Monthly Archives for December 2006
The First Pitch
William Howard Taft started the tradition of the Presidential “first pitch” of baseball season. The event took place on April 4, 1910, during an opening day game between the Washington Senators and the Philadelphia Athletics. Since Taft’s first pitch1, every … Continue reading
Micajah Autry
Micajah Autry1had made his choice. Once he’d entered the Alamo his fate had pretty much been sealed. Outnumbered and outgunned, he and the band of rebels that occupied the mission were waiting for the inevitable attack they knew would come. He … Continue reading
“In Event of Moon Disaster”
Nixon speech writer William Safire wrote a proposed speech in the event that disaster struck the Apollo 11 lunar lander1 and Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin couldn’t get off of the Moon and return to Earth. It’s kind of creepy … Continue reading
The Floating Capitol of Texas
For 11 days in April of 1836, the capital of Texas was the steamboat Cayuga. The 80-ton side-wheeler had been hauling cargo on the Brazos River during 1834 and 1835. After their victory at the Alamo on March 6, 1836, … Continue reading