### Press Release####

Long Beach, CA.: Our company ISPWEST, Inc. had a contract with Norvergence for internet, phone, & cell phones in Carson, California. Norvergence farmed out the lease to CIT financial, then went chapter 7. Now we have received one letter from CIT reminding us that we have no option but to pay the lease to them. They want $16000 for a useless router box. Not only have we not had phone/internet or cell phones for over three weeks, we have lost business because of this matter. We need help to get out of the Norvergence contract (which was farmed out to CIT). Is there any attorney out there who can help us? No one is trying to help the people affected by this mess. please contact us at

(310)637-2100 or at

E-mail: deborahp@rock.com

if you can offer any advice or help. Thank you for your time.

Marina Del Rey, CA.: Seeking representation/advice on failed NorVergence lease agreement. Equipment had been received, but we never received service, we made first months payment expecting reimbursement from NorVergence. We returned the equipment to Wells Fargo, registered-insured US Post, they accepted the return, but still hold us accountable to the lease. We have not received any statements for payment due, however their lawyer has informed me today (after I initialized contact) that we should have been served for being in default. He informed me that the lease agreement is a finance lease agreement and that we are not protected as consumers. Can anyone help?

E-mail: marcy@personalcreations.net

Georgia

Macon, GA.: Am interested in a Chicago area attorney to represent Norvergence customer lessees having rental agreements purchased by IFC. IFC is based in Morton Grove, IL. Steve Elliott

478.477.4818 x130

E-mail: selliott@mbrweb.net

To post a free "need a leasing attorney ad", please go to:

http://64.125.68.90/LeasingNews/PostingFormLegal.htm

[headlines]

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Jim Raeder
click here for Bio

Should Raeder Reveal the Name or Not?

by Christopher Menkin

At the end of this article, we ask readers to give us their opinion as to whether Jim Raeder should reveal the name of the culprit, and his company, who sent several derogatory e-mails to CapitalWerks funders , leasing associations, leasing “on line newspapers,” various print newspapers, and leasing leaders.

The e-mail addresses came from the funders and leasing association web sites, plus the senders own list. In addition to these persons receiving the e-mail, it was “passed around” the internet and sent numerous times like a chain letter. Hundreds received the e-mail.

More damaging, the funding sources who do not like controversy,

and already are “suspicious” about any lease sent to them, began

to think there was truth in what was written.

Leasing News printed the New York Times story, various responses, the Better Business Bureau reports, various responses. In addition, we spoke to many of the “vendors” named, many of the funding sources, and did other investigations over a period of 30 days which concluded that the accusations were false.

Leasing News has also publicly stated that any complaints against

CapitalWekrs have been resolved to both parties satisfaction.

Leasing News for four years has been in contact with both leaders of CapitalWerks/Preferred Leasing, Jim Raeder and Mark McQuitty, who have never refused a telephone call or to investigate any complaint against them or their company.

For the record: Kit Menkin has never done business with CapitalWerks/Preferred Leasing nor have they advertised on Leasing News (whether they did or did not would not affect our viewpoint, but for the record, they have never advertised here.) I personally have only met them once, maybe Jim Raeder twice.

Through this time period all the funders during these four years have told me about their high “approval to signed” lease ratio, their “due diligence,” the quality of their “paper,” even when a “structured deal.” Many of these funders were banks. In the course of their former

company, buying portfolio’s, and other companies, such as Preferred

Lease, the banks had nothing but good comments about the way

things were handled. A “Meet the Newsmaker” forum and two workshops at a United Association of Equipment Leasing Conference

were also held for those in attendance to ask questions.

During this time I have seen Jim Raeder and Mark McQuitty re-build their company that was originally sold to Sierra Cities. They both

have grown. You may not know this, but both only recently started

to draw a salary: minimal. All the money goes back into building

CapitalWerks. Outside their own families, it is the most important

event in their lives. They work long hours, push themselves, push

others, and would not jeopardy their investment of money, time,

and energy to play games with a source of capital.

