Monday, June 21, 2010
Governor John Gilligan
Governor John Gilligan served as a Naval Officer in World War II. He also served as the mayor of Cincinnati and as the Ohio State Congressman from Ohio and was governor of Ohio from 1970 to 1974. He also taught a class in government at Notre Dame Law School. He is now Professor Emeritus.
In the early 1970s, there was some speculation that Senator Edmund Muskie might select Gilligan as his running mate, should he win the Democratic nomination for President in 1972. (McGovern spoiled that plan.) There was some talk that Gilligan might be a future candidate for President of the United States. If he had, he would have been the ninth Ohioan to win the office.
However, in the summer of 1974, Gilligan managed to commit a gaffe of monumental proportions. Gilligan was already taking some heat for having instituted a state income tax. While attending the Ohio State Fair in 1974, a newsman asked Gilligan if he was going to visit the sheep shearing exhibit. For reasons known best to himself, Governor Gilligan replied, “I shear taxpayers.” (My collaborator just asked me, “Why would he say that?” You can ask Governor Gilligan the same question, but I suspect he got tired of the question thirty-five years ago.) Before the election, all Ohio voters had heard that line in Republican ads several trillion times. He lost the election and never ran for office again.
Indeed, for many years, if you broached the subject of him running again, you would get a laugh. I once heard a classmate at Notre Dame say that the only thing he knew about Gilligan was that he was governor during the Kent State massacre. The kid was wrong: it was Rhodes. My own strongest memory of Governor (by then Professor) Gilligan was taking his course in American Government in 1987.
My strongest memory of that class is that the fellow sitting next to me shaking my shoulder on more than one occasion. Not only was I sleeping in the class, but my snoring was distracting everyone. I’m happy Governor Gilligan never said anything about that to me.
In the early 1970s, there was some speculation that Senator Edmund Muskie might select Gilligan as his running mate, should he win the Democratic nomination for President in 1972. (McGovern spoiled that plan.) There was some talk that Gilligan might be a future candidate for President of the United States. If he had, he would have been the ninth Ohioan to win the office.
However, in the summer of 1974, Gilligan managed to commit a gaffe of monumental proportions. Gilligan was already taking some heat for having instituted a state income tax. While attending the Ohio State Fair in 1974, a newsman asked Gilligan if he was going to visit the sheep shearing exhibit. For reasons known best to himself, Governor Gilligan replied, “I shear taxpayers.” (My collaborator just asked me, “Why would he say that?” You can ask Governor Gilligan the same question, but I suspect he got tired of the question thirty-five years ago.) Before the election, all Ohio voters had heard that line in Republican ads several trillion times. He lost the election and never ran for office again.
Indeed, for many years, if you broached the subject of him running again, you would get a laugh. I once heard a classmate at Notre Dame say that the only thing he knew about Gilligan was that he was governor during the Kent State massacre. The kid was wrong: it was Rhodes. My own strongest memory of Governor (by then Professor) Gilligan was taking his course in American Government in 1987.
My strongest memory of that class is that the fellow sitting next to me shaking my shoulder on more than one occasion. Not only was I sleeping in the class, but my snoring was distracting everyone. I’m happy Governor Gilligan never said anything about that to me.
Arizona Senate Bill SB1070
In recent weeks, the Arizona Senate Bill about illegal immigration has been in the news. Has the Attorney General of the United States, Eric Holder, read it? Has former Arizona governor and current U.S. Homeland Security chief Janet Napolitano read it? Has the mayor of Los Angeles read it? Not at last report? Has my collaborator read it? No. Have I read it? As a matter of fact, I have. Every single word on every single page. How, you may ask, am I so well-informed? (Aside from my brilliance and intellectual nature.) I got a copy from my good friend in San Diego, a retired Marine First Sergeant.
As I’ve said before, underestimate the quality of our people in the Armed Services at your peril.
http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/49leg/2r/bills/sb1070s.pdf
As I’ve said before, underestimate the quality of our people in the Armed Services at your peril.
http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/49leg/2r/bills/sb1070s.pdf
Battlefield Philanthropist
Sixty-six years ago, on June 12, 1944, Private Ainsworth went ashore in Normandy with the Battalion of the East Lancashire Regiment. He was one of two members of his company who didn’t get killed. A German artillery shell landed nearby and he was injured seriously enough to be discharged. I have never met Mr. Ainsworth, but I’ve seen a picture of him. I counted two arms, two legs and two eyes. It sounds to me like the Krauts did not hit anything TOO important. Apparently, Private Ainsworth got what Americans call a Million Dollar Wound. He fathered three children and had a career teaching school. His third child, Philip, managed to get a degree from Hereford College and married an American gal who was studying at Oxford in 1977 as part of The Ohio State University’s summer program. I was Phil’s best man when he got married March 18, 1978, thirty-two years ago. Way to go, Phil and Diane.
