George W. Bush Writes Letter to Alabama Kicker

Pol Light #69 is when George W. Bush sent a letter on December 3, 2013, to Alabama kicker, Cade Foster, who missed 3 field goals in the Alabama vs. Auburn game on Nov. 30, 2013.  George W. Bush was the 43rd President of the United States, serving from 2001-2009.

On November 30, 2013, Auburn defeated Alabama 34-28 in the 2013 Iron Bowl. Alabama kicker Cade Foster missed 3 field goals which were critical in this close game. In the end Auburn broke a tie at the end of the game when Chris Davis returned Adam Griffith's field goal attempt 109 yards for a touchdown (USA Today, No. 5 Auburn Shocks No. 1 Alabama on Final Play , 11/30/2013).

Because of his missed field goals some sports fans had been giving Cade Foster a hard time on social media. George W. Bush sent him a letter to encourage him.

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Here are the words in the letter that George W. Bush sent to Cade Foster a few days after the game.

Dear Cade (#43),

Life has its setbacks. I know!

However you will be a stronger human with time.

I wish you all the best

Sincerely

another 43

George Bush 

Source: WSMV.Com, Ex-President Bush Writes Letter to Alabama Kicker, 12/11/2013")

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George W. Bush has been featured on other Pol Light posts. To view all George W. Bush posts search with George W. Bush label at Pol Light.
Pol Light does not endorse political candidates. We present a brighter side to politics when they are found on either side of the aisle. We don't have to agree with all of a person's politics to recognize these bright moments.  

The photo of George W. Bush is in the Public Domain.

Abraham Lincoln Establishes Thanksgiving Holiday

Pol Light #68 is when Abraham Lincoln gave a proclamation on October 3, 1863, making a National Holiday for Thanksgiving on the last Thursday of November. Thanksgiving Day would subsequently be changed to the 4th Thursday of the month by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from 1861 until his assassination in 1865.

The following is a video of a narrator reading the entire text of Abraham Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamation. 

Abraham Lincoln issued his Thanksgiving Proclamation in the middle of the Civil War. It is believed by historians that Secretary of State William Seward wrote the words to the Thanksgiving Proclamation for President Lincoln  (Abraham Lincoln Online). Sara Josepha Hale was an influential writer and editor of the day whose advocacy for Thanksgiving to become a holiday in the United States impacted Lincoln's decision.

Historian Harold Holzer said, Lincoln is "the father of the whole idea of a nation giving thanks for its advantages and privileges of living in a democracy like this (USA Today, Abraham Lincoln Father of the Thanksgiving Holiday, 11/26/2013)."

Abraham Lincoln has been featured on other Pol Light posts. To view all Abraham Lincoln posts search with Abraham Lincoln label at Pol Light.

Pol Light does not endorse political candidates. We present a brighter side to politics when they are found on either side of the aisle. We don't have to agree with all of a person's politics to recognize these bright moments.

Photo: The photo in this post of Abraham Lincoln is in the Public Domain.

 

Bill Clinton Becomes a Vegan

Pol Light Moment #67 is when Bill Clinton made public his decision to become a Vegan on August 18, 2011.  Bill Clinton was the 42nd President of the United States and served from 1993-2001. He also served as the Governor of Arkansas from 1983-1992. A Vegan is a person who doesn't eat meat or fish or anything made from animals, such as dairy or eggs.

The following is a video of Bill Clinton talking about his vegan diet.

Bill Clinton described his diet this way: "I went on essentially a plant-based diet. I live on beans, legumes, vegetables, fruits... I drink a protein supplement every morning, no dairy, I drink almond milk mixed in with fruit, and a protein powder. It changed my whole metabolism and I lost 24 pounds, and I got back to basically what I weighed in high school (The Bill Clinton Diet)."

Clinton's journey with the Vegan lifestyle was precipitated by surgery for heart disease in 2004 and the desire to lose weight for his daughter Chelsea's wedding in the Summer of 2010. Regarding the reason he became a Vegan, Bill Clinton said, "I just decided that I was the high-risk person, and I didn't want to fool with this anymore. And I wanted to live to be a grandfather. So I decided to pick the diet that I thought would maximize my chances of long-term survival (Bill Clinton Reveals How He Became a Vegan, AARP)."

More Information: You can find more information on the Vegan diet that Bill Clinton follows at these pages on the Internet: 

• Bill Clinton Declares Vegan Victory, USA Today
• From Omnivore to Vegan: The Dietary Education of Bill Clinton, CNN
• Wait When Did Bill Clinton Become a Vegan, Mediaite.com

Quote Light: Bill Clinton has a page on the Quote Light blog.

