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Since 2011 Gabe Fleisher, Editor-in-Chief wakeuptopolitics@gmail.com

wakeuptopolitics.com @WakeUp2Politics

WHAT DAY IS IT?

Introducing What Day is It?, a new column on holidays: The President of the United States doesnt get to write laws. Or pass them. But he does get to sign them. In fact, being president includes a lot of ceremonial duties. And a lot of signing. In the past month, President Obama signed 16 proclamations, declaring allimportant holidays such as Older Americans Month, National Foster Care Month, and National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day. Heres a

look at some presidentially-proclaimed holidays today, and the new month, will bring: Days May 1st is... o May Day The traditional May holiday is not an official one in the United States, but it brings with it a slew of other celebrations as well. o International Workers Day coincides with May Day, a kind-of Labor Day in other countries that has caught on in America only with labor groups. o By presidential proclamation, May Day is also a National Day of Prayer. In addition, presidential proclamation and federal law, May 1 st is Loyalty Day a day to reaffirm loyalty to the United States and recognize the heritage of American freedom and Law Day, which is pretty similar, a day for people to [appreciate]...their liberties and...[reaffirm]...their loyalty to the United States and...[rededicate]... the ideals of equality and justice under law in their relations with each other and with other countries. Months What to do to celebrate the month-long holidays of May: o National Physical Fitness and Sports Month I [President Barack Obama] call upon the people of the United States to make daily physical activity, sports participation, and good nutrition a priority in their lives. - Presidential Proclamation -- National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, 2014 o Jewish American Heritage Month I [President Barack Obama] call upon all Americans to visit www.JewishHeritageMonth.gov to learn more about the heritage and contributions of Jewish Americans and to observe this month, the theme of which is healing the world, with appropriate programs, activities, and ceremonies. - Presidential Proclamation -- Jewish American Heritage Month, 2014 o Older Americans Month I [President Barack Obama] call upon all Americans of all ages to acknowledge the contributions of older Americans during this month and throughout the year. - Presidential Proclamation -- Older Americans Month, 2014

o National Building Safety Month I [President Barack Obama]...call on all Americans to learn more about how they can contribute to building safety at home and in their communities. - Presidential Proclamation -- National Building Safety Month o National Foster Care Month I [President Barack Obama] call upon all Americans to observe this month by taking time to help youth in foster care and recognizing the commitment of all who touch their lives. - Presidential Proclamation -- National Foster Care Month

Letters to the Editor

Marilyn Schapiro asks... And who swore George Washington in at the first Inauguration? How could there have been a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court if there were no president yet in office to appoint him?? A bit of a chicken and egg problem.

And I answer... Actually, there is no requirement that the Chief Justice swears in the President. Anyone can, really. While it has traditionally been the Chief Justice of the U.S. since John Adams in 1800, in the case of death or resignation, new presidents have been sworn in by all kinds of people usually judges, but Calvin Coolidge was even sworn in by a notary public who happened to be his father. In that first Inauguration, 225 years from Wednesday, Washington was sworn in by Robert Livingston, a former member of the Continental Congress and at the time, Chancellor of New York, a position now defunct, but formerly the highest judicial position in the state. Have a question on history or politics you want answered? Email me at wakeuptopolitics@gmail.com with your question, and get an answer in the Wake Up! Thanks!

Capitol Hill News

Senate Blocks Minimum Wage Bill Senate Republicans successfully filibustered the Democratic priority minimum wage increase measure Wednesday. In a roll call that required 60 yeas, the bill received just 54 votes, and 42 nays. Sen. Bob Corker (TN) was the lone Republican Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid speaks after the upper chamber to vote for the bill, as all blocked the minimum wage increase, under the banner of Give the others present joined America A Raise. to block the measure. All Democrats present voted for the bill, except for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (NV), forced to vote against for procedural reasons. Sen. Mark Pryor (D-AR), in the midst of a tough re-election campaign, was absent in the light of deadly home-state storms. But dont expect to see the end of this bill, which would raise the federal minimum wage from $7.35 to $10.10 over 30 months. The wage increase is a key part of the Democratic income equality agenda ahead of the midterms, and Republicans are wary to hand them the victory. Even the Senates most consistent dealmaker, Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) couldnt hobble together enough votes on a lower increase. The Senates failure to accept the bill could even turn out to be better for Democrats in November. While it is far from a victory, it does give them built-in talking points on Republicans stalling the bill that a large majority of Americans support. With Harry Reid expected to bring the bill up again, and again...and again, the question is: will it be enough to keep him in the majority?

Question of the Day

Wednesdays Answer Yesterdays question is behind one that has stumped historians for centuries: did George Washington really say So help me God after he was sworn in as President? My question was Who was the only person present at Washingtons inauguration to recount the president saying So help me God after he was sworn in? And the answer is...Washington Irving, the famous author of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Rip Van Winkle, who was named for George Washington himself. Less than a month after his sixth birthday, Irving attended the first inauguration of his namesake, but it would be another 65 years before Irvings claim that the new president uttered So help me God would be published for the world to hear. But that didn t stop it from catching on. Unsurprisingly, the account of a man saying something that happened 65 years earlier, when he was a mere six years old, does not hold a lot of credit with historians leading to doubt that Washington really said it. Irvings claim was published in Rufus Wilmot Griswolds 1854 book, The Republican Court or American Society in the Days of Washington; Griswold says he first heard it from Irving. So...all we know for sure is, 27 years after Griswolds book is published, Chester Alan Chet Arthur defenitly added the words to the presidential oath when he succeeded to the office following James Garfields death. Every President since has followed the precedent, either set by Chet Arthur or the great hero of American history, The Father of His Country, George Washington. At this point, even the Chief Justice usually asks So help you

God? when administering the oath, to which the President responds, So help me God. Congratulations goes to Marlee Millman, who correctly answered Washington Irving. Joe Bookman answered The only contemporaneous account of Washington saying so help me God was [by] French consul Comte de Moustier. Mr. Bookmans answer opens up another reason to be doubtful of Irvings account, since French Ambassador Comte de Moustier did in fact offer the only contemporaneous account of Washingtons inauguration...but it included no mention of So help me God.