This Week in History: The Power of Words
From September 20-September 26:
1642 First college commencement in America: Harvard College
1776 Nathan Hale’s last words: “I only regret that I have but one life to give for my country.”
1779 John Paul Jones’ words-of-legend, when asked by a British ship captain to surrender: “I have not yet begun to fight.”
1789 The Bill of Rights was submitted to the states.
1866 Birthday of H.G. Wells, who wrote of atomic bombs and used these words to provide historical perspective: “Human history becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe.”
1897 Immortalized words from an editorial in The New York Sun: “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus”
1927 Birthday of American baseball player Tommy Lasorda, who offered perhaps the best words of advice on media relations: “Never argue with people who buy ink by the gallon.” [I regularly coach executives for media interviews … and I heartily concur.]
1938 A time capsule was buried at the New York City World’s Fair. [Question: If your organization prepared a time capsule today, what words would you choose to put in it?]
1946 President Truman asked Secretary of Commerce Henry A. Wallace to resign. Why? Because of words the Secretary had spoken the previous week in an address about US policy toward Russia.
1960 A big day for the spoken word: the first Kennedy-Nixon debate. With TV cameras rolling and radio mikes on, presidential elections would never be the same.