Tag Archives: Neglected history

JUNETEENTH: THE DAY DEMOCRATS LOST THEIR SLAVES (2026 EDITION)

Independent Voter site Balladeer’s Blog wishes you a happy Juneteenth, marking the day Democrats lost their slaves. (Democrats owned slaves, not Republicans.) African-Americans continue fighting for their freedom from the Democrats, who today treat people of color like they still own them and that they MUST vote for Democrats and ONLY Democrats.

That political party, which I’m ashamed to say I used to belong to years ago, even distorts the Juneteenth holiday. They try fundamentally transforming it into a day when Democrats – the only extant political party which supported slavery and even fought a Civil War over it – can act like they are above reproach while THE REST OF THE COUNTRY shares a guilt The Party pretends to be free from. 

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THE ADAMS CHRONICLES (1976) – CONCLUSION

As promised, here’s Balladeer’s Blog’s review of the final 7 episodes of this 13-episode miniseries. Each installment ran 50 minutes.

EPISODE SEVEN: JOHN QUINCY ADAMS, DIPLOMAT (Mar 2nd, 1976) – From 1809 t0 1814 John Quincy Adams (David Birney) serves as U.S. Minister to Russia. Showing much more tact than his father, John Quincy charms Tsar Alexander (CHRISTOPHER LLOYD in his television debut!) and manages fairly favorable treatment of the United States by Russia during the Napoleonic Wars.

      Adams and his wife Louise-Catherine (Pamela Payton-Wright) lost their only daughter in St. Petersburg. Late 1814 finds John Quincy in Ghent helping to negotiate the peace treaty ending the War of 1812 between America and Great Britain on advantageous terms for the U.S. Ken Kercheval again plays (now President) James Madison, Steven Krey is Charles Francis Adams, Valerie French is Countess Rostov and George Hearn plays Henry Clay. 

EPISODE EIGHT: JOHN QUINCY ADAMS, SECRETARY OF STATE (Mar 9th) – In 1818 John Quincy Adams – now played by William Daniels – is serving as President James Monroe’s (Henry Butler) Secretary of State. Among his accomplishments he smooths over the international incident stemming from General Andrew Jackson (Wesley Addy) hanging two British subjects as spies in Spanish Florida during the First Seminole War.

      More significantly, Secretary Adams is the chief architect of what is ironically called the Monroe Doctrine and engineers America’s purchase of Florida from Spain. In 1824 John Quincy runs for president against Andrew Jackson, who wins the popular vote and the electoral vote but did not reach the necessary total for victory. Once again, the presidential election goes to the House of Representatives to choose from Adams, Jackson and Henry Clay. Clay throws his support behind Adams, and John Quincy becomes the 6th President of the United States.  Continue reading

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FORGOTTEN TELEVISION: THE ADAMS CHRONICLES (1976)

THE ADAMS CHRONICLES (1976) – This mini-series of 13 50-minute episodes looked at historical giant John Adams and his descendants from the American Revolution up to the 1890s. Michael Tolan narrated 8 episodes. 

EPISODE ONE: JOHN ADAMS, LAWYER (Jan 20th, 1976) – As a young man, John Adams (George Grizzard) suffers setbacks in his career as a lawyer, so he returns to the farm his father left him. His fiery cousin Samuel Adams (W.B. Brydon) tells him he made a mistake and should go back to practicing law. John meets Abigail Smith (Kathryn Walker), daughter of a Reverend (Addison Powell). He marries her and as they raise their children he returns to his career as an attorney.

      Though he and Samuel Adams agree about the need to push back against increasingly suffocating British laws, they sharply disagree when John’s principles prompt him to become the lawyer defending the British soldiers facing charges in the Boston Massacre. John felt the men were being railroaded and when no one else would defend them, he stepped up and did so. Not for the last time, John Adams’s principles put him at odds with those closest to him.

