U2 SPY PLANE SHOT DOWN OVER USSR 54 YEARS AGO
Moscow, U.S.S.R. (JFK+50) A U-2 reconnaissance aircraft piloted by Francis Gary Powers was shot down over Soviet air space 54 years ago today, May 1, 1960.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower, claiming that this was a weather plane that strayed accidentally over the Soviet Union, was forced to admit it was a spy plane when Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev produced not only the wreckage of the U-2 but also the captured pilot.
The U-2 incident spoiled chances for success of a coming summit meeting. Ike later called it the "stupid U-2 mess".
It was one of the most embarrassing moments of the Eisenhower Presidency.
Francis Gary Powers with U-2 Model
FIRST AMERICAN REACHES EVEREST SUMMIT
51 years ago today, May 1, 1963, James Whittaker of Redmond, Washington became the first American to reach the top of the world's highest peak, Mount Everest.
Jim Whittaker on Mt. Everest (1963)
Photo from www.HistoryLink.org
Washington State History Online
His accomplishment comes a decade after New Zealand's Edmund Hillary became the first man in the world to reach the summit.
Mt. Everest is located in the Himalayas on the border of China and Nepal.
Whittaker was accompanied by Nawang Gombu.
JFK awarded Jim Whittaker the Hubbard Medal in July 1963.
Jim Whittaker Receives Medal
July 1963
Photo from www.HistoryLink.org
In 1965, Whittaker led the 1st expedition to climb Mt. Kennedy in Alaska.
Coming along on the climb was JFK's surviving brother, Robert F. Kennedy. Whittaker amd RFK became close friends.
IKE PROCLAIMED LAW DAY 56 YEARS AGO
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) 56 years ago, May 1, 1958, President Dwight D. Eisenhower declared May 1st to be LAW DAY in the United States.
The American Bar Association, fearing "May Day" was being associated by American citizens with the communist celebration of May 1st, had called for a special day to honor American law.
.The "Law Day Declaration" identifies its purpose:
"A national day set aside to celebrate the rule of law. Law Day underscores how law and the legal process have contributed to the freedoms that all Americans share."
In a 2007 editorial, the New York Times wrote that Law Day "is perilously close to becoming a celebration of lawyers."
Moscow, U.S.S.R. (JFK+50) A U-2 reconnaissance aircraft piloted by Francis Gary Powers was shot down over Soviet air space 54 years ago today, May 1, 1960.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower, claiming that this was a weather plane that strayed accidentally over the Soviet Union, was forced to admit it was a spy plane when Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev produced not only the wreckage of the U-2 but also the captured pilot.
The U-2 incident spoiled chances for success of a coming summit meeting. Ike later called it the "stupid U-2 mess".
It was one of the most embarrassing moments of the Eisenhower Presidency.
Francis Gary Powers with U-2 Model
FIRST AMERICAN REACHES EVEREST SUMMIT
51 years ago today, May 1, 1963, James Whittaker of Redmond, Washington became the first American to reach the top of the world's highest peak, Mount Everest.
Jim Whittaker on Mt. Everest (1963)
Photo from www.HistoryLink.org
Washington State History Online
His accomplishment comes a decade after New Zealand's Edmund Hillary became the first man in the world to reach the summit.
Mt. Everest is located in the Himalayas on the border of China and Nepal.
Whittaker was accompanied by Nawang Gombu.
JFK awarded Jim Whittaker the Hubbard Medal in July 1963.
Jim Whittaker Receives Medal
July 1963
Photo from www.HistoryLink.org
In 1965, Whittaker led the 1st expedition to climb Mt. Kennedy in Alaska.
Coming along on the climb was JFK's surviving brother, Robert F. Kennedy. Whittaker amd RFK became close friends.
IKE PROCLAIMED LAW DAY 56 YEARS AGO
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) 56 years ago, May 1, 1958, President Dwight D. Eisenhower declared May 1st to be LAW DAY in the United States.
The American Bar Association, fearing "May Day" was being associated by American citizens with the communist celebration of May 1st, had called for a special day to honor American law.
.The "Law Day Declaration" identifies its purpose:
"A national day set aside to celebrate the rule of law. Law Day underscores how law and the legal process have contributed to the freedoms that all Americans share."
In a 2007 editorial, the New York Times wrote that Law Day "is perilously close to becoming a celebration of lawyers."
