President William McKinley signs a resolution to annex Hawaii, marking it as a U.S. territory. This strategic acquisition later supports U.S. military presence in the Pacific.

TODAY’S PATRIOT

“Antonin Scalia (1936–2016) – One of the most influential Supreme Court justices in modern American history, Scalia was a staunch originalist who interpreted the Constitution according to its original meaning. Appointed by President Reagan in 1986, Scalia’s sharp wit and intellectual rigor shaped conservative legal thought. He championed limited government, individual rights, and judicial restraint. Scalia’s opinions—both majority and dissenting—had a profound impact on American law and jurisprudence.

Scalia was known for his colorful and accessible writing, even in dissent. In one of his most cited dissents—Obergefell v. Hodges (2015), which legalized same-sex marriage—he called the decision a “judicial Putsch” and warned against unelected judges redefining national values. Whether one agreed or not, Scalia’s voice was always bold, sharp, and unapologetically principled.”