My View by Silvio Canto, Jr.

1959: At least Nixon suspected something was off about Fidel

2026-04-16T00:05:00.000-05:00

(My new American Thinker post)

Back in April 1959, Fidel Castro visited the U.S. a few months after taking power.

Castro's visit was rather controversial because he faced skepticism from many in the U.S. He was asked about the promised elections that were delayed and delayed.

Castro was also beginning to hear a lot of criticism from fellow Cubans who kept asking about the surplus of communists and shortage of reforms.

Finally, President Dwight D. Eisenhower did not meet with him, but V.P. Richard Nixon did.

After the meeting, V.P. Nixon said that his bearded visitor was "either incredibly naive about communism or under communist discipline — my guess is the former."

Castro also appeared on Meet the Press and denied that he was a communist. He even joked about it, saying some people thought Adam and Eve were communists.

Furthermore, Castro benefited from a lot of people in the U.S. who were caught up in the cult of personality and did not know the truth of pre-Castro Cuba. It's easy to fall for the narrative when you don't know about the large middle class in Cuba and the number of immigrants who had flooded Cuba in the first half of the 20th century. They came to Cuba because the island offered opportunities, or the exact opposite of "Cuba is all about casinos" that was peddled to justify what they called revolution.

As my late father used to say when he got questions about casinos, "we had a lot more home-grown prosperity than casinos!" He should know, because he worked for one of five Cuban-owned banks that operated all over the country.

Down on the island, Castro continued to deny that he was a communist and put people in jail for accusing him of that. In December 1961, eight months after the failed Bay of Pigs invasion, he declared his allegiance to Marxism-Leninism, and our worst fears were realized.

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Blue wave? Justice Alito retiring? Pope vs Trump. April 15th and history.

2026-04-15T16:00:00.005-05:00

Blue wave? Justice Alito retiring? Pope vs Trump. April 15th and history.

The ‘can’t score’ Democrats

2026-04-15T07:00:00.004-05:00

The ‘can’t score’ Democrats:

Democrats don’t appear able to hit a teed-up ball.

Maybe part of the problem is that they can’t speak two words without bashing Trump. On Iran, they can’t deny the risk of a nuclear Iran run by fanatics, but they just don’t like that Trump is cleaning up the mess. On illegal immigration, they agree that Biden left the border unprotected, but they can’t say anything more imaginative than call for “immigration reform.” On affordability, it’s all about making the rich, or the mean corporations, pay their fair share. On everything, it’s Trump’s fault, rather than propose a credible alternative that voters between San Francisco and Washington D.C. can understand.

So let’s see what happens, but don’t bet on any wave coming. It may be like Texas days when it looks like rain, but the drops don’t fall.

Click to read:

https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/04/the_can_t_score_democrats.html

April 15, 1947 or the day that Jackie Robinson & Dodgers changed baseball

2026-04-15T02:30:00.001-05:00

On this day in 1947, baseball changed when Jackie Robinson opened the season playing first base with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Robinson turned into one of the key players in those Dodgers’ teams that won the NL pennant in 1947, 1949, 1952, 1953, 1955 and 1956. The Dodgers finally beat the Yankees in the 1955 World Series. Along t he way, he won the 1949 National League MVP.

Before he broke with Brooklyn, Robinson and his teammates spent spring training in Cuba in 1947. It gave many Cuban fans a chance to see the man who would open the door to so many players from the island. This is how Cesar Brioso recalls the moment:

The overflow crowd spilled into foul territory where ropes cordoned off fans from the field of play. Beyond the outfield wall, those who failed to gain entrance climbed the light towers for a glimpse of the contest.
The decisive game of the Cuban League season riveted the packed house at Havana’s El Gran Stadium on Feb. 25, 1947, but Cuban fans briefly diverted their attention to acknowledge the presence of a special guest.
After Jackie Robinson was introduced over the public-address system, “he took bows to the wild shouting of 38,000 jabbering fans,” Sam Lacy wrote in the Baltimore Afro-American 75 years ago, pointing out that several members of the Brooklyn Dodgers sitting in the same reserved section “were hardly noticed.”

The Cuban fans anticipated the historic moment. First, they were knowledge of major league baseball, Secondly, they knew that Jackie was ready to jump from AAA to the majors. They knew that history would be made in a few weeks.

Of course, Jackie was followed by black Cuban baseball players, from Orestes Minoso to the many others.

Happy Jackie Robinson Day.

