EASTER RISING IN IRELAND BEGINS
The Irish Republican Brotherhood, a secret organization of nationalists, launched an armed uprising against British rule on this Easter Monday.
The revolt is led by Patrick Pearse.
After seizing the General Post Office in Dublin & attacking British government headquarters, the IRB proclaimed the independence of Ireland.
A counteroffensive late in the day, however, puts the success of the rising in doubt.*
*The British government was able to crush the Easter Rising by April 29. Pearse & 14 other nationalists were executed but became martyrs for the cause of Irish independence.
Flag Flown Over Dublin GPO
Made by Mary Shannon
National Museum of Ireland
Dublin
Photo by Scolaire (2008)
April 24, 1961
JFK SAYS "BLAME ONLY ME" FOR THE BAY OF PIGS
The White House issued a statement tonight telling the American people that President Kennedy, as the "responsible officer" of the executive branch of government, bears sole responsibility for the failure of the recent invasion of Cuba at the Bay of Pigs.
The statement reads:
"President Kennedy has stated from the beginning that as president he bears sole responsibility for the events of the past few days. He has stated it on all occasions & he restates it now so that it will be understood by all."*
*JFK's approval rating, 70% before the invasion, climbed to 83% after.
The American people obviously admired his willingness to take full blame. JFK said privately that it seemed the worse he did, the more popular he became.
April 24, 1963
PRESIDENT CONDEMNS MURDER OF MOORE
President Kennedy today publicly condemned the murder of William Lewis Moore.
Moore, a postal worker & former Marine from Baltimore, Maryland, was making a solo march from Tennessee to Mississippi to deliver a letter to the governor of Mississippi asking that he integrate the University of Mississippi.
Before he could reach Mississippi, however, William Moore was murdered near Attalla, Alabama.
April 24, 1967
WESTMORELAND SAYS SOLDIERS ARE DISMAYED BY UNPATRIOTIC ACTS AT HOME
General William Westmoreland, Senior Commander of US military forces in South Vietnam, says that the enemy has "gained support in the US that gives him hope that he can win politically that which he cannot win militarily."
Westmoreland went on to say that the American soldiers fighting in Vietnam are "dismayed...by recent unpatriotic acts at home."
The General added (and) "so am I".
Rusk, Westmoreland, & LBJ
The White House
April 7, 1968
April 24, 1980
OPERATION EAGLE CLAW SCRUBBED
The attempt to free 52 American hostages held in Tehran, Iran has been scrubbed.
The operation, authorized by President Jimmy Carter, began having problems when 3 of the 8 helicopters employed for the mission failed.
One of the helicopters, after the scrubbing of the mission, collided with a C-130 US transport plane resulting in the deaths of 8 American servicemen. 5 more were injured in the collision.*
*President Carter took full responsibility for the failure & would not see the hostages released until just after his successor, Ronald Reagan, was inaugurated.
Eagle Claw Memorial
Arlington National Cemetery
Photo by Jtesla16 (2009)
April 24, 1955
THE BANDUNG CONFERENCE CONCLUDES
A meeting of 29 representatives from "non-aligned" countries in Indonesia has concluded today.
The representatives of Africa, Asia & the Middle East condemned colonialism, racism & expressed reservations about the Cold War.
The United States opposed the conference & declined to send an "official observer".*
*President Eisenhower's Secretary of State, John Foster Dulles, believed there could be no "middle ground" between communism & freedom.
Gedunng Merdeka in Bandung (1955)
April 24, 1945
TRUMAN BRIEFED ON MANHATTAN PROJECT
Less than 2 weeks after becoming President of the United States, Harry Truman was briefed today on the Manhattan atomic bomb project.
Secretary of War Stimson, appointed by FDR, told Truman shortly after he was sworn in as president on April 12, of work in progress on a "new, terrible weapon" but he did not provide any details.
After the briefing, President Truman authorized the continuation of the Manhattan Project & agreed to form a committee to advise the President on the use of the atomic bomb.
Manhattan District Shoulder Patch
