February 2024 - Page 3 of 6 - Ramblin' with Roger

Presidents Day: the zero curse

1840-1960

After John F. Kennedy was assassinated in November 1963, I remember reading about the zero curse. Going back to 1840, every President elected in a year ending in zero died in office.

This is how we ended up with three Presidents during both 1841 and 1881.

1840: President is Martin Van Buren. William Henry Harrison, the last president born as a British subject, was elected

1841, March 4: WHH is inaugurated

1841, April 4: WHH dies, perhaps of pneumonia, but more likely from septic shock. John Tyler, who ended up having 15 children, became President. He still has a living grandson.

1860: Abraham Lincoln was elected.

1864: Lincoln was reelected.

1865, April 14: Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth and died the next day when Andrew Johnson became President.

1880: Rutherford Birchard Hayes is President.

1880: James Abram Garfield was elected President and inaugurated the following March 4

1881, July 2: Garfield is shot by Charles J. Guiteau over a perceived political slight

1881, September 19: Garfield dies, probably from sepsis. Chester Alan Arthur became President.

1896: William McKinley is elected and inaugurated the following March 4

20th century

1900: McKinley is re-elected and inaugurated the following March 4

1901, September 6: McKinley is shot by Leon Czolgosz

1901, September 14: McKinley dies from the shot and gangrene. Theodore Roosevelt, the first sitting President to make a diplomatic trip abroad, took office. He was also the youngest person to become President.

1920: Warren Gamaliel Harding is elected and inaugurated the following March 4

1923, August 2: Harding died, likely from a cardiac arrest, though it was thought at the time it was a cerebral hemorrhage. Calvin Coolidge, the only President born on the 4th of July (1872), was sworn in early the following morning. He was visiting his family in Vermont. “His father, a notary public and justice of the peace, administered the oath of office in the family’s parlor by the light of a kerosene lamp at 2:47 a.m. on August 3, 1923, whereupon the new President of the United States returned to bed.”

1932, 1936: Franklin Delano Roosevelt was elected, then reelected president, inaugurated the following March.

1940: FDR was reelected and inaugurated the following March.

1944: FDR was reelected and inaugurated the following March.

1945, April 12: FDR died of a cerebral hemorrhage. Harry S. Truman, his third Vice-President after John Nance Garner (two terms) and Henry A. Wallace became President.

1960: John Fitzgerald Kennedy was elected and inaugurated the following January 20. He was the youngest person elected President and also the youngest President at the end of his tenure.

1963, November 22: JFK was shot and killed by Lee Harvey Oswald and possibly another. Lyndon Baines Johnson became President.

another Teddy

When Ted Kennedy, the youngest child of Joseph and Rose Kennedy, contemplated running for President in 1980, I was extremely worried for him. All of his brothers died violent deaths. On August 12, 1944, Joe and Rose’s eldest child, Joe Jr., “a Navy pilot, was killed on an air mission.” The second child, JFK, was assassinated, as was the seventh child, Robert Francis Kennedy, in June 1968 while running for President.

Fortunately, Teddy was unable to describe why he wanted the office, and he lost the Democratic nomination to the incumbent, Jimmy Carter, who was the first President born in a hospital. In 1979, he was also the first to light the National Menorah, officially observing Hanukkah celebrations.

Of course, Ronald Reagan, the Republican, was elected in 1980 and was inaugurated the following January 20. On March 30, 1981, Reagan was shot by John Hinckley. Was the curse still in effect? Fortunately, no. I didn’t vote for him, but I didn’t want him getting killed.

Not incidentally, knowing this arcane stuff has made remembering the Presidents in order easier. The only President to die in office who didn’t fit the pattern was Zachary Taylor, elected in 1848, inaugurated on March 4 of the next year, died on July 9, 1950 from circumstances still under debate. Millard Fillmore succeeded him. There were four Whig party Presidents: WH Harrison, Tyler, Taylor, and Fillmore, who collectively served only eight years.

Sunday Stealing – Music

In the Garden of Eden

Sunday Stealing – Music? But I’m ALWAYS about music!

