Events That Occurred In American & Pop Culture History November 2 – 4

November 2:

On November 2, 1920 the first ever commercial radio broadcast occurred. Radio Station KDKA located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania broadcast the results of the 1920 presidential election – Warren G. Harding won to become the 29^th President of the United States. Radio took off as a popular media/communications form and by 1922 there were approximately 400 licensed radio stations broadcasting across the United States.

Here’s a link to a neat history of the evolution of radio technology that includes more information on that first commercial radio broadcast in 1920:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aso/databank/entries/dt20ra.html

Actor Burt Lancaster was born in New York City on November 2, 1913. Lancaster was a popular classic Hollywood actor. The “classic” Hollywood era can roughly be seen as running from the 1930s – 1950s.

Lancaster appeared in many dramatic and adventure roles the most famous of which was the role of Sergeant Milt Warden in the dramatic, romantic film “From Here To Eternity” which chronicled the lives of a group of U.S. Navy men. Other Lancaster films worth checking out include:  “Gunfight At The O.K. Corral,” “Elmer Gantry,” “Birdman of Alcatraz,” “The Flame and the Arrow” and “Field of Dreams.”

Here’s a link to a YouTube accessed TCM profile of Burt Lancaster that gives you a good idea of what his film roles where link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vgm47U_TVwk

And here’s a link to a Biography Channel bio of Burt Lancaster:

http://www.thebiographychannel.co.uk/biographies/burt-lancaster.html

President James Polk was born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina on November 2, 1795. Polk was a lawyer, U.S. congressmen and Governor of Tennessee before being elected the 11^th President of the United States. Polk was president from 1845-1849 and he managed to negotiate a deal with the United Kingdom that allowed the territory  of Oregon to become a state and he oversaw America’s involvement in the 1848 Mexican-American War that resulted in Texas becoming a part of the United States.

James Polk left the presidency in 1849 and died later that same year.

Here’s a link to a Biography bio of President James Polk:

http://www.biography.com/people/james-polk-9443616?page=1

November 3:

The Public Television network of TV stations, that broadcast educational and enriching program to Americans, made its television debut on November 3, 1969. Today there are more than 350 PBS stations in the United States and the best way to see what PBS is all about is either to check out your local PBS station (WSKG Channel 46 – on channel 8 in Corning) or to check out the PBS website where you can access full episodes of a great many PBS shows that range from dramas, to programs that focus on history, science, general educational topics, comedies and more!

And if you have a smartphone or tablet you can download the PBS app from your App Store and watch PBS content on the go.

Here’s a link to the PBS website:

http://www.pbs.org/

November 4:

Walter Cronkite who was arguably the most well-know, respected and critically acclaimed  news anchor of the 20^th century was born on November 4, 1916 in St. Joseph, Missouri. Cronkite started out as a print journalist, became a video news reporter during World War II. Cronkite become the anchor of the popular CBS Evening News program in 1961 a position he held from until 1981. Cronkite was known for his determination to get the facts right, for his accessible manner and for his jovial nightly closing statement “And that’s the way it is” for the date of the broadcast – for example, if Cronkite was closing the news broadcast on February 3, 1975 he would have said “And that’s the way it is for February 3, 1975. Have a good evening.”

Here’s a link to a Biography bio of Walter Cronkite:

http://www.biography.com/people/walter-cronkite-9262057

Here’s a link to a YouTube accessed CBS clip of Walter Cronkite reporting the death of President Kennedy on November 22, 1963:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2K8Q3cqGs7I

And a link to a news overview of Cronkite’s career that was broadcasts when he died in 2009:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hP-Xo4obEho

Have a great day!

Linda R.

References

Burt Lancaster. Biography Channel. Online. Accessed November 1, 2013, http://www.thebiographychannel.co.uk/biographies/burt-lancaster.html

Chase’s Calendar of Events 2013. New York. McGraw-Hill. 2013.

James Polk. Biography. Online. Accessed November 1, 2013, http://www.biography.com/people/james-polk-9443616

A Science Odyssey: People And Discovers: KDKA begins to broadcast 1920: WGBH/PBS. Online. Accessed November 1, 2013, http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aso/databank/entries/dt20ra.html

Walter Cronkite. Biography. Online. Accessed November 1, 2013, http://www.biography.com/people/walter-cronkite-9262057

On This Day In American History – President Jimmy Carter Was Born

Jimmy Carter, the thirty ninth president of the United States, was born James Earl Carter Jr. on October 1, 1924 in the rural Georgia farming community of Plains, the son of businessman James Earl Carter Sr. and his wife Lillian.

