FAREWELL WINDY CITY

CHICAGO RIVER AT NIGHT

What an extraordinary 10 day journey through the Civil War, Gilded Age, and the birthplace of the eight hour work day! I feel gratified I was able to fulfill the obligations of this trip and honored to have been part of such a dedicated group willing to give up their free time away from their families. The students of these teachers will never know how lucky they are. Of course special thanks to Professors Harris and Rees for their foresight in the dynamics of our mission, and for guiding us in the most beneficial ways. And kudos to Scott Whited for being the model of efficiency, and one who always manages to find the most awesome bus drivers.
Starting with the readings, everything about this class has made me a better teacher. Like so many others, I have often thrown around the words “Progressive Era” without really knowing what I was talking about; but as I look back through our educational adventure, I now feel enlightened. The history of the Midwest is generally an area neglected in favor of areas east of the Appalachians and places around the Mason-Dixon Line. But who would have thought the victory for the North in the Civil War was fueled in part through the blood of the Chicago Stockyards? And how many educators really know that the roots of the Progressive Movement started in Wisconsin?
Our first days in Springfield were awe inspiring, especially since we ended last’s year’s journey in Gettysburg. The more I learn about Abraham Lincoln, the more I appreciate the mystery of his life and what he meant to this country. The Lincoln Museum should be a destiny for anyone who wants to know what the history of this nation is all about. Visiting New Salem was a pilgrimage to his greatness and a place where I felt I was living the prologue of his incredible American odyssey. It was remarkable that this year’s journey ended at the Pullman Factory where Lincoln’s funeral car was created, and his last living family member (Robert Todd Lincoln) served as company president. Amazing!
When reviewing the blog pages it’s fascinating to think we were at all those places. How many dedicated people, with such passion for American History did we encounter? There were so many speakers, curators, and professors…all experts in topics we were eager to learn more about. I would like to say I had a favorite moment, or person, but that would be insincere. All were unique and special.
Sometimes unplanned things happen for all the right reasons. It happened for me on the night before we went to Wisconsin. Since it was rainy all day, and cloudy and gloomy that night, the streets were pretty empty and quiet. What a great time to do something fun without crowds and distractions, and for me that something would be visiting Sear’s Tower. And because I like to do things at my own snail’s pace, I would be making the adventure on my own. In a giant boost of confidence I was able to navigate the subway system by myself and within 10 minutes I was exiting the “L” just beneath the towers.
However, nothing worth experiencing ever happens without some sacrifice, in this case it would be my time. The tower was closed because, even though it had stopped raining, the clouds were still hanging out above the 90th floor well below the observation deck. I would have to wait. As the twilight closed in on the city, the sky began to clear. By this time, only one diehard couple was still around to join me on the trip to the top. It was well worth the wait, we had the city skyline to ourselves for two hours! My guide was a man named Lonnie, who was an expert on Chicago, and eager to share any story.
From my perch I was able to see Lake Michigan, where only days before I had waded along its shoreline. I could see where two branches of the Chicago River joined, and the location of what was Fort Dearborn, destroyed by Potawatomi Indians in 1812. With Lonnie’s help, I could see where the Great Fire of 1871 started and the horrific path it followed. It was a new perspective on the fire, much different than following its devastation on a map. I saw the location of the Union Stockyards and my imagination took me back to Upton Sinclair’s book. I was shown the locations of Hull House, Haymarket Square, and the infamous Levee District. Off in the distance was the spot of the 1893 Columbian Exposition, and further north, Wrigley Field. My guide pointed out the individual turfs of Bugs Moran and Al Capone, and the site of the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. All at once, our journey came into focus; we hit the jackpot with this trip.
I know (since we are constantly reminded by Professor Rees) that Jurgis Rudkus was a fictional person. However, there were hundreds of thousands who lived his story. I thought about these people many times on our trip, nameless and homeless like so many who ask for “spare change” on the night streets of the city today. How difficult their struggles must have been in a foreign land, especially in the unforgiving winter months. What desperation they must have felt to have been jobless and blacklisted by greedy factory owners and corrupt politicians; begging for handouts in a language that no one understood. So many perished, but so many more survived. Their progeny have made this city the melting pot it is today.

