"NO LAW VIOLATED IN TAKING OCCASIONAL DRINK"

PRESIDENT TO SET EXAMPLE, ABSTAIN FROM LIQUOR

Rawlins, Wyoming (JFK+50) On June 26, 1923, Evening Star reporter David Lawrence learned that President Warren G. Harding "feels very deeply that as chief executive he should set an example of restraint" and totally abstain from alcohol.

Mr. Lawrence points out in his front page story that Mr. Harding had "violated no law in taking an occasional drink in the White House."*

During his administration, however, "no liquor has ever been served...for official guests."

*Stocks of liquor acquired before the passage of the 18th Amendment and the Volstead Act, as is true at the Executive Mansion, are not illegal.

SOURCE

"Harding Sets National Example By Total Liquor Abstinence," by David Lawrence, The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., June 26, 1923, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

 

 

Alcoholism In Russia

by T. Nemkova, 1990

Wellcome Images

"PROHIBITS MANUFACTURE, SALE & TRANSPORT OF LIQUOR"

18TH AMENDMENT RATIFIED BY NECESSARY MAJORITY OF STATES

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On January 16, 1919, the 18th amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified by the necessary two-thirds majority of the states of the Union.

The 18th amendment, the first to set a 'time delay' before going into effect, prohibited "the manufacture, sale and transport of intoxicating liquors." It would go into effect on January 17, 1920.

According to the National Constitution Center, the passage of the amendment was due to the work of the national temperance movement.  The Center states than negative effects of 'prohibition'* include strengthening of organized crime and disrespect for the law.

Mark H. Moore of the New York Times argues, on the other hand, that positive outcomes of 'prohibition' are a decline in alcohol consumption, lower death rates from cirrhosis in males and fewer arrests for public intoxication and disorderly conduct.

A 1991 study by the National Bureau of Economic Research shows that while alcohol consumption decreased during the early years of prohibition, it "increased sharply" during the "next several years."

*Prohibition (1920-1933) had its roots in the American Temperance Society (1826) which served as the foundation for subsequent groups such as the National Prohibition Party (1869) & the Women's Christian Temperance Union (1873).  The idea was supported by most religious organizations but especially by protestant groups.

SOURCES

"Alcohol Consumption During Prohibition," by Jeffrey A. Miron and Jeffrey Zwiebel, National Bureau of Economic Research, April 1991, www.nber.org/

"Prohibition of Liquor, 18th Amendment," National Constitution Center, www.constitutioncenter.org/

"HOW DRY I AM"

PROHIBITION GOES INTO EFFECT

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On January 17, 1920, the 18th Amendment, prohibiting the production, transportation and sale of 'intoxicating liquors' went into effect in the United States.

According to the Roosevelt Institute for American Studies, consumption and abuse of intoxicating liquors were national problems that increased during the 19th century.  Prohibition movements were led by groups like the Anti-Saloon League* and the Woman's Christian Temperance Union**. 

As a result of the 18th Amendment, organized crime took over the liquor business and America was victimized by record crime, poverty and violence. 

According to Dr. Jack S. Blocker Jr., alcohol consumption did not surpass pre-Prohibition levels in the U.S. until the 1970s.  The Depression of the 1930s kept the consumption level at 1.5 gallons per capita.  By the 1950s, it was up to 2 gallons and in the 1960s 2.4 gallons.

JFK+50 NOTE

Prohibition was in effect from 1920 to 1933.  FDR signed a law legalizing 3.2% beer & the 18th amendment was repealed by the 21st amendment in 1933.

*Anti-Saloon League was founded in Oberlin, Ohio in 1893 by Howard Hyde Russell.

**WCTU was founded in Cleveland, Ohio in 1874.  It became one of the largest & most influential women's groups of the 19th century. 

SOURCES

"Did Prohibition Really Work? Alcohol Prohibition as a Public Health Innovation," by Jack S. Blocker, Jr., American Journal of Public Health February 2006, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/

"January 17, 1920:  The Law that Dried the Nation, Prohibition in the U.S. and its Consequences," Roosevelt Institute for American Studies.

 

 

Prohibition Disposal

New York City

Library of Congress Photo

 
 

INTOXICATING LIQUORS FOR BEVERAGE PURPOSES IS HEREBY PROHIBITED

100TH ANNIVERSARY OF   RATIFICATION OF 18TH AMENDMENT

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On January 16, 1919, the 18th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States was ratified by the required two-thirds majority of states.

