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Monday, August 11, 2014

REAGAN OUTLAWS RUSSIA

REAGAN "OUTLAWED RUSSIA" AND ANNOUNCED "BOMBING" 30 YEARS AGO

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President Ronald Wilson Reagan was in a joking mood 30 years ago today, August 11, 1984, just before giving a scheduled radio address at the White House here in the Nation's Capital.

In doing a microphone check, the President said:

"My fellow Americans, I am pleased to tell you today that I have signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever.  We begin bombing in 5 minutes."


President Ronald Reagan
July 1981
Reagan Library Photo

STRONTIUM 90 LEVELS DOUBLED IN MILK SUPPLY 51 YEARS AGO

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) U.S. public health officials announced fifty-one years ago, August 11, 1963, that nuclear tests in the atmosphere conducted in 1962 had doubled the levels of Strontium 90 found in the nation's milk supplies.

Strontium 90 is known as a "bone seeker" which causes bone cancer and leukemia.*


*Dr. Louise Reiss did a study of baby teeth which showed that children born in 1963 had levels of strontium 90 up to 50 times higher than children born before atmospheric nuclear testing.

This study helped convince JFK to negotiate for a Nuclear Test Ban which would prohibit testing anywhere but underground.


BOHLEN NAMED AMBASSADOR TO FRANCE

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President John F. Kennedy named Charles E. Bohlen as United States ambassador to France fifty-two years ago, August 11, 1962.

Mr. Bohlen was born in Clayton, New York.  He graduated from Harvard in 1927. CEB served as French ambassador until his retirement in January 1969.




Charles E. Bohlen
US Ambassador to France
1962-1969


RIOTS BROKE OUT IN WATTS 49 YEARS AGO

Los Angeles, California (JFK+50) The Watts Riots broke out forty-nine years ago here in Los Angeles, August 11, 1965.

At 7 p.m. (PDT) Marquette Frye, an African-American, was stopped by a California Highway Patrolman for reckless driving in Watts.  Soon after Frye's arrest, a riot broke out among about 200 people who had gathered on the scene.

Rocks and other objects were thrown by the mob at the officers.  Rioting continued for the next 4 hours.

The Watts Riots continued for six days with 34 dead, more than a thousand wounded and over 3400 arrested.



Police Make Arrest in Watts
August 12, 1965
New York World-Telegram Photo


LAST US COMBAT UNIT LEAVES SOUTH VIETNAM

Da Nang, South Vietnam (JFK+50) The last American ground combat unit serving in South Vietnam departed for the United States 42 years ago, August 11, 1972. today.

The unit, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry, had been guarding the US air base located in Da Nang.

43,500 advisers, air force personnel and support troops remained.


South Vietnamese Air Force (VNAF)
Da Nang, South Vietnam