TED KENNEDY DIES AT HOME IN HYANNIS PORT
Hyannis Port, Massachusetts (JFK+50) Senator Edward M. "Ted" Kennedy passed away today at his home here in Hyannis Port.
The Senator had battled brain cancer for more than a year.
The Kennedy family has issued the following statement:
"We've lost the irreplaceable center of our family & joyous light of our lives, but the inspiration of his faith, optimism & perseverance will live in our hearts forever. He loved this country & devoted his life to serving it."
As the "Lion of the Senate", Ted Kennedy, who was 1st elected in 1962, championed health care reform & was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama.*
*Senator Kennedy was presiding over the Senate on November 22, 1963 when he was told that JFK had been shot in Dallas.
Ted Kennedy with President Obama
April 21, 2009
at the signing of the Serve America Act
August 25, 1967
MCNAMARA SAYS US BOMBING HAS LITTLE EFFECT ON NORTH VIETNAM
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara said today that US bombing of North Vietnam has had little effect on its "war-making capability".
McNamara refused a request from US military commanders to bomb all MIG bases in North Vietnam.
US Bombing of North Vietnam
June 14, 1966
Photo by Lt. Col. Cecil J. Poss
Department of Defense Photo
August 25, 1950
TRUMAN ISSUES ORDER PUTTING RAILROADS UNDER CONTROL OF US ARMY
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President Harry S Truman today issued an Executive Order today putting all railroads in the nation under the control of the US Army at 4 p.m. on August 27, 1950 in anticipation of a crippling strike by railroad workers.
Truman said that "government seizure of the railroads is imperative for the protection of American citizens as well as the national defense & security."*
*The rail strike will last 21 months.
President Truman
August 25. 1945
JOHN BIRCH KILLED BY COMMUNIST CHINESE
Xi'an Shaanxi, China (JFK+50) John Birch, an American missionary to China before World War II & a captain in the US Army during the war, was shot & bayoneted to death here today.
Birch was in command of a Special Services team when he got into a confrontation with a Communist Chinese officer.
After his hands were tied, Birch was shot & reportedly bayoneted multiple times.*
*John Birch, a fundamentalist Baptist, became the 1st casualty of the "Cold War". Born in India, Birch was 27 years old when he was killed.
The right wing John Birch Society founded in the 1950s was named in his honor.
John Birch
August 25, 1944
PARIS IS LIBERATED
Paris, France (JFK+50) After more than 4 years of Nazi occupation, Paris was liberated today by the French 2nd Armored Division & the US 4th Infantry Division.
This afternoon General Charles de Gaulle led a triumphant march down the Champs d'Elysees.
Paris fell to the Germans on June 14, 1940.
US Army Victory Parade
Paris, France
August 25, 1944
August 25, 1939
WIZARD OF OZ MOVIE OPENS NATIONWIDE
The film produced by MGM Studios & based on the children's book by L. Frank Baum, "The Wizard of Oz" opened in theaters across the nation today.*
*"The Wizard of Oz" was 1st televised in 1956 & watched by 45 million people.
