“Washington Becomes First President,” “Snow White Debuts,” and “Karen Carpenter Dies” - This Day in History – Feb 4th

The nation's first President is elected

Back in 1789, George Washington was chosen as the first president of the U.S.  The ballots of the 69 members of Congress chose Mr. Washington along with runner-up John Adams as the first Vice President. 

Mr. Washington chose to downplay the role of president by avoiding being called, “His Highness,” like European monarchs.  He also chose to wear simple black velvet for his attire. 

History.com stated, “The first Mr. President embarked on a week-long journey from his estate at Mount Vernon to his inauguration in New York without his wife, Martha, who chose to stay at home. During a presidency in which the role of the president was still evolving and under constant scrutiny, Washington periodically revealed his longing for a return to a more relaxed life at his beloved Mount Vernon and still managed to keep close tabs on the farm, sending detailed instructions for the estate's maintenance.”

Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Debuts

Back in 1938, Walt Disney’s production company released the future animated masterpiece, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.  

The premise is explained in history.com, “Based on the famous fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm, Snow White opened with the Wicked Queen asking her magic mirror the question “Who is the fairest one of all?” The mirror gives its fateful answer: Snow White, the queen’s young stepdaughter. Ordered by the queen to kill the young princess, a sympathetic woodsman instead urges Snow White to hide in the forest; there she encounters a host of friendly animals, who lead her to a cottage inhabited by the Seven Dwarfs: Sleepy, Dopey, Doc, Sneezy, Grumpy, Bashful and Happy. Eventually, in the classic happy ending viewers would come to expect as a Disney trademark, love conquers all as the dwarfs defeat the villainous queen and Snow White finds love with a handsome prince.”

Critics enjoyed this animated movie and it was given an honorary Academy Award for its achievement.  This movie is listed as the of “America’s 10 Greatest Films in 10 Classic Genres.”

Singer - Songwriter Karen Carpenter Dies

Back in 1983, the Karen Carpenter, the female vocalist of the brother and sister singing duo, “The Carpenters,” died due to heart failure from anorexia at the age of 32.  Born in Downey, CA, Ms. Carpenter suffered from insecurities of her weight and would diet drastically using “the Water diet.”  Her thin frame became worse over the years due to her weight-loss program. 

History.com stated that, “In pictures printed in Rolling Stone magazine in late 1974, when the Carpenters were one of the most successful acts in all of pop music, Karen looks fit and healthy. Yet by mid-1975, the Carpenters were forced to cancel tours of Japan and Europe after Karen collapsed on stage in Las Vegas. Her weight had plummeted to only 90 lbs., and though it would rebound somewhat after a brief hospitalization, the next seven years were a repeating cycle of dramatic weight loss, collapse and then hospitalization. The name of Karen's condition was virtually unknown to the public at this time, but all that was about to change. Early on the morning of February 4, 1983, while staying in her parents home in Downey, Karen suffered a deadly heart attack, brought on by the physiological stresses placed on her system by the disease whose name soon entered the public consciousness: anorexia nervosa.”

All History facts provided from the link below:

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-us-president-elected?catId=6