Dear Crabby,
I was in Starbucks the other day and pulled out a $10 bill to pay when I remembered, weren’t they going to replace Alexander Hamilton with a woman’s picture? And if so, when will it happen?
Thanks,
Diana Diez
Dear Diana Diez,
That’s right. I had forgotten about the proposed switch-a-roo myself. I love history. In fact, I earned a medal in sixth grade for memorizing all the presidents and their bios and reciting it in front of the whole school, so I’m very qualified to speak on this subject. Mr. Hamilton’s mug has graced the $10 bill for over 90 years. Not bad for someone who wasn’t born in the continental United States or even British America. Not to mention the fact that he never was our Commander in Chief. Still, Hamilton was no slouch. He was a member of the Continental Congress, an author of the Federalist Papers, and our nation’s first treasury secretary. While in that position he helped found the first national bank, which was actually a tax collection bureau that later became the U.S. Coast Guard. Honestly, I could 
just go on and on about Hamilton. He really did contribute a lot to our country. Of course for as many people who like the guy, there are just as many who are quick to point out his affairs (hey, he was a politician) and his murky position on slavery. So, when it came time to start discussing which face should get replaced on our money, Hamilton’s name moved to the front of the line. That is until some musical named Hamilton suddenly made Alexander really popular. I guess this musical is such a big deal, people are selling their prized possessions to get a ticket. And awards? It just won 11 Tony Awards. Needless to say, Hamilton’s newfound fame made the powers that be think twice about making him history. This of course did not sit well with those who had lobbied for the change. Now the Treasury Secretary Jack Lew is saying it will still happen… probably. But there’s still a lot of debate on which woman should and will grace the front of whatever bill they finally decide on. Some of the top contenders are: Eleanor Roosevelt, Rosa Parks, Harriet Tubman, and Susan B. Anthony. Even if a woman makes it to the $10 bill, a mockup won’t be ready until 2020.
Ain’t bureaucracy grand?
Dear Crabby
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