McQuitty is one of the most intelligent individuals I have corresponded with, predicting the course of leasing and the economy in writing accurately for over ten years. Raeder is tenacious, driven, extremely competitive, very bright; a leader. Yes, they are tough competitors. Yes, they push their salesmen. Yes, they fire those that don’t follow their ethics as Jim Raeder says he doesn’t want to ruin a relationship with a funder over one deal. And yes, they have enemies, mostly ex-salesmen, many who have become brokers and compete against them. Some have legitimate gripes, they believe.

For years, the internet has been full of rumors, falsehoods, and out right lies about Jim Raeder and Mark McQuitty. I liken it somewhat to all the “hoaxes” being passed around. After a while of seeing them, people start to believe them as being “true.” History is full of these, such as Paul Revere never finished his ride to warn about the British coming. In reality, only one of the three riders made

it through. Day in American History tries to correct these “lies” all

the time.

Our mission is to print the truth, to insure not only “legal” but “ethics”

are up-held. Spreading falsehoods, lies, and making derogatory comments about your competitors falls into this category.

These accusations should be faced, and not allowed to be spread around the industry behind the back of the accused. They should be brought out open. The culprit who sent the e-mails went out of their way to hide their identity. First, they put all the addresses and messages on a disk. They then went to Kinko’s, used their computer to obtain a free yahoo address, and sent the e-mails out.

They thought if traced, it would go back to the Kinko’s store and end there. What they did not realize is that Kinko’s videotapes their store for security purposes and other legal liability purposes. With the use of the video, Jim Raeder and Mark McQuitty could not only see the person, but watch them use their credit card, and then see the difficulty the person had with using the disk in the computer. The clerk, after seeing the video, remembered the incident. They then were able to obtain access to the hard drive of the computer used, plus obtain a physical copy of the credit transaction.

Now at this point, Jim Raeder is having second thoughts. The old

Jim Raeder would have hung the person to dry, taking every dollar, enjoying every morsel. The new Jim Raeder, now a father of

four children, given a second chance to build a leasing company, has reservations. In fact, he has a completely different viewpoint. Please read his statement as he does believe it is good for the industry to identify the person and their company:

“ Over the past few years your internet tabloid (Leasing News) has been informative and entertaining for your readers. You have provoked standardization of lease language, mediated disputes, provided excellent coverage on mergers and acquisitions, and been on top of industry change. Most of your news has been unbiased and positive for the industry.

“Recently we have been the target of an underhanded libelous and slanderous attack from a competitor. We have identified the individual responsible for these attacks as a competitor by obtaining the video tape from Kinko's where the information was sent from. After careful consideration we do not intend to publicly reveal our findings at this time as it compromises settlement discussions. I also believe publishing anonymous inaccurate letters and emails is destructive to the industry as a whole. The publishing of false information without well documented support is damaging not only to the organizations profiled, but to the entire leasing business. As evidenced by the damages resulting from recent issues surrounding Dan Rather, fabricated lies have a negative impact on the Presidency as a whole and the intended results backfired.

“I recognize your readership swells with controversial issues, but the overall reduction in participating lenders and capital markets interested in profiting from our industry has been reduced considerably over the past few years. We need to encourage more banks and lenders to participate in our business and not convince them to find alternatives.”

Jim Raeder

It is Leasing News position that snakes who hide beneath a rock be exposed. The name should be divulged. The person should be held accountable to the leasing community. Should Raeder reveal the name or not? Please let us learn your opinion.

[headlines]

**** announcement ************************************

5 New CLP’s---Carlson, Marsh, McCourt, Schmidt, Wax

The Board of Directors of the CLP Foundation would like to extend its congratulations to our newest group of Certified Lease Professionals:

Melissa Carlson, CLP

Pinnacle Capital LLC

Wenatchee, WA

Zack Marsh, CLP

Orion First Financial LLC

Gig Harbor, WA

Tamara McCourt, CLP

Pinnacle Capital LLC

Tacoma, WA

Miles Schmidt, CLP

Financial Pacific Leasing LLC

Federal Way, WA

Lia D. Wax, CLP

Financial Pacific Leasing LLC

Federal Way, WA

The letters "CLP" behind their name are a visible recognition of their experience in the industry and their professional achievement in having passed the CLP Exam.

