JOMO KENYATTA RELEASED FROM PRISON
Nairobi, Kenya (JFK+50) Jomo Kenyatta, leader of the independence movement in Kenya, was released today by British colonial authorities after serving nearly nine years in prison.
Kenyatta, educated by Christian missionaries, became involved in African nationalist movements in Nairobi.
He received a formal education in the 1930s & published "Facing Mount Kenya" in 1947 & became president of the Kenya African Union.
Although an advocate of non-violence, he was imprisoned for "managing a terrorist organization".*
*On December 12, 1963, Kenya won its independence & Kenyatta became prime minister & later president.
Jomo Kenyatta Statue
Nairobi, Kenya
Photo by Daryona (2010)
August 21, 1963
VIETNAMESE SPECIAL FORCES ATTACK BUDDHISTS
Saigon, South Vietnam (JFK+50) Special Forces loyal to President Diem's brother, Ngo Dinh Nho, attacked Buddhist pagodas today & arrested 1400 Buddhists.
While the majority of people in South Vietnam are Buddhist, Diem & most of his supporters are Catholic.
Earlier in May, the Buddhists held demonstrations against Diem's government.
LBJ & Ngo Dinh Nho
May 12, 1961
LBJ Library Photo
August 21, 1959
HAWAII BECOMES 50TH STATE
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a bill today which makes the Hawaiian Islands the 50th state.
The President also issued an order for the US flag to bear 50 stars arranged in staggering rows.
Photo by Jiang (2005)
August 21, 1957
JFK PROPOSES MORE AID TO COMMUNIST SATELLITE NATIONS
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Senator John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, proposed today a bill to provide more financial aid to communist satellite nations other than North Korea or Red China.
Senator Kennedy stipulates in the proposed bill, however, that such aid must help these countries achieve economic or political independence from the Soviet Union as well as improved relations with the United States.
August 21, 1954
KENNEDY APPOINTED TO SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Senator John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts was appointed to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee today by Vice President Richard M. Nixon.
Senator Kennedy said:
"I have long regarded our Point 4 program to be one of the keystones of this nation's foreign policy."
August 21, 1936
JOE KENNEDY AUTHORS "I'M FOR ROOSEVELT"
New York City (JFK+50) New York publishers Reynal & Hitchcock released today a 149 page book by Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr. titled "I'm For Roosevelt".
The book demonstrates how the programs & policies of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt have helped revitalize the American economy.
August 21, 1858
LINCOLN-DOUGLAS DEBATES OPEN IN OTTAWA
Ottawa, Illinois (JFK+50) The first of seven face to face debates between Illinois senatorial candidates Stephen A. Douglas & Abraham Lincoln were held today here in Ottawa.
Abraham Lincoln, a Republican, hopes to unseat incumbent Democratic Senator Stephen A. Douglas in this year's election.
The main topic of the debates is the issue of whether or not slavery should be allowed to spread into the western territories.
Lincoln has taken a strong stand against the spread of slavery while Douglas is open to allowing the settlers of the territories decide the fate of slavery by vote.
In today's debate, Lincoln said:
"I have no purpose....to interfere with the institution of slavery in states where it exists. I have no purpose to introduce political & social equality between the white & black races, but there is no reason....why the negro is not entitled to all the natural rights enumerated in the Declaration of Independence."
August 21, 1831
SLAVES REVOLT IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, VIRGINIA
Southampton County, Virginia (JFK+50) Nat Turner along with seven followers murdered his owner, Joseph Travis, along with the Travis family & has set out across the countryside hoping to rally other slaves to his cause.*
*Over the next 2 days, Nat Turner & 75 followers kill 60 whites before being overwhelmed by the state militia. Turner himself was not captured until late October & was tried, convicted & sentences to death.
Nat Turner was hanged on November 11, 1831.
The Turner Rebellion was the largest slave revolt in US history.
Capture of Nat Turner
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