Honoring Vice President Thomas R. Marshall's Birthday: Wit, War, and the Weight of Duty

On this day, we commemorate the birth of Thomas Riley Marshall, the 28th Vice President of the United States, who served two terms under President Woodrow Wilson from 1913 to 1921. Born on March 14, 1854, in North Manchester, Indiana, Marshall’s legacy is often overshadowed by the towering events of World War I and Wilson’s own prominence. Yet Marshall’s contributions—especially his role in overseeing the WWI draft lottery—and his colorful personality deserve renewed appreciation.

📚 From Indiana Roots to National Office

Marshall’s rise began in the heartland. He graduated from Wabash College in 1873 and studied law, eventually building a successful legal career. Known for his wit and storytelling, he entered politics later in life, becoming Governor of Indiana in 1909. His progressive reforms and popularity earned him a spot on the Democratic ticket in 1912, where he was elected Vice President alongside Wilson.

🗳️ The WWI Draft Lottery

One of Marshall’s most solemn and historic duties came during World War I, when the United States instituted a national draft. On July 20, 1917, Marshall presided over the first draft lottery, a moment that symbolized the nation’s mobilization for war. In a ceremony held in Washington, D.C., Marshall drew the first number from a glass bowl—#258—setting in motion the conscription of thousands of young Americans. His presence lent constitutional gravity and public trust to the process, reinforcing the legitimacy of the Selective Service Act.

🏛️ A Vice President in the Shadows

Marshall’s vice presidency was marked by limited influence. President Wilson rarely consulted him on major decisions, and Marshall was notably excluded from power during Wilson’s debilitating stroke in 1919. Despite calls for him to assume presidential duties, Wilson’s wife and inner circle resisted, leaving Marshall sidelined during a constitutional crisis. His reluctance to force the issue—out of respect for the presidency and fear of appearing opportunistic—has sparked debate among historians about missed leadership.

Still, Marshall left his mark through humor and humility. He famously quipped, “What this country needs is a good five-cent cigar,” a line that became emblematic of his down-to-earth style.

⚰️ Final Years and Legacy

After leaving office in 1921, Marshall retired from public life and wrote memoirs reflecting on his career. He died on June 1, 1925, in Washington, D.C., from a heart attack while staying at the Willard Hotel. He was buried in Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis, Indiana, where his grave remains a quiet tribute to a man who witnessed—and shaped—an era of profound change.

🕊️ Remembering Marshall

Thomas Marshall’s legacy is one of constitutional restraint, wartime duty, and Midwestern candor. Though not a commanding figure in Wilson’s administration, his role in the WWI draft lottery, his service during a time of global upheaval, and his principled approach to power offer enduring lessons in civic responsibility.

Today, we honor his birthday not only as a historical footnote, but as a reminder of the quiet strength that sometimes defines leadership.

Lieutenant Colonel Edward A. Kreger – Vice President Thomas R. Marshall – Captain Lucius B. Barbour – General Enoch H. Crowder – Major Charles B. Warren – Lieutenant Colonel Harry C. Kramer

Albert Einstein’s Birthday: Honoring the Mind That Bent Space, Time, and Human Imagination

Celebrating Notable Americans:  Albert Einstein was born on March 14, 1879, in Ulm, in the German state of Württemberg. From an early age he displayed an unusual blend of curiosity, independence, and a stubborn refusal to accept easy answers—traits that would eventually reshape modern physics. After studying at the Swiss Federal Polytechnic in Zürich, he worked as a patent clerk, a job that gave him the mental space to think freely. In 1905, his Annus Mirabilis, he published four papers that transformed our understanding of space, time, matter, and light. Those papers—on the photoelectric effect, Brownian motion, special relativity, and mass‑energy equivalence—announced the arrival of a mind operating on a different plane.

Einstein’s scientific legacy is almost impossible to overstate. His theory of special relativity redefined the relationship between space and time, while general relativity revealed gravity not as a force but as the curvature of spacetime itself. His equation  became the most famous in history, a compact expression of the deep unity between matter and energy. His work on the photoelectric effect earned him the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics and helped lay the foundation for quantum mechanics, even as he remained philosophically uneasy with its probabilistic nature.

