Thank Goodness It's Monday #463

 Presidents Day 2022

WHAT ARE WE CELEBRATING ...

COMMEMORATING ...

OBSERVING ...

THIS PRESIDENTS DAY?

Presidential Portraits
Mount Rushmore National Monument

Presidents, nominally, right?

But what the heck does that really mean?

And what are we supposed to do about it -- other than shop for mattress bargains? (Does the emphasis on mattress sales come out of the “George Washington slept here” tradition?)

The answer: It’s complicated.

In a nutshell: Presidents Day (or President's Day, or Presidents’ Day – the official holiday has no apostrophe but... you choose) is the bungled attempt of the federal government – encouraged, some say, by travel professionals  – in 1968 to implement a Monday Holidays Act.

Essentially the day is what had been a date-specific Washington’s Birthday observance ... with heavy overtones of also February-born Lincoln ... and now, in some parts of the vast country, flavored with more than a passing jingoistic acknowledgement of any other Presidential notable with local roots or devoted following. 

But hold on a TGIM minute. What if Presidents Day is not about a man or men (so far) but a concept of leadership?

TGIM Takeaway: Then, just maybe, we all have something to celebrate.

Consider this: While we traditionally imagine George Washington nobly turning down the opportunity to become King of America, the facts are, even before the lead-the-new-nation opportunity arose for General Washington, the individual who presided over the Continental Congress during the Revolutionary period and under the Articles of Confederation had the title President of the United States in Congress Assembled.

Etching of John Hanson
based on a portrait
by Charles Wilson Peale
 that was painted from life
in 1781–1782
the time of his "Presidency"

The first was John Hanson.  

And guess what: That was often shortened to President of the United States. 

That job, however, conveyed very little distinct executive power.

With the 1788 ratification of the Constitution, a separate Executive Branch was created.

At its head: The President of the United States – straightforward and without qualification or limitation.

Now we’re talking “Executive Power.” And compared to the “President of Congress” designation, even this presidential title was a major understatement of the actual role empowered to the office by the Constitution. 

But ... BIG BUT ... even at that, the deliberate choice of words can be understood as a purposeful effort by the Founding Fathers to prevent the head-of-state position from becoming monarchial, with the accompanying potential for abuse of such power.

A president's executive authority under the Constitution, tempered by the checks and balances of the Judicial and Legislative branches of the federal government, was designed to solve several political problems faced by the young nation and to anticipate future challenges, while still preventing the rise of an autocrat.

So today – Presidents Day 2022, when people around the world still valiantly strive for what American citizens enjoyed for over two centuries, let’s celebrate, commemorate and observe the Founders’ IDEA of a presidency, as well as the worthy individuals who filled the presidential position and continued to shape the job and the republic.

TGIM ACTION IDEA: Assume your “Glorious Burden.” 

That’s what the presidency has been called. 

As we consider an office that many would seek to hold but, to date, only 46 have achieved, we should be committed to learning all we can about what characteristics have made the greatest of those office holders great and what flaws have hampered the achievements of those who stumbled on their way. 

TGIM IDEA IN ACTION: Take an oath to use your “Executive Power” wisely, justly and democratically. Become the commander in chief … head of state … principal diplomat … and political leader of the constituents who elect to put their faith and trust in you.

As you do, be guided and inspired by the best efforts and successes of the 46 individuals (6 living) who -- often in their unique way -- represented that they were caring for our fragile democracy and steering us safely.

And even if you can’t name them all in numerical order ... or don't need a new mattress ...  and/or don’t celebrate, commemorate or observe any particular Presidents Day ritual --

Enjoy the day.

Geoff Steck
Chief Catalyst
Alexander Publishing & Marketing

Englewood, NJ 07631

tgimguy@gmail.com

P.S. “I have no other view than to promote the public good, and am unambitious of honors not founded in the approbation of my Country.”  George Washington wrote that sentiment in a letter to Henry Laurens, dated January 31, 1778.

 

Thank Goodness It's Monday #448

CAN YOU NAME THE U.S. PRESIDENTS?

IN ORDER?

I can’t.  Probably will never be able to. Even with a visual aid.


Who held the job before the guy who was before Lincoln?

Who replaced Ulysses Grant? Who followed Woodrow Wilson?

(The end of this post fills in the blanks.)

But on this Presidents Day 2014 it feels like something that, perhaps, a patriotic citizen ought to be able to do.

 

Of course I do know someone who, even more than simply knowing the Presidents in order, uses the appeal of that bit of memory mastery to demonstrate the potential of, and train others in feats of, monumental mental dexterity.

Now if I could only remember his name …

 

Just joking. Of course I know it. He’s two-time USA Memory Champion -- 

 

Ron White. You may know him as well from numerous television appearances.

Or perhaps you met him live and in person at programs I was involved with some years ago, produced locally by my friend Eric Taylor.

 

And in that regard, while I do not embody much of what Ron preaches and practices, those among you who know Eric personally may recognize that Eric did learn from the master and has achieved a level of proficiency, particularly in the discipline of name retention.

