JFK+50: Volume 6, No. 1782
TRUMAN DOES NOT RULE OUT USE OF ATOMIC WEAPONS IN KOREAWashington, D.C. (JFK+50) Sixty-five years ago today, November 30, 1950, President Harry S Truman was asked at a press conference if he was prepared to authorize the use of atomic weapons to achieve peace in the Korean Conflict.
The President, who authorized the first use of the atomic bomb against Japan in 1945, said the United States would take....
"whatever steps are necessary to contain communist expansion in Korea....and that includes any weapon we have."
Mr. Truman also blamed the Soviet Union for using Chinese insurgents as part of a plan to spread communism in Asia.
Atomic Test in Nevada
November 1, 1951
NARA Photo
U THANT ELECTED UN SECRETARY-GENERAL
New York City (JFK+50) Fifty-three years ago today, November 30, 1962, U Thant of Burma was elected as the third Secretary-General of the United Nations.
U Thant's term would extend through November 3, 1966.
U Thant was born on January 22, 1909 in Pantanaw, British Burma. He became director of broadcasting in 1948. In 1949, he became secretary to the government of Burma in the Ministry of Information.
From 1951 to 1957, U Thant served as secretary to the Prime Minister of Burma, U Nu. U Thant was UN Secretary-General through 1971. He died at the age of 65 in 1974.
UN Secretary-General U Thant
Photo by Yoichi R. Okamoto (1968)
LBJ Library Photo
