February 12

Born in London to American parents, Louisa Catherine Johnson was the only U.S. First Lady born abroad. She married John Quincy Adams in 1797, accompanying him on diplomatic missions across Europe. As First Lady from 1825 to 1829, she brought European social refinements to the White House court. Louisa hosted elaborate receptions and fostered transatlantic cultural exchange during her husband's presidency. After the White House, she supported her husband's political career and navigated personal challenges as a mother. Her memoirs and letters offer insight into early American diplomacy and high society in the young republic.

Born in 1880 in Iowa County, Iowa, John L. Lewis began working in coal mines as a teenager. In 1920, he became president of the United Mine Workers of America and transformed it into a powerful national union. Lewis was a key figure in establishing the Congress of Industrial Organizations in 1935, organizing labor across multiple industries. He championed sit-down strikes and collective bargaining to secure better wages and working conditions. Often at odds with government leaders, he wielded significant influence during the New Deal era. He stepped down from union leadership in 1960 and passed away in 1969, remembered as a titan of American labor.

Julius Streicher (1885–1946) was a Nazi Party member who used publishing to spread virulent anti-Semitic propaganda. He founded Der Stürmer in 1923, which became notorious for its hateful rhetoric and sensationalist content. Streicher’s relentless campaign against Jewish communities played a significant role in shaping Nazi ideology and public opinion. After World War II, he was convicted of crimes against humanity at the Nuremberg Trials and executed in 1946. His legacy remains a stark reminder of the power of media in fomenting hatred and violence.

Appointed to the California Supreme Court in 1940, Traynor rose to become its 23rd Chief Justice in 1964. He authored landmark opinions that modernized contract and tort law, emphasizing fairness and public policy considerations. Under his leadership, the court streamlined civil procedure and expanded consumer protections. Traynor's writings influenced legal scholarship and established lasting legal doctrines. His tenure helped shape California's reputation as a leader in progressive jurisprudence.