Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, November 20, 1994 TAG: 9411180069
SECTION: HORIZON PAGE: F-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: from wire reports
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
A: It isn't always the second Tuesday; it depends on the calendar. Congress originally did not set a specific date for national elections, leaving it up to each state to appoint its electors on any day within 34 days before the date in December set for the convening day of electors.
But in 1845, to correct abuses caused by the lack of a standard election day, Congress established the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November as Election Day. That's why, if Nov. 1 fell on a Monday, Election Day would be the next day, Nov. 2 - the first Tuesday, not the second.
Q. Which political party controlled Congress when a limit of two terms, or eight years, was placed on a president's time in office?
A. A two-term limit on a president's time in office was introduced and passed by Congress in 1947 - when Democrat Harry Truman was president and the Republicans controlled both houses of Congress. It was later ratified by the states in 1951, and became the 22nd amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
There is speculation, indeed anticipation, that the new Republican majority in both the House and Senate will introduce a similar Constitutional measure that will limit the time senators and House members can serve in Congress.
Q: What is the method of capital punishment in South Carolina, where Susan and David Smith's two children were drowned recently?
A: Electrocution.
Q. Is Carolyn Davis of Reader's Digest a real person? For many years, everything that comes out from them is under her name. I can't believe she's a real person.
A. Lesta Cordil, associate public relations director for Reader's Digest, says you're correct. Carolyn Davis, it seems, is the creation of digest founder DeWitt Wallace, who came up with Carolyn as a way to personalize the handling of subscriptions for the magazine. He took the initials ``CD'' for Credit Department and turned them into Carolyn Davis.
Davis has been spokesperson for the magazine since 1932.
Over the years, she has reminded customers of when payments are due and told them about new Digest products. Her signature appears on all its sweepstakes mailings.
CBS news correspondent Harry Reasoner said on national television in 1969 that there were two other women in his life: Carolyn and Queen Elizabeth. ``Over the years,'' he said, ``I have had more letters from Carolyn than from any other woman I know.''
Q: I just heard that Nicky Hopkins, formerly a pianist with the Rolling Stones, has died. I also heard that Jimmy Miller, who produced records for the Stones, died. Any truth to that?
A: Hopkins, 50, who played on such Stones songs as ``Jumpin' Jack Flash,'' died Sept. 6 at St. Thomas Hospital in Nashville, apparently of complications from abdominal and heart ailments. As a studio musician, he also played on ``Sympathy for the Devil'' and ``Tumbling Dice'' by the Rolling Stones, ``Song Is Over'' by the Who, and ``Revolution'' by the Beatles. Hopkins was a member of Jefferson Airplane when the group performed at Woodstock in 1969.
Miller, 52, died Oct. 22 of liver failure. Billboard has a lengthy article about him in its Nov. 5 issue. You can see it at a library.
Q: What is the British royal family's last name, or do they have one?
A: The royal family of Britain does indeed have a name: Windsor. Of course it simply wouldn't do to address Queen Elizabeth II as ``Ms. Windsor'' - if you speak to her, you should say ``Your Majesty.'' The name Windsor, adopted in 1917, was taken from Windsor Castle, a royal residence. The name replaced Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, which was abandoned during World War I because of its German origin. In 1960, Queen Elizabeth II decreed that future generations, except for princes and princesses, would bear the name Mountbatten-Windsor in honor of her husband, Philip Mountbatten.
Q: How can I write to former President Reagan to offer words of encouragement and to thank him for what he has done for the American people?
A: The address is: Office of Ronald Reagan, 2121 Avenue of the Stars, 34th Floor, Los Angeles, Calif. 90067. If you want to call the office, the number is (310) 552-1980.
Q: What is the proper and respectful way to treat the U.S. flag? I see the flag flying day and night, rain or shine, in many places. Aren't flags supposed to be lowered at night and in bad weather?
A: This is the part of the U.S. flag code, first passed by Congress in 1942, applicable to your concerns: ``In the United States, the national flag should be displayed every day except when weather conditions are severe enough to damage the flag. The flag is customarily displayed from sunrise to sunset, but it is not illegal to fly the flag 24 hours a day. When flown at night, it should be spotlighted.'' Is rain a condition ``severe enough to damage the flag''? That appears to be a judgment call.
Q: I have heard that at one time there was a very close call on German being declared the official language of the United States. Can you tell me what the story behind this is?
A: There really never was any serious challenge to English as the official language of the United States. Congress has never voted on having an official language, but what you've heard is a common story that's been repeated for years. Here's what's behind it, according to the Washington-based group U.S. English:
The matter goes back to the Revolutionary War period, when, because of the large number of Germans in Colonial America, the Continental Congress had the Articles of Confederation and a number of other documents translated into German. All-German battalions were formed, reflecting the importance of German participation in the war.
In the 1790s, German citizens asked Congress to translate laws into German, but the bills failed to pass. One opposition argument was that England never published laws in Welsh. Between 1867 and 1870, Congress did have General Land Office documents regarding free land available to immigrants printed in several European languages.
Q: How long will the Olympic Games last in 1996, and is there a specific timetable for individual events?
A: The opening ceremonies will be July 19 at Olympic Stadium in Atlanta; the closing ceremonies will be Aug. 4, same location. A spokeswoman for the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games said the schedule for individual events is expected to be announced by the end of the year.
If you're trying to plan your ticket purchases, you'll want to know that about 8 million tickets are expected to go on sale in mid-1995 for 436 events in 25 sports. Average ticket price for opening ceremonies: $125. Average ticket price for all events: $25. ACOG welcomes inquiries: (404) 224-1996.
by CNB