For presidents of both parties, one of their primary roles has always been consoler-in-chief, healing wounds, lifting hearts and unifying the nation in times of tragedy. Think of Ronald Reagan, comforting the country after the Challenger disaster in 1986. Or Barack Obama, singing “Amazing Grace” at the funeral of a murdered Black pastor in 2015. Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address in 1863 stands as our history’s most memorable consoler-in-chief moment.
In 1873, the New York Stock Exchange closed because of the Panic of 1873.
Dear Doctors: My 22-year-old son is severely bipolar, which impacts his life terribly. I have kept up with the studies that have shown success in treating bipolar with a fecal transplant. Do you know of any open studies right now that might take my son? We would travel anywhere to get it done.
CLINTON’S HISTORY 10, 20, 30 AND 40 YEARS AGO
DEAR HARRIETTE: My wife and I, along with a few family friends, needed to travel to Canada for a funeral. We decided it would be more economical to drive, so I booked the rental vehicle. Our friends let us know that they’d send us their contribution before we hit the road. The day before our departure, they called, saying they might just take a bus because it’s more affordable, despite us choosing the rental car together and agreeing on pricing. My wife and I decided to invite them to join us in the carpool anyway because the car was already paid for, but I found all the back and forth to be a nuisance; we had checked in with them every step of the way, and we had all agreed. I ended up doing all the driving and covered gas, tolls and the cost of the car. My wife wants to say something to our friends, but I think that may be awkward. What do you think? – Carpool DEAR CARPOOL: Emotions were likely high, given that you and your friends were going to a funeral, but your friends were wrong. They broke an agreement that you made together and took advantage of you by not contributing at all to the cost of the trip. They should be ashamed of themselves! You have every right to speak to them about this. Remind them that you all agreed on the travel plans and the sharing of costs. They reneged.
ASK THE DOCTORS
Next year will bring the 25th anniversary of 9/11, and with it an irresistible angle for journalists and commentators: New York’s first Muslim mayor marks anniversary of devastating radical Islamic attack on the city.
DEAR HARRIETTE: My teenage daughter is upset with me because I told her she couldn’t go to a concert with her friends. The show is in a nearby city, and while she insists everyone else’s parents are letting them go, I don’t feel comfortable with her being out so late in such a large, unsupervised crowd. She’s 15, and the concert would end well past midnight. When I told her no, she burst into tears and accused me of not trusting her. Since then, she’s barely spoken to me.
DEAR HARRIETTE: I had a difficult first pregnancy that took a serious toll on my physical and mental health. From severe morning sickness to complications that required hospitalization, the experience left me exhausted and anxious about the possibility of going through it again. Because of this, I’ve decided that I don’t want to have another biological child. My husband, however, really wants another kid, and he keeps bringing up the idea of trying for a second. I understand his desire to expand our family, and I love him deeply, but I can’t ignore the fear and trauma I still feel from my first pregnancy.
Every decade or so, perhaps during a global pandemic, it’s common to see news reports about pastors leaving pulpits in search of less stressful work.