MARTYRS FOR US ALL

CHICAGO STOCKYARD GATE

CHICAGO LABOR HISTORY TOUR

Our final day in Chicago proved to be one of the most informative of the entire trip, and a culminating activity of all our books and classes. When we entered the bus and were introduced to Dr. William Adelman, I didn’t know we were meeting an “institution” of Chicago’s labor history. When this man dies, it will be like a library burning down in the city. And, as if through intervention from a ghost of organized labor’s past, the rainy weather set the mood for a day that helped us all revisit the struggles that helped establish the working standards we all enjoy today.

Researching about the Haymarket Affair, with all its tragedies was a learning experience, but seeing where it all happened made it a living encounter. It’s incredible to think that this site was responsible for May Day, or International Worker’s Day celebrations throughout the world commemorating the struggle for the eight hour day. It’s also sad to realize that the U.S. and Canada are the only two nations on the planet who do not celebrate the holiday.

Dr. Adelman was very poignant in his homage to the entire affair including stops through the courthouse where the injustices were carried through, to the exact location of where the gallows stood and four innocent men were hanged. It’s sickening to think of how the entire tragedy unfolded, and it is also easy to see why these five men (one committed suicide) are considered martyrs who inspired hundreds of thousands of Chicagoans to turn out for the funeral procession. Many teachers on the bus were grumbling about how biased Adelman was toward left-leaning politics, but to me it was all about passion. Here is a man who has spent his entire adult life reliving the struggles of labor versus capital, with all the atrocities that colossal wealth can inflict. I applaud his viewpoints, how could you rationally expect him to be anything else?

Our next stop was at the Martyr’s Monument at the Forest Home Cemetery where it was obvious, even in the rain, that those who fought for worker’s rights were not forgotten. Remnants of flowers and ribbons could be seen in revered places, and Dr. Adelman would continue that veneration by placing red roses with the help of some in our group. The bodies beneath those stones are silent now, but their deeds live on in the collective bargaining the working class enjoys today. It was a solemn moment I’m glad I experienced; it helped put all those many sacrifices in perspective.

Our trip to the Lithuanian restaurant was memorable as well, not only for the unique and tasty food, but because it was a reflection of the many cultures who arrived in Chicago from far away places in search of a better life. To think, these workers may be the descendants of the many downtrodden stockyard workers as described by Upton Sinclair in “The Jungle.” The memorabilia on the walls served as reminders of their distant homeland and their forefathers. What a melting pot Chicago was, and still is.

All day long the gates of the packing houses were besieged by starving and penniless men; they came, literally, by the thousands every single morning, fighting with each other for a chance of life.
UPTON SINCLAIR, “THE JUNGLE”

Seeing the Stockyard gate was an eerie experience. This was the desired focal point of so many immigrants who left their homes for the American dream only to find they would have to compete with thousands of others in a dog-eat-dog environment. This was a place where greedy magnates grew wealthier through the toil of so many who were in a desperate attempt just to survive. Where ambitions met realities through the scope of Social Darwinism, and only the fittest, or perhaps the luckiest survived. I had a solemn reflection of the nearly 400 million animals, who through no fault of their own met their painful destiny there. Yet all that remains is the gate.

Our final stop was the location of the most famous planned community in America and where Pullman Palace Railroad Cars were made. A turbulent strike with a nationwide audience occurred there in 1894 after owner George Pullman kept employees rents the same even though there was a huge cut in their wages. Pullman’s plan was to provide everything his workers could need for basic survival, however, there were many rules that kept them in a cycle of dependence on the community. Political, economic, and social rights were impossible; and when changes or new demands occurred, the workers were at the complete mercy of the owner. This was very similar to the company towns of CF&I in the Southern Colorado where workers had everything, except freedom to move up in life. Under these conditions, strikes are always inevitable. The tour ended with an extraordinary comment from Dr. Adelman when he pointed out the home of the company doctor who gave depositions blaming the lead poisoning of workers on their own personal alcoholism. This gave a final touch to the tour and an insight to Pullman’s attitude towards his employees. Publically he called the workers in the town his “children,” but reality was a different tale.

HAPPY IN MADISON

BADGER STATE CAPITOL

THE BADGER STATE!

“Badgers, we don’t need no stinking badgers!” Okay, a lame attempt at a famous quote about sheriff’s badges in “Treasure of the Sierra Madre,” (with Humphrey Bogart) and later spoofed in “Blazing Saddles.” My last experience with real badgers was actually years ago as I laughed watching my brother being chased by one of those fierce little devils as I kept driving my pickup ahead, not allowing him to reach safety. As it turned out, it was only funny to me.