Carter grew up in the town of Archery, Georgia, graduated from the public school of Plains and went on to attend college at the George Institution of Technology and the United States Naval Academy.

Carter served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, married Rosalynn Smith in 1946 and took over his father’s farm in Plains, Georgia upon the elder Carter’s death in 1952. During the fifties he became a leader of his local community and in 1962 he was elected to the Georgia State Senate. Carter went on to be elected governor of the state of Georgia and was elected President of the United States in 1976.

Three of the most notable things that occurred during President Carter’s term of office (1976-1981) were the Camp David Accords, a peace treaty President Carter arraigned between Israel and Egypt; The SALT II (Strategic Arms Limitations) treaty the United States reached with the Soviet Union in 1979 and the Iranian Hostage Crisis of 1979 that saw 60 Americans being held hostage by Iranian forces for 444 days. Ironically, the American hostages were released just minutes after President Ronald Reagan was sworn in as the 40^th President of the United States in January 1981.

After President Carter left office in 1981 he and his wife Rosalynn established the humanitarian Carter Center a non-profit organization whose goal is to resolve conflicts in the world and promote human rights and democracy. As the leader of the Carter Center President Carter has assisted in mediating conflicts in countries across the globe. President and Mrs. Carter also support and volunteer their time to the non-profit organization “Habitat For Humanity” which builds quality homes for lower income individuals who could not otherwise purchase a new home.

Former President Jimmy Carter celebrates his 89^th birthday today!

Here’s a link to a Carter Center biography of President Carter:

http://www.cartercenter.org/news/experts/jimmy_carter.html

A link to an official White House biography of President Carter:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/jimmycarter

And a link to a PBS American Experience page that offers more information on the Iranian Hostage Crisis:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/general-article/carter-hostage-crisis/

Have a great day!

Linda R.

References

39. Jimmy Carter 1977-1981. White House. Online. Accessed October 1, 2013, http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/jimmycarter

Chase’s Calendar of Events 2013. New York. McGraw-Hill. 2013.

The Iranian Hostage Crisis. PBS: American Experience. Online. Accessed October 1, 2013,

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/general-article/carter-hostage-crisis/

Jimmy Carter – 39th President of the United States and Founder of The Carter Center. The Carter Center. Online. Accessed October 1, 2013, http://www.cartercenter.org/news/experts/jimmy_carter.html

On This Day In American Popular Culture History: September 23: In 1962 The Classic American Cartoon “The Jetsons” Premiered On TV

The opening jingle of the Jetsons cartoon series sums up what the series was about; the opening scnese show the family flying through the air in a spaceship style car and the corresponding jingle goes: “Meet George Jetson.” “His boy Elroy.” “Daughter Judy.” “Jane, his wife;” and indeed the cartoon chronicled the lives of the Jetson family living in what was then a science fiction future where buildings were built in a day and video phone calls were made on a regular basis. And of course this was years and years before Skype and the Internet came into existence!

The series, which debut in Prime Time (in the evening), followed the Jetsons during their daily lives. And the concerns of the collective members of the Jetson family weren’t really that much different from the daily concerns of average Americans of the era – or of today; the parents George and Jane were just basically trying to get through the Monday to Friday work week and take care of their kids and their household and the kids just wanted to get through the school week. The difference was, of course, that the Jetsons were living in the future so the family had a neat series of futuristic things to assist them in living their daily lives like “Rosie, the robot” who was the Jetson’s maid, flying cars and video phone call displays.

Here’s a link to a YouTube clip of the opening scenes of the Jetsons which gives you an idea of what the series was like:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyinD6ZDqeg

And a link to a TV webpage which offers additional information on all seasons of the show which ran on TV from 1962 to 1987:

http://www.tv.com/shows/the-jetsons/

And if you’d like to check out the series the library owns the first season on DVD so you can check it out at the library.

Have a great day!

Linda R.

References

The Jetsons. TV. Online. Accessed September 23, 2013, http://www.tv.com/shows/the-jetsons/

 

On This Day In American History – Baron von Steuben, Later U.S. General Steuben, Was Born In Prussia

Frederick William Augustus Baron von Steuben was born on September 17, 1730 in what is today Magdeburg, Germany and was then part of the Prussian Empire.