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April 15, 2007: MLB started the tradition of wearing # 42 for Jackie Robinson

2026-04-15T02:00:00.001-05:00

Back in 2007, MLB celebrated the 60th anniversary of Jackie Robinson starting for the Brooklyn Dodgers.

The Padres played the Dodgers on ESPN. It was a special night. Every Dodger was wearing # 42. They've been wearing # 42 every April 15th since to remember Robinson.

During the game, Jon Miller and Joe Morgan spoke with Mrs. Robinson. She looked great and as upbeat as ever.

Of course, we forget that Jackie died young. I was reminded of this by watching an old video from the '72 World Series (his last public appearance) and reading Taking a Bat to Prejudice By George Will:

"By 1956, Robinson's last season, he had lost his second-base position to Jim Gilliam, a black man. Robinson died of diabetes-related illnesses in 1972, at 53, the same age Babe Ruth was when he died. Ruth reshaped baseball; Robinson's life still reverberates through all of American life. As Martin Luther King Jr., who was 18 in 1947, was to say, Robinson was "a sit-inner before sit-ins, a freedom rider before freedom rides."

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1947: Jackie Robinson and the Brooklyn Dodgers

2026-04-15T01:00:00.000-05:00

On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson broke “the color line”, or he became the first black man to put on major league uniform. He played first base that day for the Brooklyn Dodgers and went 0 for 3 at the plate.

Robinson achieved two great things in his brilliant career.

On the field, he was one of the key players for the Dodgers who won five NL pennants and the 1955 World Series.

In 1949, Robinson, now playing second, was the National League’s Most Valuable Player.

In 1950, he became the Dodgers’ highest paid player ($35,000).

In 1955, Robinson led Brooklyn to its only World Series victory.

He retired with a .311 average, 1,518 hits, 137 HR and a .409 On Base Pct.

It got him elected to the Hall of Fame in 1962.

We also remember him for being the man that he was:

Robinson stood up for equal rights even before he did so in baseball. He was arrested and court-martialed during training in the Army for refusing to move to the back of a segregated bus. He was eventually acquitted of the charges and received an honorable discharge.

After baseball. Jackie Robinson continued working for civil rights.

Back in 2013, in anticipation of the movie 42, Michael Long wrote about Jackie Robinson’s post-baseball life:

After integrating baseball, Robinson became a full-fledged leader in the civil rights movement. As a board member of the NAACP, he traveled across the country in an effort to build morale among African Americans fighting for racial justice in their local communities.

And as a friend of Martin Luther King Jr., Robinson helped to lead civil rights campaigns in Albany (Ga.) and Birmingham. While in Albany, he was so moved by the efforts of black parishioners to register African-American voters — despite the fact that their church had been burned to the ground — that he offered to raise enough money to rebuild several torched churches.

In 1964, Robinson then founded Freedom National Bank in Harlem as a protest against white financial institutions that discriminated against African Americans by denying them loans or setting interest rates artificially high.

And while he criticized Harlem resident Malcolm X for advocating racial separatism and the use of “any means necessary,” Robinson saved his harshest public criticism for white politicians, including Presidents Dwight Eisenhower, John Kennedy and Richard Nixon, when they hesitated, as they often did, to advance civil rights legislation.

These few examples of Robinson’s post-baseball life can help us begin to understand a claim he made in 1968: “I think I’ve become much more aggressive since I left baseball.” Coming from a man who stole home plate in the 1955 World Series, this claim gives us some indication of the importance he attributed to his baseball life.

What fueled Robinson’s aggression after baseball? No doubt, deadly violence against civil rights activists played a role. But if we dig a bit deeper, we can see that he was especially driven by his long-held belief that the people of God have an obligation to “set the captive free.”
Thanks to religious mentors, especially his mother Mallie, Robinson embraced a social gospel that called for freedom and justice right here and right now.

My last recollection of Jackie Robinson was during the 1972 World Series. He was honored on the 25th anniversary of his first game with the Dodgers. He looked weak, spoke very softly and died a few weeks later.

Jackie Robinson was consequential stealing home and in everything else that we remember today. A great American of the 20th century!

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President Lincoln died the morning of April 15, 1865

2026-04-15T00:15:00.001-05:00

Lincoln died April 15, 1865: The Wit and Wisdom of Abraham Lincoln: A Book of Quotations......

