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Revision as of 17:54, 27 March 2002 by Eclecticology (talk | contribs)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)The driving force to establish the celebration of Father's Day was Mrs. Sonora Smart Dodd whose father Civil War veteran William Jackson Smart had raised his six children as a single parent in Spokane, Washington. She had been inspired by Anna Jarvis's efforts to establish Mother's Day. Althogh she initially suggested June 5, the anniversary of her father's death, for the celebration, the deferal to the third Sunday in June was a simple case of her not providing the organizer's enough time to make arrangements. Unofficial support was immediate and widespread, and included William Jennings Bryan. Woodrow Wilson was personally so feted by his family in 1916, and Calvin Coolidge recommended it in 1924. The all male U. S. Congress, however, was mindful that to pass a such measure that was so favorable to males could be seen as a conflict of interest. The effect was that the day was not officially recognized until the presidency of Richard Nixon in 1972.