1961 John F. Kennedy
1961 : John F. Kennedy, the nation’s youngest president (at this time), took the oath of office today. He was sworn in by Chief Justice Earl Warren. Vice-President Lyndon Johnson (who became president after JFK was assassinated), was sworn in on the same day as JFK. As part of the inauguration celebration on this day, Robert Frost himself recited from memory one of his own poem entitled “The Gift Outright”. He was originally going to read a poem that he wrote especially for this day called “Dedication”, but he could not read the ink from the page he was viewing.
1981 Iran Hostages Released
Iran released 52 weary American hostages, who were held for 444 days
2002 Human Rights Violations
2002 : Human rights activists including Amnesty International believe human rights of prisoners kept at camp X-Ray, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba are being abused with prisoners being shackled and kept in temporary eight-by-eight feet cells made of wire mesh and corrugated metal roofs and include them being handcuffed, wearing goggles, ear muffs, surgical masks and heavy gloves. The majority are held without charge and the International Committee of the Red Cross have started evaluating conditions at the US military camp and interviewing detainees to see if the captives are being treated humanely in accordance with the Geneva Conventions on prisoners of war.
1920 Prohibition
Prohibition takes effect stopping the sale and consumption of alcohol when the 18th Amendment went into effect it ended in 1933
1937 Franklin D. Roosevelt
The inauguration of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s second term was held
1929 – How Custer Died
The account of Alex Wagstaff, a man who claimed to be very closely acquainted with a man named “Curley” was printed on this day. Wagstaff had told his story of how Custer had died at Little Big Horn during one of the most gruesome battles in American history.
The account told by Wagstaff was according to how he had remembered it being told by Curley. As reported by Wagstaff, Curley had hid in some brush towards the end of the Battle of Little Big Horn.
A short time later, Curley saw a squaw rush in and shoot General Custer. Shortly after that, Curley had taken the clothing of a dead Sioux and road with troops of Indians until he could get away.
1941 Franklin D. Roosevelt
The inauguration of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s third term is held.
1958 South Pole Sir Edmund Hillary
The New Zealand team led by Sir Edmund Hillary and British team led by Dr Vivian “Bunny” Fuchs who are members of a joint Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic expedition and set off from opposite ends of the South Pole last November met up at The South Pole.
1958 U.S.A. Wage Increases
1958 : As President of the United States, Eisenhower had spoke out against excessive wage and price increases on this day. For instance, he proposed that businesses should avoid unjustified price increases.
In other words, Eisenhower, opposed price hikes except in the case of increased business costs (i.e. cost of manufacturing or supplies). The president also opposed wage increases that surpass an employee’s actually productivity level, and explained that actions such as this could lead to excess inflation (cost of living increases).
In addition, Eisenhower declared that the government should abide by policies that would “foster growth”. For instance, he mentioned that the government should engage in “proper management of credit policy by the federal reserve board” .
1972 U.S.A. Election Spending Bill
A new campaign spending bill that was approved by President Nixon on this day would become the first in history if passed. Among other things, this bill advocated the disclosure of election financing of anyone running for federal political office.
1972 Unemployment
UK unemployment has risen to one million for the first time since the depression years of the 1930’s.