The CLP Foundation is the official governing body for the Certified Lease Professional ("CLP") Program. The CLP designation sets the standard for professionalism in the leasing industry. This designation identifies and recognizes individuals within the leasing industry who have demonstrated their competency through continued education, testing and conduct. The letters "CLP" behind their name represent a visible recognition of this professional achievement and status.

We invite you to visit our we site -- www.clpfoundation.org for detailed information bout the CLP Foundation and the CLP Program. For further information about our Mentor Program and Anonymous Test Taker Program please contact:

Cynthia W. Spurdle

Executive Director

CLP Foundation

PH: 610/687-0213

FAX: 610/687-4111

E-mail: cindy@clpfoundation.org

www.clpfoundation.org

[headlines]

**** announcement ********************************

Classified Ads---Help Wanted

Brokers

Brokers. We get deals done! We can help you make more money. We are on top of the changing marketplace with more sources due to our volume. Must have 4 years of leasing experience w/ strong client base. 70% Commission, 70% Residual. Barbara Griffith bgriffith@socalleasing.com or 714-573-9804

About the company: SCL has been in business for 12 years. We are contracted with multiple funding sources which enables us to provide more competitive rates and flexible terms and conditions.

CFO / Leasing Sales Leader

Leasing Sales Leader: Atlanta GA.
Outstanding opportunity for highly motivated, exp. leasing rep. for fast growing tech solutions provider. Unlimited earnings potential, fast paced enviroment. Exper. end-user sales/ tech leasing required.
Full description here.
Email: OHCResumes@OHC-LLC.com

CFO: Atlanta, GA.
CPA/10yrs exp. required. Direct/oversee all financial activities and manage leasing operations. Full description here.
Email: OHCResumes@OHC-LLC.com

About the Company: Located in Atlanta GA. Optimus Solutions is a leading provider of enterprise Information Technology solutions including systems, storage, and software enhanced by a complete range of integration and consulting services.
http://optimussolutions.com/

Dealer Credit Finance Analyst / Dealer Credit Finance Services Supervisor

Dealer Credit Fin. Analyst, Torrance, CA Click here for full descrip. & to apply.

Dealer Credit Fin. Services Supervisor, Torrance, CA. Click here for full descrip. & to apply.

To learn more about us, please visit: www.toyotafinancial.com/careers

[headlines]

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Looking for Brian Boys of Firstcredit in Florida--Found

Relayed by John Winchester:

“Ben called me yesterday (Sunday) he is ok and all of his family is fine he says he still dose not have power and phones but all is well.”

Michael Parker

[headlines]

Housing Rebounds—Rates Only Will Effect 3% of Population

U.S. Government Report

Housing starts bounced back in August, increasing 0.6% to 2 million (SAAR). Both single family and multi family were up with single family up 0.4% to 1.667 million (SAAR). Regionally, there was strength in all regions except the west where starts fell 4.7%. Permits, an indicator of future activity, fell 5.5%.

Analysis and outlook: Housing bounced back in august, spurred by a pull-back in mortgage rates as the 30 year fixed rate dipped well below 6%. In addition, builders continue offering more incentives to keep the market moving forward – cash for closing and below market rate loans to help minimize the negative impact of any interest rate increases. Housing fundamentals remain solid – tame inflation (CPI) despite higher oil prices; consumer confidence/sentiment continues to improve; business investment continues to improve; and employment activity is improving, albeit slowly.

Looking forward, there is still some concern about the strength of the economy – is the “soft patch” going to continue, or will the economy resume its faster pace exhibited during the early part of the year. The FED hiked rates 25 basis points this week, and the statement accompanying its release suggested that it will probably keep raising rates at a “measure pace”. “Despite the rise in energy prices, inflation and expectations have eased in recent months”, the central bank said. In summary, the FED feels the economy is back on its recovery path – not roaring, and not stalling, but moving forward at a decent pace.

Threats: Terrorism and the deficit remain the main threats to the economy.

