CONGRESS RECOGNIZES "UNCLE SAM"
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) The Congress of the United States today officially recognized Samuel Wilson of Troy, New York as "the progenitor of America's national symbol, Uncle Sam."
"Uncle Sam" Wilson
Samuel Wilson is a meat packer who has supplied barrels of beef to the US Army during the War of 1812 with Great Britain.
Wilson stamped his beef barrels with the letters "U.S." for United States. American soldiers, however, call the beef Uncle Sam's.*
*In the late 1800s, political cartoonist Thomas Nast popularized the image of "Uncle Sam", but the most famous image comes from James Montgomery Flagg's illustration for a WWI recruiting poster with the caption 'I WANT YOU FOR U.S.ARMY'.
Poster by James Montgomery Flagg
September 7, 1940
GERMANS UNLEASH "BLITZ" ON LONDON
London, England (JFK+50) Beginning at 8 p.m. local time, German bombers began to unleash a "blitz" on the city of London.
300 German aircraft dropped 337 tons of bombs on the city causing more than 400 civilian deaths.
A state of emergency has been declared.*
*This was only the 1st of 57 consecutive nights of bombing.
Heinkel Over Wapping
London's East End
September 7, 1940
September 7, 1950
UN SECURITY COUNCIL DEFEATS SOVIET CONDEMNATION OF US BOMBING OF NORTH KOREA
New York City (JFK+50) The United Nations Security Council today defeated by a vote of 9 to 1 a resolution proposed by representatives of the Soviet Union to condemn the bombing of North Korea by the United States.
Today's vote follows by 2 months the UN's approval for the use of force to stop communist aggression against South Korea.
The Soviets referred to the bombing by the United States as "Hitlerian" & "inhuman".
September 7, 1950
SPELLMAN ANNOUNCES $2.5 MILLION DONATION BY JOSEPH P. KENNEDY,SR.
New York City (JFK+50) Francis Cardinal Spellman announced today that Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr., former US ambassador to Great Britain, has donated $2.5 million for the building of a home for neglected children in the Bronx at 1170 Stillwell Avenue.
The donation was made in the name of Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. who was killed in World War II.
Cardinal Spellman
Archbishop of New York
September 7, 1956
JFK AWARDED HONORARY DEGREE AT LOWELL
Lowell, Massachusetts (JFK+50) Senator John F. Kennedy was given an honorary Doctor of Science degree today by Lowell Technological Institute.
With the degree is a citation praising the senator as a "statesman, philanthropist, public servant & inspiration to his own & future generations".
Southwick Hall
Lowell Technological Institute
Lowell, Massachusetts 1903
September 7, 1961
JFK WANTS CONGRESS TO ACT ON AGREEMENT WITH FRENCH
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President Kennedy asked the Congress of the United States today to act on an agreement concluded with France providing for the installation of defensive nuclear weapons as part of the French military arsenal.
September 7, 1962
JFK WANTS POWER TO CALL UP RESERVES
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President Kennedy today asked Congress for the authority to call 150,000 reserves to active duty.
The President is responding to the sending of military equipment by the USSR to Fidel Castro's Cuba.
JFK said that "this authorization is necessary to permit prompt & effective responses....to challenges which may be presented."
September 7, 1967
McNAMARA LINE IS PROPOSED FOR VIETNAM
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara proposed today an "electronic anti-infiltration barrier" which would block the communist flow of arms & troops into South Vietnam from the north.
The barrier is to consist of 20,000 air-dropped listening devices as well as more than half a billion land mines.
The McNamara Line is projected to cost $800 million a year.*
*The idea, given to McNamara by JFK National Security Adviser Carl Kaysen, proved impractical as the NVA simply changed their supply routes.
Dr. Carl Kaysen
MIT Photograph
September 7, 1977
CARTER GIVES CONTROL OF CANAL TO PANAMA
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President Jimmy Carter today signed a treaty which will give Panama control over the Panama Canal beginning in the year 2000.
The treaty ends the 1904 Hay-Bunau Treaty negotiated during the Theodore Roosevelt administration.
The treaty was signed by President Carter & President Torrijos of Panama.
President Carter & President Torrijos
