March 26, 1920
"THIS SIDE OF PARADISE" IS PUBLISHED
F. Scott Fitzgerald published his 1st novel today, This Side of Paradise, which examines the lives & morality of youth of the post-world war.
Fitzgerald was born in St. Paul, Minnesota & is named after his famous ancestor, Francis Scott Key, the author of the "Star Spangled Banner".
The book's publisher is Charles Scribner & Sons of New York. Critic, H.L. Mencken says that this is the "best American novel I have seen of late".
*Fitzgerald would marry Zelda Sayre a week later & they would begin a life of glamorous parties & luxurious living. By 1925, they were living in Europe where Fitzgerald wrote his most famous work, "The Great Gatsby".
Zelda Fitzgerald died in a sanitarium & her husband died of a heart attack at the age of 44.
March 26, 1961
JFK & MACMILLAN WANT TRUCE IN LAOS
President Kennedy & British Prime Minister Harold MacMillan met for the 1st time today in Key West, Florida & focused their discussions on the situation in Laos.
They are determined to end the civil war there between the Royal government & the pro-Communist rebels.
In a joint statement they said:
"The situation....cannot be allowed to continue to deteriorate."
JFK & Macmillan on the USS Sequoia
April 6, 1961
Photo by Abbie Rowe
They urged the USSR to accept a British cease-fire proposal which would be arranged by the International Control Commission composed of representatives from Canada, India & Poland.
March 26, 1961
JFK WANTS MORE MONEY FOR DEFENSE
President Kennedy submitted a budget today which calls for an increase in long-range missiles along with a reduction in B-70 supersonic bombers.
B70 Supersonic Bomber
The JFK budget proposal is about $2 billion higher than Eisenhower's budget of a year ago.
JFK wants more Minutemen ICBM bases & an increase in Polaris submarines.
He said:
"Our interest lies in peaceful solutions, in reducing tensions, in settling disputes..."
March 26, 1962
HIGH COURT RULES IN REDISTRICTING CASE
The Supreme Court led by Chief Justice Earl Warren has handed down a landmark decision today in Baker v. Carr.
The majority ruling is that Federal courts can determine whether state legislatures reapportionment plans are constitutional.
The case, which has been argued for almost a year, was brought by Charles Baker, a Shelby County, Tennessee Republican who complained that Tennessee had not redistricted, as required by the state constitution, since 1901.
The failure to redistrict had resulted in a higher value of votes in less populated rural counties.
The defendant is Tennessee Secretary of State, Joe Carr, who is the person responsible for state elections.
The Supreme Court decision establishes a "one person, one vote" standard for legislative redistricting which holds that each individual must be weighed equally in apportionment.*
*After his retirement, Earl Warren said that "Baker v Carr" was one of the most important cases of his tenure as Chief Justice.
March 26, 1963
JFK WARY OF PROLIFERATION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS
President Kennedy, who said in his televised conversation with reporters in December 1962 that the development of nuclear weapons by other countries presents a major threat to world peace, asked the State Department today to find ways to stop nuclear weapons development in other countries.
JFK targeted Israel, Egypt & Syria in his memorandum.*
*JFK's concern about nuclear proliferation has proven to be warranted. Today there are 5 nations considered to be "nuclear powers", the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France & China & there are 3 more nations which have done nuclear testing: India, Pakistan & North Korea. A 9th nation, Israel, is believed to also have nuclear capability.
March 26, 1975
HUE FALLS TO NVA
Hue, located in the northernmost part of South Vietnam, has fallen to the North Vietnamese Army today.*
*The NVA will go on to seize Da Nang, South Vietnam's 2nd largest city, resulting in many military & civilian casualties. Saigon falls on April 30, 1975 & the Vietnam War ends.
North Vietnamese Pith Helmet
Photo by DO'Neil
March 26, 1979
President Anwar el-Sadat of Egypt & Prime Minister Menachem Begin of Israel signed a monumental peace agreement today at Camp David, Maryland.
The peace agreement, sponsored by President Jimmy Carter, officially ends 30 years of hostilities between the two Middle-Eastern nations & establishes diplomatic & commercial ties as well.*
*Began & Sadat were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1978 & their nations formally opened diplomatic relations with each other in 1982.
Sadat, Carter & Begin at Camp David
