait for more top blog stories. Keep ‘em coming!
Comment by Iliana on December 25, 2009 at 8:56 pm
Oh. who is the other famous guy? Not you right? or is it? Huh?
Comment by Wyn on December 27, 2009 at 1:12 pm
I know who the other birthday is!!
Comment by Elizabeth on December 28, 2009 at 4:40 pm
Well, Wyn, who is it? Don’t brag, because I don’t know who it is, and I know that it’s not you…
Billy Martin died? Really? Obviously, I was not alive when he was managing the Yankees, but as far as I’ve heard, he was fired and then rehired by George Steinbrenner about a dozen times.
Comment by Administrator on December 29, 2009 at 6:52 am
Billy Martin died probably 20 years ago. He had his problems with alcohol and I’m pretty sure it contributed to the car accident that he had. However, the official report is that he was a passenger. The Bronx is Burning is a great book on New York in 1977. It covers The Yankees aka The Bronx Zoo of Steinbrenner, Reggie Jackson and Billy Martin. It also weaves in stories of the political and racial troubles at the time and the frightening Son of Sam Killer David Berkowitz. ESPN turned it into a mini-series which can still be seen from time to time on the MSG network.
Comment by Wyn on December 31, 2009 at 2:12 pm
Wow! How do you guys not know who else has a birthday on Christmas?
Comment by Elizabeth on January 1, 2010 at 7:31 pm
Stop pestering me! Who is it! I will explode if I don’t find out!
Comment by Elizabeth on January 1, 2010 at 9:38 pm
You won’t believe this, but I researched it on Google and apparently, the producer of Star Trek was born on Christmas Day. Is that it? He’s the only person I could find who Wyn would know about. I’m right, right?
Comment by Wyn on January 2, 2010 at 9:24 pm
Are you kidding me Elizabeth? Answer this, why do some celebrate Christmas?????
Comment by Elizabeth on January 3, 2010 at 11:27 am
Oh. I get it. Now I feel ridiculously stupid. The answer is SO obvious that, well… I was thinking more on the celebrity front. The Star Trek person was not a bad guess, though, in my humble opinion…
Comment by Wyn on January 3, 2010 at 7:30 pm
That took a while.