2017—George W.[MD] Bush to Hillary Clinton: “…that [Trump’s inaugural speech] was some weird shit.”
2009—“If I ever run for President,” says Donald Trump, “please shoot me.”
2009—J. Roberts, winging it, blows his lines as he swears in B. Obama.
2009—Frank Luntz invokes a conclave of GOP bigwigs. It promptly resolves to thwart President Obama.
2005—J.P. Morgan Chase admits two banks it swallowed had taken enslaved people as collateral years before.
1981—Awakened at 9:00 a.m. and reminded that he’ll soon be inaugurated, Ronald Reagan asks, “Does that mean I have to get up?” He will go on to trade arms for hostages, bankroll al-Qaeda, rob Social Security, bust unions, and triple the national debt.
1981—As per arrangement with the GOP, Iran releases 52 U.S. hostages.
1953—Ike blurs the line between church and state by beginning his inaugural speech with a prayer.
1936—England’s King George V is euthanized with an injection of cocaine and morphine, timed so his death could be reported in the more-dignified morning newspapers, rather than the evening rags. His last words are, “God damn you.”
1934—Nazis “regulate” labor: no more strikes or collective bargaining.
1900—Honolulu health officials set a fire in Chinatown to contain the bubonic plague. Oops. Out of control, it burns 4,000 homes in 17 days.