That Time Detroit Gave Saddam Hussein the Key to the City

TL;DR

The practice of giving keys to the city originated in ancient Rome and spread to medieval Europe before making its way to the United States. Saddam Hussein received a key to the city of Detroit as a symbolic honor, influenced by the US government's support of Iraq in its war against Iran.

Transcript

In 1980 America, the Cold War was still very much hot, Ronald Reagan was elected President, and the United States’ Olympic hockey team shockingly upset the USSR in what would be dubbed “The Miracle on Ice.” Oh, and the new president of Iraq, Saddam Hussein, was given a key to the city of Detroit. How did this come to pass? Honoring an individual wi... Read More

Key Insights

• 🤩 The practice of giving keys to the city originated in ancient Rome as a way to honor military success and show gratitude to the gods for protection.
• 🤩 Physical keys started being used in medieval Europe to symbolize access to city gates, bestowed upon rulers, respected merchants, and tradesmen.
• 🇺🇸 The first recorded instance of giving a key to the city in the United States was in 1702 in New York City.
• 🤩 Saddam Hussein received a key to the city of Detroit as a symbolic honor influenced by the US government's support for Iraq during its war against Iran.
• 🤩 Reverend Jacob Yasso, a Chaldean Catholic priest, played a key role in facilitating the honoring of Saddam Hussein by presenting the key to the city.
• 🇺🇳 The practice of giving keys to the city reflects diplomatic and political alliances between nations, with the United States supporting Iraq as an enemy of Iran.
• ⛪ Saddam Hussein's material donations to Chaldean churches contributed to the positive image he had among the Chaldean population in Detroit.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Giving keys to the city traces back to ancient Rome, where the practice of "Freedom of the City" honored military generals and soldiers who had the authority to enter the city walls.

• In medieval Europe, physical keys were used to symbolize unlimited access to the city gates, granted to rulers, respected merchants, and tradesmen.

• The custom of giving a key to the city started in the United States in 1702 when Mayor Philip French of New York City conferred "Freedom of the City" onto Viscount Cornbury, the British governor of New York.