January 22, 1973
LBJ Dies in Johnson City, Texas
The 36th President of the United States died today at the age of 64 in Johnson City, Texas. The cause of death was heart disease. LBJ had a history of heart issues since 1955.
LBJ was pronounced dead at 4:33 p.m. (CST).
LBJ was pronounced dead at 4:33 p.m. (CST).
"Although his vision of a Great Society dissolved in the morass of war in Vietnam, Mr. Johnson left....a legacy of progress....in civil rights, social security, education (and) housing....attesting to his....affection for his fellow Americans."*
*The New York Times, 1/23/1973
LBJ Gravesite
LBJ Ranch
January 22, 1973
Supreme Court Rules in Roe v Wade
The United States Supreme Court today rules that abortion is legal. Abortion became a major crime in the years 1860 to 1880 with the influence of the American Medical Association.
By the turn of the century, most states prohibited abortion by legal statute but these laws were seldom enforced.
January 22, 1982
President Reagan Links Arms Talks To Poland
With arms negotiations ongoing with the Soviet Union, President Ronald Reagan today linked the potential success or failure of the talks with the USSR's policy in Poland.
In late 1981, the Soviet Union imposed martial law in an attempt to destroy the growing Solidarity movement in Poland's labor unions.
The President said:
"The continuing repression of the Polish people....obviously constitutes a major setback to the prospect of constructive East-West relations."
The intermediate-range nuclear forces agreement would not be agreed upon until 1987 when a new Soviet leader, Mikhail Gorbachev, came to power.
January 22, 1840
British Colonists Arrive in New Zealand
British colonists led by Edward G. Wakefield arrived today in Port Nicholson on Auckland Island. New Zealand is named after the Dutch province of Zealand.
The 1st permanent settlement will be made at Wellington. By the Treaty of Waitangi, the Maori peoples of the islands will recognize British sovereignty.
New Zealand will become part of the Australian colony of New South Wales in 1841 but in 1852 will become self-governing.
Full independence will be granted to New Zealand in 1931 but not ratified until 1947.
January 22, 1901
QUEEN VICTORIA IS DEAD
Today Queen Victoria's 63 year reign, the longest in British history, has come to an end. The only daughter of Edward, Duke of Kent, she became Queen at the age of 18 with the death of her uncle, King George IV, in 1837.
The Queen reigned during Britain's industrial age which saw the power & influence of the nation grow. She has 37 surviving great grand-children. Her husband, Prince Albert, died in 1861 at the age of 42. Thereafter Queen Victoria always wore black.
Queen Victoria Statue
Sydney, NSW Australia
Photo by John White (2010)
During the Crimean War, Queen Victoria visited her troops when things were not going well for them.
She said:
"We are not interested in the possibilities of defeat, they do not exist."
Queen Victoria Statue at QVB
Sydney, NSW, Australia
Photo by John White (2010)
Sydney, NSW, Australia
Photo by John White (2010)
