Professor Hamilton's Diary: July 4, 1935

Fireworks are a distraction; Al Smith appears in 'The President's Birthday Ball Affair'

Professor Hamilton stayed home all day working on his thesis, but complained that it was hard to concentrate “on account of the explosion of fireworks so frequently.” But he finally decided that if you can’t beat ‘em you should join ‘em and sat outside watching the neighborhood children setting off their rockets and firecrackers for awhile.

Paid subscribers can read another episode of The President’s Birthday Ball Affair, in which Wallace DeWitt meets former New York governor (and failed presidential candidate) Al Smith. This is Book 2 in the Missy LeHand Mystery series. (The five mysteries can be purchased in paperback or Kindle format.) Paid subscribers can read on! If you missed the first episodes and want to sign on now, you can catch up in my archives.

The picture of FDR and Al Smith in happier days is from the collection of the FDR Presidential Library and Museum. Notice that FDR’s braces are clearly visible. Later he began to have them painted black so they would blend in with his socks and shoes.