TED KENNEDY BORN IN BROOKLINE
Mr. & Mrs. Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr. announced today the birth of Edward Moore "Ted" Kennedy in Brookline, Massachusetts.*
*Teddy was 1st elected to fill the US Senate seat vacated by his brother, Jack, in 1962.
He would go on to serve nearly 47 years in the senate where he proposed more than 300 bills which were enacted into law.
When JFK was asked by a reporter if the new comedy record by Vaughn Meader mimicking the Presidents voice brought "annoyment or enjoyment" the President answered he thought the record "sounded more like Teddy than it did me.....so he's annoyed."
Ted Kennedy made an unsuccessful bid for the Democratic nomination for President in 1980. In his concluding speech he said:
"For me....this campaign (has ended). For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives & the dream shall never die."
Edward M. Kennedy died at the age of 77 on August 25, 2009.
February 22, 1968
TET OFFENSIVE ENDS
The "TET" offensive in Vietnam finally ended today. President Johnson says the offensive was a complete failure.
Despite the fact that North Vietnam lost 20 times the number of casualties as her enemies, defense positions, previously thought to be solid, have proven to be suspect.
February 22, 1946
KENNAN SENDS TELEGRAM TO STATE DEPARTMENT
American Charge d'affaires in Moscow, George Kennan, sent a telegram to the US Department of State today explaining his views on US policy toward the Soviet Union.
He says the Soviets are very suspicious of the west & cannot envision a "permanent peace" between the USSR & USA.*
*Kennan's views will become the basis of the American policy of the containment of communism. Mr. Kennan died at the age of 101 in 2005.
February 22, 1942
MACARTHUR ORDERED TO LEAVE PHILIPPINES
President Roosevelt announced today that he has sent an order to General Douglas MacArthur to leave the Philippine Islands. He cannot risk having an officer of MacArthur's caliber lost to the Japanese after the collapse of American forces on the islands.*
*While MacArthur delays the escape, he does obey the order in March 1942 & is spirited by PT boat to Melbourne, Australia.
February 22, 1819
US ACQUIRES SPANISH FLORIDA
Do Louis de Onis of Spain & Secretary of State John Quincy Adams of the United States have negotiated the Florida Purchase Treaty today.
By the terms of the treaty, Spain will cede the remainder of the Florida province to the U.S.*
*Andrew Jackson of Tennessee will be appointed Military Governor of the Florida territory.
February 22, 1732
GEORGE WASHINGTON BORN IN VIRGINIA
George Washington was born today in Westmoreland County, Virginia.*
*His 1st job was as a surveyor in the Shenandoah Valley at age 17. He served in the French & Indian War & was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses & the Continental Congress. He was the unanimous choice of the congress to be Commander-in-chief of the Continental Army. In 1789, he was elected the 1st President of the United States. After serving 2 terms, he retired to Mount Vernon where he died on December 14, 1799.
February 22, 1980
"MIRACLE ON THE ICE" AT THE WINTER OLYMPICS
The U.S. hockey team defeated the USSR by a score of 4 to 3 in the Winter Olympic Games at Lake Placid, New York today.
The heavily-favored Soviet team had been expected to win easily over the Americans.*
*Later the USA defeated Finland to win the gold medal. The U.S. coach was Herb Brooks who was the hockey coach at the University of Minnesota.