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We remember Elizabeth Montgomery (1933-95)

2026-04-15T00:06:00.000-05:00

We remember Elizabeth Montgomery who was born in Los Angeles on this day in 1933. She died in 1995.

Back in the 1960's, she was Samantha, the lovable housewife-witch on "Bewitched", a very popular TV series.

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Tax day with George Harrison

2026-04-15T00:03:00.004-05:00

It is remarkable but the top 20% pay 95% of the federal income taxes.

Question # 1: What about the 80%?

Question # 2: Aren't we hearing again that the GOP wants to cut taxes for the rich? Did the IRS get that memo?

We need tax reform. We need to throw out the current tax code and replace it with a national sales tax or something that requires everybody, including the "yes we can" screamers, to pay taxes.

In other words, the US should be more like Texas!

No income taxes!

Here is "Taxman" by The Beatles!

April 15, 1865: "Now he belongs to the ages"

2026-04-15T00:01:00.000-05:00

We recall April 15th or one of the saddest days of US history.

On Friday, April 14th, President and Mrs. Lincoln, accompanied by Clara Harris and Maj. Henry R. Rathbone, entered Ford’s Theatre for the performance of “Our American Cousin” featuring Laura Keene. It was a popular comedy of its time. By all accounts, the President was in good spirits and ready for a night of relaxation.

Otto Eisenschiml wrote that the shots were fired at around 10:15 pm. (In the Shadow of Lincoln’s Death (New York: Funk, 1940).

Shortly after, the President was moved across the street to William Petersen's home. He was placed in a small room at the rear of hall on the first floor.

Mrs. Lincoln and the surgeons stayed with the President all night. VP Johnson dropped in for a visit around 2 am.

Dr. Charles S. Taft observed that the President stopped breathing “at 7:21 and 55 seconds in the morning of April 15th, and 7:22 and 10 seconds his pulse ceased to beat.” (Eisenschiml)

After some silence, Secretary Stanton said: “Now he belongs to the ages“.

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Iran cease fire and blockade. Rep. Salwell and Kavanaugh conspiracy.

2026-04-14T15:31:00.005-05:00

Iran cease fire and blockade. Rep. Salwell and Kavanaugh conspiracy. Democrats and talk of a blue wave. Lincoln 1865.

When ‘me too’ turns into ‘Eric too’

2026-04-14T07:00:00.004-05:00

When ‘me too’ turns into ‘Eric too’:

Now it’s Rep. Swalwell who faces the music.

Click to read:

https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/04/when_me_too_turns_into_eric_too.html

We remember Pete Rose (1942-2024)

2026-04-14T00:11:00.001-05:00

We remember Pete Rose who was born in Cincinnati on this day in 1941. He died in 2024.

Rose broke with the Reds in 1963: .273 with 170 hits plus the NL Rookie of the Year award.

He won the MVP in 1973 and 3 batting titles over the years.

Rose retired with a .303 average, 4,256 hits and 3 World series rings. He played in 6 World Series: 4 with the Reds and 2 with the Phillies.

In 1989, Rose was banned from baseball and the debate goes on about his Hall of Fame status.

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We remember Loretta Lynn (1932-2022)

2026-04-14T00:09:00.001-05:00

Like the song goes, Loretta Lynn was born a coal miner's daughter in 1932. She died in October 2022 at age 90.

She married very young and was a grandmother by age 29!

By the 1960s, Lynn was one of the most successful female performers in the world of country music.

Great singer, great style. Loretta was indeed one of the greats of country.

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April 14, 1865: President Lincoln shot in the evening

2026-04-14T00:04:00.000-05:00

On April 14, 1865, AP correspondent Lawrence A. Gobright filed a report that Pres Lincoln had been shot.

Later, he reported that Pres Lincoln had died early in the morning of April 15th!

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April 14, 1912: The Titanic hit the iceberg around midnight

2026-04-14T00:03:00.000-05:00

The amazing tragedy of The Titanic began on on this day in 1912.

Around midnight, the ship hit an iceberg and you know the rest of the story. Sadly, many passengers were lost in the cold waters of the North Atlantic. Some did survive and related their accounts later.

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April 14, 1865: Abraham Lincoln shot in the evening

2026-04-14T00:02:00.000-05:00

On April 14, 1865, AP correspondent Lawrence A. Gobright filed a report that Pres Lincoln had been shot.

Later, he reported that Pres Lincoln had died early in the morning of April 15th!

