August 9 - National Book Lovers Day

Happy National Book Lovers Day! Bibliophiles rejoice! On August 9, today harnesses any and all of the excitement that book lovers feel about books into one celebration. 

 

A day for all those who love to read, National Book Lovers Day encourages you to find your favorite reading place, a good book (whether it be fiction or non-fiction) and read the day away. 

Bibliophile – a person who has a great appreciation for or collects books. 

Step back in time 

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  • The very first books used parchment or vellum (calf-skin) for the book pages. 

• • The book covers were made of wood and often covered with leather. 

• • Clasps or straps kept the books closed. 

• • Public libraries appeared in the Middle Ages. 

• • Public libraries often chained the books to a shelf or a desk to prevent theft. 

"We shouldn't teach great books, we should teach a love of reading." ~B. F. Skinner

Moving Forward 

Along with several recent developments, book manufacturers use digital printing. Book pages are printed using toner rather than ink.  

As a result of digital printing, print-on-demand opens up a whole new realm of publishing. In this case, distributors don’t print the books until the customer places the order. 

More and more, people read E-books. E-book (electronic book) refers to a book-length publication in digital form. They are usually available through the internet. However, they can also be found on CD-ROM and other systems.  

Read an E-book on a computer or via a portable book display device known as an e-book reader, such as a Reader, Nook or Kindle. 

HOW TO OBSERVE 

Sit back, relax and READ! Don’t forget to share the joy of reading with young people in your life. Inspire them with your favorite novel or find out about the last book they took off the shelf.  

Read to the littlest of the up and coming readers, too. And share what your reading with National Day Calendar® as well! 

Need more ways to celebrate? They've got them! 

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  • Shop for a new title to read or explore the shelves for one you would like to give. 

• • Explore the shelves of used book stores. You might find an out of print tome that might become the highlight of your collection. 

• • Discover the world of online book stores. Their stock includes a variety of subjects and collectible items, too.  

• • Record a video of you reading a story for a child in your life.  

• • Randomly give a book to someone.  

Use #NationalBookLoversDay to post on social media and spread the word. 

HISTORY 

National Day Calendar® was unable to find the creator or origin of National Book Lovers Day. 

What is your favorite genre of book(s)? Do you prefer books or E-books? 

#NationalBookLoversDay 

@kindle 

@nook 

@EBookReaders1 

@nichecinema

August 9 - National Veep Day

Happy National Veep Day! on August 9, this day recognizes the succession plan of the President of the United States.  

The day also acknowledges the one president who was neither elected vice president nor president – 38th U.S. President Gerald Ford. 

In Case of the Removal of the President from Office, or of his Death, Resignation, or Inability to discharge the Powers and Duties of the said Office, the Same shall devolve on the Vice President, and the Congress may by Law provide for the Case of Removal, Death, Resignation or Inability, both of the President and Vice President, declaring what Officer shall then act as President, and such Officer shall act accordingly, until the Disability be removed, or a President shall be elected. 

ARTICLE II, SECTION 1, CLAUSE 6 

In the history of the United States, fourteen vice presidents became president. The people elected only five of them at some point after completing their terms as vice president.  

The other eight ascended to the presidency due to the death of the president. And then there is one vice president who became president who was never elected at all. 

Vice President Facts 

John Tyler 

After one month of being sworn in, 9th U.S. President William Henry Harrison died in office in 1841. His vice president, John Tyler, ascended to the presidency. 

Millard Fillmore 

13th U.S. President Millard Fillmore filled the vacancy left by the death of 12th U.S. President Zachary Taylor on July 9, 1850. 

Andrew Johnson 

Andrew Johnson was 16th U.S. President Abraham Lincoln’s second term vice president. 

His term began when Lincoln died on April 15, 1865 after John Wilkes Booth’s successful assassination of the president at Ford’s Theater. 

Chester A. Arthur 

When Charles J. Guiteau assassinated 20th U.S. President James A. Garfield on September 19, 1881, Vice President Chester A. Arthur completed his term. 

Theodore Roosevelt 

25th U.S. President William McKinley’s first vice president died of a heart attack. During McKinley’s second term, Theodore Roosevelt served as his veep.  

 
Afterwards, McKinley was assassinated six months into the term on September 14, 1901. Roosevelt became the third vice president to step up under these circumstances. 

Calvin Coolidge 

After the death of 29th U.S. President Warren G. Harding on August 2, 1923, Vice President Calvin Coolidge ascended to the presidency. He also ran and won a second term. 

Harry S. Truman 

32nd U.S, President Franklin D. Roosevelt was the only president to run for and win three terms. 

He also had three different vice presidents. His third veep, Harry S. Truman, ascended to the presidency when FDR died on April 12, 1945 after just three months in office. 

Lyndon B. Johnson 

The fourth president to be assassinated in America was John 35th U.S. President F. Kennedy. Lyndon B. Johnson served as his vice president.  

 
An interesting note: 37th U.S. President Richard M. Nixon, whom this day is partially inspired by, ran unsuccessfully against JFK.  

 
Before running for president, Nixon served two terms as veep for 34th U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower. 

After his losing presidential runs, Nixon would run again and win two consecutive terms. 

Gerald Ford 

Nixon’s first vice president was Spiro Agnew. However, Agnew resigned in 1973. Gerald Ford obtained the position of vice president by appointment.  

 
When Nixon later resigned in 1974, Ford ascended to the presidency. He is the only president to service who was neither elected to the position of veep or president. 

HOW TO OBSERVE 

Brush up on your vice-presidential history! While you’re at it, check into your government history as well.  

Have you ever heard of Levi Morton or William King? Well, they were vice presidents, too. You can also test your knowledge of the vice presidents or read up on them as well. 

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  • Take the quiz below to find out how many veeps you can name. 

• • How did you do on the quiz? Pick up these books to improve your knowledge: At the President’s Side: Vice Presidency in the Twentieth Century (1997) by Timothy Walch or First in Line: Presidents, Vice Presidents, and the Pursuit of Power (2018) by Kate Andersen Brower. 

• • Host a trivia night and challenge your friends on their vice presidential knowledge.

https://www.sporcle.com/games/g/usvicepresidents 

 
Use #NationalVeepDay to post on social media. 

HISTORY 

On August 9, 1974, Vice President Gerald Ford became the 38th U.S. President upon the resignation of 37th U.S. President Richard M. Nixon. 

Who is your favorite veep(s) in American presidential history?

#NationalVeepDay 

@WhiteHouse

@veep 

@Sporcle 

@nichecinema