Summary: With fundamentals remaining strong, the rise in interest rates that will accompany a stronger economy should not derail the housing market.

For example, “if the rate on the 30 year fixed rate mortgage were to rise a full percentage point in one year that would price about 250,000 prospective buyers out of the market according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR)”.

However, this year, we will reach 1.1 million new home sales, 6.1 million existing home sales, and 900,000 condo sales – so losing 250,000 is only about 3% - not enough to have a major impact

(Walt Molony, NAR).

[headlines]

### Press Release #######################

[headlines]

#### Press Release #######################

GE Healthcare Financial Services Names Jeffrey Malehorn President And CEO

CHICAGO--Jeffrey A. Malehorn has been named President and CEO of GE Healthcare Financial Services, a business unit of GE Commercial Finance that provides capital, financial solutions and related services to the global healthcare market. Mr. Malehorn is an experienced global leader who has spent the majority of his career growing financial services businesses. Before assuming his role at Healthcare Financial Services in August 2004, he was President and CEO of GE Commercial Finance's Global Financial Restructuring business based primarily in Tokyo, Japan, where he helped drive global business growth across Europe, Asia and the U.S.

"We are excited to promote Jeff to this new role," said Mike Neal, President and CEO of GE Commercial Finance. "Jeff's proven track record in finance, business development, change management and risk management will be a tremendous benefit to GE Healthcare Financial Services and instrumental in driving this business' continued growth."

A 20-year GE veteran, Mr. Malehorn led GE Real Estate's European business for three years based in Paris, France. He has proven expertise leading high-growth businesses. He has managed GE Real Estate's U.S. debt and equity originations, and the senior living, hospitality and related operations-based ventures. He also has held positions in risk, portfolio and operations management as well as business development and process improvement. His business experience includes corporate finance and equipment leasing.

Mr. Malehorn started his career at GE in the Financial Management Program in 1984. He then conducted and led numerous financial and operating business reviews with a four-year leadership development assignment in GE's Corporate Audit Staff.

GE Healthcare Financial Services, a unit of GE Commercial Finance, is the premier provider of capital, financial solutions and related services for the global healthcare market. With $13 billion in assets, GE Healthcare Financial Services offers a full range of financing capabilities from equipment leasing and real estate financing to working capital lending, vendor programs and acquisition financing. With a dedicated focus and a deep knowledge of the healthcare industry, GE Healthcare Financial Services collaborates with customers to create tailored financial solutions that help them improve their productivity and profitability. For more information, visit www.GEHealthcareFinance.com.

CONTACT:GE Healthcare Financial Services Deia Lofendo (Media),

312-441-6169

deia.lofendo@ge.com

[headlines]

### Press Release #########################

BB&T Leasing Corporation Selects International Decision Systems’

MINNEAPOLIS, MN,– International Decision Systems (IDS), the standard-setting market leader in equipment financing software and service solutions, announced today that BB&T Leasing Corporation has selected its ProFiniaTM lease/loan accounting solution.

BB&T is a fast-growing regional bank with more than $97 billion in assets and 1,400 branch offices throughout the southeast region of the United States. The company has a 15-year history with IDS products, including two years of success with IDS RapportÔ, the market-leading front-end solution for origination through booking.

With the addition of ProFinia, next-generation InfoLease®, BB&T will manage its equipment finance business, from end to end, using IDS’s current, asset-centric, software solutions.

Joel Rutledge, President of BB&T Leasing, said that ProFinia is the best choice to advance the company’s goals of broadening sales channels and increasing the average ticket size of its transactions. “ProFinia not only integrates seamlessly with Rapport and a wide range of third-party software, it is also designed to help improve operational efficiencies, enable better reporting, and provide access to audit trails. In addition, its flexible design will enable us to add key products such as master leases. We are pleased to bring our relationship with IDS to this next level by implementing ProFinia."

Together with Rapport, the full ProFinia software suite helps lessors and lenders automate their businesses from handling the sales lead through disposition of the asset. ProFinia offers true asset-level accounting, a user-friendly interface, accessible audit trails, and open architecture for seamless interfacing with standard enterprise systems.

