STRONTIUM 90 LEVELS DOUBLE IN MILK SUPPLY
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) U.S. public health officials today announced that nuclear tests in the atmosphere conducted last year have doubled the levels of strontium 90 found in US milk supplies.
Strontium 90 is known as a "bone seeker" which causes bone cancer & leukemia.*
8 year old girl's baby teeth
*Dr. Louise Reiss did a study of baby teeth which showed that children born in 1963 had levels of strontium 90 up to 50 times higher than children born before atmospheric nuclear testing.
This study helped convince JFK to negotiate for a Nuclear Test Ban which would prohibit testing anywhere but underground.
August 11, 1962
BOHLEN NAMED US AMBASSADOR TO FRANCE
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President John F. Kennedy today named Charles E. Bohlen as United States ambassador to France.
Ambassador Bohlen was born in Clayton, New York & graduated from Harvard in 1927.*
*Bohlen served as French ambassador until his retirement in January 1969.
Charles E. Bohlen
US Ambassador to France
1962-1968
August 11, 1965
RIOTS BREAK OUT IN WATTS
Los Angeles, California (JFK+50) At 7 p.m. (PDT) Marquette Frye, an African-American, was stopped by a California Highway Patrolman for reckless driving in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles.
Soon after Frye's arrest, a riot broke out among about 200 people who had gathered on the scene.
Rocks & other objects were thrown by the mob at the officers. Rioting continued for the next 4 hours.*
*The Watts Riots will continue for 6 days with 34 dead, more than a thousand wounded & over 3400 arrested.
Police Make Arrest in Watts
August 12, 1965
New York World-Telegram Photo
August 11, 1972
LAST US COMBAT UNIT LEAVES SOUTH VIETNAM
Da Nang, South Vietnam (JFK+50) The last American ground combat unit serving in South Vietnam departed for the United States today.
The unit, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry, had been guarding the US air base here in Da Nang.*
*43,500 advisors, air force personnel & support troops remained.
South Vietnamese Air Force (VNAF)
Da Nang, South Vietnam
August 11, 1984
REAGAN JOKES ABOUT BOMBING RUSSIA
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President Ronald Reagan was in a joking mood today just before giving a scheduled radio address at the White House.
In doing a microphone check, the President said:
"My fellow Americans, I am pleased to tell you today that I have signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in 5 minutes."
July 1981
Reagan Library Photo