Name a song that…

1. You enjoy, in another language.

Petula Clark recorded Downtown in Italian as Ciao Ciao. She also did Sign of the Times in French as Si tu prenais le temps. She also sang in German.

2. Recently introduced you to a new singer

I hear many artists on CBS Saturday Morning, specifically the Saturday Sessions—quite a few I like. Brittany Spencer sings If You Say So.

3. You listen to in order to energize

Too many choices! Because Michael McDonald’s birthday was this week, Takin’ It To The Streets by the Doobie Brothers.

4. Is your favorite song from a musical.

Maybe Tradition from Fiddler On The Roof. I’m pretty sure Alexander Hamilton from Hamilton is the most parodied recently.

5. Reminds you of an old love

Harvest Moon by Neil Young still makes me very sad.

6. Make you think of one of your children

Motown Philly by Boyz 2 Men or some other ’90s soul that came out before she was born.

Did not use a metronome

7. Makes you smile when you hear it.

Do What You Want To by Billy Preston. I love that it ends far faster than it starts. This is also true of When You Dance, I Can Really Love by Neil Young.

8. You love but is quite unknown

Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic by Isaac Hayes from Hot Buttered Soul

9. That annoys you.

Honey by Bobby Goldsboro. Cloying dreck.

10. That your parents used to listen to.

I thought of this song because of an article about fads. 45 Men A Telephone Booth by The Four Tophatters was a single my father owned. I bought a compilation CD largely because of this song.

11. From your early years of childhood

Bird Dog by the Everly Brothers, which my father also owned.

12. That has a color in the title.

Green Tambourine by The Lemon Pipers, naturally.

13. That needs to be played loud.

I’m So Glad by Cream, the live version from Goodbye, Cream.

14. That is perfect for a road trip.

ONE song? It’s a road trip. It needs LOTS of songs! In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida by Iron Butterfly to start.

15. That reminds you of yourself.

I’ll go with the usual: Bein’ Green by Kermit the Frog

The musical stylings of John Travolta

Sweathogs

Since February 18 is the 70th birthday of John Travolta, I thought I’d link to some of his songs.

His first hits were the result of his breakthrough performance on the ABC-TV sitcom Welcome Back, Kotter. Gabe Kaplan played a a high-school teacher in charge of a remedial education class called the “Sweathogs. Travolta played Vinnie Barbarino, the heartthrob of the group.

He had four singles on Midland International Records. The biggest hit was Let Her In, which went to #10 in 1976; I have no recollection of the song. Nor do I recall Whenever I’m Away From You (#34 in 1976), yet I have a vague recollection of All Strung Out On YouAll Strung Out On You (#38 pop in 1977).

He didn’t sing on Saturday Night Fever (1977), but his walking to Stayin’ Alive by the BeeGees opens the film. The movie is a lot better than people who wrote it off as a “disco thing” believed. About 15 months ago, Kelly posted that intro. He wrote: “Now we know that Tony’s world is just a few miles from Manhattan but might as well be worlds away, and that the outward appearance that Tony [Manero] obviously cultivates very specifically and very carefully is something of an act, a veneer he has put on a more tender inner life.” It’s an interesting read. John was nominated for an Academy Award for the role.

Zuko

Travolta had been in the Broadway production of Grease in the mid-1970s, playing a character named Doody. In the movie musical, as Danny Zuko, he not only sang, but had big hits in 1978, dueting with Olivia Newton-John. You’re The One That I Want went to #1 and Summer Nights to #5. (The latter song was used in a 2023 ad for T-Mobile Home Internet, featuring Travolta, Donald Faison and Zach Braff.)

The three hits from Grease, including Greased Lightning (#47 in 1978) were included in the 1996 Grease Megamix.

After the success of the movie Urban Cowboy, Travolta had a some hits (Look Who’s Talking) and misses. His “comeback” was playing hitman Vincent Vega in 1994’s Pulp Fiction, for which I need to play Miserlou by Dick Dale. Travolta was nominated for another Academy Award.

Finally, the Hairspray Soundtrack includes Welcome To The 60’s (Nikki Blonsky and John Travolta) and (You’re) Timeless To Me (John Travolta and Christopher Walken).

