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February 25: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

February 25, 2022 Brooklyn Eagle History
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ON THIS DAY IN 1848, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “The announcement of the death of Mr. [John Quincy] Adams in our paper yesterday has proved to be correct. This distinguished statesman, who has been so constantly before the people of the United States for the last sixty years, closed his career appropriately under the dome of the capitol, in the speaker’s room, on Wednesday evening the 23rd of February, at twenty minutes past seven o’clock. It will be remembered that he was seized with illness while attending to his duties in the House, on Monday, the 21st, and just after he had voted on an important question. He was carried into the speaker’s room, to which place medical aid was summoned, but he could not be removed to his own dwelling, and fell appropriately, like a distinguished Roman, in the Senate house. He was scarcely sensible after the attack. On one occasion, however, he opened his eyes and exclaimed, “This is the last of earth — I am composed.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1918, the Eagle reported, “Great unrest has been produced in Poland by the peace treaty arranged between the Ukraine and the Central Powers, under which part of Poland was to be annexed to the Ukraine. Strikes and other disturbances occurred in Warsaw. Last week it was announced that the status of the territory in question would be determined by a commission.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1952, the Eagle reported, “LISBON, PORTUGAL (U.P.) — The North Atlantic Treaty Council hurried toward adjournment today after approving a master plan to give Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower about 50 divisions and 4,000 warplanes by the end of 1952. A high American source said the U.S. would make available seven divisions — six Army and one Marine — for the defense of Western Europe. However, the Marine division is expected to remain in the U.S. unless an emergency arises. The most important problem scheduled for solution on this final day of debate is the raising of funds to build West European airfields and communications. The U.S. has offered to put up 38 percent of the $500,000,000 total cost but the other NATO members are reluctant to pay the balance. The council is expected to select Paris as its permanent headquarters, pick a secretary general as permanent administrative head of NATO, and choose a site for a late spring meeting — probably Copenhagen. After the council adjourns, Big Three representatives will meet here in special session Tuesday to give their final approval to West Germany’s contribution to Western defense and perhaps to review the Austrian treaty problem. Under the master military plan announced by NATO’s Council of Ministers last night, France would make the largest contribution to Eisenhower’s forces — 12 divisions, including two in reserve.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1954, the Eagle reported, “WASHINGTON (U.P.) — Quick Senate confirmation of Earl Warren’s nomination as Chief Justice virtually was assured today following belated committee approval. Senate Republican leader William F. Knowland said Mr. Warren’s confirmation will come quickly — probably tomorrow — and expressed belief the ex-governor of California will get ‘an overwhelming vote of confidence.’ The delay occurred in the Senate Judiciary Committee, which finally approved the nomination on a 12 to 3 vote after puncturing the only complaints raised against Mr. Warren. Even the three dissenters — Democratic Senators Harley M. Kilgore (W. Va.), Olin D. Johnston (S.C.) and James O. Eastland (Miss.) — did not subscribe to the accusations made against Mr. Warren by another Californian, Roderick J. Wilson of Hollywood. Neither did Chairman William Langer (R., N.D.), a central figure in the nationwide furor about the committee’s handling of the nomination. ‘There’s nothing to those remarks’ that Wilson made, Langer declared. While nominally under arrest as a fugitive from California justice, Wilson testified more than two hours behind closed doors yesterday, telling the committee why he thinks Mr. Warren is a ‘captive’ of a ‘corrupt political machine.’”

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Rashida Jones
Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP
Eugenie Bouchard
Ryan Emberley/Invision/AP

NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include media personality Sally Jessy Raphael, who was born in 1935; journalist Bob Schieffer, who was born in 1937; “The Silence of the Lambs” actress Diane Baker, who was born in 1938; humorist Jack Handey, who was born in 1949; former N.Y. Knicks coach Kurt Rambis, who was born in 1958; former N.Y. Yankees right fielder Paul O’Neill, who was born in 1963; “Madam Secretary” star Tea Leoni, who was born in 1966; “The Lord of the Rings” star Sean Astin, who was born in 1971; media personality Chelsea Handler, who was born in 1975; “Parks and Recreation” star Rashida Jones, who was born in 1976; reigning World Series MVP Jorge Soler, who was born in 1992; and tennis player Eugenie Bouchard, who was born in 1994.

Paul O’Neill
Kathy Willens/AP

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SPEAKING VOLUMES: Emma C. Embury was born on this day in 1806. The author and poet published many of her works under the name “Ianthe.” She married Brooklyn banker Daniel Embury in 1828, the same year she published her first poetry collection, “Guido, a Tale: Sketches from History and Other Poems.” She died in Brooklyn in 1863. Her funeral was held at Grace Church in Brooklyn Heights.

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A SEAT AT THE TABLE: Hiram Rhodes Revels became the first African-American in Congress on this day in 1870. Born in North Carolina in 1827, he was ordained a minister in 1845 and served as a chaplain in the U.S. Army during the Civil War. In 1870, the Mississippi State Senate chose Revels to finish out the term of one of the state’s U.S. senators. After his term ended in 1871, he became the first president of Alcorn Agricultural and Mechanical College (now Alcorn State University). He died in 1901.

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THE PEACEMAKER: Philip Habib was born in Brooklyn on this day in 1920. The New Utrecht H.S. graduate was one of the most prominent U.S. diplomats of the late 20th century, serving under Presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan. He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Reagan in 1982. In 2006, he was featured on a U.S. postage stamp alongside other noted diplomats. He died in France in 1992.

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Special thanks to “Chase’s Calendar of Events” and Brooklyn Public Library.

 

Quotable:

“All the world is a birthday cake, so take a piece, but not too much.”

— Rock and Roll Hall of Famer George Harrison, who was born on this day in 1943

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