“The asset-centric model – the foundation of ProFinia and Rapport – is the way that our customers think about their businesses today, and BB&T’s asset-intensive portfolio is particularly well suited for this model,” said IDS Product Marketing Manager Tom Dawson. “Since ProFinia is scaleable and easily enhanced, we expect to be able to continue to meet the needs of BB&T and other market leaders well into the future.”

“Maintaining the finest, most functional information technology is more critical than ever to our success,” added BB&T’s Rutledge. “With capital spending beginning to rise again, the time is right for us to migrate from InfoLease to ProFinia – which sets a new standard for software that can help us continue to grow and maximize returns on our portfolio.”

About International Decision Systems

International Decision Systems (IDS) is the global leader in developing lease/loan accounting and portfolio management software and services. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, IDS also has offices in London, Sydney, and Singapore. IDS offers the largest and most experienced global consulting, implementation, and technical support teams in the equipment financing industry. For additional information about International Decision Systems, visit www.idsgrp.com.

About BB&T Leasing Corporation

Winston-Salem-based BB&T Corporation and its subsidiaries offer full-service commercial and retail banking and additional financial services such as insurance, investments, retail brokerage, corporate finance, international banking, leasing and trust. BB&T operates more than 1,400 financial centers in the Carolinas, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Indiana and Washington, D.C. With more than $97 billion in assets, BB&T Corp. is the nation's 11th largest financial holding company. BB&T Leasing Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of BB&T.

CONTACT:

Konajilo Luseni

Makovsky & Co. Inc.

Phone Number: 212-508-9684

E-mail: kluseni@makovsky.com

[headlines]

#### Press Release ###########################

News Briefs---

Warnings Shadowed Fannie Mae’s Rapid Growth

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A43162-2004Sep22.html

Oil Dips as U.S. Considers SPR Loan

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/business/business-markets-oil.html

CDO Analysts Keep Playing Musical Chairs

http://www.absnet.net/include/showfreearticle.asp?file=/headlines/.htm

Adelphia 'the last great prize' in cable

http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2004-09-22-adlephia-usat_x.htm

Patriarch of Marsalis musical family dies at 96

http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/0904/22marsalis.html

[headlines]

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“Gimme that Wine”

3 Generations Under 1 Roof—Bonny Doon Winery

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/19/magazine/12DOMAINS.html?ex=

1096603200&en=716d3709176aaf7e&ei=5040&partner=MOREOVER

Nation's Largest Alcoholic Beverage Distributor Establishes Corporate

On-Premise Strategic Sales Team to Service Top National

Restaurant & Hotel Groups

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=

/www/story/09-21-2004/0002256165&EDATE=

Tourism experiences upswing in Napa Valley

http://www.napanews.com/templates/index.cfm?template=

story_full&id=80A8B938-CE42-44A4-85C7-E049B3DB210A

World Wine Market files for Chapter 7

http://busjrnl.com/htmlos/00482.2.1667096863718361205

[headlines]

This Day in American History

1779-John Paul Jones, commanding the “Bonhomme Richard,”: defeated and captured the “Serapis,” a British man-of-war commanded by Capt. Richard Pearson. It was during the engagement that Jones, when asked if he had struck his colors, ( surrendered), replied,” I have not yet begun to fight.” After three hours of brutal fighting, Pearson surrendered to Jones. The Americans transferred t the Serapis from their own ship, which sank a day later.

1800-Birthday of Wiliam Homes McGuffy, American educator and author of the famous, “McGuffey Readers,” born at Washington County, PA. died at Charlottesville, VA. May 4, 1873.

1806- Lewis & Clark return to St Louis from the Pacific Northwest

http://www.seanet.com/Users/pamur/l&c.html

1815 - One of the greatest hurricanes to strike New England made landfall at Long Island and crossed Massachusetts and New Hampshire. It was the worst tempest in nearly two hundred years, equal to the hurricane which struck in 1938, and one of a series of severe summer and autumn storms to affect shipping lanes that year.