Baron von Steuben joined the Prussian Army as a youth, fought in the Seven Years War, was appointed to the staff of Frederick the Great and served as a chamberlain to the Prussian court.

In 1777 Steuben met Benjamin Franklin in Paris. Franklin was part of the U.S. diplomatic group in France working to obtain French support for the Americans during the American Revolution. Steuben told Franklin he was offering his military expertise to the Americans and refused to accept any payment to do so. Franklin notified the Continental Congress and they accepted Steuben’s offer.

In the winter of 1777 Steuben arrived at the winter camp of the U.S. Army in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. During that winter Steuben, who had the full support of General George Washington and was made an American general, trained the American soldiers who were not professional soldiers but instead farmers, merchants and other members of the volunteer militias of the 13 states. And by the spring of 1778 Steuben’s training paid off; the U.S. Army Washington led onto the battlefield in the spring of 1778 was very different one from the army he had led in the fall. The soldiers he led were now fully trained soldiers of professional caliber and nearly beat the British Army at their next engagement at the Battle of Monmouth in Freehold, New Jersey in June of 1778. After that winter in Valley Forge, Washington sent General Steuben to assist General Nathanael Greene in his southern campaign against the British. Subsequently, Steuben served with the American Army until the end of the American Revolution.

After the American Revolution was won Steuben became a naturalized American citizen and was given tracks of land in several states, including New York and New Jersey, as payment for his invaluable services to the United States during the American Revolution.

Steuben died in 1794 on his farm near Rome, New York.

And Steuben County, New York is named in honor of General Frederick William (Baron von) Steuben.

Here’s a link to a brief Mount Vernon biography of Steuben:

http://www.mountvernon.org/educational-resources/encyclopedia/baron-von-steuben

And a link to the official Steuben County website that offers a brief history of the county, including noting the fact that it is indeed named after General Steuben:

http://www.steubencony.org/pages.asp?PID=318

Have a great day!

Linda R.

References

Chase’s Calendar of Events 2013. New York. McGraw-Hill. 2013.

Baron von Steuben. George Washington’s Mount Vernon. Online. Accessed September 17, 2013, http://www.mountvernon.org/educational-resources/encyclopedia/baron-von-steuben

Local Legacies: Battle of Monmouth: The Longest Battle of the American Revolution. The Library of Congress. Online. Accessed September 17, 2013,http://lcweb2.loc.gov/diglib/legacies/NJ/200003296.html

Museum: Frederick William Augustus Baron von Steuben. National Parks Service. Online. Accessed September 17, 2013, http://www.nps.gov/museum/exhibits/revwar/image_gal/indeimg/steuben.html

Lockhart, Paul. The Drillmaster of Valley Forge: The Baron De Steuben and the Making of the American Army. New York. HarperCollins. 2008.

Sherer, Richard G. A Brief History. Steuben County. Online. Accessed September 17, 2013. http://www.steubencony.org/pages.asp?PID=318

On This Day In American History – First Electric Lights Turned On In The U.S., The Great Apache Chief Geronimo Surrenders To U.S. Troops & The Little Rock Nine First Try To Attend Little Rock, Arkansas’ Little Rock High School

First Electric Lights Turned On In The U.S.: On September 4, 1882 the first electric lights were turned on in the United States. The lights were installed in offices on Wall, Pearl, Nassau and Spruce Streets in Manhattan, New York. The great American inventor Thomas Edison, who in 1879 perfected the incandescent light bulb, installed the lighting system via underground cables and was credited with the successful installation of the electric lights in that section of Manhattan. This event really was a major event in the modern era as it was the first step to the rapid adoption of electric lights in towns and cities across the United States. Electric lights of course changed the way people live and work; because the lights allowed people to do much more at night both for work and for play than was ever possible before – and subsequently, the successful installation of electricity and electric lighting systems in homes and business across the United States was a founding pillar of our modern world where we can access information and services online 24/7/365 – as long as we have electricity!