Bill Clinton has been featured in other Pol Light moments and can be found by searching this blog with the Bill Clinton Label.

Pol Light does not endorse political candidates. We present a brighter side to politics when they are found on either side of the aisle. We don't have to agree with all of a person's politics to recognize these bright moments.

The photo of Bill Clinton is in the public domain.

Gerald Ford Pardons Richard Nixon

Pol Light Moment #66 is when Gerald Ford pardoned Richard Nixon on September 8, 1974. Gerald Ford was the 38th President of the United States serving from 1974 to 1977.  He served as Vice-President of the United States from 1973-1974 and prior to that represented the 5th District of Michigan in the United States House of Representatives from 1949-1973.

Richard Nixon resigned as President of the United States on August 9, 1974, and his Vice-President Gerald Ford became President. After a month in office, Gerald Ford pardoned Richard Nixon for any crimes he may have done as President. Over the years Presidential Pardons have been opportunities to show mercy in unusual circumstances and the pardon of Richard Nixon was probably one of the most high profile pardons in history.

Gerald Ford addresssed the nation when he made his decision to pardon Richard Nixon. Here is a historical video of Ford giving the pardon to Nixon.

Ford said he issued the pardon primarily for what he felt in his heart was in the best interests of the country and to show mercy to Richard Nixon and his family. Gerald Ford said in his pardon speech, "But it is not the ultimate fate of Richard Nixon that most concerns me, though surely it deeply troubles every decent and every compassionate person. My concern is the immediate future of this great country (Watergate.info)."

Many historians believe that the pardon Ford gave Nixon cost him the 1976 election to Jimmy Carter. Gerald Ford knew that possibility when he issued the pardon, because his speech mentions that he felt he could not rely upon public opinion polls to tell him what was right. Knowing the consequences to his political career, he still did what he thought was in the best interest of the country.

One of the most courageous political lines is when Ford said in his pardon speech, "I do believe that the buck stops here, that I cannot rely upon public opinion polls to tell me what is right. I do believe that right makes might and that if I am wrong, 10 angels swearing I was right would make no difference (Watergate.info)."

You can read the full text of Gerald Ford's pardon of Richard Nixon at Watergate.info.

Gerald Ford has been featured on other Pol Light posts. To view all Gerald Ford posts search with the Gerald Ford label at Pol Light.
 

Pol Light does not endorse political candidates. We present a brighter side to politics when they are found on either side of the aisle. We don't have to agree with all of a person's politics to recognize these bright moments.

Betty Ford Discloses Her Breast Cancer

A Pol Light Encore for Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

Original Post: February 17, 2012

Pol Light Moment #3 occurred in September, 1974, when Betty Ford shared about her diagnosis of breast cancer. Betty Ford (1918-2011) was the First Lady of the United States while her husband Gerald Ford served as the 38th President of the United States from August 9, 1974-January 20, 1977.

On September 28, 1974 (just a few weeks after becoming First Lady), Betty Ford had a mastectomy for breast cancer. She decided to go public with her health condition in order to raise public awareness of breast cancer. It should be noted that in the 1970's it was less common for political leaders to share this type of personal information. This event led the United States to greater public awareness of this cancer and the critical prevention screening.

Betty Ford lived into her 90's and became a 37 year survivor of breast cancer. Jody MacGready said, "By her mere survival, she showed that early detection keeps you alive and to pay attention to your own body (Breast Cancer Survivors Embrace Betty Ford's Legacy of Courage, Hope, MLive)."

Here is a video showing how Betty Ford's disclosure that she had breast cancer had a lasting influence on the medical treatment of the disease and specifically touched the life of Jane Boomstra who was one of the very first patients to use the Betty Ford Breast Cancer Services Center that is part of Spectrum Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan. We apologize but this video is not available on mobile phones.

For more information on Betty Ford's survival and advocacy over breast cancer see a CNN article called Betty Ford Brought Breast Cancer Out Into the Open, that was written on July 12, 2011, around the time of Betty Ford's death.  

Pol Light does not endorse political candidates. We present a brighter side to politics when they are found on either side of the aisle. We don't have to agree with all of a person's politics to recognize these bright moments.

Photo: The photo in this post is in the Wikipedia Commons and is not copyrighted because it is an official photograph of a White House official.

Steve King Helps Veterans Visit Their Memorial

Steve King

Pol Light Moment #65 is when Steve King helped Veterans visit the World War II Memorial on October 1, 2013. Steve King is a member of the US House of Representatives who has represented Iowa's 5th District from 2003-2013 and because of redistricting has represented Iowa's 4th District since 2013.

