WALL DIVIDING BERLIN UNDER CONSTRUCTION
West Berlin, West Germany (JFK+50) The government of communist East Germany announced today that a wall is under construction designed to permanently divide the eastern & western parts of Berlin.
East German guards have been posted to stop anyone from crossing the border.
While the wall is under construction, barbed wire is being used to separate the two parts of the city.
*When completed, the Berlin Wall will stretch for 27 miles in Berlin & 97 miles along the 3 western sections of West Germany.
JFK at the Berlin Wall
June 26, 1963
Photo by Robert Knudsen
JFK Library Photo
August 13, 1962
JFK SIGNS WORK HOURS STANDARDS ACT
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President John F. Kennedy signed the Work Hours Standards Act of 1962 in the oval office at the White House today.
The act, which replaces a series of 8 hour work day laws dating back of 1892, establishes a 40 hour work week.
August 13, 1981
REAGAN SIGNS ECONOMIC RECOVERY ACT
Santa Barbara, California (JFK+50) President Ronald Reagan signed into law today, here at his ranch, the Economic Recovery Tax Act.
The ERTA includes a 25% reduction in individual marginal tax rates phased in over a 3 year period.*
*The ERTA combined with a 1986 tax cut reduced marginal tax rates on higher income taxpayers from 70 to 30%.
President & Mrs. Reagan
January 20, 1981
National Archives Photo
August 13, 1995
"THE MICK" DIES OF CANCER AT BAYLOR
Dallas, Texas (JFK+50) Former New York Yankee slugger, Mickey Mantle, died at Baylor University Hospital today of liver cancer.
Mantle, who wore #7 & played center field most of his career, was born in Oklahoma in 1931.
He joined the Yankees in 1951 at the age of 19 & retired in 1968.
Mickey Mantle was inducted in the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974.
Roger Maris & Mickey Mantle (1961)
August 13, 1952
"HOUND DOG" RECORDED BY BIG MAMA THORNTON
Los Angeles, California (JFK+50) Rhythm & Blues artist Ellie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton recorded the tune "Hound Dog" here today.
Miss Thornton, a native of Montgomery, Alabama, made the 1st recording of the song written specifically for her by Jerry Lieber & Mike Stoller.*
*Elvis Presley's version of "Hound Dog", recorded in 1956, is based on a rewritten version by Freddie Bell & the Bellboys who Elvis saw perform in Las Vegas.
August 13, 1940
BATTLE OF BRITAIN BEGINS
London, England (JFK+50) The Battle of Britain began today when the German Luftwaffe began bombing raids on southern England.
The raids were aimed at destroying British radar stations in preparations for an amphibious attack across the English Channel.
Of 1500 German aircraft that took place in today's air attack, 45 were shot down.
The good news is that the Germans were only successful in destroying one radar station on the Isle of Wright.
August 13, 1926
FIDEL CASTRO BORN IN CUBA
Oriente Province, Cuba (JFK+50) Fidel Castro was born here today, the son of a Spanish immigrant who made a fortune building a rail system to transport sugar cane.*
*Castro's forces took control in Cuba on January 1, 1959. Under his direction, Cuba became the 1st communist nation in the western hemisphere. He stayed in power until he stepped down in February 2008.
Fidel Castro
September 29, 1974
Otto Bettman Photo
