November 11

The recent nationwide elections are most likely viewed by beleaguered President Bush as a real train wreck. To be fair, the elections weren’t a train wreck at all. When he has a moment I suggest that our Chief Executive toddle on over to the Library of Congress and put those dusty books to some use. Once there he should reacquaint himself with fellow President and, by an extremely convoluted trail, Republican, John Quincy Adams. On the 11th in 1833, Adams was traveling back to Washington, D. C. by train. He was the first president involved in a real train wreck when the Camden & Amboy train he was traveling on broke an axle and derailed near Hightstown, New Jersey. Adams was not injured and managed to continue the trip the following day.