JFK WELCOMES NOBEL PRIZE WINNERS
President John F. Kennedy hosted a state dinner tonight for the winners of the Nobel Prize of the Western Hemisphere.
The dinner was held in the elegant State Dining Room at the White House.
The President began his remarks with these words:
"I want to tell you how welcome you are to the White House. I think this is the most extraordinary collection of talent, of human knowledge, that has ever gathered together at the White House, with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone."
State Dining Room
The White House
April 29, 1968
MUSICAL "HAIR" PREMIERS ON BROADWAY
The musical "Hair" opened tonight at New York City's Biltmore Theater.
Some, if not all, in the premier audience may have been shocked to see the cast completely nude at the end of Act I, although the stage was dimly lit at the time.
It is yet to be seen whether or not the controversial play will be accepted by Broadway theater patrons.*
*"Hair" will be the 1st rock musical to win success on Broadway. The musical's song, "Aquarius" will be a #1 hit.
April 29, 1974
NIXON AGREES TO RELEASE TAPE TRANSCRIPTS
Under fire in the ongoing "Watergate" scandal, President Richard M. Nixon announced tonight that he will release transcripts of 46 taped White House conversations.
His decision comes long after a subpoena for the tapes was issued in July of last year.
In his statement, the President said:
"I want there to be no question...that the President has nothing to hide...."*
*Nixon will finally be forced to resign on August 8, 1974.
Nixon With Tape Transcripts
April 29, 1986
"ROCKET" STRIKES OUT 20 BATTERS IN BOSTON
William Roger Clemens of the Boston Red Sox has become the 1st major league pitcher to strike out 20 batters in a 9 inning game.
The record was set at historic Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts.
Clemens, nicknamed "Rocket" because of his blazing fastball, starred for the Texas Longhorns before being signed to a major league contract by the Red Sox.
The victims of the record setting game were the Seattle Mariners.
Clemens broke the old record of 19 strikeouts in 9 innings held jointly by Steve Carlton of the St. Louis Cardinals & Tom Seaver of the New York Mets.
Roger Clemens, Boston Red Sox
April 29, 2004
WORLD WAR II MONUMENT IS OPEN
The National World War II Memorial opened today in Washington, D.C.
The new monument is located on the National Mall between the Washington Monument & Lincoln Memorial.
It is made of granite & bronze & features fountains between arches which symbolize hostilities in both Europe & the Far East.
The monument also includes a wall of 4000 gold stars. Each gold star represents 100 Americans killed in the war.
A stone on the monument pays tribute to the "Americans who took up the struggle during the Second World War & made sacrifices to perpetuate the gift our forefathers entrusted to us: A nation conceived in liberty & justice".
World War II Memorial
Washington, D.C.
April 29, 1945
US 7TH ARMY LIBERATES DACHAU
The 1st Nazi concentration camp, Dachau, located 10 miles NW of Munich, was liberated today by the US 7th Army's 45th Infantry Division.
The camp became a model for other Nazi camps & was the 1st to use prisoners for medical experimentation.
Thousands of prisoners died or were executed at Dachau.
American soldiers found 30 railroad cars full of bodies.
US Soldiers At Dachau Gate (1945)
April 29, 1854
1ST AFRICAN AMERICAN COLLEGE CHARTERED
Ashmun Institute was established today by the Pennsylvania Legislature.
The college, located in Chester County, is the 1st in the United States to provide an education exclusively for African American students.
The Institute is named after an American agent who helped preserve the African colony of Liberia.*
*Ashmun Institute opens its doors on January 1, 1857. In 1866, it is renamed Lincoln University.
photo by Pap18s
UT "College For A Day"
The Civil War
I attended today an event sponsored by the University of Tennessee Office of Alumni Affairs.
The program is called "College For A Day" & includes a luncheon with presentations by three excellent University of Tennessee historians.
They are: Dr. Joan Markel, Dr. Daniel Feller & Dr. Bruce Wheeler.
The topics were "Civil War Maps & Orlando Poe", "What Caused the Civil War?" & "East Tennessee & the Civil War."
This was an excellent program.
I enjoyed & learned from all 3 presentations & particularly enjoyed Dr. Wheeler who was my history professor at UT many years ago.
Dr. Bruce Wheeler
Professor Emeritus
History
The University of Tennessee
Photo by John White (2011)