The World War II Memorial along with other open air memorials in Washington DC had been closed and barricaded on October 1, 2013, by the Obama Administration due to the federal government shutdown. Stephen King and other Congressional Representatives helped take down the barricades for veterans to visit the site of the World War II Memorial.

World War II honor vets from Iowa and a delegation from Mississippi arrived for their scheduled visit to the World War II Memorial on October 1, 2013. They were not able to get in because the government put up barricades around the open air memorial. Rep. Steve King reportedly distracted the police, while the barriers were removed (WWII Vets Storm Shut Down Memorial as GOP Congressman Reportedly Distracts Cops). Below is a new story on this moment in political history.

The following tweet on Twitter was an eye witness account of Rep. King's actions at the memorial.

Credit where due -- I watched Rep Steve King distract a park police officer while vets and staffers knocked down the fences here. #shutdown
— Leo Shane III (@LeoShane) October 1, 2013

Rep. Steve King told CNN that he was disappointed that intervention was necessary at all. "We don't have guards around them at any other time," King said (Veterans Break Past World War II Memorial, CNN Blog).

Pol Light does not endorse political candidates. We present a brighter side to politics when they are found on either side of the aisle. We don't have to agree with all of a person's politics to recognize these bright moments.


The photo of Stephen King is in the Public Domain.

Bill Clinton Keeps Memorials Open During Government Shutdown

Pol Light Moment #64 is President Bill Clinton keeping the war memorials and Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC open during his government shutdowns in 1995 and 1996. Bill Clinton was the 42nd President of the United States and served from 1993-2001. He also served as the Governor of Arkansas from 1983-1992.

Due to budget disagreements between the Legislative and Executive branches of the government, the US Government was shutdown and all non-essential services suspended from November 14 through November 19, 1995 and then again from December 16, 1995 to January 6, 1996. Bill Clinton decided as President that the war memorials and Lincoln Memorial could remain open. There were no staff providing information services, but the public was still able to enter the grounds of these government memorials in Washington D.C. on their own.

For vintage photographs of war memorials being open during the 1995 and 1996 shutdown reference the article War Memorials Remained Open During Previous Shutdown in The Daily Caller.

Quote Light: Bill Clinton has a page on the Quote Light blog.

Bill Clinton has been featured in other Pol Light moments and can be found by searching this blog with the Bill Clinton Label.

Pol Light does not endorse political candidates. We present a brighter side to politics when they are found on either side of the aisle. We don't have to agree with all of a person's politics to recognize these bright moments.

The photo of Bill Clinton is in the public domain.

Abraham Lincoln Discharges Teen Soldier

Pol Light #63 is when Abraham Lincoln discharged a disabled teenager from the military service on February 7, 1865. Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from 1861 until his assassination in 1865.

On February 6, 1865, Col. Thomas W. Harris petitioned Illinois Sen. Lyman Trumbull and Gen. John M. Palmer to discharge his son by the way of a telegram that said, "My son Perry Harris 14 years old insane crippled has been mustered in 55th Kentucky regiment. Please have Secretary of War order him discharged. Col. Thos. W. Harris of Shelbyville, Ill."

Perry Harris had enlisted in the army without his parent's permission and he was not the legal age of 18. It was not uncommon in those days for young people to falsify their age both to enlist and to try and get out of the military once they experienced the reality of war. Discharge requests were likely considered with a grain of salt.

General Palmer passed the note to Lincoln with a note that said, "I have no doubt of the truth of this statement. John M. Palmer." When hearing of this situation, Abraham Lincoln ordered that the boy be discharged. He wrote a brief note that said, "Let this boy be discharged. - President Abraham Lincoln. (Source)." The note reached the field and Perry Harris was eventually discharged and released from his regiment in Kentucky ironically on April 15, 1865, the same day Abraham Lincoln was assassinated (Source).

Perry Chiramonte shared this story about Abraham Lincoln in an article for Fox News, when the handwritten letter from Abraham Lincoln about this Pol Light moment was uncovered and put on auction after years in a private collection. Nathan Raab an autograph dealer with the Raab Collection appraised the note at $15,000 and he described the importance of the note to Fox News,

"It shows the type of person [Lincoln] was and how he was defined by clemency. When you see it's involving a father and his son, it strikes a personal chord and likely did for Lincoln. He was a father of four who lost all but one of his sons (Source)."

Abraham Lincoln has been featured on other Pol Light posts. To view all Abraham Lincoln posts search with Abraham Lincoln label at Pol Light.

