Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) The territory of Hawaii* became the 50th state in the Union fifty-six years ago today, August 21, 1959. President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who signed The Admission Act providing for the addition of Hawaii to the United States on March 18, 1959, unveiled the new 50 star Flag of the United States.
The flag would fly nationwide for the first time on July 4, 1960. John F. Kennedy, who was elected in November 1960 and took office in January 1961 would be the first POTUS to serve his entire term under the 50 star flag of the United States.
In the words of Poka Laenui...
"Communities lit bon fires...cars blared their horns and people walked the streets with broad grins and greetings, seeing themselves as full-fledged Americans."
Hawaiians had been American citizens since 1900 when the Hawaii Organic Act passed by the Congress granted citizenship to all citizens of the Republic of Hawaii. Statehood was both supported and opposed over the next 59 years.
The first statehood bill was introduced in 1921. The attack on Pearl Harbor and WWII set the movement back but the admission of Alaska as the 49th state in January 1949 influenced Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle to support Hawaii statehood.
*Hawaii is located 2000 miles SW of North America. It is the southernmost state and the only one not located in North America. Hawaii is composed of 8 major islands and is only one of four states other than the original 13 to have been a republic.
"Statehood: A Second Glance," by Poka Laenui, www.hawaii-nation.org
At the time of publication, Mr. Kennedy was the director of the Securities and Exchange Commission. According to blogger Tohu Bohu, Joe Kennedy "was writing specifically why he felt that Big Business should support the incumbent."
"It will take regulation, central planning and the New Deal to prevent mass unemployment...the greatest conceivable danger...to Free Enterprise (and) Democracy."
More than 60% of Americans agreed with Joe Kennedy. On November 3, 1936, FDR was re-elected by an electoral margin of 523-8. The Republican, Alf Landon of Kansas, carried only 2 states, Maine and Vermont. Democrats corrupted the long standing GOP slogan "As goes Maine, so goes the Nation" to "As goes Maine, so goes Vermont."
"I'm For Roosevelt," by Tohu Bohu, October 25, 2012, www.kith.org/
NAT TURNER LEADS SLAVE REVOLT IN VIRGINIA
Southampton County, Virginia (JFK+50) Nat Turner**, along with seven followers, murdered his owner, Joseph Travis, along with his family, as a slave revolt began here in Southampton, 184 years ago today, August 21, 1831.
Turner then set out across the countryside hoping to rally other slaves to his cause. Over the next two days, Nat Turner and 75 followers killed 60 whites before being overwhelmed by the state militia.
Turner was not captured until late October. He was tried, convicted, sentenced to death and hanged on November 11, 1831. The rebellion was the largest slave revolt in US history.
**Nat Turner (1800-1831) was born a slave of Benjamin Turner of Southampton County, Virginia. He learned to read and write and began preaching to fellow slaves. Turner believed God called him to lead his slave revolt in 1831 against white masters. After his death, "The Confessions of Nat Turner" was published by Thomas Ruffin Gray.
Capture of Nat Turner