Archival note: In Clifford Berryman’s cartoon, Uncle Sam offers a baseball bat called “National Big Stick” to a player in a Nationals uniform, a reference to President Theodore Roosevelt’s “big stick” diplomacy. Teddy bear assures him that, “it’s a victory getter, all right!”
Are you ready for the 2012 Summer Olympics to start? We sure are! Hopefully, this document will help hold you over until the opening ceremony starts tonight!
A year before the 1948 Summer Olympics, which happens to be when London last hosted the Olympics, the House and Senate passed H.R. 2276 at the recommendation of the Secretary of War. This bill authorized members of the military to participate in the games, and for the payment of, with certain limitations, training and attendance. The House first passed the bill on June 2, 1947 by a voice vote. The Senate amended the bill to include all branches of the military (not just the Army, as passed by the House). The House then agreed to the Senate changes on June 25. President Harry Truman signed the bill into law on July 1. The US went on to win 84 medals, the most at the games, with athletes competing in 19 different sports.
Senate amendments to HR 2276, June 3, 1947, Sen 80A-C2, Records of the U.S. Senate
Since the First Congress in 1789, the records of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate have documented the history of the legislative branch. Discover the treasures in our holdings here!
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“ Let’s Go Nats! The Washington Nationals’ first playoff game is tonight against the Los Angeles Dodgers. It’s clear who Uncle Sam is cheering for!
“ [Untitled]
Series: Berryman Political Cartoon Collection, 1896 - 1949
Record Group...](https://64.media.tumblr.com/8b06b4b4c78f3d1a36d8f710b88dfa4b/tumblr_oen9urVHWT1qhk04bo1_1280.jpg)
