November 20: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

November 20, 2024 Brooklyn Eagle History

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ON THIS DAY IN 1892, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle said, “WASHINGTON, D.C., NOV. 19 — To the people residing in this city who depend for their living upon their official positions, the make-up of President-elect Cleveland’s cabinet is an all absorbing theme of speculation and comment. Not only are the pensioners of the government interested in this, but the big contractors who build our ships and supply Uncle Sam with coal, stationery and other necessities are also lying awake at night trying to figure out who Mr. Cleveland will invite to sit around his cabinet board.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1910, the Eagle reported, “WASHINGTON, NOV. 19 — Col. Theodore Roosevelt visited the White House today for the first time since he left it as President in 1909. He came as Theodore Roosevelt, the citizen, and seemed to enjoy his visit as much as the tourists who file in and out of the executive offices every day. The former President arrived in an automobile and drove up to the main entrance. He sprang out of the car and ran lightly up the steps, where a doorman, all smiles of recognition, swung the door open.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1929, the Eagle reported, “Congestion having become acute in the section of Manhattan between 59th st. and the Grand Central Terminal, the logical section to develop was the district from 34th st. south, former Governor Alfred E. Smith told a meeting of the Fifth Avenue Association yesterday. He advocated as immediate traffic relief measures an underground tunnel in 39th st., a circular elevated railroad and the Triboro Bridge.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1948, the Eagle reported, “A new concentrated police drive on double-parking, sparked by complaints of Fire Commissioner Frank J. Quayle that the violation constitutes a ‘terrible hazard to life and property’ at 67 spots in Manhattan and on 69 particularly bad streets in Brooklyn, was due to get under way shortly. According to reports, special squads of patrolmen will be assigned, starting in Manhattan, to wipe out the practice by tagging double-parked cars. It was understood special details would be put on in Brooklyn after the Manhattan drive gets started. Mr. Quayle said the situation is so bad in some places that fire engines have been required to drive on sidewalks to reach fire plugs. Although Mr. Quayle listed two more bad spots in Brooklyn than in Manhattan, he pointed out that the double-parking across the river was worse at each spot because of greater overall congestion.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1950, the Eagle reported, “TOKYO (U.P.) — Chinese Communist troops sent into Korea were ordered to expel U.S. forces and occupy the country, Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s headquarters charged today. A headquarters spokesman said officers among the 150 Chinese prisoners captured to date in Korea disclosed their orders under questioning by Allied intelligence officers. Although he said the Chinese had been instructed to ‘occupy the land,’ he did not elaborate. He said the prisoners themselves gave the lie to Communist propaganda that Chinese fighting in Korea are volunteers. Not one of the prisoners volunteered and none knew of any one who had, he said. At the same time reports reaching Hong Kong said a member of the Chinese Communist party’s Central Committee told a meeting in Canton that China entered the war to bleed U.S. strength and thus prevent the Americans from ‘launching a third world war.’”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1960, the Eagle reported, “Congressman John V. Lindsay, who won handsomely in his Silk Stocking race, does not want to run for Mayor. Despite this, a Draft-Lindsay-Movement will start immediately after the first of the year. Behind it will be New York County GOP Chief Bernard Newman. The latter has already spoken to his Brooklyn counterpart John Crews about setting up weekend dates during the Congressional season for Kings County appearances by Lindsay.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1964, the Brooklyn Record reported, “Postmaster General John A. Gronouski today announced that the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge commemorative stamp will be placed on sale at the Fort Hamilton Post Office Station, 8701 4th Avenue, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11209 on Saturday, November 21, 1964 between 8:00 A.M. and 3:00 P.M. Postmaster Edward J. Quigley stated, ‘The additional sale point was authorized to accommodate patrons of the Brooklyn Post Office.’ The Postmaster further stated, ‘No First Day Cancellations will be serviced by the Brooklyn Post Office. Collectors desiring First Day Covers may submit requests to the Postmaster, Staten Island, N.Y. 10301.’”

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NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include Oscar-winning actress Estelle Parsons, who was born in 1927; “The X-Files” star Jerry Hardin, who was born in 1929; “Libra” author Don DeLillo, who was born in 1936; actor and comedian Dick Smothers, who was born in 1939; U.S. President Joe Biden, who was born in 1942; “Spirit in the Sky” singer Norman Greenbaum, who was born in 1942; composer and choreographer Meredith Monk, who was born in 1942; “Hill Street Blues” star Veronica Hamel, who was born in 1943; Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Joe Walsh (The Eagles), who was born in 1947; “10” star Bo Derek, who was born in 1956; “Blade Runner” star Sean Young, who was born in 1959; “ER” star Ming-Na Wen, who was born in 1963; Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Mike D (Beastie Boys), who was born in 1965; former N.Y. Knicks point guard Chris Childs, who was born in 1967; “Homicide: Life on the Street” star Callie Thorne, who was born in 1969; gymnast and Olympic gold-medalist Dominique Dawes, who was born in 1976; and tennis player Caty McNally, who was born in 2001.

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FREEDOM’S FOUNDATION: On this day in 1789, New Jersey became the first state to ratify the Bill of Rights. The state approved 10 of the 12 amendments to the U.S. Constitution proposed by Congress on Sept. 25.

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A STAR IS BORN: Edwin Hubble was born in Missouri on this day in 1889. His discovery and development of the concept of an expanding universe has been described as the “most spectacular astronomical discovery” of the 20th century. As a tribute, the Hubble Space Telescope, deployed April 25, 1990 from Space Shuttle Discovery, was named for him. He died in 1953.

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

Quotable:

“True bravery is when there is very little chance of winning, but you keep fighting.”

— President Joe Biden, who was born on this day in 1942