My sidebar contains a list of historical events of the current day and today in 1954 President Eisenhower signed an order adding words ‘under God’ to the Pledge. It was the year that Marilyn Monroe married Joe DiMaggio, IBM announced vacuum tube “electronic” brain that could perform 10 million operations an hour, Bob Dylan was Bar Mitzvahed, the Moonies were established, Ellis Island closed, Davy Crockett played by Fess Parker appeared on Walt Disney (oh man – I remember Disney nights when we could eat potato chips and drink red pop in the living room!).  The first atomic power station opened near Moscow, Russia and Joseph Welch asked Senator Joseph McCarthy “Have you no sense of decency, sir?” during Senate-Army hearings.  Armistice divided Vietnam into two countries, Charles C Diggs Jr. was elected Michigan’s first black congressman (my home state!), and Senator John Kennedy appeared on “Meet the Press” which brings us around to this weekend.  Tim Russert, only four years older than I am is gone.

So many events of my birth year were foreshadowing the things that would shape my opinions and relationships and politics. How many folks were educated, informed, entertained, and shaped by watching this gentleman.

To a wonderful father, who wrote a book about his father, that spoke to sons of fathers everywhere – you are now with the Father.  Happy Father’s Day.