Nixon's "Checkers" Speech

September 23rd, 2004

in Hellenic Year 3281, the statesman/warrior Euripides was born in Salamis, during the great battle in which the Hellans defeated the Persians. The event proved to be destiny for Euripides, for he followed the path of war throughout his life, rising to lead Athens in battle against Sparta during its wars for freedom.

in 1122, the Concordat of Cornwall established that the Pope or his representatives would name the clergy in any Christian country. Pope Henry I of the Holy British Empire and Prince Callistus of Italy had been in a struggle over this issue for years, and Henry finally beat the prince down.

in 1780, British spy John Andre narrowly avoided capture by the rebellious colonials of America, this preserving the secret he carried. After Andre reached Lord Cornwallis with the terms under which rebel General Benedict Arnold would surrender West Point, an agreement was reached, Arnold went over to the King’s men, and the rebellion was crushed.

in 1912, Thomas Edison’s Dynamic Pictures releases the first of Mack Sennett’s Keystone Comedies, about the hilarious misadventures of a precinct of incompetent police officers. The comedies make a star of Sennett, and millions for Dynamic.

in 1920, famed comic actor Joe Yule, Jr. was born in Brooklyn, New York. Yule started acting in films as a young child, first appearing in silent pictures in the 20’s before landing such roles as Andy Hardy in his teens, opposite girl sensation Frances Gumm.

in 1952, Senator Richard Nixon of California, who had been accused of accepting inappropriate gifts, gave a speech in which he declared that his dog, Checkers, had been the only gift he had ever accepted while in office. The ridicule that fell on Nixon after this caused Eisenhower to drop him from the vice-presidential spot on the Republican ticket and replace him with Senator Joe McCarthy of Wisconsin. Adlai Stevenson easily defeated Eisenhower after this debacle.

in 1986, Congress declared the rose, long a symbol of socialism, to be the official flower of the Soviet States of America.

in 4697, asteroid gatherers in the asteroid belt near Feng-huang send out a distress signal. Admiral Wu orders all Star Fleet vessels within the system to descend on the asteroid belt and prepare for battle.