Here’s a link to a PBS page that offers an overview of Thomas Edison’s quest to perfect the electric light bulb and bring electric lights into American homes and businesses:  

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/edison/filmmore/description.html

The Great Apache Chief Geronimo Surrenders To U.S. Troops:  On September 4, 1886 the great Apache Chief Geronimo surrendered to U.S. Army General Nelson Miles and the troops under his command. This ended a thirty year fight between the Apaches and the U.S. Government. The Apaches protested their being pushed off their traditional home land by white settlers, with the approval of the U.S. Government, and did their best to fight back. However, after a 30 year struggle the Apaches were exhausted and greatly outnumbered by the white settlers and U.S. Army Troops. Geronimo and his men surrendered to U.S. troops near the Arizona – New Mexico border and were then sent to Florida, later to Alabama and finally resettled in the Oklahoma Territory.  After being re-settled in Oklahoma, Geronimo converted to Christianity and became a successful farmer. He even published a biography titled “Geronimo’s Story of His Life.” Geronimo died in 1909.

The library owns a copy of Geronimo’s autobiography if you’d like to read it! Request it via StarCat by clicking the following link:

http://starcat.stls.org/client/default

And here’s a link to a History Channel page that offers more information on Geronimo and his 1886 surrender to U.S. Troops:

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history

The Little Rock Nine First Try To Attend Little Rock, Arkansas’ Little Rock High School: On September 4, 1957 nine African American students, in the then racially segregated southern state of Arkansas, attempted to attend the Little Rock High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. The Governor of Arkansas, Orval Faubus, ordered National Guard Troops to Little Rock to prevent the students from attending the school; this of course delayed the students in interning the school. In response to Governor Faubus’s actions President Dwight D. Eisenhower ordered 101^st Army Airborne Troops to the school to enforce the law by desegregating the school as per the 1954 Brown vs. Board of Education Supreme Court ruling. The Brown v. Board of Education court case ended with the Supreme Court ruling that the so called “separate but equal” policy which was predominant in the southern states at that time and which required African American students to attend their own schools and not be allowed to attend the much better financed and resourced public schools with white students was unconstitutional. The nine students became known to history as “The Little Rock Nine” and they did attend Little Rock High School despite having to overcoming a great deal of prejudice and public taunting to do so.

Here’s a link to a Time Magazine article on the Little Rock Nine and the desegregation of Little Rock High School in 1957:

http://life.time.com/history/little-rock-nine-1957-photos/#1

Have a great day!

Linda R.

References

Chase’s Calendar of Events 2013. New York. McGraw-Hill. 2013.

The Film & More: Edison’s Miracle of Light. PBS. Online. Accessed September 4, 2013, http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/edison/filmmore/description.html

Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site. National Parks Service. Online. Accessed September 4, 2013,  http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/civilrights/ak1.htm

This Day in History. Geronimo Surrenders. History. Online. Accessed September 4, 2013, http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history

Wallace, Vaughn. Brave Hearts: Remembering the Little Rock Nine, 1957. Time. Online. Accessed September 4, 2013, http://life.time.com/history/little-rock-nine-1957-photos/#1

On This Day In American History – The Treaty of Paris Is Signed & The American Revolution Ends

On September 3, 1783 diplomats from the United States and Great Britain signed “The Treaty of Paris” which formally ended the American Revolution. By agreeing to the terms of the treaty Great Britain acknowledged that its former 13 colonies were an independent nation. Additionally the terms of the treaty nearly doubled the size of the United States by setting new boundaries that ran from Florida north to the Great Lakes and from the Atlantic coast west to the Mississippi River.

Here’s a link to a History Channel article on the Treaty of Paris which offers more information on the signing of the treaty:

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history

And a link to a History Channel webpage with video clips that offers more information on the American Revolution as a whole:

http://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution

And if you really want more in-depth information on the American Revolution here’s a link to a Library of Congress page on the American Revolution titled American Revolution 1763-1783. This page offers information on the events that lead to the American Revolution starting at the end of the Seven Years War (also known as the French & Indian War) in 1763 and moving forward to the end of the American Revolution in 1783. The American Revolution itself unfolded from 1776 to 1783 and the LOC page offers links to many articles about the Revolutionary War – here’s the link:

http://www.loc.gov/topics/content.php?subcat=5

And on a final FYI note, the History Channel made a really great video series on the American Revolution which is titled “The History Channel Presents The Revolution.” The library owns the set so if you’re interested in American history you can check it out the next time you’re in the library — or request it via StarCat.

Have a great day!

Linda R.

