JOHN FRANCIS FITZGERALD BORN IN BOSTON
On this day JFK's maternal grandfather, John Francis Fitzgerald, was born in Boston, Massachusetts.
His parents were Thomas Fitzgerald of County Limerick & Rose Anna Cox of County Cavan, Ireland
John F. Fitzgerald was educated at the Boston Latin School & Boston College. He served twice as Mayor of Boston & was elected to the US Congress.
"Honey Fitz", as he came to be known, was a natural politician who loved people & loved to sing "Sweet Adeline".
At the age of 85, he advised his grandson, John F. Kennedy, who was running for Congress in 1946. Honey Fitz predicted JFK would one day be President of the United States.
John F. Fitzgerald died on October 2, 1950 & when his grandson became President in 1961, JFK would name the Presidential yacht, "Honey Fitz".
February 11, 1990
NELSON MANDELA RELEASED
Today, after 27 years, the leader of the African National Congress, Nelson Mandela, has been released by order of newly elected South African President F.W. de Klerk.
In 1960, Mandela, who has long fought against control of South Africa by apartheid, the white minority government, organized guerrilla warfare in response to the massacre of peaceful black demonstrators.
In 1964, Mandela was convicted of treason & sentenced to life imprisonment.*
*In 1993, both F.W. de Klerk & Nelson Mandela will be awarded a Nobel Peace Prize & Mandela will be elected President of South Africa in 1994.
February 11, 1945
FDR ON WAY HOME FROM YALTA
After a week of meetings with Prime Minister Churchill of Great Britain & Josef Stalin of the USSR, President Roosevelt is returning home.
The President, who has suffered poor health recently, is accompanied by his daughter, Anna.*
*FDR will die from a cerebral hemorrhage on April 12, 1945
February 11, 1861
PRESIDENT-ELECT LEAVES FOR WASHINGTON
Abraham Lincoln, President-elect of the United States, departed his hometown of Springfield, Illinois bound for the White House.
Mr. Lincoln, speaking from the rear car of his train, said the following:
"I now leave, not knowing when, or whether ever, I may return, with a task before me greater than that which rested upon Washington."*
*President Lincoln was to be assassinated in April 1865. His body would return to Springfield borne by a funeral train.
