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January 2021
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A Rock Star, an Attorney, and My Dad
A Tribute for Elvis’ 86th Birthday
Looking back, music was constantly in the background of our family experiences. People play music or sing for different reasons, whether it’s for preparing for a workout or just making dinner. What people don’t realize is that those songs become part of the soundtrack of your life as they start to represent memories of family, fun, and comfort.
Do you ever get struck by a spontaneous connection to your past? The other day, my 16-year-old son, Alex, started playing Elvis Presley songs in the car. I started to sing the lyrics that I recognized, and my son started singing along. It wasn’t a scripted moment; we just loved the music enough to start singing.
Alex listens to a lot of ‘50s and ‘60s oldies — so does my father.
The fact that Elvis and I share a birthday (Jan. 8) is actually secondary in this story. I’ve mentioned in previous newsletters that I come from a long lineage of lawyers. Many generations of my family studied and practiced law. So, it might surprise you to find out that before my father was a lawyer, he was a lead singer of a rock band in high school that covered plenty of artists, including Elvis. Singing is among his greatest talents; almost anyone who hears him would agree that my father has a wonderful voice. People really enjoyed it when he’d sing at gatherings and parties. In fact, if there was a band or even just a microphone and a record playing, he didn’t shy away from the stage. He sang his heart out. Somehow,
Of course, I didn’t ever think about that as a kid, but I certainly understand today that music always connected our family together. My older brother, who is five years older than me, played drums. As kids, he’d introduce me to different types of music, and it was one way that we connected with each other. And for my father, I’d feel especially connected when I’d listen to him sing or whistle. One of my best memories with my father was on my 13th birthday. We had a band playing. I loved many Elvis Presley songs by that point, of course, so I knew all the lyrics to a few of his songs. At one point during the party, my dad got on stage to sing “Blue Suede Shoes” — then, I got up there to sing with him. We never practiced. We just knew the song, and we knew whose line it was, passing off solos effortlessly! It was incredibly fun because we simply connected through the music. So, decades later, as I sang Elvis Presley in the car with my son, I suddenly realized, “Wow, how many years have transpired since Elvis was on stage?” My father would sing his songs for his rock band when he was a teenager, before I was ever born! It’s absolutely mind-blowing to think about how a legend like Elvis could be so tremendously influential; he’s remained a key figure who connects three different generations of my family. With how profoundly connected I feel to Elvis’ music, it’s very difficult to choose my favorite Elvis song. However, I will say that there’s always an Elvis song for any mood you’re in. I hope you enjoy a little Elvis this month. And cheers to your 86th birthday, Elvis — thank you for all your incredible music.
performing a song always elevated and even electrified his whole persona. It brought a lot of joy and pride to my heart as his son.
- Yale Spector
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Is the Hot Toddy Indian or Irish? A Closer Look at Our Favorite Winter Warmer
The Irish Account: Dr. Todd’s Boozy Cure‑All
way, the results are delicious and easy to replicate in your own kitchen. If you could use a pick-me-up, try this recipe inspired by CookieAndKate.com.
Jan. 11 is National Hot Toddy Day, but how much do you really know about this popular winter drink? Though the word “toddy” sounds British to American ears, it actually has a contested history split between two entirely different countries: India and Ireland.
The Indians and the British aren’t the only ones who’ve claimed the toddy: The Irish have a stake, too. As the story goes, once upon a time in Ireland, there lived a doctor named Robert Bentley Todd. His signature cure-all was a combination of hot brandy, cinnamon, and sugar water, and it was so well-known (and tasty) that eventually, his patients named the drink in his honor.
Ingredients
The Indian Affair: How the British Stole the ‘Taddy’
• 3/4 cup water • 1 1/2 oz whiskey • 2 tsp honey (or agave nectar for a vegan version) • 2 tsp lemon juice • 1 lemon round • 1 cinnamon stick
Today’s hot toddy is a steaming blend of whiskey, tea, honey, and lemon. But back in the early 1600s, it may have had different ingredients. According to VinePair.com, around that time, a popular drink called the “taddy” existed in British-controlled India. Originally, the Hindi word “taddy” described a beverage made with fermented palm sap, but a written account from 1786 revealed that the ingredients had evolved to include alcohol, hot water, sugar, and spices. The British swiped the idea of a “taddy” and brought it home to England. Legend has it that in northern England’s cozy pubs, the “taddy” became the “toddy.”
How to Make a Modern Hot Toddy
Directions
We may never know the true origin story of the hot toddy,
1. Heat the water in a teapot or the microwave. Pour it into a mug. 2. Add the whiskey, honey, and lemon juice and stir until the honey is dissolved. 3. Garnish with the lemon round and cinnamon stick and enjoy!
but VinePair.com speculates that it’s somewhere in the middle of the two accounts. Either
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This judge-to-be was named William Marbury, and he took his case straight to the U.S. Supreme Court. After hearing the case, Marshall had two options. He could side with Jefferson, even though he believed he was legally wrong, or he could side with Marbury and risk the wrath of the president, who he feared would dissolve the court. In a historic twist, he chose door No. 3. Digging through the Constitution, Marshall discovered a line that required cases to go through a lower court before coming to the Supreme Court. That made Marbury v. Madison , which had come to the Supreme Court directly, out of Marshall’s jurisdiction. It also made the law Marbury had operated under unconstitutional. When Marshall pointed this out, it was the first time the Supreme Court had ever ruled on constitutionality, which set the precedent for its power today. If Marshall hadn’t cared so much about opposing his second cousin in 1803, it’s possible that Judge Barrett’s nomination in 2020 would have been much less contentious.