By the 1930s, as the political climate in Germany darkened, Einstein emigrated to the United States. He accepted a position at the newly founded Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey, where he would remain for the rest of his life. There, free from teaching obligations and administrative burdens, he pursued a unified field theory—an attempt to reconcile the forces of nature into a single elegant framework. Though he never completed that quest, his persistence continues to inspire generations of physicists.

Einstein died on April 18, 1955, at age 76, after suffering a rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. He had been working at Princeton until the very end, declining surgical intervention with the belief that it was his time and that he wished to go naturally. The night he left for the hospital, he walked away from his office for the last time—papers still scattered, equations mid‑thought, books open to pages he intended to revisit.

That desk, preserved exactly as he left it, remains one of the most quietly moving artifacts in the history of science. It is a snapshot of a mind forever in motion, a reminder that even the greatest intellects leave behind unfinished work, unanswered questions, and the enduring human desire to understand the universe.

Happy Birthday Albert!

Memorable Anecdotes: President Abraham Lincoln

John Bach McMaster, the historian, told this anecdote of Abraham Lincoln in his historical reflections from his multi-volume "History of the People of the United States." When he was a very small boy he was taken to a reception at the White House.  the guests were lined up and led past the President under the watchful eyes of the ushers.  No one was allowed to come very close or to shake his hand.  One old man, who had come a long distance just for the occasion, was very disappointed at not having shaken hands of the President.  Just before leaving the line the old-timer waved his hat at the President and shouted, "Mr. President, I'm from New York state where we believe that God Almighty and Abraham Lincoln are going to save the country." 

Jovially the President waved back at him, "My friend, you're half right," was his reply. 

Tammy Duckworth: A Life of Service, Sacrifice, and Unbreakable Resolve

Though this post arrives two days after her birthday, it’s the perfect moment to reflect on the extraordinary life and service of Senator Tammy Duckworth, born March 12, 1968, in Bangkok, Thailand. Her story spans continents, combat, and public leadership, forming one of the most compelling biographies in modern American politics.

Duckworth was born to an American father working in international development and a Thai mother of Chinese descent. Her childhood unfolded across Southeast Asia before her family relocated to Hawaii when she was sixteen. Financial hardship—including periods on public assistance—shaped her early understanding of economic insecurity and the challenges facing working families.

She attended the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, later earning a master’s degree from George Washington University, where she joined Army ROTC. Drawn to aviation, she trained as a helicopter pilot—one of the first Army women to fly combat missions during the Iraq War. In 2004, while serving with the Illinois Army National Guard, her Black Hawk helicopter was struck by a rocket‑propelled grenade. She lost both legs and partial use of her right arm, surviving only through the efforts of her crew and medics. Her long recovery at Walter Reed transformed her into a national advocate for wounded service members.

After rehabilitation, Duckworth served as Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs, then as Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs under President Obama, where she worked to reduce veteran homelessness and expand services for women veterans.

Elected to the U.S. House in 2012 and the Senate in 2016, Duckworth became the first Thai‑American woman in the Senate and the first female double‑amputee to serve there. In 2018, she made history again as the first sitting U.S. Senator to give birth, prompting a rules change allowing infants on the Senate floor.

Today, Duckworth is a leading voice on veterans’ issues, disability rights, reproductive freedom, national security, and support for working families. Her life remains a testament to resilience, public duty, and the belief that service continues long after the uniform comes off.

U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth [D-IL] offical portrait, 2017

United States History On This Date: March 14

1794 — Eli Whitney Patents the Cotton Gin
Eli Whitney received a U.S. patent for the cotton gin, a device that rapidly separated cotton fiber from seeds. The invention revolutionized Southern agriculture, dramatically increased cotton production, and—tragically—deepened the entrenchment of slavery as plantation economies expanded.
1900 — U.S. Currency Formally Placed on the Gold Standard
Congress passed the Currency Act, committing the United States to the gold standard and ending the long political battle over silver coinage. The law stabilized the dollar, reassured financial markets, and shaped American monetary policy for more than three decades.
1950 — FBI Announces the Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List
The FBI publicly released its first “Ten Most Wanted Fugitives” list, designed to enlist nationwide media attention in capturing dangerous criminals. The program quickly became a cultural fixture, dramatically increasing public participation in federal law enforcement efforts.
1776 — Alexander Hamilton Commissioned as Artillery Captain
Alexander Hamilton received his commission as captain of a New York artillery company, marking his rise from student to military leader. His performance in the 1776 campaigns earned him recognition and eventually brought him into George Washington’s inner circle.