Pol Light does not endorse political candidates. We present a brighter side to politics when they are found on either side of the aisle. We don't have to agree with all of a person's politics to recognize these bright moments.

Photo: The photo in this post of Abraham Lincoln is in the Public Domain.

Robert Kennedy Delivers News of MLK Assassination

Pol Light Moment #62 occurred on April 4, 1968, when Robert F. Kennedy delivered news of the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. in a speech given in Indianapolis, Indiana. Robert F. Kennedy served as the Attorney General of the United States from 1961-1964 and he then served as a United States Senator from New York from 1965 until his own death by assassination on June 6, 1968.
When Robert Kennedy gave this speech he was campaigning for President of the United States. The speech that Kennedy was set to give in the inner city of Indianapolis on April 4, 1968, was changed very quickly after Kennedy learned of the news of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s death that afternoon. His speech has been widely recognized as a great success and even though unrest occurred in many major cities after the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., there was no violence in Indianapolis, where the speech was delivered. 
The following is a recorded video of Robert F. Kennedy's speech on April 4, 1968.

One of the memorable parts of the speech that Robert F. Kennedy gave that preceded applause was this:

What we need in the United States is not division; what we need in the United States is not hatred; what we need in the United States is not violence and lawlessness, but love and wisdom, and compassion toward one another, and a feeling of justice toward those who still suffer within our country, whether they be white or whether they be black (Robert F. Kennedy Speech at www.historyplace.com).

The following is a video from Podium about the speech that Robert F. Kennedy gave on April 4, 1968.

  You can read the full text of this speech at The History Place website. 
Robert F. Kennedy has been featured on other Pol Light posts. To view all Robert Kennedy posts search with the label Robert Kennedy at Pol Light blog.  Pol Light does not endorse political candidates. We present a brighter side to politics when they are found on either side of the aisle. We don't have to agree with all of a person's politics to recognize these bright moments.
The photo of Robert F. Kennedy with Martin Luther King, Jr in this post is in the Public Domain.

Gordon Smith's Mental Illness Awareness Campaign

Pol Light Moment #61 ocurred on January 23, 2013, when Gordon Smith helped launch the OK2TALK campaign to help prevent suicide among young adults and teenagers who have a mental illness. Gordon Smith represented Oregon as a United States Senator from 1997-2009.

Gordon Smith is currently the CEO of the National Association of Broadcasters. He had a key role in their efforts to start a public service ad campaign called OK2TALK, that was released nationwide on January 23, 2013, in both English and Spanish. "OK2TALK, features the stories of young adults struggling with mental illness (Source).

Here is a video of Gordon Smith explaining his passion for fighting mental illness.

Garrett Smith (Gordon Smith's son) had a mental illness and committed suicide on September 8, 2003, as a 21 year old college student. Gordon Smith said, "History is a hard teacher. I suspect we were like many typical American parents who viewed issues of the mind only in the abstract. If only then we had known what we know now, our son would still be living (Source)."

Gordon Smith has previously done several other things to raise awareness of mental illness following the death of his son. He wrote the book Remembering Garrett, One Family's Battle with a Child's Depression. In addition, the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act was signed by President George W. Bush in 2004. This bill provided $82 million for suicide-prevention and awareness programs at colleges (Source).

Pol Light does not endorse political candidates. We present a brighter side to politics when they are found on either side of the aisle. We don't have to agree with all of a person's politics to recognize these bright moments.

The photo of Gordon Smith is in the Public Domain.

Jim Blanchard Encourages Giving Back to Alma Mater

Jim Blanchard

Pol Light Moment #60 is when Jim Blanchard encouraged giving support to Michigan State University in a video published on April 13, 2012. James (Jim) Blanchard served as the Governor of the State of Michigan from 1983-1991. Prior to that he represented the 18th District of Michigan in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1975-1983. Jim Blanchard also served as Ambassador to Canada from 1993-1996.

Jim Blanchard graduated from Michigan State University. This video is Blanchard's effort to help raise money for his alma mater and encourage the older generation to give back to Michigan State University.

Pol Light does not endorse political candidates. We present a brighter side to politics when they are found on either side of the aisle. We don't have to agree with all of a person's politics to recognize these bright moments.
The photo in this post of James Blanchard is in the Public Domain. 

George H.W. Bush Shaves Head to Support Young Cancer Patient

Pol Light Moment #59 happened during the week of July 24, 2013, when George H.W. Bush shaved his head in order to support a 2 year old cancer patient named Patrick who is battling Leukemia. George H.W. Bush was the 41st President of the United States, serving from 1989-1993. He also served as the Vice-President of the United States from 1981-1989. He is presently 89 years old.   The following is a video of a CNN news story on this heartwarming story.