      This episode also starred John Houseman, Nancy Marchand, David Elliott, Curt Dawson as John Hancock and John Tillinger as King George III. Continue reading

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REMEMBER THIS ANTI-TRUMP LIE FROM LAST JUNE FOURTEENTH?

My, how time flies! It’s already been a year since anti-Donald Trump loons were claiming that celebrating the army’s 250th anniversary was Trump supposedly “acting like a dictator” by having a military event “celebrating his birthday.” It was wrong, of course, like roughly 90% of the shrill accusations against President Trump always turn out to be. Here’s my post from 2025 addressing that situation: 

NO, ANTI-TRUMP LOONS, LAST WEEKEND’S MILITARY PARADE WAS FOR THE ARMY’S TWO HUNDRED FIFTIETH BIRTHDAY, NOT FOR TRUMP

I’m still laughing over the way that anti-Trump fascists are so ignorant, uninformed and emotionally unstable that they idiotically believed that the parade last weekend was for Trump himself.

IT WAS THE ARMY’S TWO HUNDRED FIFTIETH BIRTHDAY, HENCE THE ELABORATE FESTIVITIES. President Donald Trump’s birthday happens to be on the same date as the army’s birthday – June 14th. And – try to follow me here, anti-Trumpers – those two birthdays will ALWAYS coincide.

Last weekend was NOT a case of military strength shown off for a national leader but to mark the TWO HUNDRED FIFTIETH birthday of America’s army. Birthdays/ anniversaries being celebrated for the 25th, 50th, 100th, 200th, and 250th time ALWAYS get special celebrations.

I’m still seeing anti-Trumpers lying that the military parade was for Trump. Don’t they realize that every single time they try spreading these lies that it tightens the bond between the Donald and his supporters? Sheesh! There are still imbeciles who think Trump told people to inject themselves with bleach or that he was trying to launch a nuclear program at Mar-a-Lago. Anti-Trump liars never learn. Continue reading

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SUSANNA MEDORA SALTER: FIRST WOMAN MAYOR IN THE U.S.

Susanna M. Salter was born March 2nd, 1860 in Lamira, Ohio. In 1872 she and her family moved to Kansas, settling near Silver Lake.

The year 1878 saw Susanna enter Kansas State University, then called Kansas State Agricultural college. The future mayor was admitted as a sophomore, having passed equivalency courses that let her skip her entire first year. Continue reading

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THE ORIGINAL SIX JUSTICES OF AMERICA’S SUPREME COURT

Here’s a look at the six-Justice Supreme Court when the Court was first established.

CHIEF JUSTICE JOHN JAY

Served: October 19th, 1789 – June 19th, 1795. (Resigned)  

Some Highlights: West v Barnes, the first case which saw arguments take place before the Supreme Court. You want a quick turnaround? The arguments were heard on August 2nd, 1791 and the decision was published the very next day!  In the 1794 case Glass v The Sloop Betsy, Jay’s Court ruled that France could not use its American Consulate as a prize court.  Chief Justice Jay adopted a professorial role of sorts, writing explanatory items on procedures and the rudiments of federal governance at every opportunity for the benefit of lower courts and practicing lawyers.   

Comment: During the Revolutionary War, John Jay served as a colonel in the 2nd New York Regiment. Continue reading

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FORGOTTEN TELEVISION: THE LIVES OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN (1974-1975)

THE LIVES OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN (1974-1975) – This was a series of four 90-minute (with commercials) dramas depicting America’s magnificently unorthodox genius at various stages of his life. Eddie Albert and Melvyn Douglas (husband of Helen Gahagan Douglas) depicted Franklin in his 70s and 80s, with flashback storylines in each episode. The Lives of Benjamin Franklin won five Primetime Emmys including Outstanding Limited Series.

Glenn Jordan directed, while Edward Adler, Howard Fast and Loring Mandel wrote the episodes. 

ONE: THE AMBASSADOR (Nov 21st, 1974) – The title is a bit deceptive as this episode’s emphasis is on the way cosmopolitan experiences in his youth prepared Benjamin Franklin for his later career in diplomatic posts, including Ambassador. Believe it or not Willie Aames portrays Franklin at age twelve. 

