Vulich - History Bytes ; 37 people, places, and events that shaped American history

One of the sad facts of history is that not everything you know about the past is altogether true. In fact many of the things you learn about American history in elementary school and high school are an outright lie.

How can that be you ask? I read it in my text book, and teacher said it was true. Why would they lie to me?

Good question and one Im going to attempt to answer throughout this book.

The truth is much of what we learn about history is a series of little white lies that over time have grown into tall tales.

George Washington didnt really walk around with a mouthful of wooden teeth. Those are real teeth and pearl inlays in Washingtons dentures. A recent study by Mary Thompson suggests Washington experimented with early dental transplants. He purchased replacement teeth from his slaves for thirteen shillings (roughly $50 in 2015 money).

Another truth every school child learns early on is Paul Revere was a great hero of the Revolution and saved the day by alerting the minute men at Lexington and Concord that the British were coming.

Its true. Paul Revere made a midnight ride, and he spread the news about the British advance on Lexington and Concord, but the fact isRevere never completed his ride. And, heres another fact hardly anyone knows. Revere wasnt the only one to make that ride. A second rider, William Dawes, set out by land at the same time Revere rowed across the bay to Charlestown.

And, one of the biggest hoaxes ever played on Americans occurred during the 1930s and early 1940s. FDR had polio and could barely walk, yet during his presidency most Americans had no idea the president was crippled.

American history is full of strange paradoxes, and thats one of the things that make it so interesting.

Why doesnt everyone know that Mrs. Woodrow Wilson virtually ran the country during the final days of his administration? Wilson had a massive stroke, and was bedridden for the last year and a half of his presidency.

The six oclock news makes a big deal about cars crashing through White House gates, and crazed lunatics jumping over White House fences, but none of the newscasts have flashed back to the shootout at Blair House on November 1 st , 1950.

Two men approached Blair House from opposite directions and opened fire on White House Police and Secret Service agents stationed there. Over thirty rounds were fired in less than three minutes.

When it was all said and done three White House guards were wounded, and another one died later that day from wounds he received in the gun battle. One of the gunmen, Griselio Torresola was shot in the head and killed. Another, Oscar Collazzo was shot down on the steps of Blair House, but survived.

President Truman watched the entire incident play out from an upstairs bedroom as two gunmen stormed the temporary executive mansion with their guns blazing. An hour after the shooting ended Truman delivered a speech at Arlington National Cemetery apparently unphased by the incident.

Talk about cojones.