HOUSE VOTES FOR AMENDMENT TO BAN POLL TAX
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) The United States House of Representatives today voted for a constitutional amendment that would forbid the poll tax as a prerequisite to vote in federal elections.
5 states require a poll tax. They are Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, Texas & Virginia.
The vote in favor of the amendment was 295 to 86.
President Kennedy expressed approval for today's vote. JFK said:
"This culminates a legislative effort of many years to bring about the end of this artificial bar to the right to vote in some of our states.
Receipt for Poll Tax Payment
August 27, 1963
JFK REMINDS STUDENTS OF DEFINITION OF HAPPINESS BY THE GREEKS
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President John F. Kennedy spoke to about 5000 students today on the South Lawn of the White House.
The students are in town to attend a government seminar.
The President urged the students to pursue a career in government service.
He said it would be a career that would offer them "happiness" as defined by the Greeks as:
"the full use of your powers along lines of excellence."
August 27, 1952
NEW YORK TIMES FRONT PAGE DOMINATED BY RED SCARE
New York City (JFK+50) The New York Times today carried no less than 3 articles on its front page on the impact the "Red Scare" will have on the upcoming elections.
In one article, the Times reports that the Senate Internal Security Subcommittee, dominated by Republicans, has charged the Radio Writers Guild is dominated by a "small group of communists".
Another article reports the American Legion is demanding, for the 3rd year in a row, that President Truman fire his Secretary of State Dean Acheson for a "lack of vigor" in fighting communism.
The 3rd article quotes Democratic presidential nominee Adlai Stevenson as being critical of the use of "patriotism" by Senator Joe McCarthy in attacking "good Americans" such as Acheson & General George C. Marshall.
August 27, 1908
LYNDON BAINES JOHNSON BORN IN TEXAS
Stonewall, Texas (JFK+50) Samuel Ealy Johnson, Jr. & Rebekah Baines Johnson announced today the birth of their son, Lyndon Baines Johnson, here in Stonewall, Texas.*
*LBJ will graduate from Southwestern Texas State Teachers College in 1930. He taught at Pearsall High School & Sam Houston High School before entering politics.
LBJ at Home in Stonewall, Texas
LBJ Library Photo (1915)
August 27, 1776
WASHINGTON LOSES AT BROOKLYN HEIGHTS
Brooklyn Heights, New York (JFK+50) Continental forces under General George Washington were defeated here today at the Battle of Brooklyn Heights.
The Continentals suffered more than a thousand casualties while the British, under General William Howe & his brother Admiral Richard Howe, lost 400.
The good news for the Americans, however, was that Washington was able to retreat with his forces* to Manhattan by boat.**
*In one of my US history classes I was talking about Lee retreating back to Virginia after the Battle of Antietam when a girl with a puzzled look on her face asked: "But why didn't Lee's men retreat with him?"
**The British captured New York City on September 15 & would hold it until the war's end.
August 27, 1979
MOUNTBATTEN KILLED IN BOMB BLAST BY IRA
London, England (JFK+50) Lord Louis Mountbatten was killed today when Irish Republican Army (IRA) terrorists set off a 50 pound bomb hidden aboard his fishing vessel.
The 79 year old Mountbatten, the 2nd cousin of Queen Elizabeth II, was enjoying the day with his family off Ireland's northwest coast when the bomb exploded.
He was commander of the 5th destroyer flotilla in WWII & in 1942 was appointed chief of operations & eventually became Supreme Allied Commander of Southeast Asia.*
*This was the 1st attack by the IRA on the British Royal Family.
Lord Louis Mountbatten
Photo by Allan Warren (1976)
