ON THIS DAY ~ MAR 15

 

 

    March 15, 1965

Johnson appears before Congress to demand voting rights for all.

On this day in 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson addressed a joint session of Congress to urge the passage of legislation guaranteeing voting rights for all.

Using the phrase "we shall overcome," borrowed from African-American leaders struggling for equal rights, Johnson declared that "every American citizen must have an equal right to vote." Johnson reminded the nation that the Fifteenth Amendment, which was passed after the Civil War, gave all citizens the right to vote regardless of race or color. But states had defied the Constitution and erected barriers. Discrimination had taken the form of literacy, knowledge or character tests administered solely to African-Americans to keep them from registering to vote.

"Their cause must be our cause too," Johnson said. "Because it is not just Negroes, but really it is all of us, who must overcome the crippling legacy of bigotry and injustice. And we shall overcome."

THE IDES OF MARCH ~ In the ancient Roman calendar, each of the 12 months had an ‘ides’ of the month. In March, May, July and October, the ides fell on the 15th day. In all other months, the ides fell on the 13th. The word ‘ides’ was derived from the Latin “to divide.” The ides were originally meant to mark the full moon, but since the solar calendar months and lunar months were of different lengths, the ides eventually lost their original intent and purpose.

44BC - GaiusJulius Caesar is stabbed to death by Marcus Junius Brutus & Gaius Cassius Longinus

1820 - Maine joined the 22 states of the United States of America.  Augusta is the capital of Maine (not Georgia).

1937 - The first blood bank was established -- in Chicago, IL at the Cook County Hospital. Have some cookies and maybe an orange to celebrate...

ENTERTAIMENT

1964 - Wedding bells (the first time) for actor Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. The couple wed in secret ceremonies in Montreal, Canada.

MUSIC 

1968 - LIFE magazine called Jimi Hendrix, “the most spectacular guitarist in the world.”

BIRTHDAYS

1916 - Harry (Haag) James
trumpeter, bandleader: Sweet Georgia Brown, Chiribiribin, And the Angels Sing, Two O’clock Jump, You Made Me Love You, Music Makers, Strictly Instrumental, I’ll Get By; married to Betty Grable (second of four wives); died July 5, 1983

1935 - Judd Hirsch
Emmy Award-winning actor: Taxi [1980-81,1982-83]; Ordinary People, The Good-bye People, Running on Empty

1944 - Sly Stone (Sylvester Stewart)
musician, singer: group: Sly & The Family Stone: Dance to the Music, Everyday People, Hot Fun in the Summertime, Thank You, Family Affair; Former San Francisco DJ

1955 - Dee Snider
composer, singer: group: Twisted Sister: We’re Not Gonna Take It

1959 - Fabio (Lanzoni)
model: covers of romance novels; writer: Pirate 

*I Can't Beleive It's Not Butter ~ LOL

 

Those were the days, my friend. We thought they’d never end...