1813-1890
John Charles Fremont
Nicknamed "the Pathfinder," Mr. Fremont made trail-blazing expeditions west of the Rockies. He later served as one of California's first senators and ran, unsuccessfully, as the first Republican candidate for president in 1856.
1837-1876
Wild Bill Hickok
James Butler Hickok helped bring order to frontier towns as a lawman, and earned a reputation as a top-notch gunfighter. He found wide-spread fame after publications like Harper's New Monthly Magazine gave accounts (some fictionalized) of his exploits.
1848-1929
Wyatt Earp
The lawman and gunslinger is best known for taking part in the gunfight at the O.K. Corral in 1881, which pit the Earp brothers against Ike Clanton's gang in Tombstone, Ariz. Three of Clanton's gang were killed; the Earps survived.
1860-1926
Annie Oakley
The expert markswoman could hit coins tossed in the air and cigarettes from a person's lips, and became a star attraction in Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West Show. (Born in Ohio.)
1902
The Virginian
The title character of the book, by Owen Wister, is considered the first fully realized cowboy hero in American literature. His most famous quote:"When you call me that, smile." The story was made into several films, including a 1929 version starring Garry Cooper.
1907-1979
John Wayne
The "Duke" acted in more than 175 movies, including "The Searchers" and "Red River." His legacy lives on: His name will appear on a home decor line of wooden signs and hat racks.
1911-2004
Ronald Reagan
The former president appeared in more than 50 films, including several stints playing a cowboy - an association he cultivated in his political life, helping him win the election for governor of California in 1966 and, in 1980, the presidency.
1930
Clint Eastwood
Mr. Eastwood first rose to fame on the TV series "Rawhide," and then as the star of Sergio Leone's Western trilogy. He briefly brought his tough image to a political role, serving as mayor of Carmel-by-the-Sea, in Calif., in the '80's.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Taiwan
1895 China cedes Taiwan to Japan
1912 Establishment of Republic of China, headed by Sun Yat-sen of the Nationalist Party, or Kuomintang
1925 Chiang Kai-shek succeeds Sun as head of Nationalists
1945 Civil war between Nationalists and Communist Party
1947 Rebellion on Taiwan against Nationalists. Brutal suppression with thousands dead
1949 Chiang's Nationalists lose civil war; 2 million Nationalist soldiers and civil servants flee to Taiwan. Although the Nationalist government claims to be the sole representative for all of China, it only controls Taiwan and a few outlying islands
Mao Zedong announces founding of the People's Republic of China, with capital Beijing
1950s Taiwan develops export-oriented industries; beginning of Taiwan economic take-off
1971 People's Republic of China (Beijing) takes over China's seat in the United Nations. Taiwan, or Republic of China, leaves U.N.
1987 Martial law lifted on Taiwan, slow democratization under way
1992 Talks between Taiwan and China over how to define Taiwan's status end in stalemate. Other meetings in 1993 and 1998 yield no result
First democratic election of the Legislative Yuan, Taiwan's parliament
1996 First democratic election for president. Lee Teng-hui elected
China fires missiles toward Taiwan to warn Taiwan against seeking independence
U.S. deploys carrier Nimitz to emphasize its commitment to defend Taiwan
2000 Lee retires. New election won by Chen Shui-bian
2004 Chen wins presidency again. Term limit means his term expires in 2008
2008 Ma Ying-jeou elected president
1912 Establishment of Republic of China, headed by Sun Yat-sen of the Nationalist Party, or Kuomintang
1925 Chiang Kai-shek succeeds Sun as head of Nationalists
1945 Civil war between Nationalists and Communist Party
1947 Rebellion on Taiwan against Nationalists. Brutal suppression with thousands dead
1949 Chiang's Nationalists lose civil war; 2 million Nationalist soldiers and civil servants flee to Taiwan. Although the Nationalist government claims to be the sole representative for all of China, it only controls Taiwan and a few outlying islands
Mao Zedong announces founding of the People's Republic of China, with capital Beijing
1950s Taiwan develops export-oriented industries; beginning of Taiwan economic take-off
1971 People's Republic of China (Beijing) takes over China's seat in the United Nations. Taiwan, or Republic of China, leaves U.N.
