"A HAIR'S BREADTH BEHIND BEST FOOTBALL IN COUNTRY"

FOOTBALL 'ON HIGH PLANE' IN THE SOUTH SAYS COACH McGUGIN

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On January 9, 1926, The Evening Star reports that Coach Dan McGugin* of Vanderbilt University in Nashville says that "football is on the highest plane it has ever known in the South."

Coach McGugin, athletic director and head of his Nashville law firm, was in the Nation's Capital on business.

It is Coach's opinion that the South is now only "a hair's breadth behind the best football in the whole country."

JFK+50 NOTE

As a graduate of the University of Tennessee (1970/1974), I must add that the Volunteers were not far behind Vanderbilt in 1926 thanks to the hiring of Robert R. Neyland (pronounced knee-land). 

In his 1st year as Vol head coach, Neyland's team finished 8-1, 2nd place in the Southern Conference, their only loss (3-20) coming at the hands of Vanderbilt.  

In fact, the West Point grad was hired specifically to beat Vandy.  He would go on to an 18-3 overall record against the Commodores with an overall record of 173-31-12.  He rose to the rank of General in the U.S. Army during WWII.    Neyland Stadium in Knoxville is named in his honor.

*Daniel Earle McGugin (1879-1936) was born in Tingley, Iowa & was a star football player at Drake (B.S. 1901).  DEM attended Michigan Law School & was head football coach at Vanderbilt 1904-1917 & 1919-1934.  His career record was 197-55-19 & he entered the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951.

SOURCE

"Football Has Made Great Strides in South, Say McGugin, Vandy coach," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., January 9, 1926, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

Coach Dan McGugin

"The Commodore"

1922 (PD)

"THE ESSENCE OF VANDERBILT IS LEARNING & LIBERTY"

JFK DELIVERS COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS IN NASHVILLE

Nashville, Tennessee (JFK+50) On May 18, 1963, President John F. Kennedy visited Vanderbilt University* here in Nashville to give the commencement address to the faculty and graduates.

The President was the honored participant in the 90th commencement exercises held at Dudley Field on the campus just west of downtown.
More than 30,000 people attended the event with the President's address beginning at 11:10 a.m. 

The day of commencement was also the 30th anniversary of the Tennessee Valley Authority.  Guests included members of the Army Corps of Engineers of the Tennessee Valley.

The President began his address by thanking the Governor of Tennessee, Frank G. Clement, and the Mayor of Nashville, Beverly Briley, as well as the people of the city and state "for a very generous welcome."

JFK said...

"Vanderbilt University...has grown from a small Tennessee university...to one of our Nation's greatest, with 7 different colleges, and with more than half of its 4200 students from outside...the state. 

 The essence of Vanderbilt is still learning.  The essence of its outlook is still liberty.  And liberty and learning will and must be the touchstones of any free university in this country.  For liberty without learning is always in peril and learning without liberty is always in vain."

*Vanderbilt University, founded in 1873, was named for Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt who hoped his $1 million endowment would help heal the wounds brought by civil war.  In 2012, VU was ranked 17th among all universities in the United States and #1 in the fields of special education, audiology and educational administration.

 JFK  at Vanderbilt

 nashvilepastandpresent.blogspot.com

 Cornelius Vanderbilt Statue

 Vanderbilt University

 Nashville, Tennessee

 Photo by John White (2011)

                        

                

"THE ESSENCE OF VANDERBILT IS STILL LEARNING, THE ESSENCE OF ITS OUTLOOK IS STILL LIBERTY"

PRESIDENT KENNEDY DELIVERS COMMENCEMENT AT VANDY

Nashville, Tennessee (JFK+50) On May 18, 1963, President John F. Kennedy gave the commencement address to the faculty and graduates of Vanderbilt University* here in Nashville. The President was the honored participant in the 90th commencement exercises held at Dudley Field on the campus just west of downtown Nashville.

More than 30,000 people attended the event with the President's address beginning at 11:10 a.m. Central time.  Other guests included Tennessee senators Estes Kefauver and Albert Gore, Sr.,Tennessee Congressmen Richard R. Fulton, Joe L. Evans, Ross Bass, Robert A. Everett, and Tom Murray.

The day of the Vanderbilt commencement was also the 30th anniversary of the Tennessee Valley Authority.  Guests included members of the Army Corps of Engineers of the Tennessee Valley.

President Kennedy said...

"Vanderbilt University...has grown from a small Tennessee university...to one of our Nation's greatest, with 7 different colleges, and with more than half of its 4200 students from outside...the state."

The President continued...

"The essence of Vanderbilt is still learning.  The essence of its outlook is still liberty.  And liberty and learning will and must be the touchstones of any free university in this country.  For liberty without learning is always in peril and learning without liberty is always in vain."