References

American Revolution. History. Online. Accessed September 3, 2013, http://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution

American Revolution, 1763-1783. Library of Congress. Online. Accessed September 3, 2013, http://www.loc.gov/topics/content.php?subcat=5

This Day In History: September 3: The Treaty of Paris signed. History. Online. Accessed September 3, 2013, http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history

On This Day In American History – Juneteenth Is Celebrated

The term “Juneteenth” historically refers to the day, June 19, 1865, when Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas and proclaimed that the slaves of Texas were free. The actual Federal proclamation which is known as the “Emancipation Proclamation” was issued by President Lincoln on January 1, 1863 and declared that all the slaves in the United States were free but it took more than two years for the Union Army to actually get the word out to the slaves in Texas. This date has since been celebrated annually in many places throughout the United States to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States.

So if you find a Juneteenth celebration going on near where you live join in!

We can all celebrate the anniversary of the end of slavery in the United States, the past and present contributions African Americans have and are making to American society and the fact that the end of slavery in the US did indeed take us several steps closer to living up the founding ideology of the United States as a country of freedom where everyone is seen as being created and treated equally under the law.*

Here’s a link to a cool Juneteenth website that offers an in-depth history of the celebratory day and links to other resources on the subject:

http://www.juneteenth.com/history.htm

And a link to the National Archives Emancipation Proclamation webpage:

http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/featured_documents/emancipation_proclamation/

Have a great day!

Linda R.

* The line is actual line taken from the US “Declaration of Independence” from 1776 and states “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” I just replaced the “all men” with the more appropriate 21st century term “everyone” to be all inclusive as it should be. Not that I am an idealist or anything!

References

Chase’s Calendar of Events 2013. New York. McGraw-Hill. 2013.

The Declaration of Independence. National Archives. Online. Accessed June 19, 2013. http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transcript.html

Featured Documents: The Emancipation Proclamation. National Archives. Online. Accessed June 19, 2013. http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/featured_documents/emancipation_proclamation/

Juneteenth.com World Wide Celebration! Juneteenth.com. Online. Accessed June 19, 2013. http://www.juneteenth.com/history.htm

On This Day In American History & Popular Culture – David Rockefeller & Former President George H. W. Bush Celebrate Birthdays

Today is David Rockefeller’s Birthday: David Rockefeller, the youngest son and sole remaining child of John D. Rockefeller Jr. and his wife Abby Aldrich Rockefeller, celebrates his 98^th birthday today.

David Rockefeller, who is also one of the grandchildren of the famous industrialist John D. Rockefeller Sr. and brother of former New York Governor and U.S. Vice President Nelson Rockefeller, was born June 12, 1915 in New York City, New York. He is a well-known financier and was at one time CEO of Chase Manhattan Bank. David Rockefeller is also well-known as a member of the Rockefeller Family and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund a philanthropic group he co-established with his brothers John D. III, Nelson, Laurance and Winthrop in 1940 to distribute portions of the vast Rockefeller fortune compiled by the brother’s grandfather oil industrialist and at one time the richest man in the world John D. Rockefeller Sr.. David Rockefeller has been involved in numerous philanthropic enterprises over the years including serving on the board of directors of the Museum of Modern Art in New York, as a trustee of the University of Chicago and as a trustee of the International House in New York City.

Here’s a link to a biography of David Rockefeller found on the Rockefeller Archives website:

http://www.rockarch.org/bio/david.php

And a lighter biography of David Rockefeller from the Biography site:

http://www.biography.com/people/david-rockefeller-9461325

Today is George H. W. Bush’s Birthday Too: Former President George H. W. Bush Celebrates His 89^th Birthday Today. George Herbert Walker Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts on June 12, 1924. Bush is the son of the late Senator Prescott Bush and grew up in a family that valued public service. Bush served as a Navy pilot during World War II and after the War he obtained a degree from Yale University and moved to Texas and became involved in the oil industry. In 1966 Bush was elected to congress and in 1981 he became Ronald Reagan’s Vice President a position he held for the next eight years. In 1988 Bush ran for president himself and was elected. He served one term as president from 1989 to 1993. After his term as president Bush continued to keep a hand in public service. He co-established the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund for victims of Hurricane Katrina with former President Bill Clinton in 2005 to aid victims of the Hurricane Katrina disaster and made numerous speeches on behalf of his son George W. Bush while the younger Bush was running for the presidency and re-election in 2000 and 2004 respectively. Today former President Bush and his wife Barbara spend part of the year at their home in Houston, Texas and the other part of the year at their vacation home in Kennebunkport, Maine.

