WWII BEGINS

WWII BEGAN 75 YEARS AGO TODAY

Wielun, Poland  (JFK+50) The Second World War began seventy-five years ago today, September 1, 1939, with Germany's attack on Poland.

The invasion began at 04:40 when Adolf Hitler's Luftwaffe made a bombing raid on the town of Wielun.

Minutes later, a German battleship opened fire on the Polish military transit depot in Danzig on the Baltic Sea.

At 08:00, German troops marched on Mokra. Additional German attacks followed on the northern, southern and western borders of Poland.

Great Britain and France declared war on Germany on September 3, 1941 and
two weeks later the Soviet Union invaded Poland.

Monument to "September Veterans"

Southern Poland

Photo by Mark A. Wilson (2006)

JFK SAYS HOFFA WANTS TO DOMINATE EVERYTHING 

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Fifty-five years ago today, September 1, 1959, Massachusetts Senator John F. Kennedy had some harsh words for Teamster's Union president Jimmy Hoffa.

JFK said, during a filming of a television program conducted by Florida Democratic Senator George Smathers,

"Mr. Hoffa wants to dominate everything that moves in this country."

Senator Kennedy went on to say that Hoffa would try to defeat "certain members of Congress" in the next election.

Bernard Spindel and Jimmy Hoffa (1957)

BURR ACQUITTED OF TREASON

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) 207 years ago today, September 1, 1807, Aaron Burr, former Vice-President of the United States, was acquitted of plotting to annex parts of Louisiana and Spanish territory in Mexico for the creation of an independent republic.

Mr. Burr was found not guilty because, according to the law, he had not yet engaged in an "overt act" of treason. Afterward, Burr went into exile in Europe but later returned to private life in New York where he died in 1836.

Portrait of Aaron Burr (1802)

by John Vanderlyn

JIMMY HOFFA

HOFFA DISAPPEARED 39 YEARS AGO TODAY

Detroit, Michigan (JFK+50) The head of the Teamsters Union, James Riddle Hoffa*, disappeared thirty-nine years ago today, July 31, 1975, after last being seen in his car in the parking lot of the Machus Red Fox Restaurant in the Detroit suburb Bloomfield.

When Mr. Hoffa, who was apparently to meet with mob leaders, did not return home, his wife filed a missing persons report with local police authorities.

Police located Hoffa's vehicle, but was unable to locate the Teamsters boss.

Mr. Hoffa became president of the Teamsters Union in 1957 but had been the target of government investigations during the 1960s for his associations with organized crime.

Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, frustrated with failures of the Justice Department to prosecute Hoffa, launched a full scale attack on organized crime including the Teamsters.

Jimmy Hoffa reportedly said when he was told of President John F. Kennedy's assassination.... 

 "Well, Bobby Kennedy is just another lawyer now." 

RFK listens to Jimmy Hoffa

Congressional Investigation

September 17, 1958

*James Riddle Hoffa (1913-1975) was born in Brazil, Indiana but his family moved to Detroit in 1924 where he would spend the rest of his life.JRH began work in a grocery store and rose in the ranks of organized labor.  He became VP of the union in 1952 was president from 1958 to 1971.

JRH was convicted of attempted bribery of a grand juror in Chattanooga, TN and sentenced to prison. President Nixon authorized Hoffa's release in 1971 on the condition that he would not participate in union activities for 10 years. JRH was declared officially dead on July 30, 1982.

ROBERT A. TAFT DIED 61 YEARS AGO TODAY

New York City (JFK+50) Senator Robert A. Taft (R-Ohio) died of cancer at New York Hospital sixty-one years ago today at the age of 63.

Senator Taft, the son of President William Howard Taft, a conservative Republican, was a critic of FDR's New Deal in the US Senate in 1938.

Taft also was an opponent of Truman's policy of the containment of communism and also opposed membership in NATO.

Senator John F. Kennedy named Taft as one of the five greatest United States senators in 1957.

Senator Robert A. Taft of Ohio

JIMMY HOFFA DISAPPEARED 38 YEARS AGO

July 31, 2013

JIMMY HOFFA DISAPPEARED 38 YEARS AGO

Detroit, Michigan (JFK+50) The head of the Teamsters Union, James Riddle Hoffa*, disappeared 38 years ago today, July 31, 1975, after last being seen in his car around 2:45 p.m. in the parking lot of the Machus Red Fox Restaurant here in the Detroit suburb of Bloomfield.

When Mr. Hoffa, who was apparently to meet with mob leaders, did not return home, his wife filed a missing persons report with local police authorities.

Police located Hoffa's vehicle, but was unable to locate the Teamsters boss.

Jimmy Hoffa became president of the Teamsters Union in 1957 but had been the target of government investigations during the 1960s for his associations with organized crime.

Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, frustrated with failures of the Justice Dept. to prosecute Hoffa, launched a full scale attack on organized crime including the Teamsters.

Jimmy Hoffa reportedly said when he was told of President Kennedy's assassination.... 

 "Well, Bobby Kennedy is just another lawyer now." 

                  RFK listens to Jimmy Hoffa
                  Congressional Investigation
                          September 17, 1958

*James Riddle Hoffa (1913-1975) was born in Brazil, Indiana but his family moved to Detroit in 1924 where he would spend the rest of his life.

JRH began work in a grocery store and quickly rose in the ranks of organized labor.  He would serve in the Brotherhood of Teamsters from 1932 to 1975.
Hoffa became VP of the union in 1952 was president from 1958 to 1971.

JRH was convicted of attempted bribery of a grand juror in Chattanooga, TN and sentenced to prison.  He began serving time in March 1967 at Lewisburg Federal Prison in Pennsylvania.

President Nixon authorized Hoffa's release in 1971 on the condition that he would not participate in union activities for 10 years.