But today there were no badgers to be seen, unless you had a good imagination. I looked extremely hard to see that long-clawed furry little creature on the head of that woman’s statue (as we were told) and found nothing! But according to the people of Wisconsin, every citizen there is a badger, if only in spirit. And really, that’s how everybody acted in the city of Madison today. Any research about badgers will reveal that they are tenacious, territorial little guys that will stop at nothing once they’ve established a goal (usually some poor little ground squirrel). That tenacity was in evidence by all the 2-legged badgers on the University of Wisconsin Madison Campus today. I found the speakers and volunteers to be, to the point, and totally focused on their task at hand and like their toothy namesakes, very bold and convincing. I found it hilarious, yet satisfying when Professor Stan Schultz said that he could convince you of a fact, even if it wasn’t really true; just to get the point across. That’s a teaching method I can agree with. And speaking of Dr. Schultz, Professor Rees was spot on in the promo of his teaching methods and his expertise of the Progressive Movement. I liked his contention that the movement started at the grassroots level and persevered for years until the opportunity to get established was realized; in this case the candidacy of Teddy Roosevelt . The whole plan was put in to play through the vision and courage of Wisconsin Congressman Robert La Follette, a real badger of a personality if there ever was one.

Jonathan Pollack’s presentation showed us an innovative way to teach with documents by showing us the changing standards for naturalization following the previous easy road to citizenship up to the 1890’s. I need to find out how to acquire similar documents because that is a great idea on how to teach other subject areas using primary sources. I can’t imagine how difficult the naturalization paperwork is today, but Pollack mentioned that it would require dreaded lawyers to get involved. His methods for teaching public sentiments on immigration were very interesting; I wished I could have asked him more about comparisons between then and now. I also regret there was not enough time to hear him present a historic moment using the voice of sportscaster Dick Vitale, as he did briefly during our great lunch. On a badger rating I would have to give him about a 6-out-of-10 since he wasn’t as aggressive as the others before him.

Harry Miller was the only mild mannered beast of the entire badger pack, but his savvy on how to navigate the incredible UMW history website was very useful. I can hardly wait to start using the webpage since I love historical maps, photos, and paintings.

Jonathon was right, Wisconsin is an interesting state and worth visiting without having to be on your way back from somewhere else. If nothing else, going back for the beer brats would be reason enough. I’m sure our four legged friends would enjoy them as well.

THE HULL HOUSE EXPERIENCE

As a history teacher I’m embarrassed to say that the first time I ever heard of Jane Addams and Hull House was last fall at a workshop, but that was before I began researching about Chicago. I now find it incredible, that in the history of the city, she still remains such a small figure. Perhaps it is because of her gender (women tend to get lost in history textbooks), or maybe because the powers who financed the growth of the city were probably a targets of her reform movement at some time. I’d like to think that if the history of the city was written by those who were not born into privilege, she would be on the cover of all the books.

Addams was representative of an individual who was bigger than most in that she actually walked the walk by leaving a life of a socialite to help those who were incredibly less fortunate. Seriously, how many heroes in our nation’s history have actually worked their way down from the top to help others?

Around the latter decades of the 19th Century, rich families began to allow their daughters to attend colleges, as with their sons, and then complete the final cultivation of their scholarship with the obligatory tour of Europe. Then suddenly the doors of opportunity would open widely for the young men and slam shut for their counterparts. This was usually the end of the road for young and brilliant females, but while in England, Addams learned that women could use their wealth and education to make a difference as social reformers; and so Hull House was purchased with her inheritance and the legacy began.

How important was Hull House as a social settlement location? As it turns out, it was a favorite stop for Upton Sinclair as he researched for his book “The Jungle.” His interviews with those seeking refuge and support (especially displaced immigrants) reveal many compelling hardships in the pages of his famous novel. At Hull House, as with many other such places in Chicago, homeless and displaced individuals could find a hot meal, but more importantly they would meet friends who would help them get a new start in an otherwise unfriendly devouring beast of a city. Lost souls, and their children, could learn the skills that would enable them to acclimate to a foreign land; things like learning to read and write could make a world of a difference. A smile at the entrance signaling that you were indeed welcome was by itself a boost that could restart many broken spirits.

