VICE-PRESIDENT SENDS JFK MEMO ON US SPACE PROGRAM
Vice-President Lyndon B. Johnson sent President Kennedy a memo today in response to his request for an evaluation of the US space program.
Following are a few of the points LBJ made in the memo (complete memo available at the JFK Library website):
*The Soviets are ahead in the space race
*US has failed to make "hard decisions" to achieve leadership in space
*Space achievement is a major indication of a nation's world leadership
*US leadership in space is achievable
*Manned exploration of the moon is an "essential" objective
Also, in response to JFK's questions, LBJ says:
*We can beat the Soviets to the moon by 1966 or 1967.
*It will cost $1,000,000,000 a year for 10 years
1960 Campaign Poster
April 28, 1963
JOINT US-USSR STATEMENT ON LAOS ISSUED
The US & USSR issued a joint statement today in support of an independent Laos.
The statement was issued despite an earlier refusal on the part of Soviet ministers to meet with US envoy, W. Averell Harriman.
Molotov, Harriman & Churchill
April 28, 1965
US TROOPS LAND IN DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
President Lyndon B. Johnson has ordered 22,000 American troops to the Dominican Republic to restore order.
US forces will be supported by troops from member nations of the Organization of American States.
The President says that he is hopeful of stopping a takeover by a communist dictator.
Troubles began in the island nation when dictator Rafael Trujillo was assassinated in 1961.*
*Over the next few months the fighting ends with the US helping to install a conservative, non-military government in the Dominican Republic
April 28, 1967
ALI REFUSES ARMY INDUCTION
Heavyweight Champion of the World, Muhammad Ali, was stripped of his title today for refusal to be inducted into the United States Army.
Ali, a Muslim, cited "religious reasons" for his refusal.
Ali said:
"I ain't got no quarrel with those Viet Cong".*
*Ali will be found guilty of draft evasion in June & banned from boxing for 3 years.
Muhammad Ali
World Journal Tribune
Photograph by Ira Rosenberg (1967)
April 28, 1969
CHARLES DE GAULLE RESIGNS
French President Charles de Gaulle resigned today after his proposals for constitutional reform were rejected.
De Gaulle's prestige & power were weakened by last year's student demonstrations & workers' strikes.
Mr. De Gaulle is 79 years old.*
*De Gaulle passed away the following year.
Charles de Gaulle
April 28, 1986
USS ENTERPRISE SAILS TO THE MEDITERRANEAN
The aircraft carrier USS Enterprise has become the 1st nuclear powered aircraft carrier to transit the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea.
The aircraft carrier is to relieve the USS Coral Sea.
USS Enterprise
Commissioned November 21, 1961
April 28, 1945
MUSSOLINI & MISTRESS SHOT DEAD
Italian Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini & his mistress, Clara Petacci, were shot dead today by partisans after they attempted escape to Switzerland.
The border guards, who were partisans, discovered Mussolini's identity despite his attempt to disguise himself as a German airman.
After they were shot dead, the couple's bodies were transported to a gas station in Milan where they were hung upside down for public viewing & ridicule.
Benito Mussolini in 1944
Deutsches Bunde sarchiv