To learn more about this crazy piece of history, check out “Kitten Kick the Giggly Blue Robot All Summer,” an episode of the podcast “Radiolab.”
Chief Justice John Marshall
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TAKE A BREAK
The reality TV show “The Bachelorette” is known for being packed with drama, but last year there was just as much scandal among its contestants off-screen as there was while the cameras were rolling. Late in 2020, not one but two past “Bachelorette” contestants ended up in court. ‘THE BACHELORETTE’ CONTESTANTS GO TO COURT Judge, Will You Accept This Rose? One of them was Chad Johnson, hailing from the group of hunks who competed for Bachelorette JoJo Fletcher’s attention in season 12. That season aired in 2016, but it wasn’t until two years later that Johnson sued Sunset Studios Entertainment and one of its executives, Cristina Cimino, for sexual harassment, failure to prevent harassment, intentional infliction of emotional distress, fraud by intentional misrepresentation, and wrongful failure to hire in violation of public policy. According to Deadline, Cimino told Johnson she would help him get movie roles with her studio, but that never happened. Instead, she allegedly lured him into in-person meetings and bombarded him with inappropriate calls and text messages. After years of back-and-forth, the case is finally moving forward. In July 2020, a judge ruled that all of Johnson’s accusations were proven except failure to hire. Upping the drama, Deadline reported that “no attorneys for Cimino or the studio participated in the hearing.” Meanwhile, another “Bachelorette” contestant, Luke Parker, has been ordered by the court to pay $100,000 for breach of contract. Parker, who vied for the affection of Hannah Brown in the 2019 season, has allegedly been making media appearances without the consent of the show’s production company, NZK Productions Inc. Each appearance was a breach of contract, and now he owes the company a pretty penny: $25,000 per appearance. According to Page Six, Parker might also be on the hook for bad-mouthing the show and/or sharing information about what happened on set — both things his contract forbids. Hopefully, the 2021 season of “The Bachelorette,” which should air later this year following the postponed 2020 season, will feature less drama than these real-life legal battles.
SLOW COOKER CHICKEN CASSEROLE
Inspired by GoodHousekeeping.com
• 8 chicken thighs or Ingredients
• 2 garlic cloves, sliced • 14 oz chicken stock • 1 sprig rosemary • Finely grated zest and juice of 1/2 lemon • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
drumsticks, lightly salted
• 1 tbsp olive oil • 1 tbsp all-purpose flour • 1 onion, finely sliced • 2 celery sticks, thickly sliced • 2 carrots, thickly sliced • 1 leek, thickly sliced • 1 lb potatoes, peeled and cut in large chunks
Directions
1. In a large frying pan, heat oil and fry salted chicken on high until brown. 2. Transfer chicken to the slow cooker. Add flour and stir. 3. In the frying pan on high heat, fry the onion, celery, carrots, leeks, and potatoes until lightly browned. Add garlic and fry for 30 seconds. 4. Transfer vegetables to the slow cooker and add the stock, rosemary, and lemon zest. 5. Cook on high for 2.5–3 hours or until chicken is tender. 6. Check seasoning and add lemon juice to taste. Top with parsley before serving.
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A Rock Star, an Attorney, and My Dad
2
Is the Hot Toddy Indian or Irish?
Slow Cooker Chicken Casserole ‘The Bachelorette’ Contestants Go to Court
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The Cousin Rivalry That Gave the Supreme Court Its Power
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A COUSIN RIVALRY GAVE THE SUPREME COURT ITS POWER (YES, REALLY)
When Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed away and Judge Amy Coney Barrett was nominated to take her place, the eyes of the country turned to the U.S. Supreme Court. It’s no secret that the court has a lot of power. Its decisions, like Loving v. Virginia , Brown v. Board of Education , and Roe v. Wade , have reshaped America. But how did just nine people come to hold so much sway? Well, the answer lies with two rival second cousins: Thomas Jefferson and John Marshall. Back in 1803, the Supreme Court was the laughingstock of Washington. It was a collection of misfits (including a man nicknamed “Red Old Bacon Face”) and met in Congress’ basement. When Marshall was chief justice of the court and Jefferson was president, the cousin controversy reared its head. Marshall and Jefferson were in rival political parties and, to add insult to injury, Marshall’s mother-in-law had once spurned Jefferson’s romantic advances, according to Washington legend. In 1803, Jefferson (a Republican) was upset because a judge whom his predecessor, President John Adams (a Federalist), had tried to appoint was suing Jefferson’s secretary of state over failing to actually appoint him.
The Supreme Court met in these windowless chambers from 1819 to 1860.
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