James Riddle Hoffa was declared officially dead on July 30, 1982.

                
SENATOR BOB TAFT DIED 60 YEARS AGO TODAY

New York City (JFK+50) Senator Robert A. Taft (R-Ohio) died of cancer at New York Hospital 60 years ago today at the age of 63.

Senator Taft, the son of President William Howard Taft, a conservative Republican, was a critic of FDR's New Deal in the US Senate in 1938.

Taft also was an opponent of Truman's policy of the containment of communism and also opposed membership in NATO.

Senator Taft was interred at Indian Hill Episcopal Church Cemetery in Cincinatti, Ohio.*

*Senator John F. Kennedy named Bob Taft as one of the five greatest US senators in 1957.

             Senator Robert A. Taft of Ohio

ANDREW JOHNSON DIED 138 YEARS AGO TODAY

Elizabethton, Tennessee (JFK+50) The 17th President of the United States and the 1st president to be impeached, Andrew Johnson, died here in upper East Tennessee 138 years ago today, July 31, 1875, while visiting his daughter.

Andrew Johnson was born in North Carolina but moved to Greeneville, Tennessee where he was elected mayor in 1834. 

The following year Johnson became a state legislator and in 1843 became a United States senator.

President Abraham Lincoln, a Republican, chose Andrew Johnson, a Democrat, as his running mate in 1864 to unify the Republican Party and the Nation as the Civil War was ending.

On April 15, 1865, Andrew Johnson became President of the United States upon Lincoln's death.

While Johnson's presidency was troubled, he escaped conviction on impeachment charges by a single vote and was able to complete his term.

KENNEDYS HOST JOHN GLENN'S FAMILY FOR WEEKEND AT HYANNIS

July 22, 1962


KENNEDYS HOST JOHN GLENN'S FAMILY FOR WEEKEND AT HYANNIS


Hyannisport, Massachusetts (JFK+50) NASA astronaut John Glenn, his wife & family were entertained today by President & Mrs. Kennedy here at the summer White House.


Members of the Glenn family were taken on cruises & enjoyed water skiing.*


*JFK had a mishap when his sailboat, Victura, ran around near the family compound & also when the mainsail collapsed during relaunch.

Bob Kennedy & Family on the Victura
                   JFK Library Photo


July 22, 1961


CANADIAN PM & JFK LINKED BY MICROWAVE RADIO TRANSMISSION


Hyannisport, Massachusetts (JFK+50) Prime Minister John G. Diefenbaker of Canada called President John F. Kennedy today on a new broadband microwave communications system which crosses Canada & links Alaska to the continental United States.


The Prime Minister said:


"I am very pleased at this opportunity to welcome you again on behalf of the people of Canada."

              John G. Diefenbaker
       Prime Minister of Canada
                    (1957-1963)
   Photo by Paul Horsdal (1962)


July 22, 1959


RFK ACCUSES HOFFA ON JACK PARR


New York City (JFK+50) Robert F. Kennedy made an appearance on the Jack Parr television show tonight. 


Bob Kennedy did not have many nice things to say about Jimmy Hoffa.


Kennedy told Parr & his audience to call or write their congressmen in support of labor reform legislation.


He also leveled harsh accusations against Mr. Hoffa, the president of the Teamsters Union.*


*Oddly while RFK was in the process of giving out the names of labor racketeers associated with Hoffa the audio went out.

July 22, 1956


JFK NARRATES FILM ON HISTORY OF DEMOCRATIC PARTY


Massachusetts Senator John F. Kennedy today narrated a 20 minute film on the history of the Democratic Party.


The film, directed by MGM's Dore Schary, is to be shown at the 1956 Democratic National Convention.


JFK, following a script that he edited, traces the history of Democrats back to Thomas Jefferson.


July 22, 1938


NUNS FROM SPAIN TAKE REFUGE IN ENGLAND


London, England (JFK+50) 28 nuns from Barcelona, Spain were given refuge today here in England thanks to efforts by US Ambassador Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr.


With the help of Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain & the co-operation of the Spanish government, the Nuns were brought to London aboard the British warship Hero.


The nuns will be staying at various Sacred Heart convents in England.


July 22, 1934


PUBLIC ENEMY #1 SHOT DEAD BY G MEN


Chicago, Illinois (JFK+50) John Dillinger, labeled as "Public Enemy #1" by J. Edgar Hoover's FBI, was killed by federal agents outside the Biograph Theater this evening.

  
        John Dillinger's Mugshot
                         FBI Photo


Dillinger's gang had robbed 11 banks of $300,000 in just over a year.  The Dillinger Gang is also responsible for the deaths of 7 police officers & 3 federal agents.


Anna Sage, a brothel madam in Chicago & friend of Dillinger's, co-operated with the FBI in tracking him down.


She & Dillinger watched the gangster movie "Manhattan Melodrama" as 20 FBI agents & police officers waited outside.


Sage wore an orange dress to identify herself for the officers.


At 10:40 p.m. as Dillinger & Sage emerged from the theater, officers ordered him to surrender.


Instead he attempted to escape & was shot down in an alley at the end of the block.

               Biograph Theater 
                Chicago, Illinois
                      FBI Photo


July 22, 1862


LINCOLN TELLS CABINET ABOUT EMANCIPATION


Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President Abraham Lincoln informed his cabinet today at the White House that he intends to emancipate the slaves.


He said he will wait, however, until after a great Union victory to make a public announcement of his Emancipation Proclamation.*


*Obviously, this would not have appeared on this day since he was privately informing his cabinet of his decision.  


The Emancipation Proclamation was issued on September 22, 1862 after the Battle of Antietam in Sharpsburg, Maryland.  

President Lincoln with his Cabinet