On this day in 1849, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported that “Nashville papers received this afternoon state that former President James K. Polk is stricken with cholera and in critical condition.”
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On this day in 1892, the Eagle reported: “The result of the trial in Minneapolis caused consternation throughout England. [President Benjamin] Harrison and [James G.] Blaine will ensure the selection of the “dark horse.” In revenge for their miscalculation, clever editorial writers are now at work exploiting the uncertainty in American politics.
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On this day in 1917, the Eagle reported: “Nora Bays stole five minutes of the Palace Theatre yesterday with her character song recitations, comedic stage acts and general charm. The biggest piece in her repertoire was a new patriotic song, “Over There,” by the spirited George M. Cohan.”
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On this day in 1924, The Eagle reported: “Convention Hall, CLEVELAND — Judge William S. Kenyon, of Iowa, has been selected this afternoon by the President’s manager, William M. Butler, as the Administration’s nominee for vice president. However, in view of the rapid rise in feeling against Senator Charles Curtis, of Kansas, the Republican whip of the Senate, who enjoys the support of the old powers, following the virtual exclusion of Senator William E. Borer at his own urging, it is uncertain whether Judge Kenyon will be nominated. Butler’s camp, thrown into great confusion early this morning by the withdrawal of Mr. Borer, fears that the nomination of Senator Curtis will restore the shattered prestige of the old powers and give an important confirmation to the United States Senate which has hitherto been so completely ignored. There may be a last desperate effort to push Senator Borer into the second place, but if that fails, the current indications are that Judge Kenyon will be supported by the President’s manager. The situation is constantly changing, and may at any moment take an unexpected turn.”
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On this day in 1930, the Eagle reported: “Mr. Henry Clay Folger, of 24 Brevoort Place, Glen Cove, Long Island, former president of the Standard Oil Company of New York and owner of one of the world’s largest collections of Shakespeare’s works, died yesterday after an operation at St. John’s Hospital. Mr. Folger was transferred to the hospital from his home in Glen Cove two weeks ago and would have been 73 years old next Wednesday. The funeral will be held tomorrow evening at 8 o’clock in the chapel of the Central Congregational Church, Hancock Street near Franklin Avenue. Mr. Folger is survived by his wife, Emily C. Jordan Folger, one sister and two brothers. Mr. Folger was born in this city, his parents being Henry C. and Eliza J. Clark Folger.” After graduating from Adelphi College in Brooklyn, he attended Amherst College, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degrees in 1879 and Master of Arts degrees in 1881. On July 1, 1879, probably just a few days after graduating from college, he began work in the oil industry as a clerk for Charles Pratt & Company in Brooklyn. … Mr. Folger’s interest in Shakespeare began while he was an undergraduate at Adelphi University, and his later efforts to collect and organize his library, like those of his wife, have always been a labor of love. The Folger collection, some 25,000 volumes, is undoubtedly the finest in the United States.
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On this day in 1948, The Eagle reported: “Brooklyn friends and associates of former Chief of Corrections David Marcus, and today Brooklyn Jews in general, mourned the death of a World War II hero who was killed Thursday night in the line of duty as commander in chief of the Israeli army in Jerusalem. Col. Marcus was killed just hours before the Jewish-Arab armistice was to take effect, local Israeli representatives announced. His connection to Israel was kept secret, but it emerged yesterday that he had almost singlehandedly created the Jewish army and worked day and night for that purpose.” Many Brooklynites knew him as Mickey Marcus, a star baseball and football player at Boys’ High School, a ’24 graduate of West Point, a 1928 graduate of Brooklyn Law School, a combat chief of corrections officer, and later a decorated veteran of World War II who helped draft the terms of surrender for Germany, Italy and Japan and served on many top-secret missions for Presidents Roosevelt and Truman. “His name will live forever in the history of the Jewish people” read part of a telegram sent by Israeli Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion, a statement backed up by Colonel Marcus’ heroic deeds in helping to secure victory for the Jewish army.
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Adriana Lima
Evan Agostini/InVision/AP
Kelly Kittles
Marty Lederhandler/AP
Famous people born on this day include announcer and basketball hall of famer Marv Albert (born 1941), “Sesame Street” star Sonia Manzano (born 1950), “thirtysomething” star Timothy Busfield (born 1957), “The Kids in the Hall” star Scott Thompson (born 1959), psychologist and cultural commentator Jordan Peterson (born 1962), former New Jersey Nets shooting guard Kerry Kittles (born 1974), former New York Yankees outfielder and 2009 World Series MVP Hideki Matsui (born 1974), 2004 NBA Sixth Man Award winner Antwuan Jamison (born 1976), and former NFL tight end and Super Bowl winner Dallas Clark (born 1979). Adriana Lima is an actress and supermodel born in 1981.
Hideki Matsui
Seth Wenig/AP
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Diamonds are forever: On this day in 1939, the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum opened in Cooperstown, New York. More than 200 players have been inducted into the Hall of Fame for their contributions to baseball. The first inductees were Ty Cobb, Honus Wagner, Babe Ruth, Christy Mathewson and Walter Johnson. Artifacts and memorabilia from baseball’s history are housed in America’s national sports hall of fame.
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Cold War Command: On this day in 1987, President Ronald Reagan delivered his “Tear Down This Wall” speech. Standing in front of the Brandenburg Gate and the Berlin Wall, Reagan challenged Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev to do more than just pay lip service to the liberalization of the Eastern Bloc. “General Secretary Gorbachev, if you want peace, if you want prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you want freedom, come to this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall,” he said. The wall finally came down in 1989.
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Centenary Man: George Herbert Walker Bush was born on this day in 1924 in Milton, Massachusetts. At age 18, Bush became the youngest Navy pilot to receive the Distinguished Flying Cross during World War II. After graduating from Yale University, he had a successful career in the oil industry in Texas before moving into public service. He served as a U.S. Representative from Texas, an ambassador to the United Nations, chairman of the Republican National Committee, and director of the CIA before becoming vice president in Ronald Reagan’s administration (1981-89). He was elected president in 1988, but lost to Bill Clinton in 1992. Eight years later, his son, George W. Bush, became president and served two terms. His father, Bush, died on November 30, 2018, seven months after the death of his wife, Barbara.
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Special thanks to Chase’s Calendar of Events and the Brooklyn Public Library.
Quote:
“No generation can escape history.”
— Former President George H.W. Bush, born on this day in 1924
Wednesday, June 12, 2024June 12, 2024 | Sunny, 64° F
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Brooklyn, New York City’s most populous borough, is home to approximately 2.6 million residents. If Brooklyn were a city on its own, it would be the fourth largest in the United States. In recent years, Brooklyn has become synonymous with “cool and hip,” but to the people who were born here, raised their families here, and have improved their community over the years, Brooklyn has never been “uncool.”
