Biography Podcast 0017: Jesus of Nazareth

A special Christmas episode, Jesus of Nazareth. This content is shared from a Christian world view. We hope you enjoy it and have a marvelous Christmas and New Year!



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Biography Transcript
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Jesus of Nazareth

2000 years ago one man changed the world. 2000 years ago, one manned spawned a movement that continues to grow to this very day. His life was subject to political intrigue, his death more so. His teachings have set men free and sent men to war. His treatment of the poor, of woman and the needy were revolutionary. He claimed to be the incarnation of God on earth - one with the Father - and since he did people have both loved and reviled him for it. Man, Prophet, Teacher, King, Son of God. This is Jesus of Nazareth.

Born to a carpenter of humble means, according to the most reliable sources, Jesus of Nazareth made his appearance into this realm in the town of Bethlehem under the lowliest of circumstances - a feeding trough in the stable of a regional Inn. For the next 30 years, things didn't get much better. After his birth, Jesus' parents packed him up and headed to Egypt to avoid the purging of the Jewish children two and under by the then king Herod. After returning to his Nazareth with his adopted father Joseph and mother Mary, Jesus settled into being a child in a relatively poor but happy household. Though historical and Biblical texts don't share anything specific about the childhood of this religious revolutionary, it seems he was a special child - evidenced by the fact that he was a child who actually obeyed his parents! No, really, it's in the text.

Around age 12 or 13 Jesus did something that was a harbinger of things to come. While in Jerusalem for one of the traditional feast days Jesus decided to bug out on Joseph and Mary and hang with all the old professors of theology in the Temple. Give the boy his props - he had them all eating out of his hand. And anytime a 13 year old can stand toe to toe with a theology major - that's a good job. Unfortunately for Jesus, it was probably one of the last times that the Jewish priests didn't try to trap or kill him.

Between the Teaching at the Temple and the next major event in Jesus' life, no historical source says anything about the young prophet. In fact, nothing is heard until we see Jesus at a wedding party with his mother. And to think, everyone there was drinking! And, Jesus even contributed to the delinquency by performing his first miracle - turning water into wine. Rebel. OK, not really, but now we think that he SO was.

That was just the start for the now 30 year old Jesus, barely a warm up act for what was coming next.

After going to John to be baptized, and into the desert for 40 days of fasting, Jesus started his public ministry. Jerusalem and the surrounding area had never seen anything like it. Blind men born blind were given sight. People who had never walked now walked. And, a widow's son was given back to his mother because Jesus interrupted the funeral procession to bring him back to life! As amazing, as awesome, as jaw dropping spectacular as those miracles were - they were nothing compared to the message that Jesus spoke wherever he went. Love. Love for your enemy. Love for the unlovely. Blessings and not cursing. Forgiveness from the throne of heaven. And this forgiveness didn't depend on your own righteousness. It didn't depend on you being good. Tax collectors, prostitutes, Samaritans (virtually enemies of the Jews), even women living with men out of wedlock were all welcome. As Jesus said, it wasn't the healthy that needed a doctor - it was the sick, the hurting. And Jesus came and healed them. Some of physical ailments, but more with ailments of the heart. The rejected, the lowly, the outcasts of society - Jesus had one message that no one else had ever had: come. His treatment of women was earth shattering and revolutionary - in the truest sense. Never before had anyone considered women on such equal footing. Never before had any theology treated women with such dignity and respect. Jesus now wrote the rules. But there was one problem. The religious leaders hated him. They were afraid that this man that spoke nothing but love, openly - in the Temple courts, would somehow bring the wrath of Cesar down on the Jewish nation. Why? Because he claimed that he was the I AM. The name that God called himself by in the Jewish scripture. The Jews had been awaiting God's messiah - who they assumed would be a King - and indeed Jesus was a King and he verified that claim in his interview with Pilot. Because they were afraid that Jesus would incite the people to a political uprising, while all the time Jesus was pointing people a spiritual renewal and rebirth by the Holy Spirit, the Jewish leaders panicked and tried to protect themselves by arresting Jesus. Instead by doing what they did, within 70 years they brought the Roman Eagles down on themselves.

After arguably his most notable miracle where Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead (which is saying quite a bit considering he walked on water, and calmed the sea), the religious leaders began to work more fervently to bring Jesus down. They were so determined to trap Jesus that two sects of the Jewish priesthood that were at odds even agreed to work together. They didn't trap Jesus though they certainly tried, but they did finally get one of his disciples to sell him out for 30 pieces of silver, and they took him captive. After railroading him through a rigged trial where they couldn't even get two of their own paid witnesses that could agree, the Sanhedrin (the ruling religious body) sent Jesus to the Roman government to be crucified. And that was the only thing they were interested in and insisted upon, even inciting a mob to near riot in insisting upon releasing a known murder and having the carpenter's son condemned to hanging on a cross.

In the end, the Sanhedren succeeded, and Jesus was crucified. At his death, the day darkened, there was an earth quake and the temple curtain was torn in two - something never before recorded. At the end of the day a follower named Joseph took his body and buried it in his own private tomb. Fearing that one of his followers might steal the body and claim that Jesus was raised from the dead, the Jewish leaders convinced the Romans to guard the tomb. On the third day, Jesus rose from the dead as he had claimed. Because of the inexplicable evidence, or lack of evidence to show that his followers might have taken him, the Jewish leaders paid off the Roman guards and had them taken care of while spreading the rumor that they had fallen asleep and that was when the body was taken. Never mind that a Roman soldier would have been virtually drummed out of service for such gross incompetence - that was the story. The problem for the religious leaders was that the story didn't wash with reality AND there were over 500 witnesses that saw Jesus after his resurrection.

After restoring Peter, Jesus blessed the rest of the Apostles, promised his return and then ascended into the heavens promising that he would send the Holy Spirit of God as a deposit for those that believed. And the world has never been the same.

In all, during the course of his life, Jesus of Nazareth fulfilled over 300 prophesies in the Jewish scripture regarding his birth, life, death and resurrection. The odds of one person being able to fulfill all of these prophesies is astronomically against it ever happening. Even if Jesus and his followers were able to orchestrate some of the events - and even if his parents were in on it before he was born and purposely arranged his birth and subsequent flight to Egypt, there are still hundreds of prophesies that could never have been arranged.

Jesus life was one was not one in a million or one in a billion. It was ONE. There has never been another like it. And in it all, Jesus did something that no one else did - he claimed to be God. Above and beyond being a good man, a moral leader, a prophet or a teacher - something that any man and many men have claimed to be, Jesus made one claim that put him into a unique class. A class where he was either what he said he was - God incarnate - or he was a completely stark raving mad lunatic. If he wasn't God then everything he taught was subject to his lunacy. In fact, one of his own followers - a former murderer named Saul who became the most prolific writer of the New Testament and became known as the Apostle Paul - even said that if we lived according to the rules but had no hope of life with God after physical death that we were fools and to be pitied above all else. Jesus of Nazareth was unique. He asked for nothing and everything. He asked for our hearts, but before he did, he gave his life as a sacrifice for our sins because he thought we were worth it.

So, who is this Jesus of Nazareth? Is he a mad man? Is he the Messiah? We know that he lived and that he died. We know that according to one of the most reliable historical references that he was witnessed as being alive after the Resurrection. We know that history changed with his life, we know that the accounting of time changed.

Yes, many men have done stupid things in the name of this Jesus. Wars have been fought, lives have been lost. Ironically, according to what Jesus taught - there is never a word anywhere that would have instructed his followers to do such a thing. Jesus was about the love. The love of God for man. The love that takes away all mans sin. The love that raised Jesus from the dead and provided the Resurrection power for each and every person that would choose to believe in him and have new life and life eternal. LOVE. Love for your neighbor, love for your enemy, love for your spouse, your children, your parents. Love that transcends, love that goes beyond anything we can understand. Not "love" as we so often think of it or equate it with simple emotion or physical attraction. Love rather that prefers others before itself, love that serves, love that brings freedom, joy and new life with it.

This is Jesus that says come as you are. This is the Jesus that we hear the angels tell the shepherds about, the reason why there is peace on earth and good will towards men. This is the Jesus that caused the angels to rejoice, this is the Jesus that was born in a manger. Born to die, be raised and to one day come again in all his glory as the risen Lord of Lord and King of Kings. This is the Jesus of Christmas. This is Jesus of Nazareth.

On this Christmas, may the joy, peace and love of the Christ child enter and dwell in your heart. Merry Christmas!

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A final comment: Please note that I hold no ill will towards the Jewish people. In fact, because I'm so interested in all the Jewish holidays and feast days people ask me if I'm Jewish - and I tell them I am by adoption. What I have shared regarding the actions of the religious authority in the state of Israel is just that, a statement. Without these actions by the authorities the ancient prophesies regarding the Messiah would have never been fulfilled. Without a Messiah, this goy would still be a sinner lost in his sin rather than a sinner saved by grace. If anything, I have boundless and eternal gratitude towards those of Jewish heritage because without them, I would have never gotten to join the party.