Patrick is the 2 year old son of a member of the Secret Service detail assigned to protect President George H.W. Bush. George H.W. Bush shaved his head in solidarity of the young cancer patient. You can find out how to become one of Patrick's Pals at his website at www.patrickspals.org.

Bush's office released a statement that said, "Once President and Mrs. Bush learned of this 'Patrick's Pals' effort, they made a donation and President Bush volunteered to shave his head as well. The Bushes lost their second child, Robin, to leukemia 60 years ago this October at the age of four(Source)."

George H. W. Bush has been featured on other Pol Light posts. To view all George H. W. Bush posts search with George H. W. Bush label at Pol Light.

Pol Light does not endorse political candidates. We present a brighter side to politics when they are found on either side of the aisle. We don't have to agree with all of a person's politics to recognize these bright moments.

Marco Rubio Catches Nancy Reagan as She Falls

Marco Rubio

Pol Light Moment #58 took place on August 23, 2011, when Marco Rubio caught former First Lady Nancy Reagan when she fell at an event. Marco Rubio has served as a United States Senator for Florida since January, 2011. 
Sen. Marco Rubio was escorting Nancy Reagan at an event at the Reagan Presidential Library in California on August 23, 2011 (CNN.com, Nancy Reagan Falls During California Event, August 24, 2011).  Marco Rubio was the keynote speaker at the event. As Nancy Reagan fell, Marco Rubio was able to catch her before she touched the ground.  The following is a news story on the event. 

• Nancy Reagan has been featured on other Pol Light posts. To view all Nancy Reagan posts search with the "Nancy Reagan" label at Pol Light. 
• Marco Rubio has been featured on other Pol Light posts. To view all Marco Rubio posts search with the "Marco Rubio" label at Pol Light.

  Pol Light does not endorse political candidates. We present a brighter side to politics when they are found on either side of the aisle. We don't have to agree with all of a person's politics to recognize these bright moments.
Photo in this Post: "Marco Rubio, Official Portrait, 112th Congress" by US Senate - Email from the Office of Senator Marco Rubio. Licensed under Public Domain via Commons.

Bush and Gore at 2000 Alfred Smith Dinner

Pol Light Moment #57 took place on October 19, 2000, when the two men running for President of the United States shared the stage to support Catholic charities and disadvantaged children. Governor George W. Bush (later to be elected President) and Vice-President Al Gore were joint keynote speakers at the 55th Annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner in New York on October 19, 2000.

Alfred E. Smith was a former Governor of New York, who was the first Catholic Presidential candidate (Source).  During Presidential election years the dinner has frequently featured the candidates for President. The 2000 rendition of this longstanding dinner raised about $900,000 for Catholic charities (Source). The following is an abbreviated highlight version developed by the Alfred Smith Foundation. 

A full version of the speeches at the dinner can be seen in this C-SPAN video below. We apologize but it is not compatible with mobile phones. You can read other posts by the George W. Bush and Al Gore on Pol Light blog. 

• For George W. Bush search with George W. Bush label at Pol Light.
• For Al Gore search with Al Gore label at Pol Light. 

Pol Light does not endorse political candidates. We present a brighter side to politics when they are found on either side of the aisle. We don't have to agree with all of a person's politics to recognize these bright moments.

Barack Obama Says Broccoli is Favorite Food

Pol Light  Moment #56 occurred on July 9, 2013, when Barack Obama visited the second annual Kids' State Dinner at the White House. When asked what his favorite food is Barack Obama said, "Broccoli." Barack Obama was the 44th President of the United States. He served as President of the United States from 2009-2017.

Barack Obama's said at the event, that hosted 54 children, "Food can be fun, it can be healthy. You are setting up habits that are going to be great your entire life (Yahoo News, July 9, 2013)."

For other posts on Barack Obama search with the "Barack Obama" label at Pol Light.

Pol Light does not endorse political candidates. We present a brighter side to politics when they are found on either side of the aisle. We don't have to agree with all of a person's politics to recognize these bright moments.

The photo of Barack Obama is in the Public Domain.

Nikki Haley Speaks of Being Abused as Child

Nikki Halley

Pol Light Moment #55 occurred on July 8, 2013, when Governor Nikki Haley shared publically about being abused as a child.  Nikki Haley has served as Governor of South Carolina since January, 2011.

Governor Haley first wrote about her child abuse in her book Can't Is Not an Option: My American Story. She has rarely talked about the experience publically, but mentioned it on July 8, 2013, when speaking at the Greenville Health System Children's Hospital. During this speech she emphasized the study called Silent Tears that recommends steps for the State of South Carolina to combat child abuse (Source).

