WALLACE BLOCKS SCHOOLHOUSE DOOR
Governor George C. Wallace of Alabama stood at the entrance of the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa today to symbolically block the registration of 2 African-American students at the previously all-white institution.
President Kennedy's representative in Alabama, Deputy Attorney General Nicholas Katzenback, asked the Governor to abide by the ruling of the courts & allow the students to be admitted.
When the Governor refused, Katzenback informed JFK who then federalized the Alabama National Guard.
Then confronted by General Henry Graham, Governor Wallace stepped aside & Vivian Malone & James Hood were admitted.
Katzenback Watches Miss Malone Enter
June 11, 1963
BUDDHIST MONK BURNS HIMSELF TO DEATH
Thich Quang Duc, a South Vietnamese Buddhist monk, burned himself to death today in the streets of Saigon in protest of President Ngo Dinh Diem's repressive policies.
Diem, who is Catholic, has initiated repressive policies toward the Buddhist majority in South Vietnam.
Thich Quang Duc Memorial
Photo by Esemono (2010)
June 11, 1962
JFK SPEAKS AT YALE GRADUATION
President John F. Kennedy was the keynote speaker at the graduation ceremonies of Yale University today in New Haven, Connecticut.
JFK responded to charges that the federal government is getting "too big".
The President said while it is true federal spending is rising every year, it is also true that the rate of growth is slower than the economy as a whole.
Yale University
Connecticut Hall
Statue of Nathan Hale
June 11, 1979
JOHN WAYNE DIES
Actor John Wayne died today at the age of 72. He was born Marion Morrison in 1907 in Winterset, Iowa.
As a young actor, he was called "Duke" Morrison. After his 1st starring role in the 1930 movie "The Big Trail", he became John Wayne.
Wayne's big break came in John Ford's 1939 Oscar-winning film "Stagecoach".
John Wayne (1961)
June 11, 1949
HANK WILLIAMS, SR. DEBUTS ON GRAND OLE OPRY
Hank Williams, Sr. made his debut on the Grand Ole Opry tonight at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee.
Hank, 25 years old, had his 1st hit record just 2 years ago with "Move It On Over", but it was this year's big hit "Lovesick Blues" that won him a spot on the Opry stage.*
*Hank Williams, Sr. was an award winning songwriter & singer whose life was cut short when he died at the age of 29.
His last hotel stop was at the Andrew Johnson in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Hank was discovered dead the next morning, January 1, 1953, in the back seat of his car in West Virginia.
Hank Williams Memorial Cemetery
Montgomery, Alabama
Photo by Rivers Langley (2008)