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OK, that's a wrap and I do hope you've enjoyed the Biography Podcast presentation of Jesus of Nazareth. If you have any questions regarding Jesus, feel free to contact me. In fact, if you have any flames or any comments feel free to send them along. Till next time, do something amazing that will be in your biography - LOVE someone. I'm out - Peace!

Biography Podcast 0016: Edward O'Hare - Courtesy Matt's Today in History

The 16th Episode of the Podcast, care of Matt Dattilo of Matt's today in history - the Biography Podcast Presents Edward O'Hare!



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Biography Transcript
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Today in 1943, Edward “Butch” O’Hare disappeared in the Pacific Ocean near the Gilbert Islands. Thus ended the life and career of one of the greatest naval aviators of the Second World War. O’Hare, and thousands of others like him, formed the core of the pre-war military aviation community in the United States. When the war came, they held the thin line of defense and helped train the raw recruits who would come to dominate the skies all over the world.

Butch O’Hare was born in St. Louis, Missouri in March, 1914. He entered the US Naval Academy in 1933 and spent the first two years after his graduation in 1937 as a line officer. He reported for flight training in 1939, the same year that his father was gunned down in Chicago for providing evidence at Al Capone’s tax evasion trial some years before. It was rumored that the elder O’Hare testified against Capone to ensure that his son received an appointment to the Naval Academy, but no documentation has ever surfaced linking the two events.

In Spring, 1940, O’Hare was assigned to VF-3, the USS Saratoga’s fighter squadron. His executive officer was John Thach, who would also become famous as a navy fighter pilot. Lieutenant Thach immediately recognized O’Hare’s natural flying skill and became his mentor, teaching him everything he had learned in his more than ten years of flying for the navy. Their routine was one of practice, practice and more practice, for it was clear to the men of VF-3 that the war raging in Europe would soon come to them.

O’Hare was newly married and still stationed aboard the Saratoga on the morning of December 7, 1941. Five weeks later, the ship was hit by a Japanese torpedo in the waters near Hawaii, necessitating a trip to California for repairs. O’Hare’s squadron was transferred to the USS Lexington, the ship from which he would first meet the enemy.

Today, it is hard to fathom how delicate the position of the US Navy was in the early months of 1942. The Japanese task force that had attacked Pearl Harbor contained six aircraft carriers; that was more than the US Navy had in the entire Pacific at that time. So when the navy’s carriers sailed from Pearl Harbor in early 1942, not only was each ship worth it’s weight in gold, but so were the crews on board. Although new pilots were in the training pipeline by December, 1941, precious few of them had reached the fleet. Thus, the few hundred pilots on US Navy carriers, along with the Pacific Fleet submarines, were all the nation had with which to defend herself and strike a blow at the Imperial Japanese Fleet.

The USS Lexington was preparing to strike one such blow on February 20, 1942. The ship and her escorts were 450 miles from Rabaul when radar operators spotted a group of enemy bombers. Fighters were launched from the Lexington and met the bombers. Since O’Hare and his wingman were the last craft off the flight deck and were not engaged, they were the only two in position when a group of eight Japanese bombers appeared on the other side of the task force only 12 miles away. Already outnumbered, O’Hare’s situation grew worse when his wingman announced that his guns had jammed. 27-year old Lt. Butch O’Hare was about to take on 8 Japanese bombers by himself.

Years of pre-war gunnery training was put to good use as O’Hare, with only enough ammunition for 34 seconds of firing, went to work on the bombers’ wing fuel tanks. He made four passes over the formation, each time working to avoid return fire from the bombers’ guns. By the time he had shot down his fifth plane and damaged a sixth, the formation was within range of the task force’s anti-aircraft guns. The three remaining bombers dropped their ordnance, but scored no hits. Out of ammunition, O’Hare returned to the Lexington, only to be fired on by an over-eager gunner while on final approach. The shots missed; during the entire affair, O’Hare’s plane had only been hit by one enemy round.

It was clear to all present that O’Hare, along with the pilots who had attacked the other bomber groups, had saved the Lexington from serious damage. When the ship and her escorts returned to Pearl Harbor on March 26th, reporters and photographers scrambled to see O’ Hare. He became an instant celebrity. The Grumman Aircraft plant at Bethpage, New York, where O’Hare’s F4F Wildcat was made, sent him 1,150 cartons of Lucky Strike cigarettes. By shooting down five aircraft, he became an ace, the Navy’s first during the Second World War. He was promoted to Lieutenant Commander and was the first naval aviator to ever receive the Congressional Medal of Honor. Through it all, O’Hare maintained his modesty and seemed, to one observer, to be embarrassed by the entire fuss. At a time when the United States needed heroes, O’Hare filled the bill.

Over the next 18 months, O’Hare attended publicity shoots and parades. More importantly, he was made a squadron commander and used his experience to teach new pilots the art of aerial combat. It was not until August, 1943 that O’Hare and his squadron (now comprised of the newer F6F Hellcat) embarked on the USS Independence, an escort carrier. In his absence, the war had changed. While still a potent enemy, the Japanese were on the defensive. American industrial might had turned out new carriers and planes while young men from every walk of life had learned how to fly them. The end of the war was still a long way off, but victory for the Allies was all but assured.

O’Hare was awarded two Distinguished Flying Crosses for his actions in combat over the next few months. In September, he was made the Commander Air Group on the USS Enterprise, meaning that he would be in charge of not just the ship’s fighters, but her bombers and torpedo planes as well. At that time, it was traditional for the CAG to fly in a TBM-1 Avenger, a slower aircraft with better radios than the fighters and a crew of three. Instead, O’Hare requested and was given permission to continue flying his Hellcat. It would be a fateful decision.

Knowing that the Americans owned the skies during the day, the Japanese began sending their bombers on night missions against the carriers. The attacks were incredibly hard to defend against. O’Hare and a small group of officers began to develop counter-tactics. Instead of sending groups of fighters to search the darkness for the bombers, they began to use the Avenger aircraft and her radar set as a sort of guide plane for the fighters. Once the Japanese bombers were found by the airborne radar, the fighters would be vectored to their position.
The first of these missions was scheduled for the night of November 26, 1943. As the CAG, O’Hare volunteered to lead the mission. It was rough from the start as the fighters had trouble finding their escorting Avenger. Then, once the Japanese bombers were found, there was difficulty giving the fighter pilots the right directions. In the confusion, a Japanese bomber ended up behind the American formation. The Avenger’s gunner fired on the bomber, which fired back. In between the two aircraft was Commander O’Hare’s plane, which was seen to fall out of formation towards the ocean below. He was never heard from again.

A search was conducted in the area of O’Hare’s last position, but nothing was found. He was reported missing in action; it was not clear if he had been hit by the Japanese bomber or friendly fire. He was declared dead one year later. He was award the Navy Cross and Purple Hearth posthumously on November 26, 1944.

In 1945, a Gearing-class destroyer was named in O’Hare’s honor. After the war, Robert R. McCormick, publisher of the Chicago Tribune, suggested re-naming Chicago’s Orchard Depot Airport in O’Hare’s honor. The name change became official on September 19, 1949. Today, O’Hare International is one of the world’s busiest airports.

Biography Podcast 0015: Santa Claus

The 15th episode of the podcast: You better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout I'm telling you why - the Biography Podcast Presents Santa Claus!



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Biography Transcript
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The true story of Santa Claus begins with Nicholas, who was born during the third century in the village of Patara. At the time the area was Greek and is now on the southern coast of Turkey. His wealthy parents, who raised him to be a devout Christian, died in an epidemic while Nicholas was still young. Obeying Jesus' words to "sell what you own and give the money to the poor," Nicholas used his whole inheritance to assist the needy, the sick, and the suffering. He dedicated his life to serving God and was made Bishop of Myra while still a young man. Bishop Nicholas became known throughout the land for his generosity to the those in need, his love for children, and his concern for sailors and ships.

Under the Roman Emperor Diocletian, who ruthlessly persecuted Christians, Bishop Nicholas suffered for his faith, was exiled and imprisoned. The prisons were so full of bishops, priests, and deacons, there was no room for the real criminals—murderers, thieves and robbers. After his release, Nicholas attended the Council of Nicaea in AD 325. He died December 6, AD 343 in Myra and was buried in his cathedral church, where a unique relic, called manna, formed in his grave. This liquid substance, said to have healing powers, fostered the growth of devotion to Nicholas. The anniversary of his death became a day of celebration, St. Nicholas Day.

What do we know about the real St. Nicholas? He was born, ancient biographers tell us, to wealthy parents in the city of Patara about 270 A.D. He was still young when his mother and father died and left him a fortune.


As a teen-ager, Nicholas' humility was already evident. He had heard about a family destitute and starving. The father had no money for food, much less the dowry needed to marry off his three daughters. He was ready to send his oldest girl into the streets to earn a living as a prostitute.