*Vanderbilt University, founded in 1873, was named for Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt who hoped his $1 million endowment would help heal the wounds between the North and South brought by the Civil War.

In 2012, VU was ranked 17th among all universities in the United States and #1 in the fields of special education, audiology and educational administration. 

Cornelius Vanderbilt Statue

 Vanderbilt University

 Nashville, Tennessee

 Photo by John White (2011)

                          

                  

LEARNING WITHOUT LIBERTY IS ALWAYS IN VAIN

JFK DELIVERS COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS AT VANDERBILT 

Nashville (JFK+50) President John F. Kennedy gave the commencement address to the faculty and graduates of Vanderbilt University* here in Nashville on May 18, 1963. The President was the honored participant in the 90th commencement exercises held at Dudley Field on the campus just west of downtown Nashville.

More than 30,000 people attended the event with the President's address beginning at 11:10 a.m. Central time.  Other guests included Tennessee senators Estes Kefauver and Albert Gore, Sr.,Tennessee Congressmen Richard R. Fulton, Joe L. Evans, Ross Bass, Robert A. Everett, and Tom Murray.

The day of the Vanderbilt commencement was also the 30th anniversary of the Tennessee Valley Authority.  Guests included members of the Army Corps of Engineers of the Tennessee Valley.

President Kennedy said...

"Vanderbilt University...has grown from a small Tennessee university...to one of our Nation's greatest, with 7 different colleges, and with more than half of its 4200 students from outside...the state."

The President continued...

"The essence of Vanderbilt is still learning.  The essence of its outlook is still liberty.  And liberty and learning will and must be the touchstones of any free university in this country.  For liberty without learning is always in peril and learning without liberty is always in vain."

*Vanderbilt University, founded in 1873, was named for Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt who hoped his $1 million endowment would help heal the wounds between the North and South brought by the Civil War.

In 2012, VU was ranked 17th among all universities in the United States and #1 in the fields of special education, audiology and educational administration. 

Cornelius Vanderbilt Statue

 Vanderbilt University

 Nashville, Tennessee

 Photo by John White (2011)

                          

                  

JFK SPEAKS AT VANDY

JFK SPOKE AT VANDERBILT 51 YEARS AGO TODAY

Nashville (JFK+50) President John F. Kennedy gave the commencement address to the faculty and graduates of Vanderbilt University* here in Nashville 51 years ago today, May 18, 1963. 

 JFK  at Vanderbilt

 nashvilepastandpresent.blogspot.com

The President was the honored participant in the 90th commencement exercises held at Dudley Field on the campus just west of downtown Nashville.

More than 30,000 people attended the event with the President's address beginning at 11:10 a.m. Central time.  Other guests included Tennessee senators Estes Kefauver and Albert Gore, Sr.,Tennessee Congressmen Richard R. Fulton, Joe L. Evans, Ross Bass, Robert A. Everett, and Tom Murray.

The day of the Vanderbilt commencement was also the 30th anniversary of the Tennessee Valley Authority.  Guests included members of the Army Corps of Engineers of the Tennessee Valley.

The President began his address by thanking the Governor of Tennessee, Frank G. Clement, and the Mayor of Nashville, Beverly Briley, as well as the people of the city and state "for a very generous welcome."

JFK said...

"Vanderbilt University...has grown from a small Tennessee university...to one of our Nation's greatest, with 7 different colleges, and with more than half of its 4200 students from outside...the state."

The President also paid tribute to the TVA, which he said...

"transformed a parched, depressed, and flood-ravaged region into a fertile, productive center of industry, science and agriculture."

JFK  also acknowledged the contributions of...

 "a great Tennessee statesman, Cordell Hull, the father of reciprocal trade (and) the Secretary of State (under FDR)..."

The President also paid recognition to J. Percy Priest who represented the Nashville area in Congress for 16 years and who was a former colleague.**

*Vanderbilt University, founded in 1873, was named for Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt who hoped his $1 million endowment would help heal the wounds between the North and South brought by the Civil War.

In 2012, VU was ranked 17th among all universities in the United States and #1 in the fields of special education, audiology and educational administration.

 Cornelius Vanderbilt Statue

 Vanderbilt University

 Nashville, Tennessee

 Photo by John White (2011)

**James Percy Priest (1900-1956) was a member of the US Congress from 1941 to 1956.  He was born in Maury County, Tennessee and was a graduate of the State Teachers College in Murfreesboro (now MTSU) and Peabody College in Nashville (now Vanderbilt).

Priest was 1 of 3 Tennessee congressmen who did not sign the Southern Manifesto condemning the Brown v. Board of Education decision of 1954.