Here is a video of Nikki Haley sharing her story of being abused as a child. In this video Governor Haley says, "It doesn't matter your background, it doesn't matter your education, it doesn't matter the wealth of your family. Every child is subject to child abuse (Source)."




The following are links to news stories on this moment when Governor Haley talked about being abused as a child.

• Governor Haley Discusses Being Abused
• Nikki Haley Opens Up On Childhood Abuse
• Nikki Halley Suffered Child Abuse: 'No One Knew How To Handle It'

Pol Light does not endorse political candidates. We present a brighter side to politics when they are found on either side of the aisle. We don't have to agree with all of a person's politics to recognize these bright moments.

The photo of Nikki Haley was taken by Gage Skidmore.

John and Teresa Heinz Kerry Discuss Her Breast Cancer

Pol Light Moment #54 is when John Kerry and his wife Teresa Heinz Kerry did the first public interview about Teresa's breast cancer diagnosis with Larry King on February 10, 2010.  John Kerry served as a United States Senator from Massachusetts from 1985-2013. He is currently the Secretary of State of the United States.

In September, 2009, Teresa Heinz Kerry was diagnosed with breast cancer (Source). The following is the first public interview that the Kerrys did with Larry King of CNN. This interview on February 10, 2010 with the Kerry's is considered one of the select group of greatest interviews that Larry King has ever done (Source).

Teresa Heinz Kerry has stressed her opposition to the recommendations for mammography screening by the U.S. Preventative Health Task Force which said routine screenings of women were not needed until age 50 and then only on a biennial basis (Source). The following is the AP news story on Teresa Heinz Kerry's breast cancer and her feelings on screening standards. 

John Kerry has been featured on other posts at Pol Light. To view them search with the label John Kerry.

Pol Light does not endorse political candidates. We present a brighter side to politics when they are found on either side of the aisle. We don't have to agree with all of a person's politics to recognize these bright moments.
The above photo of John Kerry and Teresa Heinz Kerry at John's swearing in as United States Secretary of State is in the Public Domain. 

Obama and McCain at 2008 Alfred Smith Dinner

Pol Light Moment #53 took place on October 16, 2008, when the two men running for President of the United States shared the stage to support Catholic charities and disadvantaged children. President Barack Obama (who was a U.S. Senator in 2008) and Senator John McCain were joint keynote speakers at the 63rd Annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner in New York on October 16, 2008, held at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel.

Alfred E. Smith was a former Governor of New York, who was the first Catholic Presidential candidate (Source).  During Presidential election years the dinner has frequently featured the candidates for President. The 2008 rendition of this longstanding dinner raised about $4 million for Catholic charities (Source).

You can listen to the humor and wit of the evening by hearing the full video of the dinner in this video.

More information about the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner can be found at http://www.alsmithfoundation.org/thedinner.html#about. 
For other posts on Barack Obama search with the "Barack Obama" label at Pol Light. For other posts on John McCain search with the "John McCain" label at Pol Light. 
Pol Light does not endorse political candidates. We present a brighter side to politics when they are found on either side of the aisle. We don't have to agree with all of a person's politics to recognize these bright moments.

Mark Warner Helps Family Receive Soldiers Medals

Mark Warner

Pol Light Moment #52 took place on March 22, 2013, when Senator Mark Warner helped the Virginia family of PFC Alonzo Hayes receive the medals he earned nearly 70 years after he died in combat in World War II. Mark Warner has served as the United States Senator from Virginia since 2009.
PFC Alonzo Hayes was killed near Florence, Italy on August 22, 1944 (Source). On March 22, 2013, the family of PFC Alonzo Hayes received a Bronze Star and Purple Heart for his service. The medals should have been with Hayes when he was buried 70 years ago.   Here is a news story of how the family of the Alonzo Haynes received the medals after 70 years. 

Lou Kadiri, who serves as the Constituent Services Director for Senator Mark Warner's office, said to the family of PFC Alonzo Hayes, "It truly, truly is an honor for the senator to help you get these medals your brother earned, that he so bravely earned (Source)."
Tollie Haynes, the younger brother of the late Alonzo Hayes said, "I am so honored to get these medals. I'll never forget him. This touches my heart. It means a great deal, just like part of him came back (Source)."
Pol Light does not endorse political candidates. We present a brighter side to politics when they are found on either side of the aisle. We don't have to agree with all of a person's politics to recognize these bright moments.
The photo of Mark Warner is in the Public Domain. 