Under the cover of night, Nicholas threw a bag of gold coins through the window of their humble dwelling. In the morning the father discovered the gold. How he rejoiced: his family was saved, his daughter's honor preserved, and a dowry for her marriage secured. Some time after, Nicholas secretly provided a dowry for the second daughter. Still later for the third.


But on the third occasion, the girls' father stood watching. As soon as the bag of gold thudded on the floor, he chased after the lad till he caught him. Nicholas was mortified to be discovered in this act of charity. He made the father promise not to tell anyone who had helped his family. Then Nicholas forsook his wealth to answer a call to the ministry.


At the nearby city of Myra a bishop supervised all the churches of the region. When the bishop died, the bishops and ministers from other cities and villages -- Nicholas among them -- gathered to choose a successor.


Nicholas was in the habit of rising very early and going to the church to pray. This morning an aged minister awaited him in the sanctuary. "Who are you, my son?" he asked.


"Nicholas the sinner," the young minister replied. "And I am your servant."


"Come with me," the old priest directed. Nicholas followed him to a room where the bishops had assembled. The elderly minister addressed the gathering. "I had a vision that the first one to enter the church in the morning should be the new bishop of Myra. Here is that man: Nicholas."


Indeed they did choose him as bishop. Nicholas was destined to lead his congregation through the worst tribulation in history.


In A.D. 303, the Roman Emperor Diocletian ordered a brutal persecution of all Christians. Those suspected of following the Lord were ordered to sacrifice to pagan gods. Nicholas and thousands of others refused.


Ministers, bishops, and lay people were dragged to prison. Savage tortures were unleashed on Christians all over the empire. Believers were fed to wild animals. Some were forced to fight gladiators for their lives while bloodthirsty crowds screamed for their death. Women suffered dehumanizing torment. Saints were beaten senseless, others set aflame while still alive.


Yet persecution couldn't stamp out Christianity. Rather it spread. Third Century leader Tertullian observed, "The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church."

Those who survived Diocletian's torture chambers were called "saints" or "confessors" by the people, because they didn't forsake their confession that Jesus Christ is Lord. Nicholas was one of these.


Finally, after years of imprisonment, the iron doors swung open and Bishop Nicholas walked out, freed by decree of the new Emperor Constantine. As he entered his city once more, his people flocked about him. "Nicholas! Confessor!" they shouted. "Saint Nicholas has come home."


The bishop was beaten but not broken. He served Christ's people in Myra for another thirty years. Through the prayers of this tried and tested soldier of faith, many found salvation and healing. Nicholas participated in the famous Council of Nicea in 325 A.D. He died on December 6, about 343, a living legend, beloved by his whole city.


St. Nick of yuletide fame still carries faint reminders of this ancient man of God. The color of his outfit recollects the red of bishop's robes. "Making a list, checking it twice," probably recalls the old saint's lectures to children about good behavior. Gifts secretly brought on Christmas eve bring to mind his humble generosity to the three daughters.


Yet if he were alive today, this saint would humbly deflect attention from himself. No fur-trimmed hat and coat, no reindeer and sleigh or North Pole workshop. As he did in life centuries ago, Bishop Nicholas would point people to his Master. "I am Nicholas, a sinner," the old saint would say. "Nicholas, servant of Christ Jesus."



Through the centuries many stories and legends have been told of St. Nicholas' life and deeds. These accounts help us understand his extraordinary character and why he is so beloved and revered as protector and helper of those in need.

The Legend

Strictly speaking, the tradition of St. Nicholas is not synonomous with the role of Santa Claus in the U.S.. As practiced in many European countries, the celebration of St. Nicholas is separate from the Christmas holidays, and occurs during the 2 weeks prior to December 6th, which is St. Nicholas's day. Sometimes St. Nicholas Day is the main holiday for gift giving, and not Christmas.


In the Netherlands, legend has it that Sinterklaas (Dutch name for St. Nicholas) arrives in the Netherlands by way of steamboat from Spain 2 weeks before his traditional birthday, December 6th, along with his helper, Zwarte Piet (Black Pete), who will help disperse the gifts and candy to all the good children. Sinterklaas, along with the zwarte piets, will go abroad at night and stride about the countryside wearing his red mantle, his mitre, and his golden crosier and sporting a long, white beard. Referring to his book that lists all the good and bad children, Sinterklaas will deliver presents to all the good children, but watch out if you've been bad! The bad children may be taken back to Spain with him. The Low Countries (Belgium and Luxemburg) have basically the same traditions surrounding St. Nicholas, but not to the extent of the Netherlands. Children in Luxemburg call him Kleeschen, and his helper is Ho˜seker (Black Peter). Belgian children know him as Sint Niklaas.

In Germany, St. Nicholas is also known as Klaasbuur, Sunnercla, Burklaas, Bullerklaas, and Rauklas, and in eastern Germany, he is also known as Shaggy Goat, Ash Man and Rider and is more reflective of earlier pagan influences (Norse) that were blended in with the figure of St. Nicholas, when Christianity came to Germany. After the reformation, St. Nicholas's attire began to change, maybe as a reflection of the change from the Roman church, and he started to wear a red suit with fur. His dark-skinned helper is most often known as Knecht Ruprecht. Although he still visits many homes on Dec 5th/6th and leaves candy and gifts in the children's shoes, more recently St. Nicholas has begun showing up on Christmas Eve in Germany and is called Father Christmas.


In France, he is now called Pere Noel (Father Christmas) and he travels in the company of Pere Fouettard. Pere Noel leaves presents for good children, while Pere Fouettard disciplines bad children with a spanking. Pere Noel only sometimes leaves presents on St. Nicholas day, more often now on Christmas. St. Nicholas day was celebrated formerly in Russia, but under Communism he was changed to Grandfather Frost and wore blue instead of red. In Sicily, he comes on Dec 13th and is called Santa Lucia.


The Holiday Today

In anticipation of St. Nicholas's nightly visits, children in several European countries put their shoes in front of the fire place. They sing traditional songs and provide a carrot or hay for the horse. At night Black Pete puts gifts and candy in the shoes. In the Netherlands, families celebrate St Nicholas's birthday the night before his feast day (December 6th). At one point during the evening, a loud knock will herald the arrival of Sinterklaas and at the same time candy may be thrown from upstairs; when the door is opened, a bag of gifts will be on the doorstep. For families with older children and adults, different twists are added to the gift giving and may include gag gifts or the drawing of gift ideas or names, and most times are accompanied by poems with a "personal touch" that poke fun at the recipient in a gentle way (or not, depending on the families ;) ). Wrapping the presents up in odd packages and planting a trail of clues is also part of the general fun, and can sometimes be pretty tricky to get to, depending on the squeamishness of the recipients.

Biography Podcast 0014: William B. Hartsfield - Maynard H. Jackson

The 14th episode of the podcast, a double biography! Thanks for staying subscribed - you rock!



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Sorry! No transcript today.

Biography Podcast 0013: Old Hickory - Andrew Jackson

The 13th episode of the podcast, and finally another biography! Sorry to keep you waiting so long, the explanation is after the biography. Thanks for staying subscribed - you rock!



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Biography Transcript
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Andrew Jackson - Old Hickory
7th President of the US

Andrew Jackson stood, awaiting the command to fire. Here, this day 23 years before he would be inaugurated President, Andrew Jackson displayed the confidence, honor, integrity and determination that would make him the most popularly elected President of his time. He stood on a field of honor, in this case to defend a slur against his wife. Many times later the field and the cause of honor was different, but the result was the same. This day, when the command came, Jackson stood as his opponent Charles Dickinson, who was considered the best marksman in Tennessee, drew with speed and deliberation and fired at Jackson, hitting him just to the left of his coat button. But while staggering Jackson, Dickinson's bullet didn't kill him. Unfortunately for Dickinson, Jackson's bullet killed him. Jackson was not left unscarred. The bullet settled in his chest to close to his heart to be removed. It caused infection after infection and along with other wounds from other fields of honor, they eventually brought this popular President to his resting day. But for this day, Andrew Jackson overcame, he lived to become one of the land mark Presidents in US history.

Born in a backwoods settlement in the Carolinas in 1767, Andrew Jackson received sporadic education. But in his late teens he read law for about two years, and he became an outstanding young lawyer in Tennessee. Jackson prospered sufficiently to buy slaves and to build a mansion, the Hermitage, near Nashville. He was the first man elected from Tennessee to the House of Representatives, and he served briefly in the Senate. A major general in the War of 1812, Jackson became a national hero when he defeated the British at New Orleans.

