March's guest speaker was Charlie Schudson, a current member of the
Historic Preservation
Commission and former judge. Charlie has been collecting memorabilia and studying presidential campaigns for
fifty years. Judge Schudson presented a version of his “1912 – Wow, what a year!" talk, along with a number of political
artifacts. The 1912 election was controversial and divisive much the same as we are currently experiencing. Charlie gave
us an historical perspective of the 1912 election and presidential campaigns of William Howard Taft, Teddy Roosevelt, Woodrow
Wilson and Eugene V. Debs. Also, Charlie described many of the "trials" facing the Arizona Constitutional Convention to
obtain President Taft's approval leading to Arizona's admittance as the 48th State.
Charlie, also, shared many items from his collection of political memorabilia. Anyone remember the
Richard Nixon campaign slogan "Can't Lick Our Dick"? Or, the "Saturday Night Massacre of October 20, 1973" where Richard Nixon
fired Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox who was investigating The Watergate Scandal? There was a famous bumper sticker stating
"Impeach The Cox Sacker".
