SOVIETS EXPLODE WORLD'S MOST POWERFUL ATOMIC BOMB
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) The White House announced today the news that the Soviet Union has exploded the most powerful atomic weapon in history.
The 50 megaton atomic bomb was detonated at the Soviet Arctic testing site.
President Kennedy said:
"The Soviet Union has shown its complete disregard for the welfare of mankind."
The White House also issued this statement:
"The Soviet explosion was a political rather than a military act. Any such weapon would be primarily a mass killer of people in war & the testing of this device primarily is an incitement to fright & panic in the cold war."
October 30, 1962
U THANT GETS NOWHERE WITH CASTRO
Havana, Cuba (JFK+50) A United Nations delegation, headed by Secretary-General U Thant, had discussions with Premier Fidel Castro today concerning the UN observation of the dismantling & removal of Soviet missiles in Cuba.
Castro stated his government's position but was unwilling to make any agreement concerning a UN role in the process.*
*On November 1, 1962, Castro announces he will not allow the UN to inspect.
Castro & Khrushchev at the Kremlin
October 30, 1953
IKE GIVES O.K. FOR NSC PAPER #16212
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President Dwight D. Eisenhower today gave his approval of NSC Paper #16212 which makes clear the maintenance of the nuclear armaments of the United States as well as their expansion to meet the challenges of the cold war.
The Eisenhower administration sees the expansion of the U.S. nuclear arsenal as both sensible as well as being a cost-effective approach to military defense.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower
October 30, 1938
CBS RADIO DRAMA SPOOKS THE NATION
New York City (JFK+50) Thousands of listeners on this Halloween eve tuned in to the "CBS Radio Mercury Theater", but instead of entertainment they believed that they were listening to an actual news broadcast of the landing of an invading army from the planet Mars.
The title of the radio play, "War of the Worlds", is based on the novel by H.G. Welles.
Orson Welles is the director of the play.
Orson Welles
Photo by Carl Van Vechten
Library of Congress Photo (1937)
Adding to their confusion, apparently many of the listeners tuned in after the program had begun.
During the drama, a Martian "machine" landed near Grover's Mill, New Jersey (no such place in the real world), where the "on the scene" reporter gave this graphic description:
"Something's wriggling out of the shadow like a gray snake. I can see the thing's body now. It's large as a bear. It glistens like wet leather. I can hardly force myself to keep looking at it...."
Reports are that some listeners were so terrified, they jumped in their cars & fled in panic.
"Martian Landing Site" Marker
Van Ness Park
West Windsor Township, New Jersey