In 1824, Andrew Jackson won the popular vote in a four horse race for the Presidency. In fact, it wasn't even close with his margin of victory over the closest competitor, John Quincy Adams, being 153,000 votes to 114,000. Unfortunately - or maybe fortunately in the long run - Jackson didn't have enough votes in the electoral college to win the majority and the vote went to the House of Representatives, who would then determine the winner from the top three electoral vote getters. In one of the most brilliant and desperate plays of his career - which he also effectively ended at the same time - Henry Clay swung the vote to John Quincy Adams making him the sixth President of the United States and Andrew Jackson went back to Tennessee. But the story wasn't over then for Old Hickory, in fact, that was when the party really started. Oh, and by the way, for all you Al Gore fans out there - both of you - he wasn't the first person to win the popular vote and loose the election. Continuing on.

Back in Tennessee, General Jackson more or less paced the floors for the next three years, champing at the bit for a fair race for the Presidency. He was concerned for his country. During those years many were saying that the Union would not last because of it regional divisions (North, South and West) and because of the economic issues, including slavery, that divided it. Before the results from the House were announced after 1824, Jackson declared: "The people are the safeguards of their own liberties, and I rely wholly on them to guard themselves. They will correct any outrage upon political purity by Congress; if they do not, now and ever, then they will become the slaves of Congress and its political corruption." Thankfully for Andrew Jackson and for the country, he was right and the people were ready to speak in the election of 1828. And, as a personal note - oh that it were so now in 2006 where we constantly are thrown from one party to the other of Congress that does their will and not the will of the people. But you know - in a way - it was Andrew Jackson that was responsible for that, so let us continue.

Andrew Jackson had married fairly young to the love of his life, Rachel. Unfortunately unknown at the time of their marriage, Rachel's divorce from her first husband had not been completed. This item of information provided to be a keystone of what became known as one of the ugliest political races, true gutter politics at its worst, of all time. As distraught as it made Jackson, Rachel was his calming influence - a balm to his stormy temperament. Rachel provided grounding for Jackson, and foundation and importantly, a conciliatory nature. Because of this, Jackson was able to not only survive but thrive as the election approached.

Through the election year, Jackson grew as a politician. He followed the goings on across the country. He knew that the government was corrupt (though then President John Quincy Adams' reputation was never in question), he new the people were upset, and he knew they were ready for reform. With the sound of revolution in the air, Jackson fought against his political opponents by coalescing support around him and leading the newly formed Democrats on to soundly defeat the National Republicans. (Personal note: Wow, that does sound a bit similar to this most recent condition and election - does it not?) In the end, this was the birth of the two party system which survives to this day.

Alas, for Jackson, the victory was bitter sweet, for with receiving the news of his election victory, his stalwart and loving - yet sickly wife of 27 years - Rachel who had stayed by him throughout the race, who according to posterity prayed for those that slandered her and her husband and asked God to forgive them, his dear wife Rachel relaxed her tenacious will to live and passed away. Jackson was inconsolable, but, after burying her, and grieving for her Andrew Jackson headed to Washington to serve the people, not the establishment. He went to Washington to serve the Union, the whole Union and keep it together, vibrant and strong.

Jackson's term in office was turbulent. The South was determined to succeed, the President was determined that it would not. Actions taken and laws made during his Presidency set the groundwork for the primacy of the Federal Government that later Lincoln would use as his authority less than forty years later in declaring war against the Confederate States. Jackson's term also saw him fight an evil that would wait till the next century before finally being instituted - a private national bank. In one of the biggest party battles, Jackson waged war against the Second Bank of the United States, a private corporation but virtually a Government-sponsored monopoly. And won. It would be 1917 before the Fed - a private corporation that the Government pays to print it's money, then pays interest to on that money, instead of printing the money itself and incurring no costs - would be established.

In 1832, Jackson again won the Presidency with 56 percent of the popular vote. At the end of his term in 1836, Old Hickory retired to The Hermitage where he lived until 1945 when he finally was reunited with his beloved Rachel.

-------------------------

Biography Podcast 0012: The Listener's Talk Back

The 12th episode of the podcast - The Listener's Talk Back!



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Biography Podcast 0011: Vote Cast

The eleventh episode of the podcast - get out the Vote!



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Biography Podcast 0010: Rant-Cast 0001

The tenth episode of the podcast - I break loose with listener e-mail, voice mail and history. We've got it all! Enjoy!



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Biography Podcast 0009: Knee Surgery Update

The ninth episode of the podcast - just a quick update. Enjoy!



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Biography Podcast 0008: Ronald Reagan Part II

The eighth episode of the podcast - Ronald Wilson Reagan - Part II, 40th President, Actor and name sake of Regan Airport in Washington, DC. Enjoy!



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Today's Text
==============
"We have every right to dream heroic dreams. Those who say that we're in a time when there are no heroes, they just don't know where to look."
- Ronald Reagan

Starting in 1964, Ronald Reagan became ever more active in the political sphere. Not that he had been inactive as evidenced by his active campaigning for Nixon. In fact for almost 10 years, starting in 1954, Reagan had been gaining experience by touring the country and speaking to large crowds of GE employees as part of his contract with GE Theater and by running for honorary Mayor. So, when 1964 came, Ronald Reagan's political train had already gained momentum and was rolling down the tracks. A speech for Barry Goldwater's 1964 campaign officially launched his political career as a Republican. As noted in his autobiography An American Life, Reagan always claims that he did not leave the Democratic party, it left him. It was a great disappointment to him, but determined as always he moved on. The same year "The Friends of Ronald Reagan" a political support group was formed, and the next year, 1965, Reagan announced his candidacy for Governor of California. In 1966, Reagan won the election in a landslide setting himself up for a potential 1968 Presidential bid. In 68, Reagan announced his candidacy for President at the Republican convention, but later joined in unanimous support for Nixon. Then, in 1970, he won re-election for a second term as Governor of California. In 1974, Reagan declined offers from the Ford administration to be ambassador to England (the court of St. James), and both Secretary of Transportation an Commerce. In 1976, he announced his candidacy for President. Although he lost the nomination to Ford after a strong primary, 1976 laid the groundwork for his presidential bid.

1979 dawned gray in the US. President Carter was beleaguered, the Misery Index was high, gasoline prices were high and American citizens were being held hostage. It was in this climate that Ronald Reagan announced his candidacy for President. Entering 1980, it was not a slam dunk that Reagan would win the nomination, in fact, going into the primary in NH George H. Bush was the front runner because he had won in Iowa - until the first debate.

"We are the showcase of the future. And it is within our power to mold that future-this year and for decades to come. It can be as grand and as great as we make it. No crisis is beyond the capacity of our people to solve; no challenge too great."
- Ronald Reagan

It was in the debate moderated by the Nashua Telegraph, paid for by the Reagan Campaign because he believed all the candidates should have a voice - not just the front runners - that Reagan feels that he won the primary and possibly the election. On the occasion, Reagan was there with all the candidates behind him while Bush was on the other side of the stage. The moderator, Jim Breen, told the sound man to turn of Reagan's microphone though Reagan wanted to make an announcement to explain why there was a delay in getting the debate started. After the second time that Breen told sound to cut the microphone, Reagan got upset, stood up, grabbed the mic, asked if it was on and then after sitting back down in his chair said "I am paying for this microphone Mr. Green!" The crowd went wild. Reagan went on to trounce all five candidates in the primary, won the Republican nomination, and speaking a message of hope and strength, swept to victory in one of the most lopsided elections in US history.

In January 1981, shortly after being announced Time Magazine's Man of the year, Ronald Reagan was inaugurated as the 40th President of the United States and started the Reagan Revolution. Reagan's platform of across the board tax cuts removed the undue pecuniary tax burdens that freed up a new wave of investment and brought thousands of quality jobs into the US Economy. However, for each fight won on the tax front, there was a loss on the spending front as the Democratic held Senate and House - led by Tip O'Neil - continued to push for more spending to keep pace in social programs with the spending that Reagan proposed for building the US Military back into a top rate fighting force.

Note: These tax cuts were vastly different than the cuts that were offered by the Bush 43 administration. The cuts that the Reagan Administration proposed were put in place by a vastly simplified tax code - one that has been continuously modified since the change, making it almost as bad with loopholes as it was before the Reagan proposed changes. Also understand that even as high as taxes are again now, they are not nearly as high as they were in 1980 when Reagan took office. What he proposed was truly revolutionary. Also, the Democrats in that day were not the Democrats or the Republicans of the early Bill Clinton administration. If anything they were only slightly better at not spending than the current Republican congress which doesn't seem to have seen a spending bill or pork opportunity they don't like. So, while Reagan was pushing tax cuts and in theory decreasing revenue, congress was spending more. That is what caused the initial build up of the deficit in the early to mid-80's. Of course, by the late 80's the economy had done a complete about face and that's what lead to the surplus of money that was used to pay down the debt and deficit in the 90's. Now, back to the biography.