John Boehner Keeps Capitol Tours Open

John Boehner

Pol Light Moment #51 is when the Speaker of the House, John Boehner announced on March 7, 2013, that tours of the United States Capitol would not be cancelled due to sequestration budget cuts. John Boehner has served as the Speaker of the House of Representatives since January 3, 2011. He has represented Ohio's 8th Congressional District since 1991.

The following is a video of John Boehner making the announcement about the United States Capitol tours remaining open after the sequestration budget cuts, because the House leadership made other cuts that did not impact the tours.

Here is a copy of the letter John Boehner wrote announcing that United States Capitol tours would remain open.

March 7, 2013

The White House announced today that White House tours are being canceled effective Saturday, March 9, 2013 until further notice, due to staffing reductions resulting from sequestration.

Sequestration, as you may know, is the term for the mandatory federal budget cuts that went into effect March 1 under the terms of a bipartisan budget law enacted in 2011. Under sequestration, federal agencies are required to find ways to reduce unnecessary spending within their budgets, and to do more with less, as many American families are being forced to do in the current economy. 

While I'm disappointed the White House has chosen to comply with sequestration by cutting public tours, I'm pleased to assure that public tours of the United States Capitol will continue. Under the leadership of the House officers and their teams, who oversee daily operations in the Capitol in consultation with the Office of the Speaker, planning for the possibility of sequestration has been underway for some time. Consequently, alternative spending reductions have been implemented within the Capitol complex to ensure public tours and other regular activities can proceed as they normally would. 

I encourage you and your family to visit the U.S. Capitol during your trip to Washington, D.C. If yo haven't already made arrangements through my office for a Capitol tour, I encourage you to do so. Simply contact my congressional office at 202-225-6205

Sincerely,

John Boehner   Source of Letter

Tours of the Capitol may be scheduled at www.visitthecapitol.gov.

Pol Light does not endorse political candidates. We present a brighter side to politics when they are found on either side of the aisle. We don't have to agree with all of a person's politics to recognize these bright moments.

The photo of John Boehner used in this post is in the Public Domain.

Franklin Roosevelt Founds March of Dimes

Pol Light Moment #50 is when Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) founded the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis on January 3, 1938. Roosevelt later renamed it the March of Dimes Foundation. Franklin D. Roosevelt was the 32nd President of the United States and served from 1933 until his death in 1945. Franklin D. Roosevelt also served as the Governor of New York from 1929-1932.

At age 39, Franklin Roosevelt was stricken with Polio and unable to walk again. His passion for the March of Dimes reflected his desire to help give a boost of care and research to help there be more healthy babies and mothers in the country. Over the years the March of Dimes has focused it's energies on healthy pregnancy and premature babies.

The organization started with donations from wealthy friends of Franklin Roosevelt giving in his honor, but the name March of Dimes has it's roots in the need to involve the general public in more funding for the organization.

In 1938, Roosevelt decided to appeal to the general public for help. At one fundraiser, celebrity Eddie Cantor jokingly urged the public to send dimes to the president, coining the term March of Dimes. The public took his appeal seriously, flooding the White House with 2,680,000 dimes and thousands of dollars in donations (Source).

The following is a news feature for the 75th Anniversary of the March of Dimes that shares Franklin Roosevelt's important role in founding the organization.



Franklin D. Roosevelt has been featured on other Pol Light posts. To view all Franklin Roosevelt posts search with Franklin Roosevelt label at Pol Light. Pol Light does not endorse political candidates. We present a brighter side to politics when they are found on either side of the aisle. We don't have to agree with all of a person's politics to recognize these bright moments.
Photo: The photo in this post is in the Public Domain. It was obtained from Wikipedia.

Hillary Clinton Supports Child Survival in Congo

Pol Light Moment #49 took place on June 14, 2012, when Hillary Clinton supported a fundraiser for Ben Affleck's Eastern Congo Initiative. The charity event was held at Georgetown University and was called 'Call to Action: Child Survival'. Hillary Clinton served as the First Lady from 1993-2001, when her husband Bill Clinton was President. She has also served as a U.S. Senator from New York and Secretary of State under President Barack Obama.

The Eastern Congo Initiative has as it's goal to assure that all children are able to live until their 5th birthday (Source).  Here is a video from the 'Call to Action: Child Survival' event on June 14, 2012.


Hillary Clinton said at the event as noted in the above video, "This year more than 7 million children will die from preventable causes before they reach their 5th birthday. Saving children's lives can not be just a job for governments. So we are all here today with one vision to make sure every child everywhere lives to see his or her 5th birthday."

