James G. Blaine (1830–93) was an American Republican politician who served as U.S. Representative, Speaker of the House of Representatives, U.S. Senator from Maine, and twice as Secretary of State. Blaine was born in western Pennsylvania and moved to Maine where he became a newspaper editor. Nicknamed "the Magnetic Man", he was a charismatic speaker in an era that prized oratory. He began his political career as an early supporter of Abraham Lincoln and the Union in the American Civil War. In Reconstruction, Blaine was a supporter of black suffrage, but opposed some of the more coercive measures of the Radical Republicans. Initially a protectionist, he later worked for a reduction in the tariff and an expansion of overseas trade. His efforts at expanding US trade and influence began the shift to a more active American foreign policy. Blaine was a pioneer of tariff reciprocity and urged greater involvement in Latin American affairs. He was nominated for President in 1884, but was narrowly defeated by Democrat Grover Cleveland. Blaine was one of the late 19th century's leading Republicans and champion of the moderate reformist faction of the party known as the "Half-Breeds".
Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_G._Blaine
_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:
321:
Emperor Constantine I decreed that Sunday, the day honoring the sun god Sol Invictus (disc pictured), would be the Roman day of rest. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sol_Invictus
1862:
American Civil War: Union forces engaged Confederate troops in Pea Ridge, Arkansas, fighting to a victory one day later that essentially cemented their control in Missouri. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Pea_Ridge
1871:
José Paranhos, Viscount of Rio Branco, became Prime Minister of the Empire of Brazil, starting a four-year rule, the longest in the state's history. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Paranhos,_Viscount_of_Rio_Branco
1968:
Vietnam War: The United States and South Vietnam began Operation Truong Cong Dinh to sweep the area surrounding the Mekong Delta town of My Tho to root out Viet Cong forces in the area. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Truong_Cong_Dinh
2009:
The Kepler space observatory, designed to discover Earth-like planets orbiting other stars, was launched. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kepler_(spacecraft)
_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:
phillumenist: A person who collects match-related items, like matchbox labels, matchboxes, matchbooks, or matchbook covers. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/phillumenist
___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:
Reason in man is rather like God in the world. --Thomas Aquinas https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Thomas_Aquinas
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