A few short months after his Inauguration on March 30, 1981 Ronald Reagan was shot in an assassination attempt by Presidential stalker John Hinckley, Jr. Characteristically, Reagan greeted wife Nancy as she visited him after surgery with "Honey, I forgot to duck" (borrowing Jack Dempsey's line to his wife the night he was beaten by Gene Tunney for the heavyweight championship." Interestingly enough, this episode had many of what would come to be considered the Christian Right (a major part of the Reagan Revolution) wondering if in fact Ronald Wilson Reagan might in fact be the prophesied anti-Christ because he survived a head wound and his full name had 6 characters in each part leading to the number 666. Thankfully, it turns out that he wasn't the anti-Christ - though there are some that might still argue that - and he did recover to continue governing the country. This is also quite interesting because, as it turns out in the following years, it was Reagan's own strong Christian faith that lead to him referring to the USSR as the Evil Empire. He was even questioned at one point regarding the Star Wars defense program because he had been discussing Armageddon with some friends. Funny, you never know how things work out.

In 1982 Reagan began what was the beginning of the end of the Cold War by announcing the joint US-USSR Strategic Arms Reduction Talks. Also in 1982, Reagan was required to handle the first military crisis in Beirut, Lebanon which also had to be dealt with in the following year, 1983, after a tragic bombing.

In 1983 Reagan, in response to a bloody coup that provided a perceived threat to US students, ordered US troops to invade Grenada to over throw the Marxist regime associated with Fidel Castro's Cuba. This was part of the global war that was constantly part of the US/Russia/Cuba tension, and which eventually lead to Reagan's biggest crisis in the second term of his Presidency.

In 1984 Reagan, not surprisingly, declared his bid for re-election. His eventual opponent was former Carter Vice President, Walter Mondale. In their first debate on October 7th, most people thought that Reagan looked bad, befuddled and confused. According to Roger Ailes, who was called in after that debate, it was because the team handling Reagan wasn't playing to his strengths and had burdened him with trying to memorize everything, every little fact and figure that had to be debated. Ailes had Regan relax, then asked him how he was going to cope with the burning question of age and his capacity to be the President during the next debate. Reagan's answer was brilliant and Ailes told him to use it during the next debate with Mondale on October 14th. Sure enough, the question did come, and herewith I present the transcript...

MODERATOR: Mr. Trewhitt, your question to President Reagan?

REPORTER: Mr. President, I want to raise an issue that I think has been lurking out there for two or three weeks, and cast it specifically in national security terms. You already are the oldest President in history, and some of your staff say you were tired after your most recent encounter with Mr. Mondale. I recall, yes, that President Kennedy, who had to go for days on end with very little sleep during the Cuba missile crisis. Is there any doubt in your mind that you would be able to function in such circumstances?

REAGAN: Not at all, Mr. Trewhitt and I want you to know that also I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit for political purposes my opponent's youth and inexperience. If I still have time, I might add, Mr. Trewhitt, I might add that it was Seneca or it was Cicero, I don't know which, that said if it was not for the elders correcting the mistakes of the young, there would be no state.

That one response, in the same way "I'm paying for this microphone Mr. Green!" did so much for his 1980 campaign, assured voters that Ronald Reagan was indeed sound. It convinced them so much in fact, that Reagan again swept to one of the most lopsided victory in electoral history with only one state - Michigan, the home of Walter Mondale - carrying for the Democrats. And, as a side note, it's the only time I can recall in my memory that Massachusetts - where I live - actually didn't got Democrat!

In January 1985 Ronald Reagan was again inaugurated as President of the United States, and, unbeknownst to him, was to suffer a key loss to himself and his Presidency when Ed Meese was nominated and later confirmed as Attorney General. Why Meese was such a key was that he along with James Baker and Michael Deaver formed the Reagan "Troika". This group, more than anyone, because of their long ties - in some cases going back to his California Governorship - understood how Reagan operated and governed. Reagan was a famous delegator who believed highly in getting the best people in place and then getting their input. He was not a President like Bill Clinton after him, who was intimately involved in every detail of everything that went on in his administration. Unfortunately, those coming in to replace the Troika didn't understand his style and consequentially did not provide Reagan with the information and/or feedback with which he was accustomed - choosing to operate more independently. It was this failure by Reagan that lead to the scandal of his second term, Iran-Contra.

Because the scope of this podcast is limited and Iran-Contra could be discussed for hours if not days, let me limit the description to this. Iran-Contra involved selling weapons to Iran (an avowed enemy) to get money to support the Contra's - an anti-communist gorilla group in Nicaragua. It was not Ronald Reagan's finest hour. He did testify under oath, and not surprisingly, his knowledge of the details of certain happenings was sparse and inconsistent. Many attribute this to two causes. One, the Troika not being there to support him with the required information, and two - the possible first signs of the disease he was later diagnosed with - Alzheimer's. In my opinion, it was the first and not the latter that was his failing.

However, before having to deal with Iran-Contra in 1986, Reagan had a busy 1985. Mid-year he underwent surgery for colin-cancer, and in October he was called on to lead the US response to the Achille Lauro hijacking. In the penultimate foreign policy moment in US-USSR history, on November 16, he started the Geneva Summit with Mr. Gorbachev. Finally, in December, the year was nicely wrapped up with an all-star tribute conducted in honor or Dutch Reagan.

1986 opened with both hope and tragedy. While the US made strides in talks with the USSR to open the year in January, we closed the month with the tragedy of the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion, and, with the gift that he always used to rally the nation's spirits, President Ronald Reagan conveyed the grief of regret and the hope, joy and pride in the Challenger astronauts that made us all proud to be Americans. In March, as a harbinger of things to come, the President addressed the nation regarding Nicaragua, and as summer dawned Reagan participated in the Centennial celebration for the Statute of Liberty. In October, with the leaves turning in the north of the country, Reagan traveled to Reykjavik for his ultimate moment and greatest success in US-USSR political history - the Reykjavik summit with Micael Gorbachev. Alas, the afterglow from Reykajavik was barely warn off when in mid-November the President addressed the nation regarding arms and the Contra aid situation. In late November the Iran-Contra scandal broke wide open and the Tower Commission was appointed to study the affair. As ever, the President chose to stand and speak with the nation, and in December he again addressed the nation regarding Iran-Contra - then, to cap the year and start the new one of 1987, he addressed the people of the USSR in a rousing New Year's Eve address.

In 1987 Reagan seemed to more fully gain back his form and hit stride again. He started the year in January by addressing the Congress in the State of the Union Address and stating "I'm back." Indeed he was. Reagan didn't hide as the Tower Commission reported in late February and he followed up the report again by speaking to the nation in March and August. In June, President Reagan visited Berlin and made what might be the most remembered one line of his political career when he said "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" And though the wall did not come down in his administration, George H. W. Bush was there as President when the wall came down in 1989. The rest of the year saw Regan's administration dealing with much turbulence in the Gulf. Iraq bombed the USS Stark, Reagan had to address our Gulf policy. The year was also a battle on the legal front with much ado about justices when Reagan nominated Robert Bork to the Supreme Court, saw that nomination defeated and then nominated and had appointed Judge Kennedy. And while all this was going on, the President was still able to be beside the first Lady as she underwent surgery for breast cancer. To wrap the year, the INF Treaty was announced and signed.

1988 was not as momentous as 1987 for policy, but the Reagan stayed busy. He was not finished with budget reform and started the year by addressing the issue in the State of the Union. He then presided over air strikes against Iranian oil platforms in the Gulf, deployed US forces to Honduras and saw the INF treaty ratified. The second half of the year was spent wrapping things up. Reagan endorsed Bush for the Republican nomination, gave his farewell address at the Republican National Convention, signed several trade agreements, participated at the ground breaking for the Reagan Presidential Library and in December, he participated in a mini-summit with Gorbachev in New York, then gave his final press conference.

In 1989, President Ronald Wilson Reagan gave his farewell address as a President to the nation, then departed to return to his beloved ranch and horses in California.

music

Ronald Reagan stayed active in the years to come before finally being diagnosed with Alzheimer's and settling down in his home in Los Angeles. He was as ex-President much as he was as President - an ambassador of good will and good cheer.

Ronald Wilson Reagan will be remembered as many things. Some say that he was the greatest President of the 20th century, others - the worst. He will be remembered as the B-movie actor turned politician, he may even be remembered for Iran-Contra. But regardless of what action or inaction Ronald Reagan will be remembered for specifically, his love, his positive message to believe in ourselves and believe in God and his ability - much like FDR - to capture our attention and inspire us to greatness will always be felt. Reagan fomented a political revolution in our country that has carried to this day. He was a standard bearer for integrity, kindness and freedom. And, where ever he went, Ronald Reagan left hope. Hope for our today and hope for our future.

==================

Biography Podcast 0007: Update

The seventh episode of the podcast - just a quick update. Enjoy!



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Biography Podcast 0006: Ronald Wilson Reagan - Part I

The sixth episode of the podcast - Ronald Wilson Reagan - Part I, 40th President, Actor and name sake of Regan Airport in Washington, DC. Enjoy!



