Since he was speaking in the Midwest, he decided to begin by noting that the most severe earthquake in American history took place not in California or Alaska but at New Madrid, Missouri in 1811.

由于他是在中西部发表演讲，他决定先说明美国历史上最严重的地震不是发生在加利福尼亚或阿拉斯加，而是1811年在密苏里州的新马德里。