1838- Birthday of Victoria Chaflin Woodhull, American feminist, reformer and first female candidate for the presidency of the US. Born at Homer, OH. She died at Norton Park, Bremmons, Worcestshire, England, June 10,1927.

1845- the Knickerbocker Club of New York was officially organized by Alexander Joy Cartwright, the man who laid out the diamond-shaped baseball field and gave the game its modern form. Duncan F. Curry was the club’s first president. the club played its first game in June, 1846, losing 23-1. A previous team that played an earlier form of baseball was the Olympic Club of Philadelphia, PA, which played “cat ball”, also known as town ball, from July 4, 1833, to the year 1860, when they changed to standard baseball. Town ball, a game similar to the British game of rounders, was the immediate forerunner of regular baseball in the United States.

1846-Discovery of the planet Neptune, 2,796,700,000 miles from the sun ( about 30 times as far from the sun as Earth). Eight planet from the sun. Neptune takes 165.8 years to revolve around the sun. Diameter is about 31,000 miles compared to earth at 7,927 miles. Discovered by German astronomer Johann Galle.

1862- Lincoln's Emancipation is published in Northern Newspapers. He issued the day before to take effect on January 1,1863. It declared that “all persons held as Slaves” in all the Confederate states, excepting a number of counties under federal control, were considered “forever Free.” It also enjoined members of the federal armed forces from returning fugitive slaves to their owners. The Emancipation Proclamation in its final form was signed on January 1, 1863.

http://www.collectorsnet.com/cwtimes/chattano.htm

1863-Birthday of Mary Church Terrell--educator, political activist, and first president of the National Association of Colored Women, born Memphis, Tennessee.

http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/sep23.html

1879- Richard S. Rhodes of River Park, IL, received a patent for the Audiphone, a hearing aid other than ear trumpets. It was a fanlike device held against the teeth.

1901-Birthday of piano player Albert Ammons, Chicago, IL

1908- In the decisive game between the Chicago Cubs and the New York Giants, the National League pennant race erupted in controversy during the bottom of the ninth with the score tied 1—1, at the Polo Grounds, New York, NY. New York was at bat with two men on. The batter hit safely to center field, scoring the winning run. Chicago claimed that the runner on first, Fred Merkle, seeing the winning run scored, headed toward the dugout without advancing to second base, thus invalidating the play. The Chicago second baseman, Johnny Evers, attempted to get the ball and tag Merkle out, but was prevented by the fans streaming onto the field. Days later Harry C. Pulliam, head of the National Commission of Organized Baseball], decided to call the game a tie. The teams were forced to play a post-season playoff game. which the Cubs won 4—2. Fans invented the terms “boner” and “bonehead” in reference to the play and it has gone down in baseball history as “Merkle’s Boner.”

1926-Birthday of Tenor Saxophone player John Coltrane

1928-Birthday of Tenor-composer Frank Foster, born Cincinnati, Ohio, with Basie, wrong “Shiny Stockings,” “Blues Backstage.”

1930-Birthday of singer/piano player Ray Charles (Robinson), Albany, GA

http://www.raycharles.com/

1935-Birthday of jazz piano/organ player Les McCann, Lexington, KY.

1939-Jan Savitt records “720 in the Books” (Decca 2771).

1943-Brithday of singer Julio Iglesias, born Madrid, Spain.

1943-Birthday of Martin Edward “Marty” Schottenheimer, football coach and former player, born Canonsburg, PA.

1946-Al Couture recorded the quickest knockout in boxing history, flooring Ralph Walton with only half a second gone in the first round. Couture threw the knockout punch while Walton was still sitting in his corner adjusting his mouthpiece.

1949-Singer/songwriter Bruce Springsteen born, Freehold, NJ. (‘The Boss’: singer: group: E-Street Band: Born in the U.S.A., Born to Run, Hungry Heart, Dancing in the Dark, Cover Me, I’m on Fire, Glory Days, My Hometown, War; songwriter: Blinded by the Light [Manfred Mann’s Earth Band], Fire [The Pointer Sisters]; inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame [3-15-99])

1949---Top Hits

You’re Breaking My Heart - Vic Damone

Let’s Take an Old Fashioned Walk - Perry Como

Someday - Vaughn Monroe

Slipping Around - Ernest Tubb

1952 - Rocky Marciano became the world heavyweight boxing champion by knocking out Jersey Joe Walcott in the 13th round in Philadelphia PA. It was Rocky’s 43rd consecutive victory.