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Today's Text
==============
"If I could just make a personal statement of my own -- in these 3 1/2 years I have understood and known better than ever before the words of Lincoln, when he said that he would be the greatest fool on this footstool called Earth if he ever thought that for one moment he could perform the duties of that office without help from One who is stronger than all." - Ronald Reagan

If one quote can come close to capturing a man, then this quote by Ronald Reagan, the man known as the "Great Communicator," the President who called for the Soviet Union to tear down the Berlin wall, the Commander in Chief who without remorse understood that strength was the best negotiating chip, does so better than almost any other. This quote captures Ronald Reagan's awe and acknowledgment of the Supreme Being, his sense and his love for history, and his knowledge that above all things, he was nothing more than a servant of his office and of the people and country he so loved and loved serving.

A child of Irish and Scotch parents, Ronald Wilson Reagan, 40th President of the United States, was born in humble circumstances - an apartment above a small bakery - in Tampico, Illinois to John Reagan and Nellie Clyde Wilson on February 6, 1911. The second of two boys, Ron Reagan was an outgoing boy who loved life, loved his mother and worked for everything he had from a young age. In an oddity for his time, Regan never addressed his father as dad, daddy or father - but by his first name only. This could be because even though Jack was a hard worker, he had a hard time holding jobs, he was also prone to bouts of drinking that left him out of favor with Nellie, Ron and his older brother Neil. Reagan also wore glasses from early in his youth, discovering he needed them one day while riding in the car and playing by putting on his mother's glasses - and realizing he could see the cows and the trees in the fields and by the road side that he'd never been able to see before.

On July 21, 1922, at the age of 11, Ronald Reagan was baptized at the Christian Church of Dixon, IL, the town that he always referred to as his home town. And while this one incident may seem small or insignificant in passing, it's important to note that at age 11, the young Ronald Reagan was serious about his faith and that this event is included in his biography and his own autobiography, "An American Life."

The ever affable and optimistic Reagan grew up with the gift to tell a story and was popular even as a youth. He was athletic, played sports, and he earned his money for both high school and college, as a lifeguard where he was credited with saving 77 lives. The earliest indication of his dedication to being involved in participatory government is illustrated by his election as a senior as the student body President of Dixon High School.

In June of 1932, Dutch Reagan (his father Jack nicknamed Regan "Dutch" when he was a baby) Graduated from Eureka College with a BA in economics and sociology. At Eureka he participated in drama, football and swimming. He also served as student body president and helped organize a student strike. After his graduation, he started work in radio as a temporary, and stayed working as an announcer through 1937. It was during this time, in 1933, that he did the famous call of the baseball game when he lost his telegraph reports from Chicago. With his usual imagination, charm and style, Reagan had the batter record what would have been one of the longest at-bats in MLB history while waiting for the telegraph feed to be restored. It was also during this period, in 1935, that Reagan enlisted as a private in the Army Reserve.

Spring of 1937 found Dutch at Spring Training in California covering the Cubs where he also did a screen test for Warner Bros. He was shortly thereafter signed as a contract player and made his first film in June of the same year. And thus began Regan's 53 movie film career. In those B films, Regan was most often the easy going male lead. In fact, his one foray into another type of roll - a villain - was saved for his last film in 1964.

It was in the movies that Reagan met his first wife of 9 years, Jane Wyman, and where he started with his second and long time wife Nancy Davis. And while the movies provided a comfortable career for Reagan, evidenced by his million dollar contract with Warner in 1945 - and folks a million dollars back then actually meant something! - more importantly, it was in Hollywood that the ever activist Dutch got involved with the Screen Actor's Guild which gave him his first opportunities for public campaigning and politics. During the Hollywood years, Reagan testified for the FBI regarding communism, served in the Army Air Corp as a Lieutenant, then Captain where his unit made over 400 training films, served as President of the Screen Actors Guild, negotiated a strike settlement and started campaigning for others running for office, including Truman and Nixon - the latter of which he did still as a Democrat.

==================

Biography Podcast 0005: Update

The fifth episode of the podcast - Thea quick update. Enjoy!



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Biography Podcast 0004: Thedore F. Green

The fourth episode of the podcast - Theodore F. Green, Rhode Island Governor and Senetor and name sake of T.F. Green Airport in Warwick, RI. Enjoy!



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Today's Text
==============
"Ninety-five percent, it's been estimated, of the newspapers of the country are Republican, anti-Democrat, anti-administration."
Theodore F. Green

It is obvious from that quote, Theodore F. Green lived in a very different era.

Theodore Francis Green, also know as Theodore F. Green - which just shows that even in the 1800's any guy called Francis was going to take abuse - was born October 2, 1867 in Providence County, Providence, Rhode Island. Young Theodore was born into a family of politicians that go back as far as the War for Independence, including great-great-grandfather Jonathan Arnold who was a member of the Rhode Island General Assembly in 1776, served as a physician in the Revolutionary Army, and later served as a member to the Continental Congress in 1782. Also in the family was great-uncle Tristam Burges Arnold who was appointed Chief Justice of the RI Supreme Court and also served in Congress, great-uncle Lemuel Hastings Arnold who was a member of the US Congress and Governor of Rhode Island, great-grandfather James Burrill, Jr. who was Rhode Island Attorney General and a long time Congressman, and grand-uncle Samuel Greene Arnold who was Lt. Governor of Rhode Island, served in the War of Northern Aggression (which some call the Civil War) and was later elected Senator from the State of Rhode Island.

Ladies and gentlemen, if you think that you were under pressure to perform growing up, I submit that you didn't see ANYTHING next to young Theodore!

Green attended both public and private grammar and prep schools until he went to college, where he attended and graduated from Brown University. From Brown, young Theodore followed the more recent family propensity to practice law (rather than medicine which was the wish of great-great-grandfather Jonathan Arnold) and along with many other members of the family attended Harvard University Law School, and going one step further, also studied at the Universities of Bonn and Berlin in Germany, then was admitted to the bar in 1892. After passing the bar Green set up practice in Providence and also became an instructor in Roman Law at Brown University from 1894-1897.

Along with many of his contemporaries - including General Logan of Logan Airport fame - Green also served in the Spanish-American war, receiving a commission as Lieutenant. After the war, Green returned home to Rhode Island and started his political career in earnest, becoming a member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives in 1907 and was chairman of the city plan commission of Providence in 1917-1919. He was an unsuccessful Democratic candidate for Governor in 1912 and for Congress in 1918. Finally, in 1932 Green broke through in a bid to become Governor where he served until 1936. In 1936, Green was elected to the US Senate where he served until 1961.

T.F. Green was financially interested in numerous corporations and business enterprises and served as an officer and director, but it seems that not much else is recorded about him. At the time he retired from the Senate in 1961, he was - at 93 - the oldest person to serve in Congress. T.F. Green passed away in Providence on May 19, 1966.

T.F. Green airport was dedicated in 1931, though internet history does not record its original name. It was named, I assume, for the former Governor and long time Senator after his death.

Well folks, thats our biography for today. One of the things I found most interesting about T.F. Green was his family, even more than his own impressive service record. Next episode we will move back down the east coast to Reagan International Airport in Washington, DC. I'll do my best to keep that episode short - but there is a LOT of information about him available.

- podcamp promo -

Lastly, I've done several interviews with interesting folks such as Philip Torrone from Make Magazine, Mark Jeffrey author of the P&P, Matthew Wayne Selznick author of Brave Men Run and Cali Lewis of Geek Brief TV. Would anyone be interested in having some of those interviews played in this stream or would you prefer a different stream that is essentially biographical interviews? Let me know!

But, for now, don't just sit there and listen to podcasts all day, get out there and do something awesome that will be in your biography!

==============

Biography Podcast 0003: John F. Kennedy - Repost

The third episode of the podcast - John F. Kennedy, 35th President and name sake of JFK Airport in New York City. Enjoy!



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Today's Text
--------------
John Kennedy is arguably one of the most legendary, of all the United States presidents. While not overly popular when elected or in office, or thought to be a particularly great President while he was alive, JFKs legend and charisma have only increased throughout the years since his tragic assassination.

John Fitzgerald Kennedy was born to the ambitious Irish-Catholic businessman Joseph Kennedy and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy on May 29, 1917. Born the second of nine children, four boys and five girls, John, who was soon called Jack, would be both the sickliest and most famous of the Kennedy clan. A sickly child from infancy, often injured and bested by his older brother Joe, Jack Kennedy none-the-less possessed an affability and charm that made him a popular figure throughout his life.

As a boy, Jack went to Choate, a boarding school for boys, where he played tennis, basketball, football and golf. But, that wasn't the thing that made most noticable according to his friend Lem Billings who noted that young Jack had a daily subscription to the New York Times. This thirst for current events knowledge however, dovetailed in beautifully with his two favorite subjects - history and English.

