American Minute - Dec. 24 - Christmas Eve with Christopher Columbus & Harry S Truman

American Minute
with
Bill Federer

On Christmas eve, DECEMBER 24, 1492, Columbus' ship, the Santa Maria, ran aground on the island of Haiti.

Columbus left 40 men and named the settlement la Navidad, promising to return the next year. He wrote that day to Spain's King and Queen:


"In all the world there can be no better or gentler people. Your Highnesses should feel great joy, because presently they will be Christians, and instructed in the good manners of your realms."

On DECEMBER 24, 1946, lighting the National Christmas Tree, President Truman said:

"Our...hopes of future years turn to a little town in the hills of Judea where on a winter's night two thousand years ago the prophecy of Isaiah was fulfilled.

Shepherds keeping watch by night over their flock heard the glad tidings of great joy from the angels of the Lord singing, 'Glory to God in the Highest and on Earth, peace, good will toward men.'"

President Truman continued:

"If we will accept it, the star of faith will guide us into the place of peace as it did the shepherds on that day of Christ's birth long ago...Through all the centuries, history has vindicated His teaching."

Truman concluded:

"In this great country of ours has been demonstrated the fundamental unity of Christianity and democracy."

American Minute - Nov. 27 - Dr. Chaim Weizmann & the State of Israel

American Minute
with
Bill Federer

During World War I, Britain was ineffective manufacturing explosives, until a breakthrough in synthesizing acetone was made by Jewish chemist Dr. Chaim Weizmann, who was born NOVEMBER 27, 1874.

In gratitude, Britain issued the Balfour Declaration, establishing a Jewish homeland.

President Woodrow Wilson wrote to Rabbi Stephen Wise, 1918:

"I think all Americans will be deeply moved by the report that...the Weizmann commission has been able to lay the foundation of the Hebrew University at Jerusalem."

President Harry S Truman wrote to Dr. Weizmann, November 29, 1948:

"I remember well our conversations about the Negeb...I agree fully with your estimate of the importance of the area to Israel, and I deplore any attempt to take it away from Israel.

I had thought that my position would have been clear to all the world, particularly in the light of the specific wording of the Democratic Party platform."

Truman continued:

"I have interpreted my re-election as a mandate...to carry out...the plank on Israel...In closing, I want to tell you how happy and impressed I have been at the remarkable progress made by the new State of Israel."

Dr. Weizmann wrote:

"I think that the God of Israel is with us."