"IT WOULD MAKE TEAPOT DOME LOOK LIKE A PINHEAD"

SENATOR NORRIS RAILS AGAINST UNDERWOOD MUSCLE SHOALS BILL

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On December 17, 1924, The Evening Star reports that Senator George W. Norris* (R-Nebraska), chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, is railing against the proposed (Oscar W.) Underwood** Muscle Shoals Bill.

The progressive G.O.P. senator says, if it becomes law it would make "Teapot Dome look like a pinhead."

It is his opinion that Democrats "plan to turn Muscle Shoals*** over to some private corporation" thus circumventing federal government operation.  Norris condemns President Calvin Coolidge's support for the legislation.

JFK+50 NOTE

Senator Norris's proposals for the federal government to build dams & provide electric power for rural areas were vetoed by both Presidents Coolidge and Hoover.

The Senator would eventually leave the Republican Party & become an Independent.  FDR called him "the very perfect, gentle knight of American progressive ideals" while the GOP regulars referred to him as one of the "sons of the wild jackasses." 

*George William Norris (1861-1944) was born in York Township, Ohio & was a graduate of Wallace University & Valparaiso University LLB 1883.  GWN served in the US House of Representatives 1903-1913 & U.S. Senate 1913-1943.  He sponsored legislation that created the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) in 1933.  Norris Dam, located in East TN, is named after him.

**Oscar Wilder Underwood (1862-1929) was born in Louisville, KY & was a graduate of the University of Virginia 1881, LLB 1883.  OWU served in the US House of Representatives 1897-1915 & US Senate (D-Alabama) 1915-1927.

OWU was one of the very few Southern Democrats to oppose the KKK which he considered "a national menace."  JFK included the senator in his book "Profiles In Courage" because of that stand.

The Alabama Men's Hall of Fame says he was responsible for development of Muscle Shoals water power at Wilson Dam for explosive nitrogen during WWI & for agricultural nitrogen in peacetime.

***Muscle Shoals is located on the Tennessee River in Northern Alabama.  President Wilson authorized a dam be built here to help power nitrate plants for WWI munitions.  

Wilson Dam was completed in 1924, but it was not until 1933 that TVA was established to bring hydro-electric power to the Tennessee Valley.

SOURCES

"Norris Assails Underwood Bill," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., December 17, 1924, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

"Oscar Wilder Underwood," Alabama Men's Hall of Fame, www.samford.edu/

 

 

Senator George W. Norris

Harris & Ewing Photo

Library of Congress

"SEVENTY TO FOUR AGAINST"

PROPOSAL ON CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO LIMIT POTUS TO ONE TERM DEFEATED IN SENATE

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On St. Patrick's Day of 1924, the United States Senate rejected a proposed constitutional amendment limiting the POTUS to a single term of four years.

The proposal by Senator Frank B. Willis* (R-Ohio) had been added as an amendment to a joint resolution with Senator George W. Norris** (R-Nebraska) "to eliminate the 'short' sessions of Congress."

The vote on the single term proposal was 70 to 4 against. 

JFK+50 NOTE

For the majority of American voters today who do not want a re-match of the Biden-Trump contest of 2020, had this amendment been approved 100 years ago today (and said amendment ratified by the states required) neither would be eligible as a presidential candidate in 2024 having each served one term.  

George W. Norris is a respected name here in East Tennessee as the sponsor of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) in 1933.  Norris Dam is named in his honor.

SOURCE

"Senate Votes Down 70 to 4, Single Term Plan for President," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., March 17, 1924, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/ 

 

 

Senator Frank B. Willis

R-Ohio

Harris & Ewing Photo

Library of Congress

 

"NORRIS AMENDMENT TO FACE TOUGH GO IN HOUSE"

SENATE APPROVES JANUARY INAUGRATION OF PRESIDENT & VP

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On February 13, 1923, the United States senate approved the (George) Norris* amendment to the Constitution which would "eliminate the present session of an old Congress after election of a new Congress and change the date of inauguration of President from March 4 to the third Monday in January."

The Evening Star, speculating that the amendment will face a tough go in the House, reports that the amendment "is probably the first proposed change in the constitution to be approved by the Senate after coming out of any committee other than judiciary**."

JFK+50 NOTE

The Norris amendment did not pass the House of Representatives in 1923, but on March 2, 1932 the Congress passed the 20th Amendment which was ratified in 1933.

The 20th amendment provides that the new Congress will begin on January 3rd & the President & Vice-President will be inaugurated on January 20th.

The amendment shortened the period of time between the presidential election in November and the inauguration from four months to two and a half months.  This period is generally referred to as 'lame duck.'

*George William Norris (1861-1944) was born near Clyde, Ohio & served in the US House of Representatives (R-Nebraska) 1903-1913 & Senate 1913-1943.  GWN is the namesake of Norris Dam in East TN & planner of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).  He was the 1st to be inducted into the Nebraska Hall of Fame.

**The amendment was reported out of the Agriculture Committee of which George W. Norris was chairman.

SOURCES

"January Congress and Inauguration Given Senate O.K.," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., February 13, 1923, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

"George W. Norris: U.S. Legislator," Nebraska Public Media, www.nebraskastudies.org/

Senator George W. Norris

(R-Nebraska)

Harris & Ewing Photo

Library of Congress

SOVIETS GIVE UP WEST BERLIN

SOVIETS GAVE UP CONTROL OF WEST BERLIN 70 YEARS AGO

Moscow, USSR (JFK+50) Seventy years ago today, July 11, 1945, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, abiding by agreements worked out during World War II conferences, relinquished both military and civilian control of West Berlin.

By the agreements, the American and British governments would share control of West Berlin, although later both agreed to give up part of their territory to France.

The former Nazi capital had been under Soviet control from the time of Berlin's fall.

 

 Germany Divided After WWII

Map by Broadbeer

JFK HONORS SENATOR GEORGE W. NORRIS

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Fifty-four years ago today, July 11, 1961, President John F. Kennedy took part in a ceremony honoring the 100th birthday of the late Nebraska senator, George W. Norris.

Norris was instrumental in the development of the Tennessee Valley Authority during the 1930s.

JFK joined in honoring Norris with TVA's Board of Directors and  congressmen from districts in the Tennessee Valley area.*

Congressman Rankin & Senator Norris

FDR Signs Rural Electrification Act

May 11, 1935

*Norris Dam, located on the Clinch River in Anderson & Campbell Counties in East Tennessee & opened in 1936, was named for Senator George W. Norris.

Norris Dam

Norris, Tennessee

US-VIETNAM OPENED FULL DIPLOMATIC RELATIONSHIP 20 YEARS AGO

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President William Jefferson Clinton established a full diplomatic relationship with Vietnam 20 years ago today, July 11, 1995.

It had been 20 years since the Vietnam War ended with the country unified under a Communist government.  In 1994, President Clinton lifted the 19 year trade embargo with Vietnam.

Mr. Clinton was supported in his decision to establish the diplomatic relationship with Vietnam by Arizona Republican Senator John McCain, a five year POW in Hanoi during the war.*

In November 2000, President Clinton became the 1st President to visit Vietnam since President Nixon's 1969 visit.

President Bill Clinton

Hanoi National University

www.usvtc.org