"IT WASN'T VERY MUCH, IT'S ALL OVER!"

PENSION OFFICE WORKERS FIGHT OVER VENTILATION ISSUES

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On January 9, 1925, The Washington Times reports that it was learned today that Tuesday afternoon last a sixty year old pension office clerk injured a fellow clerk, a twenty-five year old "winsome young widow" with a window pole.

It seems the normally "mild-tempered" Miss Abbie Parrott took issue with Mrs. Mary E. "Billy" Willliams' habit of "insisting on copious ventilation" in their "generally overheated" office located in Room 122 of the city's Pension Office Building, 5th & F Streets NW.

 Although Miss Parrott said the fight "wasn't very much," Mrs. Williams was taken to a nearby hospital where she took three stitches in her hand.  Miss Parrott refused to give any details saying it was all over.

Pension office officials also were mum on the affair.

*Pension Office Building (1882) is now the National Building Museum, 401 F. Street NW. 

JFK+50 NOTE

Today, January 9, 2025, is a national day of mourning for former President Jimmy Carter (1924-2024) whose funeral service is being held at the National Cathedral as this blog is going to post.  Presidents Biden, Trump, Obama, Clinton, & G.W. Bush are in attendance. 

SOURCE

"Two Women Clerks In Fight," The Washington Times, January 9, 1925, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

 

 

United States Pension Office Building

Keystone View Company

1925 

ARE YOU BETTER OFF THAN YOU WERE 4 YEARS AGO?

JFK+50:  Volume 6, No. 2119

RONALD REAGAN DEFEATED JIMMY CARTER 36 YEARS AGO 

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On November 4, 1980, President Jimmy Carter was defeated for re-election by Republican challenger Governor Ronald Reagan.  The result in the Electoral College was 489-49.

The President carried his home state of Georgia along with West Virginia, Maryland, Rhode Island, Minnesota and Hawaii.  Governor Reagan won 44 of the 50 states.

Mr. Carter's four years in office had been marked by high inflation and high interest rates.  Along with the failing economy, 53 Americans had been taken hostage by Islamic militants in Iran.  The President was unable to orchestrate their release.

In the one debate between the two major candidates, Governor Reagan asked the American people...

"Are you better off than you were four years ago?"

The final popular vote totals in the Election of 1980 were...

RONALD REAGAN (R) 43,903,230 (50.7%)
JIMMY CARTER (D)     35,480,115   (41.0%)

SOURCE

"The Election of 1980," American Experience, www.pbs.org/

Reagans on Campaign

Columbia, SC

October 10, 1980

Reagan Presidential Library Photo

JIMMY CARTER MEETS FIDEL

FORMER PRESIDENT CARTER VISITED CUBA 13 YEARS AGO TODAY

Havana, Cuba (JFK+50) Thirteen years ago today, May 12, 2002, a former President of the United States, Jimmy Carter, came here to Havana where he and his wife, Rosalynn, were welcomed by President Fidel Castro.

The visit marked "the first time a U.S. head of state, in or out of office" had visited Cuba since the 1959 revolution.  The last time a POTUS had visited Cuba was when Calvin Coolidge came there in 1928.

Castro said to Carter, who was responsible for easing tensions with the communist government,  "It's been a long time since (this has) happened."

Despite the show of good will, there were still tensions behind the scenes.  The previous week, Undersecretary of State John Bolton had charged Castro's government of an attempt to develop biological weapons.  Castro, who had denied the charge, offered to allow Mr. Carter "complete access" to biotechnological labs on the island.

President Carter did, in fact, visit the Center of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology located near Havana.

On the evening of his arrival in Havana, Mr. and Mrs. Carter were given a dinner at the Palace of the Revolution and then on Monday morning, the former president met with Elizardo Sanchez and Oswaldo Paya, veteran rights activists who supported "guarantees of individual freedoms, amnesty for political prisoners, and electoral reforms."

On Tuesday, President Carter addressed a television audience in a live broadcast.  He was given clearance to "express (himself) freely" by President Castro.

The Cuban President said of Jimmy Carter....

"A man who, in the middle of the Cold War and from the depth of an ocean of prejudice, misinformation and distrust (and) dared to try to improve relations between both countries deserves respect."

SOURCE

"Carter Meets With Castro Dissidents," by John Esterbrook, CBS News, May 13, 2002, www.cbsnews.com/

George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush

Bill Clinton & Jimmy Carter

Clinton Presidential Center

Little Rock, Arkansas (2004)

White House Photo