© CORBIS The only president to serve two non-consecutive terms was also the only president married in a White House ceremony. Grover Cleveland was 49 and a little more than a year into his first term when he married 21-year-old Frances Folsom. The wedding was a simple affair, attended by close friends, family, and cabinet members and their wives. But the occasion was far from quiet—John Philip Sousa led the Marine... READ ON
Memorial Day is more than just a three-day weekend and a chance to get the year's first sunburn. Here's a handy 10-pack of facts to give the holiday some perspective. 1. It started with the Civil War Memorial Day was a response to the unprecedented carnage of the Civil War, in which some 620,000 soldiers on both sides died. The loss of life and its effect on communities throughout the North and South led to spontaneous commemorations of the dead: • In 1864, women from Boalsburg, Pa., put flowers... READ ON
Chanukah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, begins at sundown on December 11 with the lighting of one candle on the eight-candle menorah. Every night an additional candle burns, until the eighth night, when eight candles are lighted. To celebrate, we've answered eight questions about the mysteries of Chanukah "“ one for each night. And yes, one of the mysteries involves the proper spelling. 1. What is Chanukah? To put yourself in the right frame of mind, think 2,000 years ago. Better yet,... READ ON
This is the International Year of Astronomy. The U.N. and International Astronomical Union have declared it so, but with a slogan like "The Universe -- yours to discover," it could be sponsored by the auto club. Still, if you've lost track of those wonderful spacecrafts NASA has been launching for a half-century, here is an opportunity to catch up with a few of them. 1. Pioneer 3 & 4 (1958,... READ ON
Since George Washington nominated the first batch of justices, the Senate has confirmed all but 34 of 156 nominations. From the moment Justice David Souter announced he'd be stepping down, Washington has been gearing up for a confirmation fight. Let's take a look back at eight nominees who didn't make it to the bench. 1. Robert Bork In our time, the most famous rejected nominee is Robert H. Bork, a legal scholar and U.S. Court of Appeals judge with a long paper trail of conservative opinions. Nominated... READ ON
Monday was Australia Day. In India, it was Republic Day. While both are national holidays, the reasons for their celebration couldn't be more different. So how does a country decide which is the day for fireworks, parades, marching bagpipers, and the odd display of nuclear-capable missiles? And why? There are more than 190 countries in the world. We decided to explore the national days of six of them. 1. Australia Day "“ January 26 Like the 13 colonies that formed the United States, the... READ ON
Late last week, the transition team confirmed that President-Elect Obama's mother-in-law will be moving to Washington with the first family, at least temporarily. Marian Robinson will be the latest in a line of presidential in-laws who, for good or ill, lived under the same roof as the president. Here are four stories that confirm the old truism: While America can choose its president, the president can't choose his in-laws. 1. Ulysses S. Grant and "˜The Colonel' You would... READ ON
"Every action in company ought to be done with some sign of respect to those that are present." With that mild but firm assertion begins a little book of self-improvement that George Washington copied down as a teenager. There followed 109 rules, and by the time Washington had written them all into his notebook "“- in what was probably the equivalent of a homework assignment -- he had taken them to heart, and he attempted to follow them for the rest of his life. The pamphlet was called... READ ON
Ralph Nader and Bob Barr couldn't gain any electoral traction on Tuesday. But in honor of their campaigns, let's look back at some notable third-party candidates. 1. John B. Anderson, 1980: Doonesbury's... READ ON
With Sasha & Malia Obama set to join the First Daughters club, let's look back at some of the notable women who came before them. Here are five tales you might not have heard. 1. Sarah Knox Taylor Davis She packed a lot of drama into her 21 years. The second daughter of future U.S. President Zachary Taylor, Sarah also was the first wife of future Confederate President Jefferson... READ ON
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