 

But before this turns into an advertorial …

Let’s get back to the TGIM Presidents Day theme.

 

At those ‘live and in-person” events, after sharing his refined-for-the-21^st Century version of the 2500-year-old Roman “loci” structured memory training and development strategy, Ron used physical cues in the hotel ballroom where the training was taking place to aid the attendees in recalling the Presidents, in order.  And, by and large –

It worked. After a drill or two, folks who were initially challenged (me, too) were pointing at objects in the room and calling out – 

George Washington,

John Adams,

Thomas Jefferson,

James Madison,

James Monroe,

John Quincy Adams,

Andrew Jackson,

Martin Van Buren,

and so on …

Impressive, right?

Well … You’ll note that at the outset of this TGIM I allowed that I could not replicate the Presidents-in-order listing feat.  So you might, quite correctly, conclude that perhaps –

 

I’m not so enamored of the idea.

Before I get down to why, I do want to say I don’t demean the ability to do this kind of memorization. There’s a place for it and usefulness to it, I’m sure. But it’s something I just can’t get enthralled with.

In fairness, I do wish I had the personal horsepower to incorporate the basics of face/name recall into my repertoire. It’s difficult to argue with the legendary Dale Carnegie Principle #6 from How to Win Friends and Influence People: 

“Remember that a person’s name

is to that person

the sweetest and most important sound

in any language.”

And, when I have a “the face is familiar, but I just can’t get the name” moment, I hang my head in shame when I recall Ron’s admonition, “My dog remembers your face, right? And he’s never once gotten a name right.”

Bow, Oww. But about the idea underlying the application of these memory hooks …

I stand with Albert Einstein. (See TGIM #447. Seems I’ve stuck on Uncle Albert these days.)

 

Point is:In response to a reporter’s query admitted not knowing the speed of sound, Einstein is alleged to have expressed the view –

"I never commit to memory

anything that can easily be looked up in a book."

Truth in quoting: The more accurate citation of that sentiment, dating back to the New York Times in the 1920s and alluded to by scholarly  Einstein biographers ever since is:

“[I do not] carry such information in my mind

since it is readily available in books.

...The value of a college education

is not the learning of many facts

but the training of the mind to think.”

AH-HA! Moment: I know the first version of the quote because I’ve heard it enough times to have it “memorized” albeit perhaps somewhat imperfectly. 

AH-HA! Moment in Action: I get to share the more accurate version and get to use it to support my position because I’ve tried heartily to train my mind to question and challenge and think. And then I took the time and trouble to dig down through the search engine layers (somewhat the equivalent of reference books in our wired world) to find trustworthy, vetted, authoritative sources with citations.

TGIM PRESIDENTS DAY TAKEAWAY: We err greatly when we mistake rote learning and accumulating “facts” for gathering knowledge and wisdom and reaching for understanding. 

Consider: No doubt the Presidential giants who come easily to mind on this day embodied the always-be-learning ethos. 

Surely they had a remarkable command of much factual information. But they didn’t let it sit idly in their heads or parrot it back as the unyielding answer to challenges that confronted them. They explored what they knew … added to that knowledge … adjusted their thinking for the circumstances of the moment … gathered input and counsel from others and were open-minded in evaluating it.

TGIM ACTION IDEA: On this Presidents Day, rather than fret about whether we can pass the POTUS-listing test, we might consider it our patriotic duty to take an oath to resolve to be more Presidential in our thinking – emulating the best who held the office (whomever and whatever that means to you; no doubt your list doesn’t match mine).

Hail to the Chief. 

And hail and farewell for today to you.

Geoff Steck
Chief Catalyst
Alexander Publishing & Marketing

8 Depot Square

Englewood, NJ 07631
201-569-5373
tgimguy@gmail.com

P.S. They may all be giants. Of course you have an opinion about who are/were the Best Presidents and Worst Presidents. 

We all do. And over the years there have been repeated attempts to gather the objective opinion of historians and political scientists to rank POTUS office holders, focusing on presidential achievements, leadership qualities, failures and faults. 

In the spirit of this TGIM message I encourage you investigate on your own, if you wish. But as you proceed I’ll share a cautionary observation voiced by John F. Kennedy (who, these days, ranks in the top 20 but seldom in the top 10). 

In 1962, speaking to David H. Donald, noted biographer of Abraham Lincoln, Kennedy voiced dissatisfaction and resentment with historians who had rated some of his predecessors. Kennedy said, "No one has a right to grade a President—even poor James Buchanan—who has not sat in his chair, examined the mail and information that came across his desk, and learned why he made his decisions."

Thank Goodness It's Monday #396

CASHING IN ON HONEST ABE

The acclaimed film “Lincoln” leads this year’s Oscar race with 12 nominations. Since its release in November, it’s grossed roughly $250 million worldwide at the box office by my rough and quick to-date tally.

So, if you don’t mind, I’m going to cash in on that popularity.

