Today we celebrate the birthday
… of Harper Lee. The author of one the great classics of American literature, To Kill A Mockingbird, is 82. Miss Lee has remained so private so long that the only mental image of her I have is actually an image of Catherine Keener from Capote. [Update: I’ve added a photo of the actual Harper Lee.]
Mockingbird, published in 1960, has sold more than 30 million copies.
“Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat up people’s gardens, don’t nest in corncribs, they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.”
The Writer’s Almanac had a nice essay about Lee two years ago (it includes the quotation above). There was another slightly longer variation of it three years ago that NewMexiKen replicated.
… of James A. Baker III. The former Secretary of State is 78. NewMexiKen met Baker in 1993 during the last week of the first Bush Administration. He was the President’s chief of staff, so the meeting took place in the West Wing (one of two times I’ve been there on business). Never have I met an individual more impressive in a small meeting than Baker. When you spoke, Baker gave you his apparent undivided attention. Baker’s place in history will be enhanced I believe by his diplomatic work in forming the international coalition before the 1991 invasion of Iraq. His place in history will be diminished I believe by his work for the second Bush in the 2000 Florida election litigation.
… of Ann-Margret, 67.
… of Jay Leno. He’s 58.
… of golfer John Daly. He’s 42.
… of Penélope Cruz Sánchez. Winner of several best actress awards in Europe for Non ti muovere, the Oscar-nominee for best actress last year is 34.
… of Jessica Alba. She’s 27.
Carolyn Jones was born on this date in 1929. The one-time Oscar nominee has nearly 100 credits to her name despite dying of colon cancer at age 54. She was, of course, Morticia Addams in the classic TV show.
Lionel Herbert Blythe was born on this date in 1878. We know him as Lionel Barrymore — and we know him even better as Mr. Potter in It’s A Wonderful Life — “I’d say you were nothing but a scurvy little spider.” Barrymore won the Oscar for best actor in 1931 for A Free Soul. The previous year he was nominated for best director. Both of Barrymore’s parents were actors, as were his sister Ethel (an Oscar winner) and brother John.
And James Monroe, the fifth U.S. President, was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia, on this date in 1758. He is one of three presidents (and two NewMexiKen daughters) to attend the College of William and Mary.