History Book - Following Amelia Earhart’s flight plan

MARY REICHARD, HOST: Today is Monday, May 23rd. Good morning! This is The World and Everything in It from listener-supported WORLD Radio. I’m Mary Reichard.

NICK EICHER, HOST: And I’m Nick Eicher. Next up: the WORLD History Book. This week marks the anniversary of a successful flight around the world—retracing Amelia Earhart’s flight plan. Plus, the Supreme Court upholds the constitutionality of detaining a dangerous suspect. But first, the 60th birthday of a pop-culture earworm.

REICHARD: What a great age!

EICHER: Here’s Paul Butler.

PAUL BUTLER, EXECUTIVE EDITOR: We begin today on May 25th, 1962. The Isley Brothers release: “Twist & Shout.”

MUSIC: [Twist & Shout, Isley Brothers]

The Isley Brothers’ recording eventually hit number 17 on the Top 100 Billboard chart. The song is actually a cover of a less successful version produced a year earlier by The Top Notes:

MUSIC: [First recording of Twist and Shout (Top Notes (1961)]

The “twist” in “Twist and Shout” comes from the 1950’s and early 60’s dance craze:

DANCE INSTRUCTOR: And the last element is bringing your heels forward on each turn so you get the full twist movement, and there you have it.

In 1963 the Beatles recorded their version of “Twist and Shout.” John Lenon disliked the song, but audiences loved it and it became one of their most popular hits.

MUSIC: [Beatles Ed Sullivan Show 1964]

“Twist and Shout” has been recorded by dozens of artists over the years. Twenty-four years after its first release, the Beatles version of the song hit the Billboard Top 100 once again in 1986. That, after it was featured in Ferris Bueller's Day Off. It peaked at No. 23.

Next, 35 years ago this week the U.S. Supreme Court rules that dangerous defendants can be held without bail. The case: United States v. Salerno.

The conflict before the nine justices re-considered the 1984 Bail Reform Act. That legislation allowed federal courts to detain someone before a trial if the government could prove potential danger to the community. Lawyer Anthony Cardindale argued on behalf of the respondent: mobster Anthony Salerno. Audio here from the oral argument.

ANTHONY M. CARDINALE: …up until this point, I think I certainly have lived under the assumption, and have practiced law under the assumption, that you got punished, you went to jail, only after the government was able, after trial, after proof of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, to inflict punishment.

Cardindale appealed to the Excessive Bail Clause of the Eighth Amendment and the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment to make his case for the unconstitutionality of the Act.

ANTHONY M. CARDINALE: …while I certainly agree that Congress has the power, and certainly the duty, to be concerned about the public welfare and safety, when it comes to this type of behavior…the Constitution must protect the individual and society at the same time. And when you deal with predictive behavior, the balance, I submit, is necessarily on the side of the individual. And it has to be.

In the end, the Court upheld the Bail Reform Act as constitutional by a 6-3 margin. Chief Justice William Rhenquest wrote this caution in his decision: “In our society, liberty is the norm, and detention prior to trial or without trial is the carefully limited exception.” The decision goes on to say that detention for societal safety reasons must be limited to a list of serious offenses—placing the burden on the government to prove significant threat. The accused are also guaranteed a speedy trial.

And finally, 25 years ago: May 28th, 1997. Texas pilot Linda Finch completes her circumnavigation of the globe—touching down at an Oakland, California airport.

FINCH: Well, I learned as I say constantly that we never set our limits high enough. I can do more than I thought I can do. It's hard to push them up there and set them that high.

Finch flew a replica of Amelia Earhart’s 1937 twin-engine Lockheed Electra. Finch left the same airfield two and a half months earlier as she retraced Earhart’s intended itinerary.

Finch visited 18 countries during her journey. Her favorite part of the trip was the day she spent with Mother Theresa in India.

FINCH: I talk about that a lot. It was magnificent. I got to spend a morning in Mother Theresa's home and it was one of the greatest gifts I have ever received was my time there.

One spectator was particularly relieved when Finch successfully returned home—unlike her forerunner, Amelia Earhart.

SPECTATOR: I was here 60 years ago when Amelia took off. I was 10 years old … I live for this day. I tell you the truth. I was here in March when Linda took off and I had a sick spot—didn't think I was going to get through it. I got through it and I am here today. So it really is great. I got to shake her hand.

That’s this week’s WORLD History Book. I’m Paul Butler.

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