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The week in review with Bill Katz, the editor of Urgent Agenda

2026-04-13T16:00:00.001-05:00

The week in review with Bill Katz, the editor of Urgent Agenda

2026-04-13T15:00:00.013-05:00

Guest: Bill Katz, the editor of Urgent Agenda. The Iran blockade and the Strait of Hormuz. Mamdani 100 days. Royal Navy down and out. FDR 1945.

Listen to "The week in review wit Bill Katz_ the editor of Urgent Agenda" on Spreaker.

Emmanuel can you help? Nous ne pouvons pas.

2026-04-13T07:00:00.008-05:00

Emmanuel can you help? Nous ne pouvons pas.:

Has France forgotten it is part of NATO?

So NATO can’t, and you can say it in whatever language you like.

Click to read:

https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/04/emmanuel_can_you_help_nous_ne_pouvons_pas.html

We remember Tony Dow. (1946-2022)

2026-04-13T05:00:00.004-05:00

We remember Tony Dow who was born on this day in 1946. Dow was "Wally" or the older brother in “Leave it to Beaver”, one of the most popular TV shows ever.

The show had four characters that everyone could love: Dad Ward Cleaver, Mom June Cleaver, Wally and Beaver. And let’s not forget Eddie Haskell, who probably drove every mother crazy.

He died in 2022.

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We remember Butch Cassidy (1866-1908)

2026-04-13T04:30:00.001-05:00

Butch Cassidy 1866-1908....also known as Robert Leroy Parker, partnered with the Sundance Kid to rob banks and trains in the early 1900s.

Most of us learned about Cassidy from the great Paul Newman film.

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April 13: # 1 and # 4,000 for Pete Rose

2026-04-13T03:30:00.000-05:00

Pete Rose accomplished two big things on April 13:

“1963 – After eleven hitless at bats, Cincinnati second baseman Pete Rose records his first major league hit, a triple off Pittsburgh’s Bob Friend.

1984 – Pete Rose lashes a double off Jerry Koosman in a 5-1 Expos victory over the Phillies to join Ty Cobb as the only player to reach 4,000 career hits.”

A year later, Rose passed Ty Cobb for the all time lead in hits.

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1970: Apollo 13 before it was a movie

2026-04-13T00:15:00.003-05:00

(My new American Thinker post)

We remember today another anniversary of that "oxygen tax explosion" on Apollo 13 that glued most of their world to their TV or radio:

"On April 13, 1970, disaster strikes 200,000 miles from Earth when oxygen tank No. 2 blows up on Apollo 13, the third manned lunar landing mission.
Astronauts James A. Lovell, John L. Swigert, and Fred W. Haise had left Earth two days before for the Fra Mauro highlands of the moon but were forced to turn their attention to simply making it home alive.
Mission commander Lovell reported to mission control on Earth: "Houston, we've had a problem here," and it was discovered that the normal supply of oxygen, electricity, light, and water had been disrupted.
The landing mission was aborted, and the astronauts and controllers on Earth scrambled to come up with emergency procedures.
The crippled spacecraft continued to the moon, circled it, and began a long, cold journey back to Earth.
The astronauts and mission control were faced with enormous logistical problems in stabilizing the spacecraft and its air supply, and providing enough energy to the damaged fuel cells to allow successful reentry into Earth's atmosphere.
Navigation was another problem, and Apollo 13's course was repeatedly corrected with dramatic and untested maneuvers."

A couple of days before, Apollo 13 launched from Florida a few of us were watching the mission on TV. On April 17, the whole world watched as the capsule hit the water somewhere in the Pacific. Between the 13th and the 17th, it was 24/7 news coverage of Apollo 13.

I had a personal connection to Apollo 13. My school buddy was related to Jim Lovell.

Our school teachers let us watch the TV coverage and it was topic #1 in every class or lunch time conversation. We clapped like crazy when that capsule hit the water! My guess is that millions did the same all over the world.

Apollo 13 taught me two big lessons:

1) "Failure is not an option". I don't know if that was a NASA or movie line but teamwork is essential to getting anything done; and,

2) The astronauts were incredibly talented men. It took a lot of "thinking outside the box," as they say today, to bring that capsule back to earth.

Many remember a great movie. I remember a great moment in recent history.

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We remember Thomas Jefferson 1743-1826

2026-04-13T00:09:00.000-05:00

Thomas Jefferson was born on this day in 1743. He wrote the Declaration of Independence and became the 3rd president.

Quite a Founding Father to say the least.

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