November 17: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

November 17, 2024 Brooklyn Eagle History

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ON THIS DAY IN 1892, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle said, “The political gossips are resolved to save Mr. Cleveland a world of trouble. Ever since the election they have been constructing his cabinet. They have not stopped at that. For nearly every place to be filled under the incoming administration a choice array of candidates is daily presented. This, that or the other ‘statesman,’ it is gravely announced, has been ‘approached’ with the offer of an appointment. Now it is a portfolio that has gone begging. Again a diplomatic post waits anxiously for some particular occupant. An uninformed observer might suppose that control of the government has already passed from Republican to Democratic hands. He would be prone to forget that the President elect is not to assume the reins of executive responsibility until more than three months have passed. He would overlook the rather important consideration that little more than a week has elapsed since the ballots were cast. The industry of the cabinet makers is phenomenal. Their energy is equaled only by the ingenuity they bring to bear in selecting and putting together their material. That a great collection of skilled talent is available cannot be doubted. The resources at disposal are inexhaustible. They are a fine tribute to the strength and versatility of the elements responsible for Mr. Cleveland’s election. The rumor purveyors will go to any length in their confident prognostications.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1924, the Eagle reported, “The occurrence of scores of forest fires during the past few weeks has caused nature lovers and conservationists on Long Island a great deal of concern. According to the State Conservation officials, the majority of the forest fires which have occurred were brought about, in virtually every instance, by negligent campers and hunters. The lack of rain dried up the forest lands to such an extent that the slightest fire resulted with a serious conflagration. Thousands of acres of woodlands have been totally destroyed thus far and, despite the light rainfall last Thursday, a number of new outbreaks have been reported. The efforts of the State Conservation officials to check the fires have proven of little avail. In the majority of cases the fires have burned themselves out except in localities where the fighters were able to stop the flames. In the occurrence of these fires up-State is seen a possibility of similar outbreaks on Long Island, and the State fire wardens, game protectors and others employed by the Conservation Commission are keeping a close watchout for similar outbreaks.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1937, the Eagle reported, “With the completion at the Walt Disney studios of ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,’ the first full-length animated feature in the history of motion pictures, all hands are concentrating on the production of 20 short subjects. Five of these 20 shorts will star Donald Duck; two will introduce Donald’s young nephews Huey, Dewey and Louie. Two will star Mickey Mouse, who will appear in five with his gang, Donald, Pluto and Goofy. First starring short for Goofy will be ‘Goofy and Elmer.’ Seven Silly Symphonies are in production. One of them serves to bring back the three little pigs and the big, bad wolf.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1948, the Eagle reported, “The Federal Government intervened in the costly and crippling East Coast longshoremen’s strike today as the effectiveness of the walkout received a sharp setback in the return to work of Halifax dock workers. William Margolis, assistant director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, left Washington at 11 a.m. today for New York, and it was reported he had a settlement offer with him. He was scheduled to confer with Joseph P. Ryan, head of the striking International Longshoremen’s Association, and John V. Lyon, chairman of the shipowners’ negotiating committee. There will be no separate meetings. Halifax longshoremen, who refused to load or unload vessels two days ago, were back on the job today and as a result that port was open to ships diverted from New York. J.J. Campbell, president of the Halifax Longshoremen’s Association, reported that his men would handle all goods not consigned to United States ports. But it was pointed out that shipments could be readdressed to Halifax and then shipped by rail to New York City.”

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Rachel McAdams
Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

Martin Scorsese
John Furniss/Invision/AP

NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Bob Gaudio (the Four Seasons), who was born in 1942; Oscar-winning director Martin Scorsese, who was born in 1942; actress and model Lauren Hutton, who was born in 1943; Basketball Hall of Famer Jim Boeheim, who was born in 1944; “Taxi” star Danny DeVito, who was born in 1944; “Saturday Night Live” creator Lorne Michaels, who was born in 1944; Jethro Tull guitarist Martin Barre, who was born in 1946; former Speaker of the House John Boehner, who was born in 1949; “NewsRadio” star Stephen Root, who was born in 1951; “Scarface” star Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, who was born in 1958; “Falcon Crest” star William R. Moses, who was born in 1959; actress and model Daisy Fuentes, who was born in 1966; “Popular” star Leslie Bibb, who was born in 1974; “Eurovision Song Contest” star Rachel McAdams, who was born in 1978; and former NFL wide receiver Reggie Wayne, who was born in 1978.

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KING OF THE HILL: Tom Seaver was born on this day in 1944. Known as “The Franchise,” he debuted with the N.Y. Mets in 1967 and became the team’s first pitching star, leading them to the 1969 World Series championship. He was traded to the Cincinnati Reds in 1977, but returned to Queens in 1983 and later pitched for the Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1992 and died in 2020.

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HAVE A NICE LIFE: Today is National Unfriend Day. Inspired by late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel, it’s the day on which Facebook users take an honest inventory of their friends list and eliminate all those who aren’t true friends. By making cuts, they will be able to devote more time and energy to the people who really matter in their lives.

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

Quotable:

“There are only two places in the league — first place and no place.”

— Baseball Hall of Famer Tom Seaver, who was born on this day in 1944