I’ve heard a few stories about what Private Ainsworth went through in those days in Normandy. I understand that he was an athletic bloke whose specialty was sneaking up behind German soldiers, grabbing them by the helmet and taking them prisoner. This, no doubt, made him very popular with his battalion’s intelligence officer, since he brought in good sources of interrogation.
Forgive my slightly warped sense of humor, but it seems to me that Private Ainsworth was a real battlefield philanthropist. Imagine, if you will, what it must have been like in those days. People who have seen the film Saving Private Ryan might have some tiny inkling of the fighting that went on in Normandy. So if you were a German soldier, what present would you rather receive? A: all the tea in China B: All the gold in Fort Knox or C: an all-expenses paid vacation to Canada for the next year, where you would receive three hots and a cot with credit toward your pension? If any of the men Private Ainsworth took prisoner cursed their luck, there are several thousand men buried in Normandy who would love to trade places with them.
It occurred to me one Christmas that some of those German soldiers are still alive, telling stories to their great-grandchildren, who would never have been born but for Private Ainsworth’s courage. (And inadvertent battlefield philanthropy.) I doubt if any of those ungrateful Kraut bastards ever sent Ainsworth a Christmas card. Well, nevermind. If they won’t, I’m writing him a tribute right now. Congratulations, Mr. Ainsworth, on surviving Normandy and being around to celebrate the sixty-sixth anniversary. Best wishes from America.
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I’ve heard a few stories about what Private Ainsworth went through in those days in Normandy. I understand that he was an athletic bloke whose specialty was sneaking up behind German soldiers, grabbing them by the helmet and taking them prisoner. This, no doubt, made him very popular with his battalion’s intelligence officer, since he brought in good sources of interrogation.
Forgive my slightly warped sense of humor, but it seems to me that Private Ainsworth was a real battlefield philanthropist. Imagine, if you will, what it must have been like in those days. People who have seen the film Saving Private Ryan might have some tiny inkling of the fighting that went on in Normandy. So if you were a German soldier, what present would you rather receive? A: all the tea in China B: All the gold in Fort Knox or C: an all-expenses paid vacation to Canada for the next year, where you would receive three hots and a cot with credit toward your pension? If any of the men Private Ainsworth took prisoner cursed their luck, there are several thousand men buried in Normandy who would love to trade places with them.
It occurred to me one Christmas that some of those German soldiers are still alive, telling stories to their great-grandchildren, who would never have been born but for Private Ainsworth’s courage. (And inadvertent battlefield philanthropy.) I doubt if any of those ungrateful Kraut bastards ever sent Ainsworth a Christmas card. Well, nevermind. If they won’t, I’m writing him a tribute right now. Congratulations, Mr. Ainsworth, on surviving Normandy and being around to celebrate the sixty-sixth anniversary. Best wishes from America.
_Division_Insignia.png)
Mosque in Manhattan?
No freaking way. In recent days, some governments in Muslim countries have announced their intent to build a mosque and Islamic information center near the site of what was once the World Trade Center. While I’m completely dedicated to the principle of religious freedom in America, I am adamantly opposed to the construction of a mosque in Lower Manhattan. For the benefit of people who haven’t spent a year learning Arabic, and serving as an Arabic linguist in the Naval Security Group. (I also spent over a year in the Persian Gulf.) I’d like to point out that there is a Muslim tradition that mosques are to be constructed on land conquered from the infidel. Centuries ago, my Scottish ancestors no doubt celebrated acquiring conquered land by burning a cross on it. That was a custom amongst people who had never heard of black people. If, however, someone tried to burn a cross today in the middle of Harlem, I seriously doubt that would lead to a peaceful resolution.
Similarly, I figure that Japanese followers of Shinto have just as much right to build a temple as Christians do to build a church. However, if Shintoists tried to erect a shrine over the wreckage of the USS Arizona, I would have a major problem. In response to my collaborator’s point that there are several mosques in Manhattan already, I don’t care. I don’t want any new ones build near the site of 9/11. I would be in favor of opening Piggly Wigglys on either side of them.
The allowing of the building of a mosque near the World Trade Center site sends exactly the wrong message.
Similarly, I figure that Japanese followers of Shinto have just as much right to build a temple as Christians do to build a church. However, if Shintoists tried to erect a shrine over the wreckage of the USS Arizona, I would have a major problem. In response to my collaborator’s point that there are several mosques in Manhattan already, I don’t care. I don’t want any new ones build near the site of 9/11. I would be in favor of opening Piggly Wigglys on either side of them.