1776- Alexander Hamilton receives a commission as a captain in the artillery of the Continental Army

United States History On This Date: March 13

1794 — Congress Establishes the U.S. Navy

Congress passed the Naval Act of 1794, authorizing six frigates and formally creating the United States Navy. The legislation responded to threats against American merchant shipping and laid the foundation for a permanent naval force that would shape U.S. power for centuries.
1861 — First Transcontinental Telegraph Completed
The final link of the first transcontinental telegraph line was completed, connecting Washington, D.C., to San Francisco. This breakthrough collapsed communication times from weeks to minutes, transforming national governance, business coordination, and military decision‑making on the eve of the Civil War.
1865 — Confederacy Approves Enlisting Black Soldiers
Facing imminent defeat, the Confederate Congress reluctantly authorized the enlistment of Black soldiers. The measure came far too late to alter the war’s outcome, but it revealed the Confederacy’s desperation and contradicted its own ideological foundations.
1942 — U.S. Army Launches the K‑9 Corps
The U.S. Army formally established its War Dog Program, known as the K‑9 Corps, beginning the training of dogs for sentry duty, message delivery, and mine detection. These canine units became an important support force throughout World War II.

Military working dogs first entered the service in March of 1942 to serve in the Army’s K-9 Corps. Today, the dogs, who have an actual military service record book assigned to them, are still playing an active role in searching for explosives and seizing the enemy.  Photo by Defense.gov

United States History On This Date: March 12

1804 — House Impeaches Justice Samuel Chase
The House of Representatives impeached Supreme Court Justice Samuel Chase, accusing him of openly partisan behavior on the bench. Although the Senate later acquitted him, the case helped define judicial independence and set limits on using impeachment for political disagreements.

1864 — Red River Campaign Begins
Union forces under General Nathaniel Banks launched the Red River Campaign in Louisiana, aiming to capture Shreveport and assert control over Texas. The operation quickly faltered due to poor planning, difficult terrain, and Confederate resistance, becoming one of the war’s notable Union failures.

1894 — Coca‑Cola First Sold in Bottles
Coca‑Cola was sold in bottles for the first time in Vicksburg, Mississippi, marking a turning point in its transformation from a regional fountain drink into a national brand. Bottling allowed mass distribution, helping establish Coca‑Cola as an enduring American commercial icon.

1933 — FDR Delivers First Fireside Chat
President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered his first “fireside chat,” speaking directly to Americans during the banking crisis. His calm, conversational tone reassured a frightened public, strengthened trust in federal action, and redefined how presidents communicate during moments of national uncertainty.

FDR delivered his first fireside chat from the White House in Washington, D.C., speaking from a small room set up as a temporary radio studio.

United States History On This Date: March 11th

1791 — Samuel Osgood Becomes First U.S. Postmaster General
President George Washington appointed Samuel Osgood as the nation’s first Postmaster General under the newly organized Post Office Department. His leadership helped transform scattered colonial mail routes into a unified federal system, laying the foundation for a national communications network that would support commerce, governance, and westward expansion.
1861 — Confederate Congress Adopts Its Constitution
Meeting in Montgomery, Alabama, delegates of the seceded Southern states approved the permanent Constitution of the Confederate States of America. Modeled closely on the U.S. Constitution but explicitly protecting slavery, it formalized the political structure of the Confederacy just weeks before the Civil War erupted at Fort Sumter.
1941 — Roosevelt Signs the Lend‑Lease Act
President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Lend‑Lease Act, authorizing the United States to supply military aid to nations resisting Axis aggression. The program dramatically expanded American involvement in World War II before formal entry, strengthening Britain and other allies while signaling the United States’ growing role as the “arsenal of democracy.”
2011 — Great East Japan Earthquake Prompts U.S. Humanitarian Response
Following the devastating earthquake, tsunami, and Fukushima nuclear crisis in Japan, the United States launched Operation Tomodachi, a major humanitarian and disaster‑relief effort. The operation showcased deep U.S.–Japan cooperation, mobilizing military and civilian resources to support rescue operations, stabilize infrastructure, and assist communities affected by one of the century’s worst natural disasters