The 18th Amendment, Section 1 reads...

"After one year from the ratification of this article, the manufacture, sale or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United states and all territories subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited.'

The amendment did not make illegal, however, the private possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages nor did it provide for its own enforcement. The Volstead Act provided for the enforcement of the law.The 18th Amendment was the first to set a "time delay" before the law would go into effect after ratification.  Accordingly, Prohibition went into effect on January 16, 1920, one year after ratification.

The amendment, which passed Congress on December 18, 1907, was ratified by Nebraska, Missouri and Wyoming on January 16, 1919, giving the law the required 36 states out of 48.  Two states, Connecticut and Rhode Island, rejected the amendment.

According to the Constitution Center, the 18th Amendment was the result of the work of the national temperance movement whose members believed alcohol use to be "reckless and destructive," and that Prohibition would "reduce crime and corruption" and "improve the health of all Americans."

The Center says that while the 18th Amendment decreased alcohol consumption and alcohol-related deaths, it also "drove the lucrative alcohol business underground...encouraged disrespect for the law, and strengthened organized crime."

On January 16, 1919, the Nation called for a nationwide popular vote on the 18th Amendment.  The magazine said...

"We are for the...amendment as long as it is law and for its rigid enforcement (but) we should like to see the question submitted today to a vote of all the people."

The Nation held the view that an affirmative popular vote, which it believed would be the case, would make the law's enforcement easier and even if the vote turned out negative..."in either case, the people would have spoken."

SOURCES

"January 16, 1919: The 18th Amendment Is Ratified, Prohibition of Alcohol Becomes Law," Richard Kreitne and The Almanac, January 16, 2005. www.the nation.com/

www.constitutioncenter.org/

PROHIBITION RATIFIED

PROHIBITION RATIFIED 96 YEARS AGO TODAY

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) The 18th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States was ratified by the required two-thirds majority of the states 96 years ago today, January 16, 1919. 

The 18th Amendment, Section 1 reads...

"After one year from the ratification of this article, the manufacture, sale or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United states and all territories subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited.'

The amendment did not make illegal, however, the private possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages nor did it provide for its own enforcement. The Volstead Act provided for the enforcement of the law.

Prohibition Enforced

or as Otis Campbell of TV's Andy Griffith 

said...."Down the hatch!"

The 18th Amendment was the first to set a "time delay" before the law would go into effect after ratification.  Accordingly, Prohibition went into effect on January 16, 1920, one year after ratification.

The amendment, which passed Congress on December 18, 1907, was ratified by Nebraska, Missouri and Wyoming on January 16, 1919, giving the law the required 36 states out of 48.  

Two states, Connecticut and Rhode Island, rejected the amendment.

According to the Constitution Center, the 18th Amendment was the result of the work of the national temperance movement whose members believed alcohol use to be "reckless and destructive," and that Prohibition would "reduce crime and corruption" and "improve the health of all Americans."

The Center says that while the 18th Amendment decreased alcohol consumption and alcohol-related deaths, it also "drove the lucrative alcohol business underground...encouraged disrespect for the law, and strengthened organized crime."

On January 16, 1919, the Nation called for a nationwide popular vote on the 18th Amendment.  The magazine said...

"We are for the...amendment as long as it is law and for its rigid enforcement (but) we should like to see the question submitted today to a vote of all the people."

The Nation held the view that an affirmative popular vote, which it believed would be the case, would make the law's enforcement easier and even if the vote turned out negative..."in either case, the people would have spoken."

SOURCES

"January 16, 1919: The 18th Amendment Is Ratified, Prohibition of Alcohol Becomes Law," Richard Kreitne and The Almanac, January 16, 2005. www.the nation.com/

www.constitutioncenter.org/

JFK+50 TOP TEN POSTS #5

JFK+50 TOP POST #5

Knoxville, Tennessee (JFK+50) Today we continue a review of the ten most popular posts of our JFK+50 blog since we began in November 2010.  This review will include updates and revisions of the original posts. 

Thanks to all our visitors worldwide.

