NORWEGIANS HAVE 'UNBOUNDED ENTHUSIASM' FOR PRESIDENT COOLIDGE'S RECENT ADDRESS
Oslo, Norway (JFK+50) On June 12, 1925, Associated Press reports "unbounded enthusiasm" among Norwegians for President Calvin Coolidge's "recent address...in commemoration of those Norsemen who emigrated to the United States 100 years ago."
The Norwegian Mercantile Shipping Gazette states...
"President Coolidge's words...must...attach Norwegian's closer to the nation of which they are now a part. His recognition of Leif Ericson* as America's discoverer will be noted by historians of all countries.
It will be long before Norway forgets Coolidge."
JFK+50 NOTE
As a history teacher, it was my understanding (which I related to my students) that while the Vikings were the first Europeans to discover America they did not communicate this discovery to the rest of Europe & so did not get credit for their discovery.
I used the example that if you discovered a cure for cancer but kept it secret & then someone else came along later & discovered a cure & announced it to the world, then they would get the credit.
There is archaeological evidence that the Norsemen were in America long before Columbus.
*Leif Erikson (970s-1025?) was a Norse explorer believed to be the 1st European to reach North America (1000 AD) 500 years before Columbus.
LE was son of Erik the Red who established the 1st European settlement in Greenland. LE named the land he reached in NA "Vinland."
SOURCE
"Norway Extols Coolidge Speech," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., June 12, 1925, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/
