December 12: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

December 12, 2024 Brooklyn Eagle History

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ON THIS DAY IN 1892, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle said, “The address by Mr. Cleveland at the Reform club dinner on Saturday night was such as a Democratic President elect ought to have made. It was general, not minute; suggestive, not specific. Although it had these characteristics it was not evasive or double-tongued in any sense. It left no one in doubt that economy, fidelity to promises and a thorough reliance on the plain people would be the qualities of the administration, but it did not indicate whether or, if so, when there would be an extra session; whether a tariff commission would be appointed; who would be preferred for the cabinet or what the President elect would do, in case a war was made on him among Democratic senators. Such bills of particulars were wisely omitted. Mr. Cleveland never made a speech of loftier spirit, simpler style or more sagacious reserve.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1915, the Eagle said, “If you stand any day on either side of Fifth avenue, Manhattan, at any cross street, as far north as Central Park, you will realize how the highway is congested with automobiles. Street congestion is one of the greatest physical problems of the City of New York. More subways are going to help move the people, but more subways will not remedy the congestion of traffic on the streets. It is over here in Brooklyn, as well as in Manhattan. If you come downtown any morning, or go home any night in a motorcar, you will note that the automobiles are rapidly increasing in numbers. You can almost notice the increase from week to week. And, if you are curious, and want to go into figures, you will find that the number of automobile licenses granted in the New York district, which includes New York, Bronx, Kings, Queens, Richmond, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland and Putnam counties, have increased 45 percent, in the last four years. In 1912 they numbered 55,438; in 1913 they were 64,398; in 1914, they were 76,227, and up to December 7 of this year they were 99,999.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1934, the Eagle reported, “Politics has been the chief factor in giving Floyd Bennett Airport its reputation as a ‘white elephant,’ Lieut. Joseph M. Aimee, president of the Brooklyn chapter of the National Aeronautic Association, charged yesterday. He spoke to more than 100 men who attended a joint meeting of the Bedford and Brooklyn Exchange Clubs in the Aviation Grill of the airport administration building. The gathering concerned itself solely with the problem of putting the airport on a self-supporting basis. ‘It’s time those in authority stopped playing politics with Floyd Bennett Airport,’ Aimee averred. ‘Either we must make the field practicable and self-supporting or we must abandon it.’ Aimee declared the previous Democratic city administration had put political barriers in the way of the airport.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1949, the Eagle reported, “Bishop Thomas E. Molloy presided yesterday at the solemn mass of thanksgiving in St. Patrick’s R.C. Church, 4th Ave. and 95th St., which commemorated the 100th anniversary of the parish. The large church was completely filled for the occasion. Celebrant of the mass was the pastor, Monsignor Joseph Kelly, and the sermon was delivered by the Rev. Matthew L. Quealy, pastor of St. Stanislaus Martyr R.C. Church, who served as administrator at St. Patrick’s in 1920.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1951, the Eagle reported, “‘A Christmas Carol,’ British import, starring Alastair Sim as ‘Scrooge’ in a new film version of the Dickens classic, is being held for a second week at the Embassy Guild Theater, at Rockefeller Center.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1954, Eagle columnist Ray Tucker said, “Secretary John Foster Dulles will soon broach an entirely new program for fortifying the strategic Middle East bridgehead against possible Russian infiltration or invasion. He will propose it to Sir Anthony Eden when they meet in Paris next week to confer on NATO and Western European Union problems. The British Foreign Secretary has already begun a final study of strengthening Allied defenses in this area. The American Secretary of State originally hoped to organize the Arabian states into an anti-Communist League at the same time that he effected a peaceful solution of enmities between the Arabs and Israel. He regards it as essential that Moscow be kept out of this sector. Possession might give the Reds command of the Dardanelles, the Eastern Mediterranean and the Suez Canal. It would also make up for their known shortage of petroleum. In short, Communist control here would be disastrous in a future war.”

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Dionne Warwick
Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include Basketball Hall of Famer Bob Pettit, who was born in 1932; “Who’s Sorry Now?” singer Connie Francis, who was born in 1937; Grammy Hall of Famer Dionne Warwick, who was born in 1940; “Love Actually” star Bill Nighy, who was born in 1949; N.Y. Islanders legend and Hockey Hall of Famer Billy Smith, who was born in 1950; gymnast and actress Cathy Rigby, who was born in 1952; International Tennis Hall of Famer Tracy Austin, who was born in 1962; sportscaster Mike Golic, who was born in 1962; Pro Football Hall of Famer John Randle, who was born in 1967; Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Connelly, who was born in 1970; “Support the Girls” star Regina Hall, who was born in 1970; “Blossom” star Mayim Bialik, who was born in 1975; and “Manchester by the Sea” star Lucas Hedges, who was born in Brooklyn Heights in 1996.

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BENCHMARK: John Jay was born in New York City on this day in 1745. Jay co-wrote the influential Federalist Papers with James Madison and Alexander Hamilton and was the first chief justice of the U.S. He died in 1829.

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AROUND THE TOWN: Ed Koch was born 100 years ago today. After eight years in Congress, he served three terms as mayor of New York City (1978-89). A colorful figure who rode the subways, Koch reached out to his constituents for advice and commentary. His business acumen brought the city out of dire financial straits, but he weathered many scandals and controversies during his tenure. He died in 2013.

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

Quotable:

“If you agree with me on 9 out of 12 issues, vote for me. If you agree with me on 12 out of 12 issues, see a psychiatrist.”

— former New York City Mayor Ed Koch, who was born on this day in 1924