A Big Day’s Coming

By GAIL COLLINS
NYT

On Sunday, we commemorate one of the most seminal moments in American history, the inauguration of President William Henry Harrison.

I know you have been waiting for this for months.

Harrison, who was elected in 1840, is remembered today for giving an Inaugural Address that was almost two hours long. The first sentence alone ran 100 words. The weather was wet and cold. He did not wear an overcoat, and he caught pneumonia and died a month later.

I believe that every March 4, stores should have special Harrison Inauguration Memorial sales in which all the warm winter clothing they are trying to clear off the shelves could be offered at stupendous savings. People could also give their loved ones special William Henry Harrison umbrellas, just to show they care. It would be great for the economy.

The William Henry Harrison story is also an excellent opening for a discussion about one of the policy issues in the current Republican presidential campaign. It’s about Mitt Romney and Social Security.

(More here.)