Al Easton, RIP

a tenor

Al Easton was a life actuary in his working days, a demanding designation to receive, as I understand it. As his obituary noted, he was very accomplished in his field.

One might think, as a result, he’d be a quiet and reserved sort; this was not true. My wife told me that actuaries have among the most significant job satisfaction rates, which this article seems to confirm. Al was almost always a joyful man with a seriously whimsical streak.

He was very competent when he was treasurer at our church for several years, keeping precise details on how well the member pledges were keeping up. Yet, even when he gave those fiscal annual reports, he did so not in a dry and dull manner but with a certain panache and a twinkle in his eyes.

Music

Al was very musical. At various events, he might pull out his guitar and play tunes. He sang tenor in our church choir and other organizations and was highly regular in attendance, as was his late wife, Susan, before she died in 2022.

Al and I were also part of the Tuesday edition of the Bible Guys. He could be quite insightful. At the same time, he might be pretty funny, often when one wasn’t expecting it. This was a good trait to have as we attempted to slog through some of those Old Testament bloodbaths. It could be a corny joke or an insightful aside.

Al died of prostate cancer, which several famous men, including Jerry Orbach, succumbed to. It also killed my father, which is why I get my PSA checked regularly.

I like this line in the obituary: “While Al was very successful in business, his joys in life were his family, his faith, fellowship, folk songs, and fireworks-somewhere in that order…

“Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 17, 2024, at 3:00 p.m., at First Presbyterian Church, 362 State Street, Albany, N.Y. ” Of course, I will be singing in the choir because that’s what choir people do.

Cartoonist Matt Groening is 70

In Hell

Before I ever saw The Simpsons segments on The Tracy Ullman Show, I was following the work of Matt Groening. I don’t know how I came across the Life In Hell strips, but I do know that I bought Love is Hell, “a series of relationship-themed Life in Hell strips, in book form,” early in 1985, probably from FantaCo, the comic book store where I worked.

This description from Amazon will suffice: “Love Is Hell is the answer to all your Quandaries de l’Amour, or, as we say in American, Love Quandaries. Inside, you’ll find handy tips on everything from Getting the Love You Deserve to Getting Your Heart Broken into Millions of Tiny Pieces.” I related heavily to this book because love is complicated.

The description of the author from Love Is Hell suggests the Portland, OR-born artist spent his childhood… “swimming in the grizzly bear pool at the abandoned zoo.” He kept drawing “despite the rapping of his knuckles and the confiscation of his cartoons at school.”

I also bought other In Hell books like School Is Hell, Work Is Hell, Childhood Is Hell, and Akbar and Jeff’s Guide to Life. Doesn’t the cover of School Is Hell look… familiar?

Wikipedia notes: “Life in Hell caught the attention of Hollywood writer-director-producer and Gracie Films founder James L. Brooks… In 1985, Brooks contacted Groening with the proposition of working in animation… which would turn out to be developing a series of short animated skits… for the Fox variety show The Tracey Ullman Show.

The Simpsons!

“Originally, Brooks wanted Groening to adapt his Life in Hell characters for the show. Groening feared that he would have to give up his ownership rights and that the show would fail and take down his comic strip… Groening conceived of the idea for the Simpsons in the lobby of… Brooks’s office and hurriedly sketched out his version of a dysfunctional family.”

In case you wondered, as I did, why the Ullman version of The Simpsons was so crudely drawn, “Groening had submitted basic sketches to the animators, assuming they would clean them up; instead, they just traced over his drawings.” While the characters were named after his family members, except Bart, who was an anagram of Brat, the cartoon does not reflect his relationship with them.

I watched The Simpsons religiously from 1989 to 1999. The DVD of the first glorious season is in my collection. The Simpsons CD called Songs In The Key of Springfield is terrific, including hits such as In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, Jazzman, Baby On Board, and several variations on the ending theme. Somehow, the show fell off my radar in the 21st century, although I did see the 2007 Simpsons movie, which was… okay. Even without my viewership, The Simpsons has become the longest-running U.S. primetime animated series and sitcom.

I’ve not embraced Futurama in the same way. But because of In Hell and The Simpsons, I want to thank Matt Groening as he hits three scores and ten.