Here’s a link to a biography of George H.W. Bush found on the official White House website:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/georgehwbush

And a second link to a second Biography Channel website bio of G.H.W. Bush:

http://www.biography.com/people/george-hw-bush-38066?page=1

Have a great day!

Linda R.

References

David Rockefeller. Bio. Online. Accessed June 12, 1915.                            http://www.biography.com/people/david-rockefeller-9461325

George H. W. Bush. Bio. Online. Accessed June 12, 2013.                          http://www.biography.com/people/george-hw-bush-38066?page=1

John D. Rockefeller Jr. American Experience: The Rockefellers. PBS. Online. Accessed June 12, 2013. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/biography/rockefellers-johnjr/

Presidents. 41. George H. W. Bush 1989-1993. The White House. Online. Accessed June 12, 2013. http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/georgehwbush

 

 

 

On This Day In American History – Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright Turns 76

Madeleine Albright was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia on May 15, 1937 and today celebrates her 76 birthday. Madeleine was a toddler when the Nazis invaded Czechoslovakia and her family fled the country immigrating to the United States where she grew up.  Madeleine learned a great deal about diplomacy from her father Josef Korbel who was an esteemed professor who taught at the University of Denver (Colorado). She grew up in Colorado and earned a scholarship to attend Wellesley College (Massachusetts) and later obtained a graduate degree and Ph.D.  

Albright entered the American political universe in 1972 when she was hired as Democratic Senator Edmund Muskie’s legislative assistance. In 1978 she was hired to work for President Jimmy Carter’s National Security Council. In the early eighties when Republican President Ronald Reagan became president she moved into the private sector working as a professor at Georgetown University.

In 1993 as the request of Democratic President Bill Clinton Albright became the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and in 1996 President Clinton nominated her to the post of Secretary of State. Madeleine Albright thus became the first female Secretary of State in United States history. Secretary of State Albright worked on numerous diplomatic tasks, projects and issues during her tenure as Secretary of State including working on international human rights, working to stop the spread of nuclear weapons world-wide and working to bring peace to the Middle East. Albright became known as a tough, determined, resourceful and fair Secretary of State and gained international esteem for her diplomatic work. She left the post of Secretary of State in 2001 when Republican George W. Bush was elected president.

Since leaving politics Albright has written several books including:

Madam Secretary: A Memoir (2003)

The Mighty and the Almighty (2006)

&

Read My Pins: Stories from a Diplomat’s Jewel Box (2009)

In 2011 Madeleine Albright was awarded the Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award given in the U.S.

Here’s a link to a Whitehouse YouTube clip, titled 2011 Medal of Freedom Recipient Madeleine Albright, which features a brief interview with Albright:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwEZp-PhT-8

A link to a Bio biography of Madeleine Albright:

http://www.biography.com/people/madeleine-albright-9179300

A link to a bio of Albright found on the U.S. Department of State site which offers a bit more information on her career than the Bio biography:  

http://secretary.state.gov/www/albright/albright.html

And more links that relate to the offices Albright held during her political career just in case you’d like to know more about them!

Here’s a link to the official White House page on The National Security Council – which tells you a bit about what the National Security Council does:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/nsc

A link to a United Nations page on the current U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice – which tells you a bit about what the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations does:

http://usun.state.gov/leadership/c31461.htm

And a link to the U.S. Department of State “About State” page which offers you links to many pages of information on what the role is of the U.S. Department of State and the Secretary of State in the form of the current Secretary of State John Kerry:

http://www.state.gov/aboutstate/

Have a great day!

Linda R.

References

About State. U. S. Department of State: Diplomacy in Action. Online. Accessed May 15, 2013.

Archives: Biography Madeleine Korbel Albright: U.S. Secretary of State. U.S. Department of State. Online. Accessed May 15, 2013.

Ambassador Susan E. Rice. United States Mission to the United Nations. Online. Accessed May 15, 2013.

Chase’s Calendar of Events 2013. New York. McGraw-Hill. 2013.

Madeleine Albright. Bio. Online. Accessed May 15, 2013.

National Security Council. Whitehouse. Online. Accessed May 15, 2013.