Max Schmeling and FDR

World Heavyweight Boxing Champ Max Schmeling greets Franklin Roosevelt, Friday, May 20, 1932, at Greenkill, NY, during FDR's visit to Schmeling's training camp there. One month and one day later, Schmeling would lose the title to Jack Sharkey in a split decision at Madison Square Garden. First Lady Eleanor is to the right of FDR.

The Heart of Murderers Row

Yankee Stadium, the Bronx, April 14, 1931 - Murderers Row! The heart of the Yankee lineup poses for the camera: Lou Gehrig, Earl Combs, Tony Lazzeri, and, of course, The Great Bambino, Babe Ruth. The Yanks, under skipper Joe McCarthy, finish 94-59, for a second place finish, 13 1/2 games behind Connie Mack's Philadelphia Athletics.

Picture of the Day

Very nice painting of Teddy Kennedy sailing off Hyannisport with the Kennedy Compound in the background.

(Compliments of friend Robert G. Swan).

World War II Hero Audie Murphy

Today, during a very impressive Medal of Honor ceremony in the East Room of the White House, the President made reference to Audie Murphy.

Murphy was the most decorated American soldier during World War II. He received 33 U. S. medals, five French medals, and one Belgium medal. He won every U. S. medal available, five of them more than once. He won the coveted Medal of Honor, the highest service medal.

Murphy went on to become a celebrated movie star for over two decades in the post-World War II era. He appeared in 44 films, including To Hell and Back in 1955. He had a career as a country western music singer and composer for a time as well.

He died in a plane crash, as so many stars seemed to do in the mid-20th century, in 1971 at the age of 47. Audie Murphy, a genuine American hero.....one we seem to hear less and less about as time passes.

Picture of the Day

So clearly representative of how our system works. Here, the civilian leader of the military, Commander-in-Chief and President Franklin D. Roosevelt, confers with WWII European Allied Military Commander Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Picture of the Day

What a great image. Charlie Chaplin and Mahatma Gandhi as they meet in London in 1931.

(Photo from Neal Roberson).

Picture of the Day

Berlin, Tuesday, February 17, 1931. Army mess wagon helps feed poor Berliners during the Great Depression.

(Photo from Neal Robinson).

Picture of the Day

Rainy night on Times Square, NYC, 1931.

(Photo from Neal Robinson).

Pictures of the Day

A couple of nice collectibles. The button is a 2008 Official Harlem Headquarters Obama campaign button (3.5 in.). The magazine features a beautiful February 18, 1957 cover. It is compliments of friend Paul LaDue. (The button is mine). Nice pieces.

Picture of the Day

These are two very intriguing political figures in 2010. To a large extent, the jury is still out on Nikki. She has such tremendous potential and appears to have all the necessary leadership qualities and attributes. I am very excited about following her progress and leadership.

For President Obama, his work is cut out for him in the new congressional climate. I wish him great success as 2012 approaches. He too is a most exciting leader whose political skills will be tested greatly over the coming months. So much in the world depends on his success.

The Mid-Term Elections 2010

Well, another election is behind us. I am not sure what we accomplished. It seems like there is perpetual campaigning and elections these days. The goal each time should be to move us a little closer toward forming that more perfect union. Not sure it happens. The proliferation of 24/7 electronic media, and the gross sums of money poured into the process, makes it easier and easier it for some politicians to fool, deceive, and manipulate the people.

I am certainly not completely "down" on the process. I think President Obama has achieved great success in rescuing an economy on the brink, reestablishing America around the world, ratcheting down Iraq, beginning efforts to reform the financial sector, and beginning critical Health Care Reform. The 2012 campaign will be a big challenge for him and his work, but he is as bright and good a politician and leader as we have had in my lifetime, and there is no competition around for him in my view.

The national election result was pretty much as predicted. The House fail into Republican hands and the Senate stayed Democratic. Harry Reid stayed in power, and most of the Tea Party crazies, except for Rand Paul, lost. This is mostly good for America, in my humble opinion. Paul will be marginalized. He is just a nut, plain and simple.

It was good to see Guilford County Democrats be successful. We have a good and progressive community. For people like NC House Rep. Pricey Harrison and State Senator Don Vaughn to have lost would have been a travesty. It is unfortunate that the NC General Assembly fail into GOP hands. NC is the #1 best state for job creation 9 of past 10 years, according to Site Selection magazine. Forbes magazine last month named us the #3 best state for business climate and careers. Uninformed citizens are just being manipulated by politicians who are using fear tactics on vulnerable people.

I spent a grand time on election night in Columbia, SC in a private victory party with Governor-Elect Nikki Haley. She is a shining, bright spot in the GOP, a real rising star. She is warm, intelligent, nice looking, and a great person and demographic in general, for the GOP.

I guess it is on to 2012 for the political junkies. As my friend Ogi said, "let the fish fry proceed." I will proceed cautiously and with mixed feelings, while being tremendously proud of, and supportive of, Barack Obama........and a son, who is very involved in the process.