#gwblibrary

National Archives George W. Bush Library, NARA ID 5997302

9/11 Fireman’s Son Sees Dad on Archives Instagram

“Hello, I just came across this picture that you posted and the firefighter in the middle is my dad. Is there any way you can send me the original photo?”

20 years after that haunting picture was taken at Ground Zero, a 9/11 Instagram post connected a firefighter to the National Archives. Last November we had the honor of welcoming the Bardo family to the National Archives.

Read this incredible National Archives News story and discover:

What was his experience as a first responder at Ground Zero?

Did he remember a photographer with President Bush (43)?

How does he feel about his picture being in National Archives?

What on earth is the connection to Scuba Diving???

See also: Alert Diver profile of Paul Bardo

Paul Bardo, photo by Jeannine Bardo.

See related National Archives News story: First Pitch Showcased in All American Exhibit Demonstrates How Sports Helped Unite Nation After 9/11.

President George W. Bush throws out the ceremonial first pitch at Yankee Stadium before Game 3 of the 2001 World Series between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the NY Yankees. Photo by Eric Draper. George W. Bush Library. NARA ID 5997397.

Learn why Presidents pitch Opening Day baseballs and see this NYFD jacket worn by President Bush in our new exhibit: ALL AMERICAN - THE POWER OF SPORTS National Archives Museum in DC, 9/16/2022 - 1/7/2024

Remembering 9/11:

Pieces of History, 9/11: The World Series and a President’s pitch

Special Topics Page, Remembering 9/11

National Archives News, 9/11 Archives: “In our New York office: A day like no other”

From Pictorial Parade, online here.

HAMMERIN' HANK BREAKS RUTH'S RECORD #OTD 1974

By Miriam Kleiman, Public Affairs

#OTD in 1974, Hank Aaron (who died in January 2021) hit his 715th home run, breaking Babe Ruth’s legendary record before a crowd of 53,775 people, the largest in the history of Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. This achievement was bittersweet; at each step of his historic rise, he faced systemic and extreme racism that included hate mail and death threats. He described the effects of this vitriol on his family and his heart:

“It really made me see for the first time a clear picture of what this country is about. My kids had to live like they were in prison because of kidnap threats, and I had to live like a pig in a slaughter camp. I had to duck. I had to go out the back door of the ball parks. I had to have a police escort with me all the time. I was getting threatening letters every single day. All of these things have put a bad taste in my mouth, and it won’t go away. They carved a piece of my heart away.”  NYT interview.

Aaron saved many of those letters and even the death threats.

“To remind myself that we are not that far removed from when I was chasing the record. If you think that, you are fooling yourself. A lot of things have happened in this country, but we have so far to go. There’s not a whole lot that has changed.” USA Today interview.

Such hatred didn’t stop him. Instead, Aaron seized the opportunity for greatness and advancement on the field and beyond (from here): :

“In playing ball, and in life, a person occasionally gets the opportunity to do something great. When that time comes, only two things matter: being prepared to seize the moment and having the courage to take your best swing.” - Hank Aaron

President Carter welcomes Hank Aaron to the White House, 8/15/1978, Carter Library, NARA IDs 180805 and 180806.

“A breaker of records and racial barriers, his remarkable legacy will continue to inspire countless athletes and admirers for generations to come.” –President Carter

President George W. Bush Presents Presidential Medal of Freedom to Hank Aaron, 7/9/2002, George W. Bush Library, NARA ID 6734115.

Related online resources:

Special Topics page: Baseball at the National Archives

eBook: Baseball: The National Pastime in the National Archives

Related Tumblr post: Letter from Jackie Robinson to Nixon Deputy Special Assistant Roland Elliott, 4/20/1972.

Teaching with Documents, Jackie Robinson, Civil Rights Advocate

Prologue Magazine story: Jim Crow, Meet Lieutenant Robinson

Pieces of History blog post: Jackie Robinson’s 100th

Teaching Activities on DocsTeach: Analyzing Jackie Robinson’s White House Letter, Analyzing a Photograph of Jackie Robinson, Analyzing a Letter from Jackie Robinson: “Fair Play and Justice”

Online Exhibit: Letter from Jackie Robinson to IKE about the Little Rock 9

President Jimmy Carter welcomes Hank Aaron to the White House, 8/15/1978, from the Carter Library, NARA IDs 180805 and180806.

President George W. Bush Presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Hank Aaron, 7/9/2002, from the George W. Bush Library, NARA ID 6734115.

WE REMEMBER HAMMERIN’ HANK

By Miriam Kleiman, Public Affairs

“A breaker of records and racial barriers, his remarkable legacy will continue to inspire countless athletes and admirers for generations to come.”

--President Carter

Baseball legend and Civil Rights icon Hank Aaron died Friday at age 86. Aaron rose to the top of baseball while facing systemic and extreme racism that included hate mail and death threats. He described the effects of this hatred on his family and his heart:

“It really made me see for the first time a clear picture of what this country is about. My kids had to live like they were in prison because of kidnap threats, and I had to live like a pig in a slaughter camp. I had to duck. I had to go out the back door of the ball parks. I had to have a police escort with me all the time. I was getting threatening letters every single day. All of these things have put a bad taste in my mouth, and it won’t go away. They carved a piece of my heart away.”  NYT interview.

Aaron saved many of those letters and even the death threats: 

“To remind myself that we are not that far removed from when I was chasing the record. If you think that, you are fooling yourself. A lot of things have happened in this country, but we have so far to go. There’s not a whole lot that has changed.” USA Today interview.

But such hatred didn’t stop him. He seized the opportunity for greatness and advancement on the field and beyond (from here):

“In playing ball, and in life, a person occasionally gets the opportunity to do something great. When that time comes, only two things matter: being prepared to seize the moment and having the courage to take your best swing.”

Tweets from the Carter Library, 1/22/2021. Online here and here.

See related resources:

Special Topics page: Baseball at the National Archives

eBook: Baseball: The National Pastime in the National Archives

Related Tumblr post: Letter from Jackie Robinson to Nixon Deputy Special Assistant Roland Elliott, 4/20/1972.

Teaching with Documents, Jackie Robinson, Civil Rights Advocate

Prologue Magazine story: Jim Crow, Meet Lieutenant Robinson

Pieces of History blog post: Jackie Robinson’s 100th

Teaching Activities on DocsTeach: Analyzing Jackie Robinson’s White House Letter, Analyzing a Photograph of Jackie Robinson, Analyzing a Letter from Jackie Robinson: “Fair Play and Justice”

Online Exhibit: Letter from Jackie Robinson to IKE about the Little Rock 9

Top: National Archives George W. Bush Library, NARA ID 5997302 Lower: Paul Bardo, photo by Jeannine Bardo

9/11 Fireman’s Son Sees Dad on Archives Instagram

“Hello, I just came across this picture that you posted and the firefighter in the middle is my dad. Is there any way you can send me the original photo?”

Last year, 18 years after that haunting picture was taken at Ground Zero, a 9/11 posting on Instagram connected a firefighter to the National Archives. 

Read this incredible story in National Archives News and discover:

What was his experience as a first responder at Ground Zero?

Did he remember a photographer with President Bush (43)?

How does he feel about his picture being in National Archives?

What on earth is the connection to Scuba Diving???

See also: Alert Diver profile of Paul Bardo