1987 Martial law lifted on Taiwan, slow democratization under way
1992 Talks between Taiwan and China over how to define Taiwan's status end in stalemate. Other meetings in 1993 and 1998 yield no result
First democratic election of the Legislative Yuan, Taiwan's parliament
1996 First democratic election for president. Lee Teng-hui elected
China fires missiles toward Taiwan to warn Taiwan against seeking independence
U.S. deploys carrier Nimitz to emphasize its commitment to defend Taiwan
2000 Lee retires. New election won by Chen Shui-bian
2004 Chen wins presidency again. Term limit means his term expires in 2008
2008 Ma Ying-jeou elected president
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Severo Ochoa (RNA)
Severo Ochoa is best known for being the first to synthesize ribonucleic acid (RNA) outside the cell. He also discovered several important metabolic processes. For his work with RNA he received half the 1959 Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine. (Shared with Arthur Kornberg - US).
born in SPAIN 1905
immigrated to US 1941
became US citizen 1956
2nd Spaniard to become a Nobel winner in science. Ochoa's scientific hero, Santiago Ramon y Cajal, was the first in 1906.
click here
born in SPAIN 1905
immigrated to US 1941
became US citizen 1956
2nd Spaniard to become a Nobel winner in science. Ochoa's scientific hero, Santiago Ramon y Cajal, was the first in 1906.
click here
Monday, August 4, 2008
vice presidents trivia
Name two vice presidents who shot people while they were in office.
Aaron Burr, v p under Thomas Jefferson, shot Alexander Hamilton to death in a duel July 11, 1804. Burr was a candidate for governor of New York at the time. He lost the election.
Dick Cheney, v p under George W. Bush, accidentally wounded friend and hunting companion Harry Whittington on Feb. 11, 2006. Whittington recovered.
Why was John Tyler the vice president with the shortest term in office?
Because he became president upon the death of William Henry Harrison, who served the shortest term as president.
What did Vice Presidents Elbridge Gerry, Thomas Hendricks, Henry Wilson, Garret Hobart, George Clinton, William King and James Sherman have in common?
They all died in office.
How many vice presidents have become president upon the death of a president?
Eight, starting with John Tyler; Millard Fillmore succeeded Zachary Taylor; Andrew Johnson succeeded Abraham Lincoln; Chester Arthur succeeded James Garfield; Teddy Roosevelt succeeded William McKinley; Calvin Coolidge succeeded Warren G. Harding; Harry Truman succeeded Franklin Roosevelt; and Lyndon Johnson succeeded John Kennedy.
How many vice presidents have held the office for less than 90 days?
Four, Tyler for 31 days, Andrew Johnson for 42 days and Truman for 82 days, all became presidents upon the deaths of presidents. William R. King, vice president under Millard Fillmore died of tuberculosis, April 18, 1853, after only 45 days in office.
What two vice presidents were not elected to the office?
Following adoption of the 25th Amendment to the Constitution, which allows for appointment to fill the office if it becomes vacant, Gerald Ford was appointed by Richard Nixon to replace Spiro Agnew, who had resigned. When Ford became president after Nixon resigned, he appointed Nelson Rockefeller to the vice presidency.
Aaron Burr, v p under Thomas Jefferson, shot Alexander Hamilton to death in a duel July 11, 1804. Burr was a candidate for governor of New York at the time. He lost the election.
Dick Cheney, v p under George W. Bush, accidentally wounded friend and hunting companion Harry Whittington on Feb. 11, 2006. Whittington recovered.
Why was John Tyler the vice president with the shortest term in office?
Because he became president upon the death of William Henry Harrison, who served the shortest term as president.
What did Vice Presidents Elbridge Gerry, Thomas Hendricks, Henry Wilson, Garret Hobart, George Clinton, William King and James Sherman have in common?
They all died in office.
How many vice presidents have become president upon the death of a president?
Eight, starting with John Tyler; Millard Fillmore succeeded Zachary Taylor; Andrew Johnson succeeded Abraham Lincoln; Chester Arthur succeeded James Garfield; Teddy Roosevelt succeeded William McKinley; Calvin Coolidge succeeded Warren G. Harding; Harry Truman succeeded Franklin Roosevelt; and Lyndon Johnson succeeded John Kennedy.
How many vice presidents have held the office for less than 90 days?
Four, Tyler for 31 days, Andrew Johnson for 42 days and Truman for 82 days, all became presidents upon the deaths of presidents. William R. King, vice president under Millard Fillmore died of tuberculosis, April 18, 1853, after only 45 days in office.
What two vice presidents were not elected to the office?
Following adoption of the 25th Amendment to the Constitution, which allows for appointment to fill the office if it becomes vacant, Gerald Ford was appointed by Richard Nixon to replace Spiro Agnew, who had resigned. When Ford became president after Nixon resigned, he appointed Nelson Rockefeller to the vice presidency.
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