The march is history often obscures our memories of things so radically that we actually ended of thinking, "No, that didn't really happen...did it?" Garrison Keillor has two examples of this fact in his Writer's Almanac for today, December 28:
1) On this day in 1973, President Nixon signed the Endangered Species Act into law. (WHAT President? No!)
Keillor's background information further strains credibility: "In 1972, Nixon outlined his environmental agenda to Congress. He said: "This is the environmental awakening. It marks a new sensitivity of the American spirit and a new maturity of American public life. It is working a revolution in values, as commitment to responsible partnership with nature replaces cavalier assumptions that we can play God with our surroundings and survive." (Nixon said THAT?) He specifically asked for a new Endangered Species Act that would provide early identification and protection of threatened species, and treat hunting or capturing endangered species as a federal offense. In 1973, the House and Senate versions were combined. The Senate passed the bill unanimously, and the House by a vote of 355 to 4. (Congress did WHAT?)
2) "It was on this day in 1945 that Congress officially recognized the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. It was written in 1892 by a minister and Socialist (!) named Francis Bellamy, who was eventually forced out of his position because he preached too many sermons about Jesus and socialism."
Interestingly, the Rev. Bellamy did NOT include the words "under God" in his original. Keillor writes how they came about: "The words "under God" were added in 1954 to make sure it didn't sound like something that would be recited by Communists." (Nor by Socialists, of course. Or Christians?)
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