O'Reilly's Question: “Can you imagine who made ... Grandparents Day on September 11?” Answer: Congress ... in 1979

Written by Media Matters Staff

Published

On the August 22 broadcast of The Radio Factor, Fox News host Bill O'Reilly complained that National Grandparents Day will be celebrated on September 11 this year, asking, “Can you imagine who made the calendar on Grandparents Day on September 11, what a genius this was?”

In fact, National Grandparents Day -- currently established under Title 36, Section 125 of the United States Code -- is an annual holiday that, by law, falls on the first Sunday in September after Labor Day.

According to the National Grandparents Day Council, “September was chosen for the holiday, to signify the 'autumn years' of life.” The holiday is largely the work of West Virginia homemaker Marian H. McQuade, who led a decade-long “campaign to set aside a special day just for Grandparents.” McQuade's efforts came to fruition in 1979, when President Carter signed into law H.J. Res. 244, “A joint resolution to authorize and request the President to issue annually a proclamation designating the first Sunday of September following Labor Day after each year as 'National Grandparents Day.' "

The resolution, approved by voice vote in both houses of Congress, was cosponsored by 245 representatives, including Rep. Newt Gingrich (R-GA) and Rep. Dan Quayle (R-IN).

After expressing his disbelief, O'Reilly directed listeners to his website, where “No Spin Grandpa and Grandma mugs" are available for purchase.

From the August 22 broadcast of Westwood One's The Radio Factor with Bill O'Reilly:

O'REILLY: OK, I want you to -- we don't really have -- yeah, we have about a minute. I'm not going to take another call because I don't want to cut anybody short. I want you to go to billoreilly.com. Now, listen to this. September 11 not only the day of the attack, but it's Grandparents Day. Can you imagine who made the calendar on Grandparents Day on September 11, what a genius this was?

E.D. HILL (co-host): Right.

O'REILLY: But anyway, if you celebrate Grandparents Day -- and you should honor your grandparents -- you wouldn't be here without them. We have No Spin Grandpa and Grandma mugs. Beautiful. Available on billoreilly.com. Remember, a lot of that money goes to charity. So everybody wins: Grandma, Grandpa, and the poor kids that we help out with the money. So go to billoreilly.com. Pick up your No Spin grandparent mugs.