SUMMIT COLLAPSES IN PARIS 54 YEARS AGO TODAY
Paris (JFK+50)In the aftermath of the shooting down of a U2 spy plane flying over Soviet air space, the scheduled summit meeting between President Dwight D. Eisenhower and Premier Nikita Khrushchev collapsed here in Paris 54 years ago today, May 16, 1960.
Khrushchev demanded that the President cancel all future U2 flights and punish those responsible for the flight of Francis Gary Powers over the Soviet Union.
When Mr. Eisenhower said that he would only "suspend" the flights and would give no response to the proposal to punish those responsible for the U2 incident, the Soviet premier stalked out of the meetings.
A scheduled visit by President Eisenhower to Moscow was also cancelled.
Khrushchev looks at U-2 Wreckage
PRESIDENT KENNEDY AND FIRST LADY VISITED CANADA 53 YEARS AGO
Ottawa (JFK+50) President John F. Kennedy made his first foreign trip as head of state 53 years ago today, May 16, 1961.
The President, accompanied by First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, was in Canada for two days.
The visit got off to a bad start when JFK hurt his back during a tree planting ceremony here in Ottawa, but the Canadians were impressed with his Florida tan and Kennedy's stylish fashions.
Ottawa, Capital City of Canada
Photo by G. Baranski (2009)
MOTOWN RECORDS HAS FIRST #1 HIT
Detroit, Michigan (JFK+50) Motown's "My Guy" by Mary Wells reached #1 on the Billboard charts 50 years ago today, May 17, 1964.*
*Motown would release 32 #1 hits in the next 10 yeas. "My Guy" was the last solo hit for Mary Wells. She died of throat cancer at age 49 in 1992.
"Hitsville, USA"
2648 W. Grand Boulevard
Detroit, Michigan
photo by Chris Butcher (2006)
ANDREW JOHNSON ACQUITTED 146 YEARS AGO
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President Andrew Johnson was acquitted 146 years ago today, May 16, 1868, by the US Senate for "high crimes and misdemeanors."
The vote was 35 guilty, 19 not-guilty, just a single vote short of the 2/3 majority required by the Constitution for removal from office.
The main charge against the President was his violation of the Tenure of Office Act which required Senate approval for the removal of a cabinet officer.
President Johnson had dismissed Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton without obtaining the required approval.
Mr. Johnson was allowed to finish out the term to which Abraham Lincoln and he as Vice-President were elected in 1864.
Andrew Johnson's Impeachment Trial
Illustration by Theodore R. Davis
Harper's Weekly
April 11, 1868
Paris (JFK+50)In the aftermath of the shooting down of a U2 spy plane flying over Soviet air space, the scheduled summit meeting between President Dwight D. Eisenhower and Premier Nikita Khrushchev collapsed here in Paris 54 years ago today, May 16, 1960.
Khrushchev demanded that the President cancel all future U2 flights and punish those responsible for the flight of Francis Gary Powers over the Soviet Union.
When Mr. Eisenhower said that he would only "suspend" the flights and would give no response to the proposal to punish those responsible for the U2 incident, the Soviet premier stalked out of the meetings.
A scheduled visit by President Eisenhower to Moscow was also cancelled.
Khrushchev looks at U-2 Wreckage
PRESIDENT KENNEDY AND FIRST LADY VISITED CANADA 53 YEARS AGO
Ottawa (JFK+50) President John F. Kennedy made his first foreign trip as head of state 53 years ago today, May 16, 1961.
The President, accompanied by First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, was in Canada for two days.
The visit got off to a bad start when JFK hurt his back during a tree planting ceremony here in Ottawa, but the Canadians were impressed with his Florida tan and Kennedy's stylish fashions.
Ottawa, Capital City of Canada
Photo by G. Baranski (2009)
MOTOWN RECORDS HAS FIRST #1 HIT
Detroit, Michigan (JFK+50) Motown's "My Guy" by Mary Wells reached #1 on the Billboard charts 50 years ago today, May 17, 1964.*
*Motown would release 32 #1 hits in the next 10 yeas. "My Guy" was the last solo hit for Mary Wells. She died of throat cancer at age 49 in 1992.
"Hitsville, USA"
2648 W. Grand Boulevard
Detroit, Michigan
photo by Chris Butcher (2006)
ANDREW JOHNSON ACQUITTED 146 YEARS AGO
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President Andrew Johnson was acquitted 146 years ago today, May 16, 1868, by the US Senate for "high crimes and misdemeanors."
The vote was 35 guilty, 19 not-guilty, just a single vote short of the 2/3 majority required by the Constitution for removal from office.
The main charge against the President was his violation of the Tenure of Office Act which required Senate approval for the removal of a cabinet officer.
President Johnson had dismissed Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton without obtaining the required approval.
Mr. Johnson was allowed to finish out the term to which Abraham Lincoln and he as Vice-President were elected in 1864.
Andrew Johnson's Impeachment Trial
Illustration by Theodore R. Davis
Harper's Weekly
April 11, 1868