There were many facts and details that were given on our visit today, but the sincere welcoming and warmth of the staff and their commitment to the continuity of good deeds was by itself the lesson of the Hull House experience. Jane Addams would have been proud.

ARCHITECTURE IS COOL AFTERALL

Although I am physically drained from today’s events, I wished every day could be so interesting. Let me be the first to admit that I wasn’t totally excited when I looked at the syllabus back in January and saw that we would be spending an entire morning session on a Frank Lloyd Wright Studio Tour. I mean, I knew who he was because I like to watch the Antiques Road Show on PBS, but I really felt like it was just something I couldn’t possibly be interested in. Once again my preconceived ignorance about a subject put me in a position where I had to admit I was wrong. Now I must prepare to spend an inordinate amount of time trying to learn more about this topic in the future; who knew architecture could be so much fun?

This was truly an enjoyable experience and testament to how one person’s talent and confidence can inspire such an impact on society. What an American story! Could he really have only been 21 when he built that house? Think about it;

• A young genius comes up with a fresh and innovative approach to doing things
• He insists on doing it his way, even though others look at him oddly at first
• Others on a local level began to take notice, perhaps with envy
• He makes buckets of money doing the things he loves most
• Before long his influence begins to take over a city, in this case a very large city
• Eventually his ideas spread throughout the Midwest, then all of America
• 100 years later, teachers are still blogging about him on web pages
• Still others will watch rich people buy his things on the Antiques Road Show
• Is this a great country or what?

Next we got to traipse around Wright’s Oak Park neighborhood and see some of the houses he built. This was the most enjoyable part of the day. Even if the homes weren’t built by him, they were all beautiful; especially with the incredible trees surrounding them.

Next on the agenda was a visit to the monstrous Museum of Science and Industry, which was modeled after the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893. After watching a couple of presentations about the “White City” we were once again on a walking tour around the complex. I found it curious that throughout the presentations, nothing was mentioned about the hypocrisy of the exposition as explained to us last fall by Montana State professor, Robert Rydell, an expert on the White City. Rydell’s edition of an original pamphlet by Ida Wells and Frederick Douglass called, “The Reason Why The Colored American Is Not in The World’s Columbian Exposition,” reveals how fair promoters excluded the contributions of African Americans and would not let them into the gates of the “White City.” If nothing else, the fair denigrated and ridiculed any progress of African Americans and even allowed a Harper’s Weekly circular with racist caricatures to circulate inside the walls with the title, “Darkies Day at the Fair.” A picture of the caricature is in Rydell’s book and it is pretty disgusting. The exclusion of that information almost seemed like a deliberate cover up since, just like 1893, promoters did not want bad publicity.

SPONTANEITY IN THE WINDY CITY

Today it was back to the Chicago History Museum with our instructor Chip Brady taking us through the Document Based Questions project, or DBQ. I was familiar with this method of teaching from a previous workshop at CSUP, but each time it gets a little bit easier. Brady’s topic was about Prohibition; more specifically, “Why did America change its mind?” This was a pretty crafty question for a lesson topic, because the only way your students will be able to answer effectively is to research why we decided to change the Constitution for a ridiculous amendment anyway. I will use this method when assigning writing assignments, and have my students follow the outline that he gave to us. His method of creating group assignments was very effective and something I will definitely use in my classes.

The walking tour of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, on the other hand, was a giant disappointment. Perhaps my expectations were too high since I was really pumped up about it the day before, plus I saw Sarah Marcus’ commentary on a Weather Channel documentary about the great fire. The only thing we saw of any interest was a small remnant of an original Chicago street in a back alley near the museum. I have to admit it was a real eye opener to see that just like everything else in the city at the time, even the streets were paved with wood! No wonder the fire was so devastating with that kind of tinder box. As we walked toward the lake, my heart really went out to those desperate people and animals running for their lives toward the water; especially since they would have nothing to return to when it was over.

When we reached the lake, I decided to act spontaneously, so I rented a bike and did my own personal tour of the Lake Michigan bike paths. What a blast! I was able to make the 16-mile loop and still have enough time on my rental to ride the streets into the heart of the city. Yes, that’s me in the top photo under the 25-foot- tall American Gothic Sculpture at Pioneer Court on North Michigan Avenue overlooking the Chicago River. I was able to see the boat tours underneath the bridge; I can’t wait until we do that on Thursday.

