Jane Hampton Cook's Blog, page 14
September 17, 2014
Constitution Day. Who was “elected” to all 3 branches?
. . . from Jane Hampton Cook, the author of American Phoenix
Today is Constitution Day, the day 227 years ago in 1787 when members of the Constitutional Convention signed the U.S. Constitution. Years later, one American was named or elected to all three branches. Who was he?
President John Quincy Adams (1825-29) has the distinction of serving in the executive branch and also in the legislative branch both before and after his presidency. He was a U.S. Senator before his presidency and a member of the U.S. House of Representatives after his presidency, the only president to do so. Yet, he also had the opportunity to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. What happened?
In May 1811, while serving as the nation’s top diplomat to Russia, Adams received a letter informing him that President James Madison, with the unanimous consent of the U.S. Senate, had appointed him as a justice on the U.S. Supreme Court.
What was his response to the honor? No, but thank you. John Quincy had an obvious reason for saying no. His wife Louisa was six months pregnant and could not safely travel by ship until after the birth of their child in August 1811. She’d already lost two pregnancies while living in Russia and he couldn’t subject her to the perils of ship travel. But voyaging with a newborn would also have been risky for the infant’s health. Hence he turned down the offer, citing both family reasons and a “serious distrust of my qualifications for a seat on the bench” as he wrote Madison.
Deep down Adams knew that he wasn’t suited for service on the Supreme Court. Though an attorney, he didn’t uphold traditional interpretations of the role of English common law in the courts, which would have led him to make controversial decisions.
After sending President Madison a letter, John Quincy knew he had one more letter to write. He must console his disappointed father, John Adams, the former U.S. president who was living in Quincy, Massachusetts.
“I am sorry, very sorry, to disappoint the expectations of my country, by withholding myself from that judgment seat, but happier for me than it would be to disappoint their expectations upon the seat itself,” Adams wrote.
Had John Quincy accepted the U.S. Supreme Court position he would have never been president of the United States or a congressman from Massachusetts.
September 15, 2014
Union Jack to get a Face Lift?
In my book, America’s Star-Spangled Story, I compared the appearance of the United States flag with the British flag, the Union Jack. If Baltimore’s Fort McHenry had been captured by the British military on September 14, 1814, Maryland attorney Francis Scott Key might have seen a Union Jack by the dawn’s early light instead of the broad stripes and bright stars of the U.S. flag. If he had seen the UJ of the UK, he wouldn’t have penned The Star-Spangled Banner, which is now the U.S. national anthem.
Two hundred years later in 2014, the Union Jack is facing a face lift, potentially losing its white stripes and blue background, at least symbolically, if the people of Scotland vote to withdraw from the United Kingdom of Britain.
The Union Jack combines the crosses of England and Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, to show centralized royal power. Running across the center is a broad red stripe, which represents the single sovereign reigning over them.
About 4.3 million Scots are expected to vote soon on whether to withdraw from the United Kingdom. Though polls show the vote too close to call—within 2 percentage points—voting for independence would be historic.
Scotland became part of the United Kingdom 307 years ago in 1707, when the Act of Union joined these independent kingdoms into Great Britain. When Queen Elizabeth I died in 1603 without an heir, the throne of England passed to her cousin’s grandson, James VI, who was king of Scotland. He led Scotland and England as independent states with separate parliamentary and judicial systems until the Act of Union joined their governments.
September 6, 2014
Saving Washington-Dolley's Daring Rescue
On August 24, 1814, after defeating 3,500 Americans in a battle in Bladensburg, Maryland, a British military force marched six miles and burned these two architectural beauties, our capital city’s only national monuments at the time.
London newspapers soon bragged: “Washington (DC) is no more” and “the reign of[President James] Madison may be considered as at an end.” One shining moment, however, stood out on this otherwise dark day. Dolley Madison, the president’s wife, had been waiting for President Madison’s return from Bladensburg.
By three in the afternoon, she learned of the battle’s disastrous outcome. Though several people encouraged her to evacuate, she wouldn’t leave the White House until one treasure was safe.
Read full story: http://www.janecook.com/TBT/DolleyMad...
Remembering Washington in Flames
Read my Washington Times article to find out.
www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/aug...
Jane's In-Depth Interview on the Star-Spangled Banner
Listen while you work on your computer or through your iPad.
http://www.moodyradio.org/brd_Program...
Listen while you work to In Triumph Shall Wave
Hosted by Country Music Star Rodney Atkins, this special takes a look at the national anthem, which celebrates its 200th anniversary Sept. 13-14.
I'm one of the interviewees. This is a fun and patriotic special, one everyone can enjoy.
http://radio.foxnews.com/2014/08/29/i...
Jane on Fox & Friends
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLjhY...
Book Signing in Fairfax. VA
Fall for the Book
Sept. 17, 2014, 2:15-3:30 PM
Jane Hampton Cook will be speaking on American Phoenix
and signing her books, American Phoenix and America's Star-Spangled Story
at the
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
George Mason University, Fairfax Campus
http://fallforthebook.org/2014/06/02/...
Book Signing in Baltimore
200th anniversary celebration of the Star-Spangled Banner
Sept. 13, 2-4 PM
Barnes & Noble Power Plant, Baltimore
Jane Hampton Cook will be signing two books: American Phoenix and America's Star-Spangled Story
http://www.starspangled200.com/star-s...
