Archive for September 23rd, 2012

September 23,

Springsteen and His Irish Roots. Richard Nixon Checkers Speech on This Day in Irish History

September 23: TODAY in Irish History:

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Curated by Conor Cunneen IrishmanSpeaks Chicago Motivational Humorous Business Speaker, Author and History buff.

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September 23: TODAY in Irish History:

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The Boss is Born in the USA

1949: Bruce Springsteen is born in Long Branch, New Jersey and aren’t we all blessed? The Boss’ great great grandmother hails from Mullingar, Co. Westmeath.

While the Irish are sometimes slow to admit to some of our kin (See Richard Nixon below), Ireland loves The Boss. Information about a man who really knows how to get a place rockin’ (more proof he is Irish) is available via author Moira Sharkey whose book Land of Hope and Dreams chronicles the great man’s Irish concerts, the first of which took place in Slane in 1985.

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Land of Hope and Dreams by Greg Lewis, Moira Sharkey

To PURCHASE: Land of Hope and Dreams

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Everyone in Ireland claims to have been at the Slane concert, although the actual number attending was only about 80,000! When the giant video screen showed the River Boyne flowing gently just behind the stage where Springsteen was signing The River, it sent shivers through a beautiful warm summer evening. All those years ago, The Boss was brilliant, energetic and could play the audience like a master violinist. And less than two weeks ago, Sept 7th, The Boss (who at the time was only a kid of  sixty-two) played Chicago’s Wrigley Field for three hours, thirty minutes. And guess what? He was brilliant, energetic and played the audience like a master violinist.

Springsteen’s Irish influence is brilliantly evoked in one of his more recent compositions – American Land which will get those feet tapping, heart racing and giving thanks For the Love of Being Irish. This video clip is from a Dublin concert with the Seegers Sessions Band. Buy the CD or DVD Live in Dublin. You won’t regret it.

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AMERICAN LAND

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Richard Nixon’s Checkers Speech

1952: Republican vice-presidential candidate Richard M. Nixon delivers his famous “Checkers” speech denying allegations of improper campaign financing. Nixon had Irish connections on both sides. Nixon’s maternal ancestor, Quaker Thomas Milhouse of Timahoe emigrated to Pennsylvania in 1729 probably due to religious persecution.  Nixon visited Ireland in 1970.

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King Timahoe - Nixon Dog

The Nixon family with Irish Setter King Timahoe, named after his ancestor’s birthplace in Ireland.

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Nixon has been criticized for his TV appearance during the first Kennedy-Nixon debate, but he is probably the first major US politician to have used TV to his benefit. At a time when his career was in the balance and his running mate, Dwight D. Eisenhower was patently not supporting him, Tricky Dick went on national television and told the truth.

This is part of Nixon’s brilliantly effective cloying speech that saved his career and allowed him to say years later “I am not a crook.” !!

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** . Want to learn more about Ireland? See these images and more in the acclaimed For the Love of Being Irish

Irish gift ideas. Best selling Irish booksRonnie Drew and Luke Kelly - Musical Irish Gifts to the worldJoyce Image in For the Love of Being IrishMichael Collins: Image from For the Love of Being Irish

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For the Love of Being Irish written by Chicago based Corkman Conor Cunneen and illustrated by Mark Anderson is an A-Z of all things Irish. This is a book that contains History, Horror, Humor, Passion, Pathos and Lyrical Limericks that will have you giving thanks (or wishing you were) For the Love of Being Irish Watch For the Love of Being Irish author Conor Cunneen – IrishmanSpeaks on his Youtube channel IrishmanSpeaks. Laugh and Learn. ___________________________________

This history is written by Irish author, business keynote speaker and award winning humoristIrishmanSpeaks – Conor Cunneen. If you spot any inaccuracies or wish to make a comment, please don’t hesitate to contact us via the comment button. Visit Conor’s YouTube channel IrishmanSpeaks to Laugh and Learn. Tags: Best Irish Gift, Creative Irish Gift, Unique Irish Gifts, Irish Books, Irish Authors, Today in Irish History TODAY IN IRISH HISTORY (published by IrishmanSpeaks)