"LABOR DAY" PARADE HELD IN NEW YORK CITY
New York City (JFK+50) The Central Labor Union of New York held the first "Labor Day" parade here in New York City today.
"Labor Day" was proposed in May of this year by Peter J. McGuire of the American Federation of Labor.
The proposal called for "a street parade to exhibit the strength...of the trade & labor organizations."*
*Oregon was the 1st state to make "Labor Day" a holiday. It became a Federal holiday in 1894.
Labor Day Parade
New York City
September 5, 1882
September 5, 1905
RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR ENDS WITH TREATY
Portsmouth, New Hampshire (JFK+50) The recent war between Japan & Russia officially ended today with the signing of a treaty here in Portsmouth.
By the terms of the treaty, Russia has agreed to cede the island of Sakhalin to Japan.
Peace between the two nations was negotiated by President Theodore Roosevelt.*
*TR was later awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in the treaty.
Treaty of Portsmouth
Japan Foreign Ministry Archives
Photo by World Imaging
September 5, 1961
JFK SIGNS AMENDMENT TO AVIATION ACT
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President John F. Kennedy signed at the White House today an amendment to the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 making the hijacking of US commercial airliners punishable by death.
The legislation was proposed in response to the hijacking of commercial airlines flying into or out of Miami International Airport by Cubans.
The amendment provides a penalty of 1 year imprisonment for carrying a concealed weapon on an airplane & a 5 year term for providing false information about a hijacking.
Miami International Airport
Miami, Florida
Photo by Jason Walsh (2007)
September 5, 1962
US "U2" SPY PLANE FLIES OFF COURSE
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President John F. Kennedy today sent an urgent message to the Kremlin to explain the reason an American "U-2" spy plane was flying over Sakhalin Island.
The President informed the Soviets that the incident was unintentional & due to a "navigational error".
September 5, 1963
GOLDWATER WANTS ALL SOVIETS OUT OF CUBA BEFORE RATIFICATION OF TEST BAN TREATY
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Prospective Republican nominee for President of the United States next year, Senator Barry Goldwater of Arizona, said today that the ratification of the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty should be delayed until ALL soviet military personnel are withdrawn from Cuba.
The White House had no comment on Goldwater's proposal.
Barry Goldwater Statue
Goldwater Memorial Park
Paradise Valley, Arizona
Photo by mwinog2777
President Kennedy, meanwhile, was at the White House meeting with King Mohammed Zaher of Afghanistan discussing the nation's economic & social progress. This evening JFK & Mrs. Kennedy held a dinner in honor of the King & Queen Homaira.
September 5, 1969
CALLEY CHARGED IN MY LAI MASSACRE
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Second Lieutenant William Calley was charged today with the premeditated murder of 109 Vietnamese civilians at the village of My Lai on March 16, 1968.
Calley's company was conducting a "search & destroy" mission at the time of the massacre.*
*Lt. Calley was found guilty & sentenced to life imprisonment. His sentence was reduced by the Secretary of the Army to 20 & then again to 10 years. He was paroled by President Nixon in 1974.
September 5, 1975
PRESIDENT ESCAPES ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT
Sacramento, California (JFK+50) President Gerald R. Ford survived an attempt on his life today by Charles Manson follower, Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme.
Miss Fromme was disarmed by a Secret Service agent before she could fire one or more of the 4 bullets in the chamber of her 45 caliber pistol.*
*Squeaky Fromme was found guilty & sentenced to life imprisonment. She was paroled at the age of 60 & released from the Federal Medical Center Carswell in Fort Worth, Texas on August 14, 2009.
Federal Medical Center Carswell
Fort Worth, Texas