CHICAGO HISTORY MUSEUM

CHICACO 1833

Monday morning brought us to the Chicago History Museum, but not after our first adventure with the Chicago Subway. Although it was still a subway, it was much less creepier and much more efficient than the disaster we encountered in Philadelphia.

The morning started with a brilliant presentation by Sarah Marcus who managed to put the settlement and development of Chicago into a perspective that even a stupid caveman could easily understand. The way she was able to take us from a sandbar alongside a lake devoid of European contamination; to a modern American City (and everything in between) in less than two hours was nothing less than remarkable. Perhaps I was able to follow her so well because I have spent considerable time on the Encyclopedia of Chicago page in preparation for this trip, a website in which she was a considerable contributor. Still, it was like watching the city of Chicago unfold like a time lapse image put into fast forward motion. It was an enjoyable presentation; plus I learned to navigate the website in ways I was unfamiliar with.

Later, Heidi Moisan showed us many innovative lesson plans on how to teach with primary sources. Although her ideas focused mainly on Chicago’s labor conflicts, her ideas about how to involve group participation and understanding through reading and use of symbols could be adjusted to include any topic. Her presentation on www.greatchicagostories.org and how to teach using the website was incredible. I felt envious of Chicago school teachers and the valuable materials that are at their fingertips and in their neighborhoods. I wished there could be such a resource for the labor and immigrant history for Pueblo, Colorado. That history is there to be studied and celebrated; unfortunately that bottle of pride has been on ice and uncorked far too long. I believe that not only the students, but the Southern Colorado populace in general could benefit from such a resource.

After the museum, I joined a small group of warriors who managed to make it to the “Holy Shrine” of Wrigley Field. This was a pilgrimage that was long overdue since I have been a faithful (but hopeless) Cubs fan for as long as I can remember. When I was a kid I would wait by the roadside on many days for my brother Roger (who was also my legal guardian) to return from work as laborer at the Allen Coal Mine near Trinidad. The first question he would ask was, “Did the Cubs win today?” Ernie Banks was his hero, and Roger was mine. As the great Harry Caray would say; big brother, “This Bud’s For You.”

A DAY BY THE LAKE

Our first full day in Chicago was a memorable one, especially since we had the morning to ourselves; one to fill our souls with discovery and first impressions. This was that special moment we all waited for after months of and research about the city. Finally the significance of that planning had been realized.

I know that each of us had our own anticipation about what we most wanted to see on that first day; for me it was where I could see panoramas of Lake Michigan and the cityscape from the lakefront. I was soon rewarded when I took a bench seat beneath the mist of Buckingham Fountain. The Mother Ship had arrived.

After spending about two hours taking in the scenery it was off to the Art Institute of Chicago which turned out to be everything Jonathon said it would be. Too many times I felt like a real hillbilly when I turned around to see people staring at me because of the way I was gaping at some of the artwork. I know I violated the customary decorum of viewing such masterpieces, but when you’ve spent over 20 years working with textbooks, then seeing the original work that is in those pages, I think I should be forgiven. There were many pieces that captured long gazes, but I found myself returning to American Gothic, and to Paris Street, Rainy Day. The artist who I will find myself reading about in the future was Renoir. There was something about his works that really made a connection with my imagination, although I don’t know what it was. I guess that is why people go to special places to study art. I hope to discuss this with the art teacher at my school; perhaps there can be some collaboration between his classes and mine.

After leaving the Art Institute, it was off to Grant Park. This was another anticipated place for me, ever since Barack Obama gave his victory speech from that location on election night. I know I couldn’t have been there for the actual moment, but I have a fantastic imagination for such things. Along the way I walked through the fabulous Millennium Park Pavilion and traversed along the incredible BP Bridge; and incredible aluminum serpentine structure amidst a flowering botanical garden. The photo at the top of the page was taken from this walk which was an adventure I will long cherish and return to again in my lifetime if I should be so fortunate.

NEW SALEM VILLAGE

What a memorable day for learning about Lincoln’s early life and his road to greatness. Of all the legends in American History with simple men strapping up their own boot strings and rising to the top, his story is priceless. Seeing where he got his start in New Salem and then comparing it to his home in Springfield was an eye opening moment. Of course, the events in our day were mixed up with our schedule having us see his burial chamber in the middle of two formative periods prior to his presidency.

