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This Day in Arkansas History

October 28, 1938

Attorney and former White House Chief of Staff to President Jimmy Carter, Jack Hearn Watson was born in El Paso, Texas. After growing up in Pine Bluff (Jefferson County), he attended Vanderbilt University, where he learned a BS before enlisting in the U.S. Marines, earning the rank of captain. Upon graduating from Harvard Law School in 1966, he accepted a position at a prominent law firm in Atlanta, Georgia, and became partner in 1972. Watson began working with Jimmy Carter in 1970 after volunteering for Carter’s successful gubernatorial campaign and served alongside him in several capacities until 1980, when he directed the transition from President Carter to President Ronald Regan.

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Sultana

Causing roughly 1,800 deaths, the explosion of the Sultana on April 27, 1865, is America’s worst maritime disaster. This photo shows the boat leaving Helena (Phillips County) with approximately 2,400 passengers, mostly Union soldiers freed from Confederate prisons. Remnants of the steamboat sank on the Arkansas side of the river and are now buried under soybean fields in Crittenden County.

 

Causing roughly 1,800 deaths, the explosion of the Sultana on April 27, 1865, is America’s worst maritime disaster. This photo shows the boat leaving Helena (Phillips County) with approximately 2,400 passengers, mostly Union soldiers freed from Confederate prisons. Remnants of the steamboat sank on the Arkansas side of the river and are now buried under soybean fields in Crittenden County.

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Tall office building with four-story building beside it Medical Arts Building Buildings, Hospitals and Research Facilities Arkansas Bird Alliance People and Organizations white man with beard in military regalia Action at Devil's Backbone Civil War Newspaper front page "Sentinel-Record" WEHCO Media, Inc. Businesses Long multistory modern building with cantilevered ends mirror tinted windows and penthouse overlooking park and river William J. Clinton Presidential Center and Park Attractions (Historic and Current), Libraries and Archives Nighttime view from parking lot sidewalk between two small trees leading up to four columns in front of entrance to five story building with large glass panels across front sign on roof text "Library" Central Arkansas Library System Educational Organizations and Programs, Libraries and Archives Chickens in cages from egg to adult with advertisements for an electric hatchery device Agriculture Topical Wide single story cabin with brick chimney surrounded by snow some on roof above text "There's a fire for good cheer where there's smoke" Young Women’s Christian Association Institutions and Buildings Two-white men in military uniform with car featuring the Red Cross emblem Camp Joseph T. Robinson Locations Barbed wire fence and grass field with prison buildings and water tower in the background Cummins Unit Law Enforcement First lines of text "We learn from the Fort Smith Independent that the trial of Too-nah-ee and Young Wolf Fort Smith Double Execution of October 10, 1873 Law Enforcement "Ku Klux reply to speech of W. B. Smith" newspaper clipping James A. Comer Early Twentieth Century, Pulaski Leaders White man smiling and black text in newspaper Come Next Spring Films Four and a half star ratings next to quote "A film that is far more than entertainment. It's a piece of art. An absolute must see." above floating head image from left to right young white boy white man with mustache and goatee white man with mustache and old white man above silhouettes old white man and child walking through forest above text "Michael Ray Davis Thor Wahlestedt Come Morning Everything Will Change" Come Morning Films Movie poster featuring a woman's face with a sunrise behind Come Early Morning Films Book cover featuring a blue pig on a green background Come and Get It Fiction

About the Encyclopedia

The CALS Encyclopedia of Arkansas is a free, authoritative source of information about the rich history, geography, and culture of Arkansas. It is updated regularly to ensure the people of Arkansas have an accurate and accessible resource to explore our heritage. We invite you to browse our text entries and media galleries to learn more about the people, places, events, legends, and lore of the 25th state. We are continually adding new entries, photographs, maps, videos, quizzes, lesson plans, and more, so check back frequently to see what’s new.

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