Happy Independence Day
Happy 4th of July everyone. It is a significant day not only in the history of the nation, but for 
potus_geeks as well. On July 4th:
In 1776 (241 years ago today), the amended Declaration of Independence, prepared by Thomas Jefferson, was approved and signed by John Hancock, the President of the Continental Congress in America.
In 1826 (191 years ago today) both the second president of the United States, John Adams, and the third president of the United States, Thomas Jefferson, died, on the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
On July 4, 1826, the fiftieth anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, Adams died at his home in Quincy. Told that it was the Fourth, he answered clearly, "It is a great day. It is a good day." His last words have been reported as "Thomas Jefferson survives" (Jefferson himself, however, had died hours before Adams did). His death left Charles Carroll of Carrollton as the last surviving signatory of the Declaration of Independence. John Adams died while his son John Quincy Adams was president.
During the last hours of Jefferson's life he was attended by his grandson Thomas Jefferson Randolph and his doctor, Robley Dunglison, and other family members and friends. Contemporary reports suggest that Jefferson was at ease with the idea of death and was ready to die. When his doctor entered his room he said "Well Doctor, you see I am still here yet." After being checked by the doctor someone told Jefferson that he was looking better to which Jefferson is said to have replied "Do not imagine for a moment that I feel the smallest solicitude as to the result. " He calmly gave directions for his funeral, forbidding any sort of celebration or parade. Moments later Jefferson called the rest of his family and friends around his bedside and said "I have done for my country, and for all mankind, all that I could do, and I now resign my soul, without fear, to my God, – my daughter to my country." After falling back to sleep Jefferson later awoke at eight o'clock that evening and spoke his last words, "Is it the fourth yet?". His doctor replied, ''It soon will be". On July 4 at ten minutes before one o'clock Jefferson died at the age of 83, the fiftieth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and a few hours before John Adams
In 1831 (186 years ago today), the fifth president of the United States, James Monroe, died. He was the third president to expire on the 4th of July. Upon the death of his wife Elizabeth in 1830, Monroe moved to New York City to live with his daughter Maria Hester Monroe Gouverneur who had married Samuel L. Gouverneur in the White House. Monroe's health began to slowly fail by the end of the 1820s and John Quincy Adams visited him at his daughter's home in April 1831. Adams found him alert and eager to discuss the situation in Europe, but in ill health. Adams cut the visit short when he thought he was tiring Monroe. Monroe died there from heart failure and tuberculosis on July 4, 1831, thus becoming the third president who died on Independence Day.
In 1872 (145 year ago today), the 30th president of the United States, Calvin Coolidge, was born in Plymouth Notch, Windsor County, Vermont. Coolidge worked his way up the ladder of Massachusetts state politics, eventually becoming governor of that state. His conduct during the Boston Police Strike of 1919 thrust him into the national spotlight and gave him a reputation as a man of decisive action. He was elected as the 29th Vice President in 1920 and succeeded to the Presidency upon the sudden death of Warren G. Harding in 1923. Elected in his own right in 1924, he gained a reputation as a small-government conservative, and also as a man of few words, earning him the monicker "Silent Cal." Coolidge restored public confidence after the scandals of his predecessor's administration, and left office with considerable popularity. Some later criticized Coolidge, saying that his hands off approach to the economy was a factor which contributed to the great depression. His reputation underwent a renaissance during the Ronald Reagan Administration, but the ultimate assessment of his presidency is still divided between those (like recent biographer Amity Schlaes) who approve of his reduction of the size of government programs and those who believe the federal government should be more involved in regulating and controlling the economy.
I hope all of you have a happy 4th of July!
potus_geeks as well. On July 4th:In 1776 (241 years ago today), the amended Declaration of Independence, prepared by Thomas Jefferson, was approved and signed by John Hancock, the President of the Continental Congress in America.
In 1826 (191 years ago today) both the second president of the United States, John Adams, and the third president of the United States, Thomas Jefferson, died, on the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
On July 4, 1826, the fiftieth anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, Adams died at his home in Quincy. Told that it was the Fourth, he answered clearly, "It is a great day. It is a good day." His last words have been reported as "Thomas Jefferson survives" (Jefferson himself, however, had died hours before Adams did). His death left Charles Carroll of Carrollton as the last surviving signatory of the Declaration of Independence. John Adams died while his son John Quincy Adams was president.
During the last hours of Jefferson's life he was attended by his grandson Thomas Jefferson Randolph and his doctor, Robley Dunglison, and other family members and friends. Contemporary reports suggest that Jefferson was at ease with the idea of death and was ready to die. When his doctor entered his room he said "Well Doctor, you see I am still here yet." After being checked by the doctor someone told Jefferson that he was looking better to which Jefferson is said to have replied "Do not imagine for a moment that I feel the smallest solicitude as to the result. " He calmly gave directions for his funeral, forbidding any sort of celebration or parade. Moments later Jefferson called the rest of his family and friends around his bedside and said "I have done for my country, and for all mankind, all that I could do, and I now resign my soul, without fear, to my God, – my daughter to my country." After falling back to sleep Jefferson later awoke at eight o'clock that evening and spoke his last words, "Is it the fourth yet?". His doctor replied, ''It soon will be". On July 4 at ten minutes before one o'clock Jefferson died at the age of 83, the fiftieth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and a few hours before John Adams
In 1831 (186 years ago today), the fifth president of the United States, James Monroe, died. He was the third president to expire on the 4th of July. Upon the death of his wife Elizabeth in 1830, Monroe moved to New York City to live with his daughter Maria Hester Monroe Gouverneur who had married Samuel L. Gouverneur in the White House. Monroe's health began to slowly fail by the end of the 1820s and John Quincy Adams visited him at his daughter's home in April 1831. Adams found him alert and eager to discuss the situation in Europe, but in ill health. Adams cut the visit short when he thought he was tiring Monroe. Monroe died there from heart failure and tuberculosis on July 4, 1831, thus becoming the third president who died on Independence Day.
In 1872 (145 year ago today), the 30th president of the United States, Calvin Coolidge, was born in Plymouth Notch, Windsor County, Vermont. Coolidge worked his way up the ladder of Massachusetts state politics, eventually becoming governor of that state. His conduct during the Boston Police Strike of 1919 thrust him into the national spotlight and gave him a reputation as a man of decisive action. He was elected as the 29th Vice President in 1920 and succeeded to the Presidency upon the sudden death of Warren G. Harding in 1923. Elected in his own right in 1924, he gained a reputation as a small-government conservative, and also as a man of few words, earning him the monicker "Silent Cal." Coolidge restored public confidence after the scandals of his predecessor's administration, and left office with considerable popularity. Some later criticized Coolidge, saying that his hands off approach to the economy was a factor which contributed to the great depression. His reputation underwent a renaissance during the Ronald Reagan Administration, but the ultimate assessment of his presidency is still divided between those (like recent biographer Amity Schlaes) who approve of his reduction of the size of government programs and those who believe the federal government should be more involved in regulating and controlling the economy.
I hope all of you have a happy 4th of July!