After finishing school at Choate, Jack entered Harvard in 1936 where older brother Joe was already a student. And, like Joe, Jack played football there as well. Unfortunately, Harvard is where Jack ruptured a disk in his spine, an accident that continued to bother him through his Navy career, into politics and through his life.

While everyone remembers President Kennedy's charm, charisma and speaking ability now, it was not young Jack that was the one who was the apple of father Joseph Kennedy's eye. It was oldest brother Joe who was to be the first Catholic to become President - not Jack. Sure, he was handsome and intelligent, but the Jack Kennedy of Harvard was not that ambitious. However, while Kennedy was in college, his father was appointed US Ambassador to England, and that exposure to European politics and world affairs fired the younger Kennedy's interest in government and current events yet again.

Note: During the podcast so far I've mentioned both Joe's, father and son, several times. It is not without purpose. Both older Kennedy's played a pivotal role in Jack's life. One because he was there, the other because of his absence. Of the two, it was his father Joseph that was the driving force. The older Kennedy was born into both politics and money as the son of Patrick Kennedy, but was unhappy with his lot and the role of Irish-Americans in US Politics. No one can begrudge a person for wanting people of his ancestry to be more involved in the country they call home, but for Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr. it was not just a wish or a passion - it was an obsession. Throughout his life, the patrician of the Kennedy family craftily and often ruthlessly brought all his money, power and connections to bear on this obsession. Now, back to our story.

After college, both Joe, Jr. and Jack entered the Navy. Joe, a flyer was sent to Europe while Jack was made a Lieutenant, junior grade, and assigned to the now famous patrol torpedo boat, PT-109. Though many of you may know the story, there are few that would deny that any hearing of it brings chills to the spine. Assigned with 12 men to an 80 ft wooden boat, Kennedy was assigned to patrol the waters of the south Pacific to stop Japanese ships from delivering supplies. On the night of August 2, 1943 while on patrol with no running lights, which was a common war time maneuver, PT-109 suddenly saw a Japanese destroyer become visible traveling at full speed and heading straight towards them. With no time to maneuver out of the way, the destroyer crashed directly through PT-109 splitting it in half and killing two of Lt. Kennedy's men. During the collision, Kennedy was slammed hard against the cockpit, once again hurting his already injured back. Amazingly, the rest of his crew escaped and clung to a piece of the boat. At dawn, despite his injuries, Lt. Kennedy led them to an island several miles away - while towing an injured crew member by a strap held in his teeth. Six days later two native islanders found them and went for help, delivering a message Jack had carved into a piece of coconut shell. The next day, the PT-109 crew was rescued. Alas, Jack’s brother Joe was not so lucky. He died a year later when his plane blew up during a dangerous mission in Europe.

When he returned home, Jack was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for his leadership and courage. With the war finally coming to an end, it was time to choose the kind of work he wanted to do. Jack had considered becoming a teacher or a writer, but with Joe’s tragic death suddenly everything changed. After serious discussions with Jack about his future, Joseph Kennedy convinced him that he should run for Congress in Massachusetts' eleventh congressional district, where he won in 1946. This was the beginning of Jack’s political career. As the years went on, John F. Kennedy, a Democrat, served three terms (six years) in the House of Representatives, and in 1952 he was elected to the U.S. Senate.

On September 12, 1953, Kennedy married Jacqueline Bouvier. Shortly afterwards, his back started to trouble him again, and Senator Kennedy required two serious operations. In 1955, while recuperating from a back operation, he wrote Profiles in Courage, which won the 1957 Pulitzer Prize in history.

Note: This event, as well as brother Joe's untimely death in the war were to critical points in Jack Kennedy's life. Because the eldest and favored son Joe had passed away, Joe, Sr. directed all his attention to Jack, including directing him into politics. Joseph Kennedy, Sr. was the reason why Profiles in Courage won the Pulitzer. He was relentless in his promotion of the book, and especially at first JFK was reluctant to sign copies and promote the book. However, it was the release of this book that also brought the, then junior Senator from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, into prominence on the national stage. Back to our story.

After almost being picked to run for Vice President in 1956, Kennedy decided that he would run for President the next election. He began working long hours and traveling around the US on the weekends. In July of 1960, the Democratic party nominated him as candidate for President.

Many people did not believe that John F. Kennedy could win the Presidential election. He did not have a huge national following and in many ways he was still perceived as sickly. However, the benefit of his inactivity because of his back, was that the Senator gained some weight and took on more robust appearance. That overcame one issue.

The other issue, a national following, was then taken on by the Kennedy patriarch. Joe Kennedy, Sr. worked like a madman BUYING support for his son in the election. Where the Democratic party was week, Joe Sr.'s reserve of US Dollars proved to be the strength that Jack needed in key counties and states. The final piece of the puzzle was the live television debate with Richard Nixon where JFK's charm, newly robust appearance and compelling speech brought in enough voters to clinch the win. On November 8, 1960, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, scion of the Kennedy political machine and fortune was elected President of the United States. He was the youngest man elected at 43 years of age and the first Catholic.

John F. Kennedy was sworn in as the 35th President on January 20, 1961. In his inaugural speech he spoke of the need for all Americans to be active citizens and delivered the line for which he is most famous: "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." He also asked the nations of the world to join together to fight what he called the "common enemies of man: tyranny, poverty, disease, and war itself." His resolve to fight them all was soon sorely tested.

President Kennedy along with his wife Jacqueline brought a new era of youth and vitality to the White House. In the eyes of the nation, this was the age of Camelot in Washington, DC. President Kennedy created the Peace Corps and initiated the age of space travel. It would not be until many years later that many of the rumors about Kennedy's behavior would surface.

While President Kennedy brought youth and vigor to the office, he was also required to present more than image. The early 1960's were also a time of foment in the US. Responding to ever more urgent demands, he took vigorous action in the cause of equal rights, calling for new civil rights legislation. His vision of America extended to the quality of the national culture and the central role of the arts in a vital society.

He wished America to resume its old mission as the first nation dedicated to the revolution of human rights. With the Alliance for Progress and the Peace Corps, he brought American idealism to the aid of developing nations. But the hard reality of the Communist challenge remained.

Shortly after his inauguration, Kennedy permitted a band of Cuban exiles, already armed and trained, to invade their homeland. The attempt to overthrow the regime of Fidel Castro was a failure. Soon thereafter, the Soviet Union renewed its campaign against West Berlin. Kennedy replied by reinforcing the Berlin garrison and increasing the Nation's military strength. But, instead of Europe, the Russians now sought to install nuclear missiles in Cuba. When this was discovered by air reconnaissance in October 1962, Kennedy imposed a quarantine on all offensive weapons bound for Cuba. While the world trembled on the brink of nuclear war, the Russians backed down and agreed to take the missiles away. The American response to the Cuban crisis evidently persuaded Moscow of the futility of nuclear blackmail.

On November 21, 1963, President Kennedy flew to Texas to give several political speeches. The next day, as his car drove slowly past cheering crowds in Dallas, shots rang out. Kennedy was seriously wounded and died a short time later. Within a few hours of the shooting, police arrested Lee Harvey Oswald and charged him with the murder. On November 24, another man, Jack Ruby, shot and killed Oswald, thus silencing the only person who could have offered more information about this tragic event. The Warren Commission was organized to investigate the assassination and to clarify the many questions which remained. And thus was one of the events that has spawned almost more conspiracy theories than any other event.

After President Kennedy had been assassinated, the country mourned. This man of such relative youth who was so passionate for our country had been so quickly ripped from our lives, and the nation could not forget him. As the years have gone by and other Presidents have written their chapters in history, John Kennedy's brief time in office stands out in people's memories for his leadership, personality, and accomplishments. Many respect his coolness when faced with difficult decisions, and others admire his ability to inspire people with his eloquent speeches.

Regardless of how or why people remember John F. Kennedy, we all remember his story, his heroics and his passion. In the end, he did what we all wish we could do, he lived his life so that it changed and still changes history.

Well, that's our biography for this week and thanks for joining us. This biography has been interesting for me to do because I'm a native son of New England, born in Rhode Island and now a resident of the Commonwealth of MA. Though I was only 3 at the time and don't remember the original event, I do remember the years following and the sorrow of New Englanders each year when the tragedy would be reviewed.

Next week we'll move back up the coast a bit and look at the person for whom T.F Green airport was named.
============

Biography Podcast 0003: John F. Kennedy

The third episode of the podcast - John F. Kennedy, 35th President and name sake of JFK Airport in New York City. Enjoy!



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God bless, now go out and do something that will be great in your biography!

Today's Text
--------------
John Kennedy is arguably one of the most legendary, of all the United States presidents. While not overly popular when elected or in office, or thought to be a particularly great President while he was alive, JFKs legend and charisma have only increased throughout the years since his tragic assassination.