1952 - Pay Television for sporting events began with the Marciano-Walcott fight, coast to coast, in 49 theatres in 31 cities.

1952 - U.S. President Richard M. Nixon’s dog, Checkers, was the subject of a speech given this day by Mr. Nixon, then a candidate for vice-president. In the televised speech, he stated that he would not give back a gift -- whether it had political ties or not -- because it was a present for his daughter. The gift in question was Checkers and the speech was forever referred to as the ‘Checkers Speech’. The first use of television in a national campaign, when vice-president and presidential candidate Richard M. Nixon gave his famous “Checkers Speech.” Nixon was found “clean as a hound’s tooth” in connection with a private fund for political expenses, and he declared he would never give back the cocker spaniel dog, Checkers, which had been a gift to his daughters. Other dogs prominent in American politics: Abraham Lincoln’s dog, Fido; Franklin 0. Roosevelt’s much-traveled terrier, Fala; Harry S. Truman’s dogs, Mike and Feller; Dwight D. Eisenhower’s dog, Heidi; Lyndon Johnson’s beagles, Him and Her; Ronald Reagan’s dogs, Lucky and Rex; and George Bush’s dog, Millie.

1955-The firsts World heavyweight boxing champion to retire undefeated was Rocky Marciano, who won all his 49 professional bouts, notably the heavyweight championship in Philadelphia, PA. Marciano retired following the sixth defense of his heavyweight title, in which he knocked out Archie Moore at Yankee Stadium on September 21, 1955.

1957---Top Hits

Tammy - Debbie Reynolds

Diana - Paul Anka

Mr. Lee - The Bobbettes

My Shoes Keep Walking Back to You - Ray Price

1957- The Braves clinch National League pennant defeating the Cards 4-2 thanks to Hank Aaron's 11th inning home run. It is the first time since 1950 that a New York team hasn't finished first.

1962- Maury Wills of the Los Angeles Dodgers stole his 96^th and 97^th bases of the season to tie and then break Ty Cobb’s record for most stolen bases in a season, set in 1915. Wills finished the year with 104 stolen bases and won the National Leagues Most Valuable Player award.

1962- “The Jetsons” premiered on television. “ Meet George Jetson, His boy Elroy, Daughter Judy, Jane his wife...” These words introduced us to the Jetson, a cartoon family living in the twenty-first century, The Flintstones of the Space Age. We followed the exploits of George and his family, as well as his work relationship with his greedy, ruthless boss Cosmo Spacely. and who can forget Astro, the family dog. New episodes were created in 1985, which also introduced a new pet ,Orbity.

1965---Top Hits

Help! - The Beatles

Eve of Destruction - Barry McGuire

You Were on My Mind - We Five

Is It Really Over? - Jim Reeves

1967 - The Box Tops from Memphis hit #1 with "The Letter". Though the song was #1 for four weeks and remained on the charts for 13 weeks. The Box Tops reorganized right after that first hit and never made it to #1 again.

1970-The first New York City Marathon was held. Queens fireman Gary Muhrcke won the race, which consisted of four laps around Central Park. The course was later changed to run from Staten Island to Central Park.

1972- It was announced that for the first time in U.S. history, the birth rate dropped to 2.1 children per family.

1973---Top Hits

Let’s Get It On - Marvin Gaye

We’re an American Band - Grand Funk

Loves Me like a Rock - Paul Simon

You’ve Never Been This Far Before - Conway Twitty

You Don’t Know Me - Mickey Gilley

1976-The first presidential election debate between an incumbent president a challenger to be television as three networks pooled their efforts to telecast a debate between President Gerald Rudolph Ford, a Republican, and Jimmy Carter, the Democratic candidate, at the Walnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia, PA. The debate, limed to domestic issues, was sponsored

by the League of Women Voters. TA second debate took place on October 6,1976, from the Palace of Fine Arts Theatre, San Francisco, CA. A third from the stage of Phi Beta Kappa Hal on the campus of the College of William and Marry, Williamsburg, VA. Each confrontation was 90 minutes long.

