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Thursday, September 5, 2013

GERALD FORD ESCAPED ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT

September 5, 2013

PRESIDENT GERALD FORD ESCAPED ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT 38 YEARS AGO TODAY

Sacramento (JFK+50) Gerald R. Ford,  the 38th President of the United States, survived an attempt on his life 38 years ago today, September 5, 1975, by Charles Manson follower, Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme*.



                        Squeaky Fromme
                High School Photo (1965)

Ms. Fromme, who was dressed in a red robe and armed with a Colt 45 semi-automatic pistol, was disarmed by a Secret Service agent before she could fire a shot.

Although her pistol had 4 rounds of ammunition, there was no bullet in the chamber at the time she pointed it at President Ford.

Squeaky Fromme was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment. 

She was paroled at the age of 60 and released from the Federal Medical Center Carswell in Fort Worth, Texas on August 14, 2009.

*Lynette Alice "Squeaky" Fromme was born in Santa Monica, CA on Oct. 22, 1948.  Her father was an aeronautical engineer.  She graduated from Redondo Union High School in 1966 and the following year met and became a follower of Charles Manson.



      Federal Medical Center Carswell
                     Fort Worth, Texas


RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR ENDED 108 YEARS AGO

Portsmouth, New Hampshire (JFK+50) The war between Japan and Russia officially ended 108 years ago today, September 5, 1905, with the signing of a treaty here in Portsmouth.

By the terms of the treaty, Russia agreed to cede the island of Sakhalin to Japan.

Peace between the two nations was negotiated by President Theodore Roosevelt who later was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in the negotiations.



                Treaty of Portsmouth
    Japan Foreign Ministry Archives
             Photo by World Imaging



GOLDWATER WANTED ALL SOVIETS OUT OF CUBA BEFORE RATIFICATION OF TEST BAN 

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Prospective Republican nominee for President of the United States, Senator Barry Goldwater of Arizona, said 50 years ago today, September 5, 1963, that, in his opinion, ALL soviet military personnel should be withdrawn from Cuba before the Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty was ratified.

The White House had no comment on Goldwater's proposal.



               Barry Goldwater Statue
            Goldwater Memorial Park
             Paradise Valley, Arizona
                 Photo by mwinog2777

President Kennedy was at the White House meeting with King Mohammed Zaher of Afghanistan discussing the nation's economic and social progress. 

In the evening, President and Mrs. Kennedy held a dinner in honor of the King and Queen Homaira.


LT. CALLEY CHARGED IN MY LAI MASSACRE 45 YEARS AGO TODAY

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Second Lieutenant William Calley was charged 45 years ago today, September 5, 1969, 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 and destroy" mission at the time of the massacre.

Lt. Calley was later found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment.

His sentence was reduced by the Secretary of the Army to 20 and then to 10 years. 

Calley was paroled by President Richard M. Nixon in 1974.





1ST LABOR DAY PARADE HELD IN NEW YORK 

New York City (JFK+50) The Central Labor Union of New York held the first Labor Day Parade here in New York City 131 years ago today, September 5, 1882.

Labor Day was proposed in May 1882 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 and it became a Federal holiday in 1894.



                   Labor Day Parade
                       New York City
                   September 5, 1882



                      "Childhood's End"
                           by Rick Ryan