John Fitzgerald Kennedy was born to the ambitious Irish-Catholic businessman Joseph Kennedy and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy on May 29, 1917. Born the second of nine children, four boys and five girls, John, who was soon called Jack, would be both the sickliest and most famous of the Kennedy clan. A sickly child from infancy, often injured and bested by his older brother Joe, Jack Kennedy none-the-less possessed an affability and charm that made him a popular figure throughout his life.

As a boy, Jack went to Choate, a boarding school for boys, where he played tennis, basketball, football and golf. But, that wasn't the thing that made most noticable according to his friend Lem Billings who noted that young Jack had a daily subscription to the New York Times. This thirst for current events knowledge however, dovetailed in beautifully with his two favorite subjects - history and English.

After finishing school at Choate, Jack entered Harvard in 1936 where older brother Joe was already a student. And, like Joe, Jack played football there as well. Unfortunately, Harvard is where Jack ruptured a disk in his spine, an accident that continued to bother him through his Navy career, into politics and through his life.

While everyone remembers President Kennedy's charm, charisma and speaking ability now, it was not young Jack that was the one who was the apple of father Joseph Kennedy's eye. It was oldest brother Joe who was to be the first Catholic to become President - not Jack. Sure, he was handsome and intelligent, but the Jack Kennedy of Harvard was not that ambitious. However, while Kennedy was in college, his father was appointed US Ambassador to England, and that exposure to European politics and world affairs fired the younger Kennedy's interest in government and current events yet again.

Note: During the podcast so far I've mentioned both Joe's, father and son, several times. It is not without purpose. Both older Kennedy's played a pivotal role in Jack's life. One because he was there, the other because of his absence. Of the two, it was his father Joseph that was the driving force. The older Kennedy was born into both politics and money as the son of Patrick Kennedy, but was unhappy with his lot and the role of Irish-Americans in US Politics. No one can begrudge a person for wanting people of his ancestry to be more involved in the country they call home, but for Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr. it was not just a wish or a passion - it was an obsession. Throughout his life, the patrician of the Kennedy family craftily and often ruthlessly brought all his money, power and connections to bear on this obsession. Now, back to our story.

After college, both Joe, Jr. and Jack entered the Navy. Joe, a flyer was sent to Europe while Jack was made a Lieutenant, junior grade, and assigned to the now famous patrol torpedo boat, PT-109. Though many of you may know the story, there are few that would deny that any hearing of it brings chills to the spine. Assigned with 12 men to an 80 ft wooden boat, Kennedy was assigned to patrol the waters of the south Pacific to stop Japanese ships from delivering supplies. On the night of August 2, 1943 while on patrol with no running lights, which was a common war time maneuver, PT-109 suddenly saw a Japanese destroyer become visible traveling at full speed and heading straight towards them. With no time to maneuver out of the way, the destroyer crashed directly through PT-109 splitting it in half and killing two of Lt. Kennedy's men. During the collision, Kennedy was slammed hard against the cockpit, once again hurting his already injured back. Amazingly, the rest of his crew escaped and clung to a piece of the boat. At dawn, despite his injuries, Lt. Kennedy led them to an island several miles away - while towing an injured crew member by a strap held in his teeth. Six days later two native islanders found them and went for help, delivering a message Jack had carved into a piece of coconut shell. The next day, the PT-109 crew was rescued. Alas, Jack’s brother Joe was not so lucky. He died a year later when his plane blew up during a dangerous mission in Europe.

When he returned home, Jack was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for his leadership and courage. With the war finally coming to an end, it was time to choose the kind of work he wanted to do. Jack had considered becoming a teacher or a writer, but with Joe’s tragic death suddenly everything changed. After serious discussions with Jack about his future, Joseph Kennedy convinced him that he should run for Congress in Massachusetts' eleventh congressional district, where he won in 1946. This was the beginning of Jack’s political career. As the years went on, John F. Kennedy, a Democrat, served three terms (six years) in the House of Representatives, and in 1952 he was elected to the U.S. Senate.

On September 12, 1953, Kennedy married Jacqueline Bouvier. Shortly afterwards, his back started to trouble him again, and Senator Kennedy required two serious operations. In 1955, while recuperating from a back operation, he wrote Profiles in Courage, which won the 1957 Pulitzer Prize in history.

Note: This event, as well as brother Joe's untimely death in the war were to critical points in Jack Kennedy's life. Because the eldest and favored son Joe had passed away, Joe, Sr. directed all his attention to Jack, including directing him into politics. Joseph Kennedy, Sr. was the reason why Profiles in Courage won the Pulitzer. He was relentless in his promotion of the book, and especially at first JFK was reluctant to sign copies and promote the book. However, it was the release of this book that also brought the, then junior Senator from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, into prominence on the national stage. Back to our story.

After almost being picked to run for Vice President in 1956, Kennedy decided that he would run for President the next election. He began working long hours and traveling around the US on the weekends. In July of 1960, the Democratic party nominated him as candidate for President.

Many people did not believe that John F. Kennedy could win the Presidential election. He did not have a huge national following and in many ways he was still perceived as sickly. However, the benefit of his inactivity because of his back, was that the Senator gained some weight and took on more robust appearance. That overcame one issue.

The other issue, a national following, was then taken on by the Kennedy patriarch. Joe Kennedy, Sr. worked like a madman BUYING support for his son in the election. Where the Democratic party was week, Joe Sr.'s reserve of US Dollars proved to be the strength that Jack needed in key counties and states. The final piece of the puzzle was the live television debate with Richard Nixon where JFK's charm, newly robust appearance and compelling speech brought in enough voters to clinch the win. On November 8, 1960, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, scion of the Kennedy political machine and fortune was elected President of the United States. He was the youngest man elected at 43 years of age and the first Catholic.

John F. Kennedy was sworn in as the 35th President on January 20, 1961. In his inaugural speech he spoke of the need for all Americans to be active citizens and delivered the line for which he is most famous: "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." He also asked the nations of the world to join together to fight what he called the "common enemies of man: tyranny, poverty, disease, and war itself." His resolve to fight them all was soon sorely tested.

President Kennedy along with his wife Jacqueline brought a new era of youth and vitality to the White House. In the eyes of the nation, this was the age of Camelot in Washington, DC. President Kennedy created the Peace Corps and initiated the age of space travel. It would not be until many years later that many of the rumors about Kennedy's behavior would surface.

While President Kennedy brought youth and vigor to the office, he was also required to present more than image. The early 1960's were also a time of foment in the US. Responding to ever more urgent demands, he took vigorous action in the cause of equal rights, calling for new civil rights legislation. His vision of America extended to the quality of the national culture and the central role of the arts in a vital society.

He wished America to resume its old mission as the first nation dedicated to the revolution of human rights. With the Alliance for Progress and the Peace Corps, he brought American idealism to the aid of developing nations. But the hard reality of the Communist challenge remained.

Shortly after his inauguration, Kennedy permitted a band of Cuban exiles, already armed and trained, to invade their homeland. The attempt to overthrow the regime of Fidel Castro was a failure. Soon thereafter, the Soviet Union renewed its campaign against West Berlin. Kennedy replied by reinforcing the Berlin garrison and increasing the Nation's military strength. But, instead of Europe, the Russians now sought to install nuclear missiles in Cuba. When this was discovered by air reconnaissance in October 1962, Kennedy imposed a quarantine on all offensive weapons bound for Cuba. While the world trembled on the brink of nuclear war, the Russians backed down and agreed to take the missiles away. The American response to the Cuban crisis evidently persuaded Moscow of the futility of nuclear blackmail.

On November 21, 1963, President Kennedy flew to Texas to give several political speeches. The next day, as his car drove slowly past cheering crowds in Dallas, shots rang out. Kennedy was seriously wounded and died a short time later. Within a few hours of the shooting, police arrested Lee Harvey Oswald and charged him with the murder. On November 24, another man, Jack Ruby, shot and killed Oswald, thus silencing the only person who could have offered more information about this tragic event. The Warren Commission was organized to investigate the assassination and to clarify the many questions which remained. And thus was one of the events that has spawned almost more conspiracy theories than any other event.

After President Kennedy had been assassinated, the country mourned. This man of such relative youth who was so passionate for our country had been so quickly ripped from our lives, and the nation could not forget him. As the years have gone by and other Presidents have written their chapters in history, John Kennedy's brief time in office stands out in people's memories for his leadership, personality, and accomplishments. Many respect his coolness when faced with difficult decisions, and others admire his ability to inspire people with his eloquent speeches.

Regardless of how or why people remember John F. Kennedy, we all remember his story, his heroics and his passion. In the end, he did what we all wish we could do, he lived his life so that it changed and still changes history.

Well, that's our biography for this week and thanks for joining us. This biography has been interesting for me to do because I'm a native son of New England, born in Rhode Island and now a resident of the Commonwealth of MA. Though I was only 3 at the time and don't remember the original event, I do remember the years following and the sorrow of New Englanders each year when the tragedy would be reviewed.

Next week we'll move back up the coast a bit and look at the person for whom T.F Green airport was named.
============