April 11: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

April 11, 2024 Brooklyn Eagle History

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ON THIS DAY IN 1865, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “It is semi-officially announced that Mr. Lincoln is engaged in preparing a proclamation, in which he will submit to the South the terms upon which her people can secure peace. The issue is now narrowed down to this: are we willing to let bye-gones be bye-gones and restore to the people of the South the rights they forfeited by taking up arms against the government? The president, it is known, will insist upon the total abolition of slavery in the South; beyond this and the restoration of the Union it is believed he desires to ask nothing.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1947, an Eagle editorial said, “The Brooklyn Dodgers’ brief announcement that the team had purchased the contract of Jackie Robinson from the Montreal Royals has far-reaching significance. It means that for the first time in the national pastime, a big league team will carry on its roster a member of the Negro race. It means that the barriers have finally been lifted for other Negroes to follow suit, not alone with the Dodgers, but with the rest of the National and American League teams. And it also denotes that when Branch Rickey, president of the team, signed Robinson he had every intention and desire to give him a chance to make good as a big leaguer. There is little doubt that Robinson is equipped, physically and mentally, as a major leaguer. A fine hitter, a speedy runner and a capable defensive player, Robinson has the ability to achieve stardom in the big time. The Brooklyn Baseball Club is to be commended for its decision to sign Robinson.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1951, the Eagle reported, “Bishop Thomas F. Molloy of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn has been made an Archbishop by Pope Pius XII in recognition of the ‘distinguished service’ he has rendered to the church in the administration of the diocese, the Brooklyn diocesan office was informed today … In the announcement it was stated that the elevation to Archbishop was a personal honor, and that Archbishop Molloy’s new title is to be distinguished from the title of Archbishop which Cardinal Spellman enjoys as head of the Archdiocese of New York. Archbishop Molloy is the fourth American prelate to be given the title while head of a diocese. He presides over the largest Catholic diocese in the United States … He was made Auxiliary Bishop of the diocese in 1920 and consecrated in 1921.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1952, the Eagle reported, “WASHINGTON (UP) — The White House announced today that Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower had asked to be relieved June 1 as Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers in Europe. Genera Eisenhower sent a request dated April 2 to Secretary of Defense Robert A. Lovett, asking that he be relieved by June 1 and placed on inactive status upon his return to the United States. The General, however, did not give the date when he expects to return to this country and take an active hand in his campaign for the Republican Presidential nomination. Presumably, he would return in early June. The White House announcement at noon was made on the day and hour selected by Eisenhower. White House press secretary Joseph Short said President Truman is not yet ready to announce the selection of a successor. ‘I don’t know how long that will take,’ Short said. The White House disclosed that on April 10 Secretary Lovett, acting with the approval of the President, sent this brief reply to Eisenhower: ‘Dear General Eisenhower: In accordance with your request contained in your letter of 2 April and with the approval of the President, I am taking appropriate action to secure your release from assignment as Supreme Commander, Allied Powers Europe, effective 1 June, and have you placed on inactive status upon your return to the United States.’ Eisenhower, in his letter to Lovett, said his request for relief conformed with an understanding he had when he accepted the original appointment in Europe, in December, 1950.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1969, the Brooklyn Spectator reported, “The New York Mets opened their 1969 home baseball season at Shea Stadium on Tues., against the Montreal Expos, an expansion club, followed today with two games against the pennant-winning St. Louis Cards. Both of these teams are in the Eastern Division with the Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates and the Philadelphia Phillies. The Western part of the league consists of the San Francisco Giants, the Cincinnati Reds, the Atlanta Braves, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Houston Astros and the San Diego Padres. The two strong teams are St. Louis and San Francisco. Both New York ball teams figure to improve their standings. They do not figure to finish in tenth place, as there are only six teams in each half of the league.”

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Tricia Helfer
Rebecca Cabage/Invision/AP

NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include human rights advocate Ethel Kennedy, who was born in 1928; “Cabaret” star Joel Grey, who was born in 1932; journalist Tony Brown, who was born in 1933; “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman” star Louise Lasser, who was born in 1939; magazine editor Hattie Gossett, who was born in 1942; “Animal House” star Peter Riegert, who was born in 1947; former N.Y. Knicks guard Micheal Ray Richardson, who was born in 1955; former N.Y. Mets pitcher Bret Saberhagen, who was born in 1964; “Spin City” star Jennifer Esposito, who was born in 1972; “Battlestar Galactica” star Tricia Helfer, who was born in 1974; former N.Y. Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira, who was born in 1980; model and TV personality Alessandra Ambrosio, who was born in 1981; and singer-songwriter Joss Stone, who was born in 1987.