PROHIBITION AMENDMENT RATIFIED BY THE STATES

January 16, 2011, Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) The 18th Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified by the 36th and deciding state of Nebraska ninety-two years ago today, January 16, 1919.

The amendment, which prohibited the manufacture, sale or transport of intoxicating liquors, took effect on January 17, 1920.

On January 8, 1918, Mississippi became the first state to ratify the 18th Amendment.  In addition to the amendment, Congress passed the National Prohibition Act (a.k.a. Volstead Act) on October 28, 1919 which provided for enforcement of prohibition.

Prohibition in the United States can be traced back to the reform movements of the 1840s.  The Temperance Movement encouraged people to stop or reduce their imbibing of alcoholic beverages. 

The movement was supported by Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterians, Disciples of Christ and Congregationalists.  Kansas and Maine passed prohibition laws and by 1913, a total of nine states had statewide prohibition.

The Womens Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) was founded in 1874 and the Anti-Saloon League in 1895.

Opposition to prohibition was strong in the cities where large numbers of the immigrant working classes enjoyed their liquor.

JONES ACT STRENGTHENS PROHIBITION ENFORCEMENT

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On March 2nd, 1929, the Congress of the United States passed the Jones Act which strengthened federal penalties for bootlegging.

Since prohibition had gone into effect in 1920 by the 18th Amendment to the US Constitution, enforcement of the provision banning the consumption of drinking alcohol had been difficult if not impossible.

The 18th Amendment was repealed in 1933 and prohibition went down in history as a failure.

Prohibition Raid

Elk Lake, Canada

by C.H.J. Snider 

Prohibition (1920-1933) had been called the "noble experiment."  According to Mark Thornton of the CATO INSTITUTE, its purpose was to...

"reduce crime and corruption, solve social problems, reduce the tax burden created by prisons...and to improve health and hygiene."

The results, however, again according to Mr. Thornton, made alcohol dangerous to drink, increased crime and resulted in "organized" crime, and "stretched to the breaking point" the prison system.  It also contributed to "rampant" corruption of public officials.

As was said later by a San Francisco flapper of the 1920s, a legislator joining her in drinking at a speakeasy told her...

"We make the laws in the daytime, and break them at night."

SOURCE

"Alcohol Prohibition Was a Failure," by Mark Thornton, July 17, 1991.  Policy Analysis #157, CATO Institute, www.cato.org

LBJ OKS OPLAN 34A

LBJ APPROVED OPLAN 34A FIFTY YEARS AGO

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Fifty years ago today, January 16, 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson gave his approval for "OPLAN 34A". 

This action by the chief executive who had been president for less than two months, initiated a program to gather intelligence and conduct sabotage with the intent of destabilizing the government of North Vietnam.  

The operatives were to include South Vietnamese forces supported by United States military personnel. 

OPLAN 34 would ultimately lead to a confrontation in the Gulf of Tonkin between NV patrol boats and the American destroyer USS Maddox.  

January 16, 1920

The 18th Amendment to the United States Constitution went into effect one year after its ratification prohibiting the "manufacture, sale or transport of intoxicating liquors".  

The amendment would be in force until 1933.

January 16, 1861

A proposal by John C. Crittenden of Kentucky failed to pass the US Senate.

The "Crittenden Compromise" called for a series of constitutional amendments to lure four seceded Southern states back into the Union. 

The vote was 25 Ney to 23 Yea.

All 25 Ney votes were by Republican senators, who like President-elect Abraham Lincoln, refused to compromise on the issue of slavery in the territories.

 

January 16, 1942

Hollywood actress Carole Lombard, wife of actor Clark Gable, died in an air crash en route from Las Vegas to Los Angeles.  

Lombard, recruited to sell war bonds, was returning to her home along with her mother who also died in the crash.

January 16, 1945

Adolf Hitler moved into his bunker 55 feet under his headquarters in Berlin.  He was to spend 105 days there until his death.  

The bunker included 18 small rooms and had its' own water supply and electricity.  

Hitler would commit suicide along with his wife, Eva Braun, in the bunker on April 30, 1945.

January 16, 1991

US forces attacked Iraq as the Persian Gulf War began.  The United Nations deadline for Iraqi forces to withdraw from Kuwait had expired.  

President George H.W. Bush ordered American fighters, launched from Saudi Arabia, and British aircraft carriers, to conduct bombing missions over Baghdad.