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Ella Fitzgerald and Marilyn Monroe

Image: William P. Gottlieb, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Strange as it may sound, Ella Fitzgerald and Marilyn Monroe developed a beautiful friendship in the 1950s. Hollywood's favorite blonde was a big fan of Fitzgerald's music and went to see her perform in Los Angeles in 1954. When they met in person they became inseparable.

Monroe helped her land a gig at the famous Mocambo nightclub in Los Angeles, which had previously turned Fitzgerald down. These performances were a turning point in the career of the Queen of Jazz. Marilyn used to say that Ella was her favorite person and that she loved her as a person and as a singer. They remained friends until Monroe's death at the age of 36.

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Thomas Jefferson and John Adams

Image: Tholey, A. (Augustus), artist, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

John Adams and Thomas Jefferson are perhaps America's most famous pair of "frenemies". Their historic relationship began in 1775. Despite their very different political views, the two Founding Fathers maintained an on-and-off relationship for five decades, tinged by a mixture of mutual respect and contempt.

Their relationship began to crack when George Washington decided not to run for a third term, and Adams and Jefferson had to compete for the presidency. They stopped speaking to each other for 12 years, but finally, in 1812, they resumed contact. Perhaps as proof of their troubled but strong friendship, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson died just a few hours apart on July 4, 1826, the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.

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Groucho Marx and T.S. Eliot

Image: Flybynight

One was a comedian of the absurd, the other a melancholic poet and Nobel laureate. Believe it or not, Groucho Marx and T.S. Eliot were friends and admired each other. In 1961, Eliot wrote to Marx, telling him he was a fan and asking for an autographed photo. Marx agreed to the request and asked the same of Eliot. For the next three years, the two became pen pals, exchanging many letters.

According to Groucho Marx, they shared three things: an affection for good cigars, a love of cats, and a weakness for puns. However, when they finally met in person in 1964 they realized that they didn’t have that much in common after all and their relationship started to fade.

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Ulysses S. Grant and James Longstreet

Image: Mathew Benjamin Brady, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Ulysses S. Grant was the commander of the Union Army during the Civil War. James Longstreet, on the other hand, fought for the Confederate Army and became one of General Robert E. Lee's most trusted officers. That should make them enemies, right? Well, not exactly.

Grant and Longstreet became friends as young officers in the US Army and served together in the Mexican-American War. Years later they went their separate ways but were reunited after the Confederate surrender at Appomattox Court House. In fact, it was Longstreet who convinced General Lee to surrender, knowing that Grant would offer him generous terms. As soon as Grant saw Longstreet, he shook his hand warmly and asked him to play a game of cards for old time's sake.

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Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Image: DawesDigital, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Susan B. Anthony is known for having been a tireless activist who dedicated most of her 86 years to achieving women's suffrage. In 1851, Anthony met suffragist Elizabeth Cady Stanton, with whom she developed a lifelong friendship. Together they launched a national women's suffrage movement, published a newspaper called The Revolution , and gave many lectures.

Stanton died in 1902 and Anthony in 1906. It was not until 1920 that women were allowed to vote legally for the first time in U.S. federal elections, yet the legacy of these two friends was certainly invaluable.

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Mark Twain and Nikola Tesla

Image: Marija Zaric

Can a literary genius and a giant of science become good friends? In the case of Mark Twain and Nikola Tesla, the answer is definitely yes. Although the professions of writer and inventor seem very different, they actually have something very strong in common: creativity.

Tesla, who had been bedridden for nine months because of cholera, found in Twain's work a refuge that made him completely forget his state of despair. Meanwhile, Twain was fascinated by technological innovations and, in particular, by electricity. When the two men finally met in the 1890s, they became close friends. Over the years they maintained an assiduous correspondence and supported each other both professionally and personally.

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Bill Gates and Warren Buffett

Image: ENERGY.GOV, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, two of the richest men in the United States, have been friends for more than 30 years. They met in 1991 at a Fourth of July celebration, and although they thought they had nothing in common, they spent 11 hours discussing business and philanthropy.