                            J. Percy Priest
                  Harris and Ewing Photo
               Library of Congress image


President Kennedy said...

"We live in an age of movement and change, both evolutionary and revolutionary, both good and evil--and in such an age a university has a special obligation to hold fast to the best of the past and move fast to the best of the future."

The President continued...

"The essence of Vanderbilt is still learning.  The essence of its outlook is still liberty.  And liberty and learning will and must be the touchstones of any free university in this country.  

For liberty without learning is always in peril and learning without liberty is always in vain."

JFK called upon the graduates of Vanderbilt...

"to enter the lists of public service....for we can have only one form of aristocracy in this country."

The President concluded his remarks with these words...

"90 years from now, I have no doubt, that Vanderbilt....will...still be teaching the truth--the truth that makes us free and will keep us free."

                  Vanderbilt University
                   Nashville, Tennessee
             Photo by John White (2011)





                        

JFK SPEAKS AT VANDERBILT COMMENCEMENT

May 18, 1963


JFK SPEAKS AT VANDERBILT COMMENCEMENT


President Kennedy traveled to Nashville, Tennessee today to give a commencement address to the graduates of Vanderbilt University.


The President was the honored participant in the 90th commencement exercises held at Dudley Field on the university campus.


More than 30,000 people attended the event.

               JFK Speaking at Vanderbilt
      nashvilepastandpresent.blogspot.com


Other guests included Tennessee senators Estes Kefauver & Albert Gore, Sr.  As this day is also the 30th anniversary of the Tennessee Valley Authority, the Army Corps of Engineers of the Tennessee Valley were on hand.


In keeping with his theme of "ask what you can do for your country", JFK urged the graduates:


"to enter the lists of public service....for we can have only one form of aristocracy in this country.  As Jefferson wrote...in rejecting John Adams suggestion of an artificial aristocracy of wealth & birth, 'It is....the natural aristocracy of character & talent.'"


JFK, in speaking about the university itself, said:


"The essence of Vanderbilt is still learning.  The essence of its outlook is still liberty.  And liberty & learning will & must be the touchstones of any free university in this country.  For liberty without learning is always in peril & learning without liberty is always in vain."


The President concluded by saying:


"90 years from now, I have no doubt, that Vanderbilt....will...still be teaching the truth--the truth that makes us free & will keep us free."

             Vanderbilt University
              Nashville, Tennessee
         Photo by John White (2011)


May 18, 1896


SUPREME COURT RULES SEGREGATION IS LEGAL


The United States Supreme Court handed down its decision in the case of Plessy v. Ferguson today.


The high court ruling, which came with only one dissenting vote, says that "equal but separate accommodations for the white & colored races" on railroad cars is constitutional.


The Citizen's Committee, which organized the act of civil disobedience by Homer A. Plessy to board a railroad car designated for whites only, responded to the ruling by saying:


"We as freemen still believe we were right & our cause is defeat but not with ignominy."


The dissenting view came from Kentucky's Justice John Marshall Harlan who wrote:


"Our constitution is color blind in respect of civil rights.  All citizens are equal before the law."*


President Kennedy made reference to Justice Harlan's comment in his address to the nation on civil rights in June 1963.

          Justice John Marhall Harlan


*Plessy v. Ferguson will be used for more than 50 years to justify racial segregation in all public facilities such as hospitals, restaurants & schools.  It will be overturned by the Brown decision in 1954.

         Louisiana State Historical Marker
              New Orleans, Louisiana


May 18, 1860


ABRAHAM LINCOLN NOMINATED FOR PRESIDENT


The Republican National Convention, meeting today in Chicago, Illinois, has chosen Abraham Lincoln as their Presidential nominee for 1860 .


Lincoln, born in Kentucky, has made his home in Springfield, Illinois where he practiced law before being elected to Congress.


He ran for the US Senate in 1858 only to be defeated by incumbent Stephen A. Douglas.


The Republican platform, on which Mr. Lincoln will run, proposes that the institution of slavery be prohibited from the western territories.

         Abraham Lincoln of Illinois
1860 Republican Nominee for President


May 18, 1917


SELECTIVE SERVICE ACT PASSES CONGRESS


The US Congress today passed the Selective Service Act giving the government the power to draft men to serve in the military forces of the United States.


The passage of the act comes 6 weeks after the United States formally entered the world war.*


*By war's end, 24 million men were registered with 2.8 million drafted into service.

              Statue of Alvin C. York*
               State Capitol Grounds
               Nashville, Tennessee
          Photo by John White (2011)


*York of Fentress County, Tennessee, although a religious pacifist, was drafted into the infantry & became a hero of World War I.