RFK RESIGNED AS ATTORNEY GENERAL 50 YEARS AGO TODAY
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Robert F. Kennedy, brother President John F. Kennedy, resigned as Attorney General 50 years ago today, September 3, 1964.
Bob Kennedy had been one of the youngest and least experienced attorney generals in history, and was the first relative of a President to serve in the cabinet.
RFK also announced that Stephen Smith would be his campaign manager in his bid to win election to the United States Senate representing the state of New York.
JFK, well aware of the controversy the appointment of his brother to his Cabinet would stir, made two characteristic comments about the issue.
In the first, JFK said he would make the announcement in the early morning hours and that he would quietly open the door of his townhouse on N Street in Georgetown and if no one was outside, he would whisper....."It's Bobby."
In the second, JFK joked with reporters in making the actual announcement of his brother's appointment by saying that he saw nothing wrong with giving his brother an opportunity to gain some experience "before he goes out to practice law."
ATHENIA TORPEDOED 75 YEARS AGO TODAY
London (JFK+50) The British passenger liner Athenia was torpedoed by a German submarine seventy-five years ago today, September 3, 1939.
The first shots of the Battle of the Atlantic were ordered by Fritz Julius Lemp, commander of a U-30 submarine.
The attack came as the 13.580 ton ship sailed off the northwest coast of Ireland bound for Canada with 1100 passengers.
The German commander reported that the vessel was zig-zagging at high speed. 311 Americans were on board Athenia. 118 passengers perished.
AMERICAN FLAG FLIES FOR FIRST TIME
Newark, Delaware (JFK+50) General William Maxwell ordered the 13 star-13 stripe American flag raised for the first time 237 years ago today, September 3, 1777, as his army went into battle with British and Hessian troops at Cooch's Bridge here in Delaware.
The flag displayed 13 stars in a circle on a blue union with 13 alternate red and white stripes. The number 13 represented the original 13 colonies.
Hessians, leading British forces under General William Howe, were met with rifle fire from either side of the road leading toward Cooch's Bridge.
When the Americans ran out of ammunition, they continued the fight with sword before retreating across the bridge. They eventually made their way back to their main camp near Wilmington.
There were 450 American militia involved in the fighting and 293 Hessian and British soldiers. Casualties numbered less than 50 killed or wounded on either side.
TREATY OF PARIS SIGNED
Paris, France (JFK+50) Representatives of the United States, Great Britain, Spain and France met here in Paris 231 years ago today, September 3, 1783, to sign the treaty which officially ended the American War for Independence.
By the terms of the treaty, Great Britain recognized the independence of the United States of America and her status as a free nation.
The boundaries of the USA were also set from Florida to the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River.
The treaty was ratified by Congress on January 14, 1884.
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Robert F. Kennedy, brother President John F. Kennedy, resigned as Attorney General 50 years ago today, September 3, 1964.
Bob Kennedy had been one of the youngest and least experienced attorney generals in history, and was the first relative of a President to serve in the cabinet.
RFK also announced that Stephen Smith would be his campaign manager in his bid to win election to the United States Senate representing the state of New York.
JFK, well aware of the controversy the appointment of his brother to his Cabinet would stir, made two characteristic comments about the issue.
In the first, JFK said he would make the announcement in the early morning hours and that he would quietly open the door of his townhouse on N Street in Georgetown and if no one was outside, he would whisper....."It's Bobby."
In the second, JFK joked with reporters in making the actual announcement of his brother's appointment by saying that he saw nothing wrong with giving his brother an opportunity to gain some experience "before he goes out to practice law."
Robert F. Kennedy
White House Cabinet Room
Photo by Yoichi R. Okamoto
LBJ Library Photo (1964)
London (JFK+50) The British passenger liner Athenia was torpedoed by a German submarine seventy-five years ago today, September 3, 1939.
The first shots of the Battle of the Atlantic were ordered by Fritz Julius Lemp, commander of a U-30 submarine.
The attack came as the 13.580 ton ship sailed off the northwest coast of Ireland bound for Canada with 1100 passengers.
The German commander reported that the vessel was zig-zagging at high speed. 311 Americans were on board Athenia. 118 passengers perished.
Athenia
Summer 1937
AMERICAN FLAG FLIES FOR FIRST TIME
Newark, Delaware (JFK+50) General William Maxwell ordered the 13 star-13 stripe American flag raised for the first time 237 years ago today, September 3, 1777, as his army went into battle with British and Hessian troops at Cooch's Bridge here in Delaware.
The flag displayed 13 stars in a circle on a blue union with 13 alternate red and white stripes. The number 13 represented the original 13 colonies.
Thirteen Star Flag
San Francisco, CA
Photo by Makaristos (2008)
When the Americans ran out of ammunition, they continued the fight with sword before retreating across the bridge. They eventually made their way back to their main camp near Wilmington.
There were 450 American militia involved in the fighting and 293 Hessian and British soldiers. Casualties numbered less than 50 killed or wounded on either side.
TREATY OF PARIS SIGNED
Paris, France (JFK+50) Representatives of the United States, Great Britain, Spain and France met here in Paris 231 years ago today, September 3, 1783, to sign the treaty which officially ended the American War for Independence.
By the terms of the treaty, Great Britain recognized the independence of the United States of America and her status as a free nation.
The boundaries of the USA were also set from Florida to the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River.
The treaty was ratified by Congress on January 14, 1884.
"American Commissioners of the
Preliminary Peace Agreement
with Great Britain"
Painting by Benjamin West
