THE SCRAPBOOK advises that its readers change whatever plans they've made for the upcoming "Presidents' Day" holiday. There being no such holiday, in fact.
There is, instead, the "Monday Holidays Act of 1968," by which Congress rescheduled observance of several date-certain anniversaries -- so as to transform them into three-day weekends wholly divorced from their original, commemorative purposes. And there is, too, an old (and non-binding) 1971 proclamation by then-President Richard Nixon encouraging us, on the thus-defiled George Washington's birthday holiday, to honor all past presidents as a group, not just the first one.
Honor Richard Nixon? Or that other fellow who's just retired? Nosiree, says THE SCRAPBOOK; they don't deserve it. The darn thing is still, technically at least, "George Washington's Birthday." And if representatives Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD) and Tom Tancredo (R-CO) get their way, Congress will soon enact legislation requiring that federal agencies refer to it that way, and that way only. We're for it.
We're also for repealing the 1968 law and moving George Washington's Birthday back to his actual birthday, February 22, whether or not it falls on a Monday. This would result, most years, in one fewer three-day weekend. But it would better honor the father of our country. And it would probably prevent your local mattress discounter from airing those horrifying commercials with the talking dollar bill.