Also starring in The Ambassador were Alexis Smith, Clive Revill, Gig Young, Rene Auberjonois, Frank Langella, Victor Buono and Edward Mulhare. Continue reading

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THE HOME STRETCH TOWARD AMERICA’S TWO HUNDRED FIFTIETH BIRTHDAY

We are less than a month away from America’s 250th birthday! I’ll be making additional seasonal posts between now and then but let’s open up the home stretch with some of the top neglected historical moments in U.S. history.

THE PENOBSCOT CAMPAIGN: AMERICA’S REVOLUTIONARY WAR TRAGEDY. The largest land and sea offensive launched by the U.S. during the war.

AND EVEN MORE NEGLECTED BATTLES OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. AND MORE HERE.

THE PETTICOAT REVOLUTION OF DECEMBER 5th, 1916. The most fascinating female maneuvering this side of the Aristophanes comedy The Assemblywomen (Ecclesiazusae).

NEGLECTED REVOLUTIONARY WAR BATTLES: LATE 1781.

NEGLECTED REVOLUTIONARY WAR BATTLES: MARCH 1777The title says it all.

THE GREAT ADVENTURE (1963-1964). Dramatizations of fascinating moments in American history.

FIVE NATURAL DISASTERS IN AMERICAN HISTORY: 1811-1937.

D-DAY AND OTHER JUNE SIXTHS IN HISTORY.

THE BUFFALO SOLDIERS: BLACK WARRIORS OF THE OLD WEST.

GOVERNOR BENT ASSASSINATED: JANUARY NINETEENTH, 1847. Continue reading

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TWENTY NEGLECTED SECRETARIES OF STATE

A variety of colorful figures have served as Secretaries of State. Many of them may not be household names here in the 21st Century but they would definitely stand out on any staff. Here is an examination of twenty such figures in chronological order.  

1. TIMOTHY PICKERING (1795-1800)

Served under: Presidents George Washington and John Adams

Noted for: Conspiring with Alexander Hamilton to undermine some of the policies of the Washington and Adams administrations. When Adams discovered this he ordered Pickering to resign, but Pickering refused, forcing Adams to fire him. Pickering remains the only Secretary of State to officially be fired by the President.

2. HENRY CLAY (1825-1829)

Served under: President John Quincy Adams

Noted for: Fighting a duel with Continue reading

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AMERICA 250: 1926 MONTH BY MONTH

America’s 250th birthday is coming up in July, so over the next few months Balladeer’s Blog will take a look at various anniversary years. Previously I did 1826, and 1876, so this time it’s 1926. Next will be 1976. 

1926

U.S. President: Calvin Coolidge    Vice President: Charles G. Dawes    Speaker of the House: Nicholas Longworth    Chief Justice: Former President William Howard Taft

Number of Senators: 96    Number of House Representatives: 435    Number of Supreme Court Justices: 9 

JANUARY

1st – The ROSE BOWL GAME was broadcast on radio for the first time. This game pitted the undefeated UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE, then from the Southern Conference, against the undefeated UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON HUSKIES, then from the Pacific Coast Conference. The Huskies led 12-0 at Halftime, but the Crimson Tide came from behind to win the game 20-19 in what has been called “the football game that changed the South.”

6th – Mickey Hargitay, bodybuilder, movie star, husband of Jayne Mansfield and father of their daughter Mariska Hargitay, was born.

11th – The Whittemore Gang, led by Richard Reese Whittemore and his wife Margaret, robbed a Manhattan jewelry store of $175,000 worth of gems, equal to $3,205,000 here in 2026.

12th – The radio comedy program Sam ‘n’ Henry debuted on WGN in Chicago. Two years later the title would be changed to Amos ‘n’ Andy but it’s inane under any name.

13th – 91 coal miners were killed in a mine explosion in Wilburton, OK.

15th – The silent film The Sea Beast starring John Barrymore opened. Continue reading

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