Bill and Warren played ping-pong together, traveled the world for business and pleasure, and shared several initiatives to encourage billionaires to invest their money in social and charitable endeavors. The creator of Microsoft also claims that Warren Buffett's advice and business vision were indispensable for the growth of his company.

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Mary Todd Lincoln and Elizabeth Keckley

Image: National Archives at College Park, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

In the 1860s, Elizabeth Keckley, a former slave who had managed to buy her freedom and start a sewing business, landed an important position in the White House as Mrs. Mary Todd Lincoln's personal dressmaker. Despite their different upbringings, the two women developed a close relationship. In fact, the first lady came to describe her as her best friend.

Over the years Keckley became a confidant of Mrs. Lincoln; the two women traveled and worked together to raise money for the war effort. Unfortunately, their friendship ended when Keckley published her memoirs in 1868. Keckley had wanted the book to celebrate Mrs. Lincoln's legacy, but the First Lady felt betrayed as it revealed some private conversations.

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Dwight D. Eisenhower and Bob Hope

Image: NBC Television, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Throughout his long career, comedian Bob Hope was a frequent White House visitor who had the honor of entertaining 11 different commanders-in-chief. In fact, he considered them the best possible audience. But of all the presidents who laughed at his jokes, Dwight D. Eisenhower was the one with whom he formed the most enduring relationship.

They met in Algeria in 1943 when Eisenhower was a General for the U.S. Army and Hope was performing at a United Service Organization show. They immediately hit it off. Even when Ike became president 10 years later their friendship continued. They often exchanged letters and played golf together.

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Ben Affleck and Matt Damon

Image: Bill Ingalls, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck met in the 1980s in Cambridge, Massachusetts when they were still young children. They bonded over their passion for basketball and acting, and have been friends ever since. In fact, while in high school, they often traveled together to audition.

Damon and Affleck's partnership is arguably one of the most successful in Hollywood. They not only acted in movies together several times, but they also co-wrote the screenplay for Good Will Hunting , which earned them an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay in 1997.

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Truman Capote and Barbara "Babe" Paley

Image: Eric Koch for Anefo, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Another controversial friendship was that of author Truman Capote and New York socialite Barbara "Babe" Paley. This odd couple met in the late 1960s after Capote published In Cold Blood and became something of a celebrity. They quickly became close friends and confidants.

However, when in 1975 Capote published a preview of his forthcoming book Answered Prayers in Esquire magazine airing some of his friend’s secrets, their relationship was forever ruined. Although the writer admired Babe and considered her perfect, he could not resist the temptation to betray her.

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John F. Kennedy and Frank Sinatra

Image: FotoshopTofs

No one knows exactly when and how they met, but it is not surprising that US President John F. Kennedy and music legend Frank Sinatra were friends. In addition to their mutual admiration, their relationship was beneficial to both. Sinatra gained access to the halls of power, while Kennedy relied on The Voice's charm and popularity to win votes in the 1960 presidential election.

When Kennedy won, the president-elect publicly thanked Sinatra for his campaign efforts. Unfortunately, the friendship fell apart after JFK entered the White House. According to lore, First Lady Jackie Kennedy didn't like the singer. And, let's be honest, Sinatra's alleged connections to organized crime weren't a good look for a head of state anyway.

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12. Portuguese

Image: Etienne Girardet

Today, there are over 845,000 Portuguese speakers in the United States, making it the 12th most spoken language after English.

The Portuguese-speaking community is composed of immigrants from both Portugal and Brazil. Since the 1960s, many Portuguese immigrants have settled along the coast of Massachusetts, where they could continue their traditional fishing activities. Besides Massachusetts, Portuguese is most commonly spoken in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Utah.

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11. Hindi

Image: Rohan Solankurkar

Hindi is the most widely spoken Indian language in the United States, with more than 890,000 people speaking it . Hindi belongs to the Indo-European language family and has been included on the U.S. State Department's list of critical languages due to strategic commercial interests in South Asia.

Hindi-speaking Indians began immigrating to North America in the early 19th century. The community has primarily settled in large cities such as New York City, Washington D.C., San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Chicago.