The allowing of the building of a mosque near the World Trade Center site sends exactly the wrong message.
Names
Years ago, while teaching onboard a US Navy ship, I met aRoyal Navy officer to whom I commented after reading his name tag, “There are an awful lot of people looking for you, sir.”
He replied, “Yes, I hear that quite a bit.”
He was Lieutenant Commander Truelove.
Last year, I met a foster mother who I told she had the perfect name for a child who just about everyone would love. Her moniker? “Chocolate Jones.” Very few people don’t like chocolate.
Earlier today, I think I reached coincidences of Guinness proportions. Some history buffs might recall that one of the founders of Time Magazine was Henry Luce. His widow was the playwright Claire Booth Luce. Earlier today, I became assigned counsel to Miss Bobby Luce. I’m happy to report that Miss Luce does have a sense of humor about the fact that an awful lot of guys are on the lookout for a loose woman.
I was also stunned at the coincidence (especially after my birthday message to Her Majesty) that for the first time in my legal career, I am representing a royal: Miss Barbara Royal. I learned that the children involved in his case are named Jerhon Bird, Tiana Bird and Auhryia and Denzel Ferguson. (To my English readers, I ask: what are the odds that I would get a case involving not only a royal, but not one but TWO Fergies?) What I’ve related is all in the public record. If I don’t keep a sense of humor, I would surely cry.
He replied, “Yes, I hear that quite a bit.”
He was Lieutenant Commander Truelove.
Last year, I met a foster mother who I told she had the perfect name for a child who just about everyone would love. Her moniker? “Chocolate Jones.” Very few people don’t like chocolate.
Earlier today, I think I reached coincidences of Guinness proportions. Some history buffs might recall that one of the founders of Time Magazine was Henry Luce. His widow was the playwright Claire Booth Luce. Earlier today, I became assigned counsel to Miss Bobby Luce. I’m happy to report that Miss Luce does have a sense of humor about the fact that an awful lot of guys are on the lookout for a loose woman.
I was also stunned at the coincidence (especially after my birthday message to Her Majesty) that for the first time in my legal career, I am representing a royal: Miss Barbara Royal. I learned that the children involved in his case are named Jerhon Bird, Tiana Bird and Auhryia and Denzel Ferguson. (To my English readers, I ask: what are the odds that I would get a case involving not only a royal, but not one but TWO Fergies?) What I’ve related is all in the public record. If I don’t keep a sense of humor, I would surely cry.
Doug Dougherty’s Dutiful Defense
Doug Dougherty is one of the finest lawyers and people I’ve ever known. He and I go way back to Miss Rickner’s morning Kindergarten at Barrington Road Elementary School in September of 1960, back when Dwight D. Eisenhower was President.
Doug’s practice is primarily in domestic relations law. He has made a career of keeping his head while all about him are losing theirs. I believe that he is the epitome of the reasonable men and I would highly recommend him to anyone who needs divorce counsel. For anyone interested, you can go to YouTube and search for him to witness him arguing and winning a case before the Ohio Supreme Court. Way to go, Doug!
Several years ago, he was assigned to represent a man accused of rape. His client professed his innocence; Doug told me he wasn’t sure about his client’s claim, but as a professional, he did a bang-up job. (As Doug has always done.) Ultimately, his client was acquitted. Five years later, he got a call from his former client, who said, “Mr. Dougherty, you did such a great job of representing me; I’ve got another trumped-up rape charge against me, and I’d like you to represent me again.” Doug replied, “I’m not interested.”
In closing, have I mentioned that I admire Doug both as a lawyer and as a human being?
Here is a link to a video of Doug arguing a case before the Ohio Supreme Court for those who are curious to see a great lawyer in action:
Doug’s practice is primarily in domestic relations law. He has made a career of keeping his head while all about him are losing theirs. I believe that he is the epitome of the reasonable men and I would highly recommend him to anyone who needs divorce counsel. For anyone interested, you can go to YouTube and search for him to witness him arguing and winning a case before the Ohio Supreme Court. Way to go, Doug!
Several years ago, he was assigned to represent a man accused of rape. His client professed his innocence; Doug told me he wasn’t sure about his client’s claim, but as a professional, he did a bang-up job. (As Doug has always done.) Ultimately, his client was acquitted. Five years later, he got a call from his former client, who said, “Mr. Dougherty, you did such a great job of representing me; I’ve got another trumped-up rape charge against me, and I’d like you to represent me again.” Doug replied, “I’m not interested.”
In closing, have I mentioned that I admire Doug both as a lawyer and as a human being?
Here is a link to a video of Doug arguing a case before the Ohio Supreme Court for those who are curious to see a great lawyer in action:
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