Clocks, the Roman Poet Virgil, and Daylight Savings Time

I was remiss in not making a timely historical musing on the subject of time itself as this past weekend it was time once again to make our biannual one hour jump as we transitioned to Daylight Savings Time [DST]. All I could think of was a need of a healthy amount of CONTEXT and a timely moment to bring it up to make sense of the frustrations, complaints, and calls to just standardize the damn thing as a permanent Eastern Standard Time [EST]. 

For most of human history, time was not something people changed—it was something they observed. Dawn, noon, and dusk were the only markers that mattered. But as societies grew more complex, the need for shared, predictable timekeeping grew with them. The earliest mechanical clocks [see the world's oldest known mechanical clock above with a fusee in the National British Museum] of medieval Europe, built first for monasteries, introduced a new idea: that time could be measured, divided, and enforced with precision. These clocks rang bells not because the sun demanded it, but because the mechanism did. Humanity had begun its long shift from natural rhythms to mechanical ones.

This shift carried a philosophical weight as well. The Roman poet Virgil captured the fleeting nature of time in Georgics (35–29 BCE), writing fugit inreparabile tempus—“irretrievable time flees.” From this line came the later motto tempus fugit, a reminder carved onto sundials and clock faces for centuries. It warned that once time is measured, it is also lost. The phrase became a cultural companion to the rise of clocks themselves, a quiet acknowledgment that the more precisely we track time, the more acutely we feel it slipping away.

By the 19th century, railroads forced the next great leap. Trains could not run on “about noon.” They required synchronized minutes across vast distances. Standardized time zones emerged, binding entire nations to the same ticking framework. Once time became standardized, it also became something governments could legislate—and eventually, something they could adjust.

Daylight Saving Time (DST) grew directly from this world of precision. First proposed in the late 19th century and adopted widely during World War I, DST was a deliberate reshaping of the clock to conserve fuel and extend evening daylight. The United States enacted it federally in 1918, linking timekeeping to national policy for the first time.

Through the 20th century, DST was repealed, reinstated, modified, and debated. The Uniform Time Act of 1966 standardized its use nationwide, and later adjustments extended the DST period into March and November. Yet the controversy never faded. Critics cite sleep disruption and questionable energy savings; supporters value longer summer evenings. The debate continues today, with proposals like the Sunshine Protection Act seeking to end the biannual clock change altogether.

And so, each March, when Americans “spring forward,” they participate in a ritual centuries in the making. It is the modern echo of Virgil’s ancient warning. Tempus fugit—time flees—and in our effort to master it, we move our clocks, adjust our schedules, and reaffirm just how deeply the clock now governs American life.

United States History On This Date: March 10th

1783 — Final Naval Battle of the American Revolution
Off the coast of Cape Canaveral, the USS Alliance engaged and defeated two British warships, marking the last naval battle of the Revolutionary War. Though the Treaty of Paris was already being negotiated, this clash underscored the persistence of conflict at sea even as independence neared final confirmation.

1849 — Abraham Lincoln Submits His Patent Application
Abraham Lincoln filed a patent for a device designed to lift boats over shoals and river obstructions, making him the only U.S. president to hold a patent. His invention reflected a lifelong fascination with engineering and problem‑solving, revealing a practical, inventive side often overshadowed by his political legacy.

1862 — First U.S. Paper Money Issued
Facing the immense financial strain of the Civil War, the federal government issued standardized paper currency—soon known as “greenbacks.” This move helped stabilize wartime finances, unified the national economy, and marked a turning point in federal monetary authority, laying groundwork for the modern American financial system.

1876 — First Successful Telephone Call
Alexander Graham Bell transmitted the first intelligible telephone message to his assistant, Thomas Watson, saying, “Mr. Watson, come here; I want you.” The moment marked a revolutionary leap in communication technology, transforming human interaction and setting the stage for the interconnected world that would emerge in the century ahead.