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10. Russian

Image: Tessakay

There are currently almost 950,000 Russian speakers in the United States. Did you know that Russian is one of the two official languages aboard the International Space Station? NASA astronauts typically take Russian language courses to communicate with their Russian counterparts.

Another well-known Russian-speaking community is in New York's Brighton Beach neighborhood, often referred to as "Little Odessa." Cultural events, festivals, and markets featuring traditional Russian foods, music, and crafts are common sights here. Los Angeles is another city where Russian is regularly used.

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9. Korean

Image: 昆 阿

Over the past few decades, the number of Korean speakers in the United States has grown significantly, with nearly 1,100,000 people now speaking Korean .

Los Angeles is home to the largest Koreatown in the country, and many residents in other major cities speak Korean at home, helping to maintain and promote the heritage of this Asian culture in the United States.

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8. Arabic

Image: Rawan Yasser

With more than 1.2 million speakers, Arabic is the eighth most spoken language in our country.

Arabic is spoken in immigrant communities from countries such as Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen. These communities are most prominent in states like California, New York, and Michigan, where Arabic is commonly heard in homes and community centers.

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7. German

Image: FotosFuerBlogger

German is widely spoken in states with high populations of German ancestry, such as Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Texas. When including Yiddish, Pennsylvania Dutch, and other West Germanic languages, there are over 1,450,000 German speakers in the United States.

Cities like Fredericksburg and New Braunfels, Texas, were founded by German immigrants and continue to celebrate their heritage with festivals such as Oktoberfest. In Pennsylvania, a large number of Pennsylvania Dutch speakers—predominantly among the Amish and Mennonite communities—speak this German dialect, which is not, as one might expect, Dutch.

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6. Vietnamese

Image: Huynh Van

The number of Vietnamese speakers in the United States is similar to that of the previous language on this list, with more than 1.5 million people speaking the language of this Southeast Asian country.

In recent decades, the number of Vietnamese immigrants has been increasing exponentially. Most have settled in California, followed by Texas, Florida, Washington, and Georgia.

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5. Tagalog

Image: Emmanuel Nicolas Jr.

Despite being the fifth most spoken language in the United States, Tagalog is often overlooked. For those who have never heard of it, Tagalog is one of the official languages of the Philippines.

A significant number of Filipino immigrants have settled in the United States since the early 19th century. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are currently more than 1.7 million Tagalog speakers . Thirty-eight percent of Filipinos in the United States live in California, with relatively large concentrations also in Hawaii and Texas.

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4. French

Image: Erik Mclean

If we include Patois, Cajun, Haitian, and Louisiana Creole—a hybrid of French and various African languages—French is the fourth most widely spoken language in the United States.

The French influence, which dates back to the 17th century, is evident in a wide variety of American English words and phrases. Today, there are nearly 2.1 million French speakers in the country.

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3. Chinese

Image: 五玄土 ORIENTO

The Chinese language, including its different variants such as Mandarin, Cantonese, and Hokkien, contributes significantly to the cultural diversity of the United States. Although the gap between the second and third most spoken languages in the country is considerable, the number of people who speak Chinese is still representative.

With approximately 3.5 million Chinese speakers across the country, the greatest influence of this culture can be found in states with the highest concentrations of Chinese immigrants, such as New York and California.

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2. Spanish

Image: Leeloo The First

Spanish is the second most spoken language in the United States and one of the fastest-growing languages in the country. This is no surprise, as approximately 19% of the total population is of Hispanic origin.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 40 million people speak Spanish in addition to English in the United States. Hispanic communities are found throughout the nation, with the largest concentrations in California, Texas, Florida, and New York.

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1. English

Image: Wilhelm Gunkel

Although it is not surprising that English is the most widely spoken language in the United States, it is still not recognized as an official language. However, more than half of the 50 states have passed laws granting it official language status.

English speakers make up a large percentage of the U.S. population, with approximately 78 percent speaking only English . American English is also incredibly rich, composed of dozens of regional dialects with distinct grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation.