In the morning, we saw the old Illinois State House, but that turned out to be a bummer since nothing original was really in there. It was like visiting London Bridge which was disassembled and relocated in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. I’m sorry, but the effect just wasn’t as cool as it could have been. Ditto for the visit to his law partnership offices where nothing was original except for the flooring, at least that’s what they think.

But the day in Springfield wasn’t a total bust. Seeing the actual home where he and his family lived, and being able to place my hands on the same hand rail he touched was an awesome experience! Having the whole city block preserved with most of the original homes was also quite special. It was an eerie, transcendental experience in the home thinking about how happy and successful the family was there, while knowing just how much tragedy and turmoil they were destined to experience. I was thinking how I wished I could go back in time and tell him, “Hey Abe, don’t get into politics man.” But then again, our country might not have survived as we know it. While visiting his tomb a little later, I thought about all the choices he made and what must have been going through his mind when the south seceded after he was elected president. Talk about a crappy start to your new job. I have an even greater respect for Lincoln than I did before, and I am prouder than ever to be an American. I would give anything to be able go back and tell him before he died that there would one day be an African American president, and that he would announce his candidacy in Springfield.

The afternoon took us into New Salem, which was place where Lincoln would develop all the skills that would separate him from the life of a backwoodsman to a career in law and statesmanship. New Salem was a commercial village where frontiersmen would stop for goods and services on their way between bigger cities. As destiny would have it Lincoln’s raft became stuck on the check dam supporting the gristmill, which was the economic focus of the village. With time to kill, he wandered in for a visit and liked it so much he would end up spending the next six years there. This would end up being the turning point in his young adult life as he would become the person we are most familiar with. Many of the legendary stories we like to read about, like his famous wrestling match, and his first love happened in New Salem. His popularity and prominence in the community was so great that even with no military experience, he was voted captain of the militia force that headed off for the Black Hawk War. After his professional skill became polished, he made the move to Springfield, and the rest is history, or more precisely, America’s destiny.

SPRINGFIELD

In Living Color

HOME OF THE RAILSPLITTER

Liking Lincoln

Today was a fun day and one filled with new insights and ideas. First off, I have never been to a presidential library before, so why not start off with the one dedicated to the best president in our history. Erin Bishop got things started with some interesting new lessons and ideas about the historiography of Lincoln, with many facts that I had never heard before. Just when you thought you knew it all! I had known before that Lincoln got his start as part of the Whig Party, but I didn’t know it had shaped his political philosophy so much. Bishop’s plans on how to use and evaluate primary and secondary sources was something I will find useful in making future presentations to my students. Her message was that we should evaluate not only the location and the moment when a primary source occurred, but also the circumstances in which it was created. For example, when we read the words, “I love you,” at the end of a letters the meanings are quite different when the message was to someone’s grandma instead of to their sweetheart.

Most intriguing were the exchange of letters between Lincoln and his step brother John D. Johnston, who by most accounts was quite the “lollygagger” compared to his more ambitious sibling. Basically, Johnston was trying to borrow eighty dollars from Lincoln, a request that was not only denied but accompanied with a scolding letter in return. When summarizing the predicament, Lincoln quipped, “Your thousand pretences for not getting along better, are all non-sense – they deceive no body but yourself. Go to work is the only cure for your case.” The letter is tersely and signed, A. Lincoln. This was a side of Lincoln that no one in the class had ever seen before.

The morning’s prep at the library was great conveyance to what was to follow at the Lincoln Museum in the afternoon. I have to say that the entire museum experience was somewhat of a religious pilgrimage to a history geek. I wished we would have had more time…I could have spent the entire day there. Most stunning to me was that it was the first time I had ever seen Lincoln and his family in something other than black and white! To see these very lifelike figures in “living color” was moment of revelation in my personal connection to Lincoln as a human being, and not just some mythological hero whose incredible story had been invented. The most touching moment for me was the bedroom scene where Mary and Abe were leaving the presidential ball to look after their ailing son Willie, who sadly as it would turn out, was on his death bed. The lifelike figurines and the sound of music coming from the dance floor of the White House were so realistic that I could feel the grandeur and the grief of the moment. There is so much I have already learned about the greatness of our sixteenth president, but I have only scratched the surface. Today was a giant step for me.