While it’s been a bit of a TGIM Tradition to commemorate Presidents Day by acknowledging that the Federal holiday is supposed to be inclusive of all the holders of the office, today I’m concentrating on the 16th president –

Abraham Lincoln



The Lincoln statue at the foot of the Essex County NJ Courthouse steps

in Newark, NJ was created by the world-renowned sculptor

Gutzon Borglum.

Portraying a weary Lincoln during the darkest hours of the Civil War,

the bronze statue is one-third larger than life-size.

Theodore Roosevelt attended the statue's dedication ceremony,

held in 1911.

 

Borglum's most celebrated work – or is it works? -- are his 60-feet tall carvings
of the heads of Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt
at Mt Rushmore in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

►Honest Abe

►The Rail Splitter

►The Great Emancipator

►The Liberator

►The Sage of Springfield

►Father Abraham and Uncle Abe

►The Uncommon Friend of the Common Man 

His enemies called him The Ape. 

His White House staff fondly called him The Tycoon and insiders called him The Ancient One for his wisdom.

Speaking of his ancestry, Lincoln once remarked: I don’t know who my grandfather was, and I am much more concerned to know what his grandson will be.

Of course, we know the notable and noble fulfillment of this “concern” of Lincoln’s.

In addition to the February birthday of our Founding Father and first President, George Washington, it’s primarily Lincoln (also a February birthday, February 12, 1809) who provides the basis for observing a rounded-off-to-Monday federally prescribed Presidents Day holiday today.

And since it is a holiday – I’m not going to tie up too much of your time. And I’m giving myself a break as well. I’m not going to write too much more “original” for this TGIM. 

TGIM ACTION IDEA: I’m defaulting to Lincoln’s own words in the expectation they can provide guidance and inspiration suitable to our challenges in our times. I’m going to try to avoid what my aging memory tells me are commonly known quotes or those that are most directly to the issues of the Civil War and share with you Lincoln thoughts that will lead to new personal insights.

Let’s start with a standard Lincoln clearly set for himself:

… men should utter nothing for which they could not willingly be responsible through time and eternity.

And –

I am very little inclined on any occasion to say anything unless I hope to produce some good by it.

Likewise for this TGIM. So let’s continue:

If we could at first know where we are, and wither we are tending, we could better judge what we do, and how to do it.

Stand with anybody that stands right. Stand with him while he is right, and part with him when he goes wrong.

Give me six hours to chop down a tree, and I will spend the first four sharpening the ax.

I have never had a policy. I have simply tried to do what seemed best each day, as each day came.

I have not willingly planted a thorn is any man’s bosom.

Reputation is like fine china: Once broken it's very hard to repair.

Determine that the thing can and shall be done, and then we shall find the way.

Don't worry when you are not recognized, but strive to be worthy of recognition.

I say “try”; if we never try, we shall never succeed.

Commitment is what transforms a promise into reality.

Half-finished work generally proves to be labor lost.

I don’t think much of a man who is not wiser today than he was yesterday.

I shall try to correct errors where shown to be errors, and I shall adopt new views as fast as they shall appear to be true views.

Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other thing.

When I am getting ready for an argument, I spend one third of my time thinking about what I am going to say, and two thirds about what my opponent will say.

 

Every man has his own peculiar and particular way of doing things, and he is often criticized because that way is not the one adopted by others. The great idea is to accomplish what you set out to do.

Let us dare to do our duty as we understand it.

I consider my TGIM duty for today done.

Inspired by the spirit of “The Uncommon Friend of the Common Man,” please do your duty – this Presidents Day and daily -- likewise.

Geoff Steck
Chief Catalyst
Alexander Publishing & Marketing

8 Depot Square

Englewood, NJ 07631
201-569-5373
tgimguy@gmail.com



Several days after the state convention,
the Republican Party held its national convention
in Chicago and nominated Lincoln for president.
Lincoln did not actively campaign for office (as was the custom),
but his supporters staged a lively campaign.
An unknown artist created this mythical, life-size portrait of
Lincoln the Railsplitter to be used at public rallies. 
Note that there’s an image of the White House
on the distant horizon.

P.S. On November 6, 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected sixteenth president of the United States. He won as “The Railsplitter” candidate, a nickname acquired the previous May when Illinois Republicans convened at Decatur to endorse a favorite son for president.

Lincoln was the likely choice but his supporters felt he needed a catchier nickname than “Old Abe” or “Honest Abe.” Thus, Richard J. Oglesby and John Hanks, a first cousin of Lincoln’s mother, located a split-rail fence supposedly built by Lincoln in 1830. When they walked into the hall carrying two of the rails—decorated with flags, streamers, and a sign that read, “Abraham Lincoln/The Rail Candidate”—the crowd went wild.

 

Although Lincoln claimed he could not say for certain that he had split those particular rails, he said that “he had mauled many and many better ones since he had grown to manhood.” By now, Lincoln was a prominent lawyer, not a backwoodsman. But, he had split rails in his youth, and the image held enormous appeal to voters (all male) who shared similar backgrounds and cultural beliefs about the merits of hard work and self-reliance.