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The Government impersonator

Image: Harold Mendoza

One of the most common scams targeting senior citizens involves fraudsters posing as a member of a government agency such as the FTC, Social Security Administration, IRS, or Medicare. The basic pitch is similar to many others: the caller claims that if the target does not pay a fee or provide personal information, they will face serious consequences.

Government agencies will never call, email, text, or message you on social media to request money or personal information . Only scammers engage in such tactics.

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Fake Prize, Sweepstakes, and Lottery

Image: dylan nolte

Another common scam involves a call, email, or letter informing the recipient that they have won a sweepstakes, lottery, prize, or even a new car. The next part of their message is the key to uncovering the racket: the scammer will request money or personal account information to "claim" the prize . No serious company will ask for such things by telephone or email to award a prize.

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Tech Support

Image: Simon Abrams

Technology can be intimidating to anyone who is not familiar with it, and tech support scammers know this. These individuals will attempt to convince their targets that their computer or phone has a serious issue, such as a virus.

Scammers often pressure victims into paying for unnecessary services that are not really needed or offer to do the repairs remotely if the recipient grants them access. They may use pop-up error messages, phone calls, or text messages to carry out their scheme. To protect yourself, always keep your antivirus software up to date.

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'Grandparent' Scams

Image: Nikoline Arns

Exploiting emotional connections is a basic on any scammer’s manual and grandparents are frequent targets. Fraudsters may call and impersonate a grandchild or another close relative in distress , urgently requesting financial assistance .

If you receive such a call, hang up immediately and contact the family member directly to verify their well-being before taking any action.

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Robocalls

Image: Jenna Anderson

Robocalls use automated phone technology to dial large numbers of households. One common scam is the "Can you hear me?" call. When the recipient responds "yes," the scammer records their voice and quickly hangs up. This recorded response can then be used as a voice signature to authorize fraudulent charges on stolen credit cards or other accounts.

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Romance Scams

Image: Mayur Gala

Online dating and loneliness may seem like a natural match, but scammers have long exploited this opportunity. Romance scammers create elaborate fake profiles, often on social media, to take advantage of senior adults' loneliness and manipulate them for money.

They may request money for visas, medical emergencies, or travel expenses to visit the US. Since they tend to last for a long time, these types of scams can rob an older person of substantial amounts of money before realizing they’ve been deceived.

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Business Imposter

Image: Constantin Wenning

This type of scam can take a serious financial toll on senior adults. This type of ruse involves the illegal or alleged sale of financial instruments promising low risk and guaranteed returns. The use of cryptocurrency is common in these scams, as it can be difficult to trace.

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Pigeon Drop

Image: Alexander Mils

A pigeon drop scam occurs when a scammer offers the victim a large sum of money in exchange for a smaller upfront payment . While this should immediately raise suspicion, many people still fall for it. These scams are often carried out in person at tourist spots but can also happen frequently over the phone .

A classic example is an email claiming that the sender has inherited money from a distant relative but needs a small payment from you to transfer the funds.

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Counterfeit Cashier's Checks

Image: Gadini

Cashier’s checks have been around for a long time and have been the subject of counterfeiters ever since. While forgeries can be highly convincing, a common red flag is being asked to deposit a check under suspicious circumstances and then return a portion of the funds to a stranger —chances are, it is a scam.

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Travel Packages

Image: Marten Bjork

A tourist hoping for a dream vacation instead found cramped rooms and terrible accommodations that fell far short of expectations —this is not a new story.

To avoid such disappointments, travelers should always request information directly from the hotel in question and confirm which features are included in their selected package. Additionally, they should never provide credit card information unless they initiate the call or email.

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Home Repair

Image: Jimmy Nilsson Masth

Another common scam involves criminals who appear in person and charge homeowners in advance for home improvement services they never provide . These scammers often pose as employees of utility companies.

If someone receives an unexpected visit like this, they should always call the company to verify the person's identity before allowing them inside.

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Caregivers

Image: Ani Kolleshi

This one strikes particularly hard since caregivers are supposed to help people when they are most vulnerable. Unfortunately, sometimes, unscrupulous individuals can take advantage of the senior adults they are supposed to care for and steal their money .

Always make sure to screen anybody who will be in charge of, or around, a senior adult that requires assistance.