On this 18th Katrinaversary, I have landmark dates on my mind. Yesterday, Judge Tanya Chutkan swatted away Team Trump’s ludicrous proposed 2026 trial date in favor of March 4, 2024. The Indicted Impeached Insult Comedian claims he’ll appeal that trial date. There’s no such thing but when has that ever stopped him before? March Fourth, it is.

Since I don’t feel like writing about our national scourge today, I’m putting on my amateur historian hat and doing a This Day In History post. I tagged March Fourth and it’s it. That reminds me of one my favorite childhood treats:

Mmm, It’s-It. Much tastier than Cousin It of Addams Family fame but not as funny or furry:

There are many sites dedicated to This Day In History stuff, but I gotta go with Britannica. com. I have fond memories of browsing my parents’ outdated Encyclopedia Britanica set. If I was bored and wanted to read something, I’d grab a random volume and peruse. For the kids out there, it’s like falling down an internet rabbit hole only in book form.

I realize that the Trump coup plot trial date is subject to change, but I decided to march forth and write about March Fourth. How else could I make the preceding pun?

We’ll start with the events, then do the birthdays.

March 4, 1933, was an eventful  day in American history: FDR was inaugurated, gave his fearless speech, and named Frances Perkins as the first woman cabinet secretary in American history. Perkins became Labor secretary and was the driving force behind the Social Security system.

March 4, 1789, was the day the United States Constitution went into effect. It’s a fitting day for the Trump trial to commence since he tried to use the Constitution as toilet paper during his presidency.

March 4, 1837, was the day Chicago was incorporated as a city. Its population at the time was approximately 4,200. Rumor has it that it’s much larger now. It’s time for our first musical interlude:

I need a transition device and Britannica is no help there. I might as well go with another musical interlude:

On March 4, 1678, composer Antonio Vivaldi was born. He’s best known for The Four Seasons, which has nothing to do with March Fourth as far as I know.

On March 4, 1888, the first famous football coach Knute Rockne was born. He’s best known for saying “Win one for the Gipper.” Oops, that was Pat O’Brien in the Rockne biopic.

On March 4, 1913, the great American actor Jacob Julius Garfinkle was born. He’s best known as  John Garfield.

On March 4 1932, the South African singer and activist Miriam Makeba was born. She’s best known for her nickname, Mama Africa and for this song:

On March 4, 1944, soulful American singer-songwriter Bobby Womack was born. He’s best known for writing the hit song, It’s All Over Now. More about that anon.

On March 4, 1950, former Texas governor and Trump stooge Rick Perry was born. He’s best known for the oops heard round the world during his first unsuccessful bid for the GOP presidential nomination.

Britannica also lists those who died on March Fourth. Two in particular fit a post about the Trump trial date.

On March 4, 1944, notorious gangster Louis Lepke Buckhalter was executed at Sing Sing Prison. He’s best known as the man behind Murder Inc. Hit it, Bruce:

On March 4, 1999, Justice Harry Blackman died. He’s best known as the author of Roe vs. Wade, which was overruled last year by a Supreme Court stacked with Trump appointees.

If the date holds, you can add the Trump trial to the list. If not, this beat the hell outta pondering what happened on *this* date in history.

That concludes this march down March Fourth memory lane.

The last word goes to the It’s All Over Now variations: