"YOUTH DRESSED AS LABORER FIRES SMALL PISTOL"

HIROHITO ESCAPES ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT IN TOKYO

Tokyo, Japan (JFK+50) On December 27, 1923, an assassination attempt was made on Prince Regent Hirohito* of Japan here in Tokyo.  A twenty year old man, dressed as a laborer, fired at the Prince Regent who was riding in his automobile.

A crowd captured the assailant who was arrested later by police.    The assassination attempt took place at the Toranomon intersection in downtown Tokyo.  

There had been rumors circulating before the incident that Koreans were conspiring to kill Hirohito.

*Hirohito (1901-989) reigned as emperor of Japan 1926-1989, the longest serving emperor in Japanese history.  Hirohito had become Regent on Nov 25, 1921.

JFK+50 NOTE

The bullet fired shattered a window & injured another person in the vehicle.  The suspect was Daisuke Namba who claimed to be a communist.  He was executed in 1924.

SOURCE

"Assassin's Shot Misses Japanese Prince Regent," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., December 27, 1923, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/ 

 

 

Hirohito in Dress Uniform

1935

Library of Congress Photo

"LAST STEP BEFORE BREAKDOWN OF NEGOTIATIONS"

FDR SENDS PERSONAL MESSAGE TO EMPEROR HIROHITO

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On December 7, 1941, the Detroit Times reports President Franklin D. Roosevelt last evening "addressed a personal message to Emperor Hirohito* of Japan."  The contents of the message, although not disclosed by the U.S. State Department, came following the government being informed "of Japanese preparation of an imminent invasion of Thailand."

Robert G. Nixon discloses that the President's action "is clearly a last possible step prior to a complete breakdown of negotiations with Japan for a peaceful settlement."

*Hirohito (1901-1989) was born in Tokyo & was commissioned in the Imperial Japanese Army at age 11.  He visited the U.S. in 1921 & became Emperor of Japan in 1926.  Hirohito is the longest reigning Japanese emperor, 1926-1989.

JFK+50 NOTE

In the message, FDR writes "During these past few weeks it has become clear to the world that Japanese forces have been sent to South Indo-China in large numbers."  He indicates that this action cannot be interpreted to be a defensive measure.

The Final Edition of the Detroit Times, Dec 7, 1941, was obviously published before word of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor had reached the mainland.  The attack began at 7:55 a.m. Hawaii time, 12:55 p.m. in Washington, D.C.

Thailand was attacked by Japanese forces at 2 a.m. (2 p.m. EST) on December 8, 1941.  A cease-fire was declared five hours later and a military alliance between Thailand & the Japanese Empire was established. 

SOURCES

"President Roosevelt To Emperor Hirohito of Japan," December 6, 1941, Foreign Relations of the United States:Japan, 1931-1941, vol. 2

"Roosevelt Warns Jap Ruler To Avert Major War in Pacific," by Robert G. Nixon, Detroit Times, Final Edition, December 7, 1941, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/ 

 

 

 Hirohito on Shirayuki

1935

"JAPAN HAS MUCH TO LEARN FROM WESTERN COUNTRIES"

HIROHITO DESIGNATED REGENT OF JAPAN

Tokyo, Japan (JFK+50) On November 25, 1921, the Evening Star reported that "Crown Prince Hirohito* has been designated regent of Japan."  This occurred after Hirohito's "recent tour" of Europe and because of the continued illness of Emperor Yoshihito**.

When the Crown Prince returned from his tour, he told the Japanese people that they have "much to learn from western countries."

*Hirohito, a.k.a. Emperor Showa (1901-1987) was born in Tokyo & attended Gakushuin Peers' School.  He visited the U.S. in 1921 & served as 124th emperor of the Empire of Japan, 1926-1947, & of the State of Japan, 1947-1987.  H is the longest lived & longest reigning Japanese emperor.

**Yoshihito, a.k.a. Emperor Taisho (1879-1926) was born in Tokyo & ruled Japan 1912-1926 although he took no official duties after 1919.

SOURCE

"Prince Hirohito Is Designated As Regent of Japan," The Evening Star, November 25, 1921, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/ 

   

 

Crown Prince Hirohito

Oxford University

May 14, 1921

The Asahi Shimbun 

 

 

MACARTHUR MEETS HIROHITO

JFK+50:  Volume 5, No. 1726

MACARTHUR MET HIROHITO 70 YEARS AGO TODAY IN TOKYO

Tokyo, Japan (JFK+50) Seventy years ago today, September 27, 1945, General Douglas MacArthur met with Japanese Emperor Hirohito* at the Allied General Headquarters here in Tokyo.

MacArthur had arrived in Japan just two days earlier by order of President Harry S Truman to oversee the occupation of Japan following that nation's surrender ending World War II on September 2nd.

The General, accompanied only by an interpreter and photographer, met with the Emperor for about twenty minutes.  Since there was no written transcript made of this meeting, we do not know what was discussed.  The meeting took place in the Reception Room of Allied GHQ.

We do know that General MacArthur allowed three photographs to be taken of himself with the Emperor and that one of these was published the following day in Japanese newspapers and the New York Times.  Because the Emperor had been considered "divine," the publication in Japan served as a signal that MacArthur, not the Emperor, was now in charge.

During the six year occupation, MacArthur and Hirohito would meet less than a dozen more times, but the first meeting is the one that is remembered because of the iconic photograph of the two men which was taken by Lt. Gaetano Faillace, a member of the military camera corps.

The photo, shown below, shocked many people because of General MacArthur's nonchalant appearance.  Life Magazine wrote..."MacArthur did not trouble himself to put on a tie for the occasion."  Of the three images, the last was chosen as the one to be published because in the first MacArthur's eyes were closed, and in the second the Emperor's mouth was open.

According to Jim Zobel, assistant archivist at the MacArthur Memorial in Norfolk, Virginia, the copy on file in his facility, signed by both men, may be worth up to "six figures."  The Memorial's Artifacts Series on this photograph may be seen via YouTube embedded below.

*Hirohito (1901-1989), the 124th Emperor of Japan from 1926 to 1989, was born in Tokyo and attended Gakushuin Peers' School and an institute for the Crown Prince.  Hirohito assumed the throne on the death of his father on Dec 25, 1926.  His reign ended with his death due to complications of pancreatic cancer.  Hirohito's funeral was attended by President George H.W. Bush.

SOURCES

"Did Hirohito apologize to MacArthur?," www.quora.com/

"Emperor Hirohito Meets U.S. General Douglas MacArthur," www.worldwar2database.com/

MacArthur Memorial, Norfolk, Virginia, www.macarthurmemorial.org/

"When MacArthur Met the Emperor," Iconic Photos, September 28, 2012, www.iconicphotos.wordpress.com/

General MacArthur & Emperor Hirohito

Allied General HQ, Tokyo

September 27, 1945

Photo by Lt. Gaetano Faillace

US Army Image

SURRENDER OF JAPAN

JAPAN SURRENDERED 70 YEARS AGO TODAY 

Tokyo, Japan (JFK+50) After atomic bombs were dropped by the United States on two of Japan's major cities, Hiroshima and Nagasaki,  the Japanese Imperial government agreed seventy years ago today, August 10, 1945, to the terms of the Potsdam Declaration which provided for unconditional surrender.  The Japanese government refused, however, to accept any conditions that would "prejudice the prerogatives" of the emperor.

When this news reached the White House, President Harry Truman ordered an immediate halt to continued use of atomic weapons.   News of the surrender was not made public in Japan until August 15 when Emperor Hirohito gave his radio address.

Hirohito in Dress Uniform

1935

BABY PATRICK LAID TO REST 

Brookline, Massachsetts (JFK+50) The infant son of President and Mrs. John F. Kennedy, Patrick Bouvier Kennedy, was laid to rest here at Holyhood Cemetery in Brookline fifty-two years ago today, August 10, 1963.

Patrick, who was born five and a half weeks premature on August 7, died in the early morning hours of August 9, only 39 hours after birth.  The Kennedy baby died as a result of complications of hyaline membrane disease which is common in premature births.

The funeral mass, celebrated by Richard Cardinal Cushing, archbishop of Boston, at his residence, was attended only by members of the immediate Kennedy family.

According to David Powers, JFK put a gold Saint Christopher's Medal, which had been a present given to him by Jacqueline, inside the casket.

At graveside, President Kennedy "tightly gripped" Patrick's small white coffin.
Kenny O'Donnell and Dave Powers wrote...

"The loss of Patrick affected the President and Jackie more deeply than anybody except their closest friends realized."

A couple of months later, JFK left the Harvard-Columbia football game at halftime to visit Patrick's grave.  The President asked Kenny O'Donnell and Dave Powers to make sure he wasn't followed by the press.

Standing in the cemetery, looking down at the headstone marked KENNEDY, JFK said to Dave and Kenny...

"He seems so alone here."

After JFK's death and burial at Arlington National Cemetery, Patrick Bouvier Kennedy's remains were placed next to those of his father.

SOURCE

"Johnny We Hardly Knew Ye:  Memories of John Fitzgerald Kennedy," by Kenneth P. O'Donnell and David F. Powers, Little Brown and Company, Boston, 1970, 1972.

JFK Gravesite at Arlington

Photo by Kevin Rutherford (2010)

JAPAN SURRENDERS

JAPAN ACCEPTED TERMS OF SURRENDER 69 YEARS AGO 

Tokyo, Japan (JFK+50) After atomic bombs were dropped by the United States on two of Japan's major cities, Hiroshima and Nagasaki,  the Japanese Imperial government agreed sixty-nine years ago today, August 10, 1945, to the terms of the Potsdam Declaration and accept unconditional surrender.

When this news reached the White House, President Harry Truman ordered an immediate halt to continued use of atomic weapons.

In a telegram sent to the President, while the Japanese agreed to accept unconditional surrender, they refused to accept any conditions that would "prejudice the prerogatives" of the emperor.

News of the surrender was not made public in Japan until August 15 when Emperor Hirohito gave his radio address.

Hirohito in Dress Uniform

1935

TRUMAN SIGNED NATIONAL SECURITY BILL 65 YEARS AGO

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Sixty-five years ago today, August 10, 1949, and two years following the enactment of the National Security Act of 1947, the National Security Bill was signed into law at the White House by President Harry S Truman.

The bill, amending the National Security Act of 1947, established the Department of Defense and the office of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The 1st Secretary of Defense was Louis Johnson while the 1st Chairman of the Joint Chiefs was General Omar Bradley.

Truman Signs National Security Bill

August 10, 1949

Truman Library Photo

BABY PATRICK LAID TO REST 51 YEARS AGO

Brookline, Massachsetts (JFK+50) The infant son of President and Mrs. John F. Kennedy, Patrick Bouvier Kennedy, was laid to rest here at Holyhood Cemetery in Brookline fifty-one years ago today, August 10, 1963.

Patrick, who was born five and a half weeks premature on August 7, died in the early morning hours of August 9, only 39 hours after birth.

The Kennedy baby died as a result of complications of hyaline membrane disease which is common in premature births.

The funeral mass, celebrated by Richard Cardinal Cushing, archbishop of Boston, at his residence, was attended only by members of the immediate Kennedy family.

According to David Powers, JFK put a gold Saint Christopher's Medal, which had been a present given to him by Jacqueline, inside the casket.

At graveside, President Kennedy "tightly gripped" Patrick's small white coffin.
Kenny O'Donnell and Dave Powers wrote...

"The loss of Patrick affected the President and Jackie more deeply than anybody except their closest friends realized."

A couple of months later, JFK left the Harvard-Columbia football game at halftime to visit Patrick's grave.  The President asked Kenny O'Donnell and Dave Powers to make sure he wasn't followed by the press.

Standing in the cemetery, looking down at the headstone marked KENNEDY, JFK said to Dave and Kenny...

"He seems so alone here."

After JFK's death and burial at Arlington National Cemetery, Patrick Bouvier Kennedy's remains were placed next to those of his father.

SOURCE

"Johnny We Hardly Knew Ye:  Memories of John Fitzgerald Kennedy," by Kenneth P. O'Donnell and David F. Powers, Little Brown and Company, Boston, 1970, 1972.

JFK Gravesite at Arlington

Photo by Kevin Rutherford (2010)

PATRICK BOUVIER KENNEDY LAID TO REST

August 10, 1963


PATRICK BOUVIER KENNEDY LAID TO REST


Brookline, Massachsetts (JFK+50) The infant son of President & Mrs. John F. Kennedy, Patrick Bouvier Kennedy, was laid to rest here today at the Holyhood Cemetery.


Patrick, who was born more than 5 weeks premature on August 7, died early yesterday morning only 39 hours after birth.


The Kennedy baby died as a result of complications of hyaline membrane disease which is common in premature births.


Mrs. Jacqueline Kennedy, who remains at Otis Air Force Base Hospital, was unable to attend the service.


The funeral mass was conducted by Richard Cardinal Cushing, the archbishop of Boston.


At graveside, President Kennedy "tightly gripped" Patrick's small white coffin.*


*After JFK's death & burial at Arlington National Cemetery, Patrick Bouvier Kennedy's remains were placed next to his father's.

           JFK Gravesite at Arlington
     1 of the markers bears the name
           Patrick Bouvier Kennedy
    Photo by Kevin Rutherford (2010)


August 10, 1955


DIEM REFUSES TO NEGOTIATE WITH NORTH


Saigon, South Vietnam (JFK+50) Ngo Dinh Diem, Premier of the State of Vietnam, announced today that he has no intention of negotiating with the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam) as long a communist government stays in power.


Elections had been called for by the Geneva Peace Accords of 1954.

         Ike, Dulles & Ngo Dinh Diem
       Washington National Airport
                        May 8, 1957


August 10, 1949


TRUMAN SIGNS NATIONAL SECURITY BILL


Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) 2 years following the enactment of the National Security Act of 1947, the National Security Bill (amendment to the NS Act) was signed into law today at the White House by President Harry S Truman.


The act establishes the Department of Defense & the office of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.*


*The 1st Secretary of Defense will be Louis Johnson & the 1st Chairman of the Joint Chiefs will be General Omar Bradley.

Truman Signs National Security Bill
                   August 10, 1949
         Truman Library Photo


August 10, 1945


JAPAN AGREES TO UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER


Tokyo, Japan (JFK+50) After atomic bombs were dropped by the United States on two of Japan's major cities, the imperial government decided today to agree to the terms of the Potsdam Declaration & accept unconditional surrender.


When this news reached the White House, President Harry S Truman ordered an immediate halt to continued use of the atomic weapon.


In a telegram sent to President Truman, the Japanese are willing to accept unconditional surrender but will not accept any conditions that would "prejudice the prerogatives" of the emperor.*


*News of the surrender is made public on August 15 when Emperor Hirohito gives his radio address.

           Hirohito in Dress Uniform 
                                 1935