Pol Light does not endorse political candidates. We present a brighter side to politics when they are found on either side of the aisle. We don't have to agree with all of a person's politics to recognize these bright moments.

The photo of Hillary Clinton is in the Public Domain.

Rand Paul Returns $600,000 to Treasury

Rand Paul

Pol Light Moment #48 took place on February 20, 2013, when Senator Rand Paul announced he would return $600,000 in unused funds from his Senatorial Office Budget to the United States Treasury. Rand Paul has served as a U.S. Senator from Kentucky from 2011 to the present.

Rand Paul said about the return of funds in the above video, "We watch every purchase. We watch what computers we buy, we watch the paper we buy, we watch the ink cartridges. We treat the money as if it's our money, or your money, and we look at every expenditure."

The $600,000 represents 20% of Sen. Rand Paul's Senatorial office budget (Source). This is not the first time that Sen. Rand Paul has been able to return money to the Treasury because his office staff was able to watch expenses. In 2012, Sen. Rand Paul returned $500,000 back to the U.S. Treasury.

Pol Light does not endorse political candidates. We present a brighter side to politics when they are found on either side of the aisle. We don't have to agree with all of a person's politics to recognize these bright moments.

The photo of Rand Paul is in the Public Domain.

John F. Kennedy's 'Moon' Speech

Pol Light Moment #47 is when John F. Kennedy set high goals of Space exploration for the United States and gave his 'Moon' speech at Rice University on September 12, 1962. John F. Kennedy was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961-1963.

Here is video footage of the speech that John F. Kennedy gave on his goals for the United States' Space program at Rice Stadium. You can also read the text of it here.

One of the noteworthy lines that Kennedy said in the speech was,

We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others, too.

John F. Kennedy has been featured on other Pol Light posts. To view all John F. Kennedy posts search with John F. Kennedy label at Pol Light.

Quote Light: John F. Kennedy has a page on the Quote Light blog.

Pol Light does not endorse political candidates. We present a brighter side to politics when they are found on either side of the aisle. We don't have to agree with all of a person's politics to recognize these bright moments.

The photo of John F. Kennedy is in the Public Domain.

Kevin O'Toole Gives Boy Replacement iPad

Kevin O'Toole

Pol Light Moment #46 is when Kevin O'Toole gave 8 year old Jordan-River Samuel an iPad for Christmas on December 24, 2012. Kevin O'Toole is a State Senator in New Jersey representing the 40th District. He lives in Cedar Grove in Essex County, New Jersey. He descends from a father who is Irish American and a mother who is Korean American.

Someone had stolen Jordan-River Samuel's iPad during the Christmas season and after State Sen. Kevin O'Toole heard about it he gave the boy a new iPad.

"A lot of good things have happened to me and my family and we like to pay it forward as often as possible (Source), said Kevin O'Toole about the gift he made."

Pol Light does not endorse political candidates. We present a brighter side to politics when they are found on either side of the aisle. We don't have to agree with all of a person's politics to recognize these bright moments.

The photo of Kevin O'Toole is in the Public Domain.

Michelle Obama's 'Let's Move' Initiative

Michelle Obama

Pol Light Moment #45 is when Michelle Obama started the Let's Move! initiative on February 9, 2010. When Michelle Obama launched the initiative to combat childhood obesity, she said, "The physical and emotional health of an entire generation and the economic health and security of our nation is at stake (Source)." Michelle Obama is the First Lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017.
The Let's Move website describes the initiative this way:

Let's Move! is a comprehensive initiative, launched by the First Lady, dedicated to solving the challenge of childhood obesity within a generation, so that children born today will grow up healthier and able to pursue their dreams. Combining comprehensive strategies with common sense, Let's Move! is about putting children on the path to a healthy future during their earliest months and years. Giving parents helpful information and fostering environments that support healthy choices. Providing healthier foods in our schools. Ensuring that every family has access to healthy, affordable food. And, helping kids become more physically active (Source).

Here is a news story about the Let's Move initiative.  

On February 27, 2013, First Lady Michelle Obama will have a two day tour around America to observe the 3rd anniversary of the Let's Move initiative (Source).  You may follow Let's Move on Twitter by following the accounts of @FLOTUS or @LetsMove.  For more information on Let's Move visit their website at www.letsmove.gov.  Michelle Obama has been featured on other Pol Light posts. To view all the posts featuring Michelle Obama search with the label Michelle Obama.

Pol Light does not endorse political candidates. We present a brighter side to politics when they are found on either side of the aisle. We don't have to agree with all of a person's politics to recognize these bright moments.

The photo of Michelle Obama is in the Public Domain.