FOUR STUDENTS KILLED AT KENT STATE
During an anti-war demonstration today at Kent State University in Ohio, National Guardsmen killed 4 students & wounded 9 others.
The Ohio National Guard was called to the university when students gathered on campus to protest the Vietnam War & the recent invasion of Cambodia ordered by President Nixon.
Prior to the killings, students were ordered to disperse, tear gas was fired into the crowd, & the Guard advanced on the students with bayonets fixed.
Sources say that rocks were thrown at the advancing soldiers by some of the students.
Ohio National Guard at Kent State
The victims have been identified as: Jeffrey Glenn Miller (20), Allison B. Krause (19), William Knox Schroeder (19) & Sandra Lee Scheuer (20).
"Tin soldiers & Nixon's coming,
We're finally on our own
This summer I hear the drumming
Four dead in Ohio
Gotta get down to it
Soldiers are gunning us down
Should have been done long ago
What if you knew her
And found her dead on the ground
How can you run when you know."
"Four Dead in Ohio"
lyrics by Neil Young
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Recorded May 21, 1970
Memorial to Jeffrey Miller
Kent State University
Photo by M. Stewart (2007)
May 4, 1961
DEAN RUSK SAYS VC ARE GROWING STRONGER
JFK's Secretary of State Dean Rusk announced today that evidence shows the Viet Cong are growing stronger in South Vietnam.
The Secretary says the numbers of communists in South Vietnam have grown to 12,000 & that they have killed or captured more than 3000 South Vietnamese since 1960.
Mr. Rusk went on to say that the US will supply the South Vietnamese with assistance but declined to comment on whether that will include military intervention by the US.*
*Dean Rusk served as Secretary of State for both JFK & LBJ.
President Kennedy & Secretary Rusk
May 4, 1965
WILLIE MAYS BREAKS HOME RUN RECORD
San Francisco Giant outfielder Willie Mays hit his 512th career home run today setting a new National League record.
Mays, called the "Say-Hey Kid", was born in Westfield, Alabama & began his career with the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro Southern League.
Willie made his major league debut at the Polo Grounds in 1951 & won "Rookie of the Year" honors that same year.*
*Willie Mays was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979.
Willie Mays
May 4, 1979
MARGARET THATCHER IS BRITISH PM
Margaret Thatcher, leader of Britain's Conservative Party, was sworn in today as the 1st woman to hold the office of prime minister.
Prime Minister Thatcher, a graduate of Oxford, took power with her party having won a 44 seat majority in Parliament.*
*Ms. Thatcher, born in Gratham, England in 1925, will go on to serve 3 consecutive terms, the longest tenure of a PM since 1827.
Margaret Thatcher (1975)
May 4, 1990
MARSHALL TITO OF YUGOSLAVIA IS DEAD
Josip Broz Tito, leader of the communist government of Yugoslavia, died today in Belgrade at the age of 88.
Tito ruled his nation for 35 years.
After breaking ties with Joseph Stalin, Tito sought & received US military & economic aid but continued to his death to support communist principals.
JFK & Marshall Tito
October 1963
photo of the government of Yugoslavia
www.titoville.com
May 4, 1886
RIOT IN HAYMARKET SQUARE
During a labor protest held at Chicago's Haymarket Square today, a bomb was thrown into a group of police officers who were there to break up the rally.
Sources say that a number of policemen as well as protesters have been killed or injured.*
*The Haymarket Riot will set off a wave of anti-labor, anti-radical feeling in the country. 31 "radicals" will be arrested & 7 receive the death penalty.
Bomb Explodes in Haymarket Square
May 4, 1865
LINCOLN LAID TO REST IN SPRINGFIELD
Today the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, was buried in a tomb at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield, Illinois.
Lincoln, shot by John Wilkes Booth at Ford's Theater on the evening of April 14, died the following morning at the Petersen Rooming House.
The President's body was taken from Washington, D.C. on a funeral train that has passed through 180 cities & 7 states.
Tomb of President Abraham Lincoln
Oak Ridge Cemetery
Springfield, Illinois
Photo by Robert Lawton (2006)
