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President Donald Trump commanded his followers on Sunday to "HOLD THE DATE" on July 4 for a celebration of the United States complete with a Presidential address.
The tweet didn't go over well.
HOLD THE DATE! We will be having one of the biggest gatherings in the history of Washington, D.C., on July 4th. It… https://t.co/YvoeR0KhAV— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump) 1551012232.0
Few know better than historian Michael Beschloss that history tends to repeat itself, so when he saw the President's tweet announcing "A Salute To America," he connected some dots and posted some photos from another infamous president's July 4 celebration.
Nixon’s July 4 celebration at Lincoln Memorial, 1970: https://t.co/EwzB5xUD5K— Michael Beschloss (@Michael Beschloss) 1551035234.0
Protesters at Nixon’s July 4 celebration at Lincoln Memorial, 1970: #Getty https://t.co/RHDC9Gj7yc— Michael Beschloss (@Michael Beschloss) 1551035678.0
The photos show determined protestors wading through the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool during President Richard Nixon's July 4 fete.
The rebuke of Trump was subtle, but people still got the message.
@BeschlossDC I'm in — literally and otherwise— iamspartacus (@iamspartacus) 1551049437.0
@BeschlossDC Not a bad idea— Molly Jong-Fast (@Molly Jong-Fast) 1551035744.0
@BeschlossDC Americans need to organize and we need to protest. Nothing will change without direct and unrelenting… https://t.co/jv9FzjQGLv— Tracey Gaughran (@Tracey Gaughran) 1551039172.0
@BeschlossDC Looks like a plan, Stan!— CathyO (@CathyO) 1551062344.0
That wasn't all.Similar to Trump's "A Salute to America," organizers of the "Honor America Day" in 1970 sought to slap a band-aid of unquestioning patriotism onto a deeply divided country. With the day occurring only weeks after America's incessant bombing of Cambodia and the carnage at Kent State, Many Americans were more outraged than moved, leading the day to be marred by protests that more fittingly illustrated America at the time.
Some Americans had a special connection to the 1970 photo.
@BeschlossDC As I newly married young woman, I was on the Mall that day and was tear gassed. Yay!— Janis Ferre (@Janis Ferre) 1551043070.0
@BeschlossDC At the expense of dating myself, I remember it well.— Techy Tellechea (@Techy Tellechea) 1551068756.0
Again, history tends to repeat itself.
@BeschlossDC Trump has no idea— Clodagh Smith (@Clodagh Smith) 1551035796.0
@BeschlossDC Looks like a plan, Stan!— CathyO (@CathyO) 1551062344.0
@BeschlossDC Americans need to organize and we need to protest. Nothing will change without direct and unrelenting… https://t.co/jv9FzjQGLv— Tracey Gaughran (@Tracey Gaughran) 1551039172.0
@BeschlossDC Well I say we can do even better in 2019!!— Melynda Wieters (@Melynda Wieters) 1551038401.0
@BeschlossDC Worked well. Nixon barely won in 1972 with just 500+ EVs.— The Bearded Crank (@The Bearded Crank) 1551040904.0
Americans seem determined to make Trump hear their voices on Independence Day. They're certainly holding the date.