1981—Top Hits Today:
Endless Love - Diana Ross & Lionel Richie
Queen of Hearts - Juice Newton
Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around - Stevie Nicks with Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
You Don’t Know Me - Mickey Gilley

1984-San Francisco SF 49er Joe Montana misses his 1st start in 49 games

1986 - NBC-TV won the ratings race for the 52-week season (1985-1986). "The Cosby Show" and "Family Ties" rated #1 and #2 respectively that year. NBC repeated the feat the following year and "The Cosby Show" remained number one through the 1989-1990 season.

1988- Jose Canseco of the Oakland A'’s became the first player ever to hit 40 home runs and steal 40 bases in the same season. In a game against the Milwaukee Brewers, he hit his 41^st homer of the season an stole tow bases., Nos 39 and 40. The A’s won, 9-8, in 14 innings.

1989 - Seventeen cities in the north central U.S. reported record low temperatures for the date, including Devils Lake ND with a reading of 22 degrees. Jackson KY reported a record low of 41 degrees during the late afternoon. Strong northwesterly winds ushering cold air into the central and northeastern U.S. gusted to 55 mph at Indianapolis IND. Winds along the cold front gusted to 65 mph at Norfolk VA, and thunderstorms along the cold front deluged Roseland NJ with 2.25 inches of rain in one hour. The temperature at Richmond VA plunged from 84 degrees to 54 degrees in two hours. Snow and sleet was reported at Binghamton NY.

1989---Top Hits

Girl I’m Gonna Miss You - Milli Vanilli

Heaven - Warrant

If I Could Turn Back Time - Cher

Above and Beyond - Rodney Crowell

1990- PBS begins an 11 hour miniseries on The Civil War.

1992-20-year-old Manon Rheaume became the first woman to play in an NHL game when the Tampa Bay Lightning took on the St. Louis Blues in an exhibition. Rheaume led the Lightning onto the ice, made seven saves in one period of action and left with the game tied, 2-2.

1996-Montreal Expos outfielder Moises Alou flied out to right field against the Atlanta Braves to make the final out in the final regular season game ever played at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. The Braves won,3-1. Alou’s out completed an unusual family coincidence. In the first game played at the same park on April 12, 1966, Moise’s uncle Matty Alou, was the first batter for the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates. His father, Felipe Alou, was the Brave’s first batter. Pittsburgh won that game, 3-2, in 13 innings.

1997-The Rolling Stones begin their "Bridges To Babylon" tour at Chicago's Soldier Field. They begin the show with "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" and close it 2 1/2 hours later with "Brown Sugar." They play mostly classic Stones songs, only playing two new ones off their "Bridges To Babylon" album.

1998 -In a Chicago's 8-7 loss at Milwaukee, Cubs' outfielder Sammy Sosa hits his 64th and 65th homers tying Mark McGwire's record

2001- Hitting his 66th round tripper of rookie Jason Middlebrow, Barry Bonds ties Sammy Sosa for the second-most home runs in a season. The Giants' left fielder also sets a major league record with 34 road homers passing Babe Ruth (1927) and Mark McGwire (1998) , who both had 32 dinners away from home.

[headlines]

Baseball Poem

Fifth Place Baseball in September

Because of drought and a few bad trades

the leaves have fallen too soon

and the crowd is sparse

and spaced like the remaining pieces

at the end of a long chess match

gridiron battle lines have been drawn

like grill marks across the brown diamond

and the ball follows the fifty

high and toward right

till the sun strikes the fielder

like a peyton stiff arm

and you forgive random rookie

for his bad judgment

for all rookies must be forgiven

once in September

when fifth place is sewed up

and attendance is amazingly over a million.

by Tim Peeler

from “Touching All the Bases”

with permission of the author.

available at: www.mcfarlandpub.com

[headlines]