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have given Al Capone a few hints. The best he could do was to operate his racket in three districts. I operated on three continents.” ~Maj. Gen. Smedley D. Butler, USMC (Ret.), “War is a Racket,” 1935. Butler was born on this day 145 years ago: Jul. 30, 1881. Image: USMC. 4/4

Brown Brothers in 1902-1912. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for the American sugar interests in 1916. I helped make Honduras right for the American fruit companies in 1903. In China in 1927 I helped see to it that Standard Oil went on its way unmolested. Looking back on it, I might 3/4

American oil interests in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenues in. I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefit of Wall Street. I helped purify Nicaragua for the International Banking House of 2/4

“I spent 33 years and 4 months in active military service and during that period I spent most of my time as a high class muscle man for Big Business, for Wall Street and the bankers. In short, I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism. I helped make Mexico and especially Tampico safe for 1/4

Today is the 162nd anniversary of the Civil War battle of the Crater. Learn more about this fight and what it meant by checking out this great @civilwarmemory.bsky.social piece. You can trust him. He literally wrote the book on the Crater.

President Lyndon B. Johnson signed Social Security Act OTD in 1965, creating Medicare & Medicaid. Signing ceremony held at Truman Presidential Library in recognition of Truman's efforts to enact universal health insurance for all Americans during his own presidency. Image: LBJ Presidential Library.

I thought that was Kruk at first. “I’m not an athlete, lady, I’m a ball player.” In my mind, Dykstra is always in a Mets uniform. Or making really gross appearances on Howard Stern.

Thanks for the recommendation. For the moment, I am waiting on the copy of @davidmaraniss.bsky.social’s Roberto Clemente biography that I just ordered. That one, then this one!

“And we can no longer ignore the fact that we can’t sit down and wait for things to change. Because as long as they can keep their feet on our neck, they will always do it. But it’s time for us to stand up and be women and men.” ~Fannie Lou Hamer, 1964. Image: Harvard University.

“I am not so much alarmed at the excessive liberty which reigns…as at the inadequate securities which one finds there against tyranny.” ~Alexis de Tocqueville, "Democracy in America" 1835-40. de Tocqueville was born in Paris on this day in 1805. Image: Théodore Chassériau/public domain.

On this day 68 years ago-Jul. 29, 1958-President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation creating the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Happy birthday, NASA! Image: NASA.

Fourteenth Amendment certified (officially included in the Constitution) OTD in 1868. Guarantees birthright citizenship, due process, equal protection of laws, & more. Also disqualifies from office any who have engaged in insurrection or rebellion. Interesting. Image: @zinnedproject.bsky.social

Yesterday’s post with a quote from Roberto Clemente has turned out to be one of my popular posts ever! Thanks to everyone who liked, reposted, and commented on it. My son plays hockey, not baseball, but here’s a great photo from a game last year. You’ll notice he wears Clemente’s number 21.

160 years ago today-Jul. 28, 1866-Vinnie Ream became both the first female and the youngest artist ever to receive a statue commission from the U.S. government. Her statue of Abraham Lincoln today resides in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda. Images: Library of Congress; public domain via Flickr.

Wow. That’s amazing.