THE NEWS WILL BE WORSE BEFORE IT GETS BETTER

SOVIETS LAUNCH FIRST MAN INTO OUTER SPACE

Baikonur Cosmodome (JFK+50) On the morning of April 12, 1961, the Soviet Union successfully launched both the first man into outer space as well as the first to orbit the earth.  Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin's* space flight aboard the "Vostok I" lasted 108 minutes.  The spacecraft took Gagarin as high as 203 miles above the earth.

While Vostok was the first vehicle capable of reaching high enough speed to attain orbit, it was not equipped with thrusters to slow down its return to earth.  Therefore, Gagarin ejected from the space craft 4 miles above the earth and parachuted to the ground.

This fact was kept secret for a decade because the International Aeronautics Federation stipulated that a pilot must land with his spacecraft in order to be counted as an "official space flight."

None-the-less, President John F. Kennedy was forced to acknowledge the United States remained behind the Russians in the space race. JFK said... "the news will be worse before it gets better."

*Yuri Alexeyevich Gagarin (1934-1968) was born in Klushino, USSR & studied at Saratov Industrial Technical School.  Afterwards, he was drafted into the Soviet Army.  YAG was killed test-flying a MiG 15.

SOURCES

"Six Surprising Facts About the First Manned Space Mission", by Amanda Schupak, April 6, 2011, www.livescience.com/

"Yuri Gagarin:  First Man In Space, The Great Moments In Flight", by Nola Taylor Redd, www.space.com/

Yuri Gagarin in Finland

Photo by Arto Jousi

Alma Media Image

ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK

"ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK" RECORDED 60 YEARS AGO TODAY

Rock 'n Roll history was made 60 years ago today, April 12, 1954, when "Bill Haley and the Comets" recorded a song written by Max C. Freedman and James E. Myers titled "We're Gonna Rock Around the Clock Tonight".

The song was to be on the "B" side of "Thirteen Women" which the group spent most of the session recording.

"Rock Around the Clock", as it would later be known, was almost an afterthought.

There were only 2 takes in 40 minutes of the 3 hour recording session.

The single sold a modest 75,000 copies but when actor Glenn Ford's son, Peter, "fell" for the "B" side.

Glenn Ford convinced movie producers to use the tune as the background soundtrack for his latest film "Blackboard Jungle".  

"Rock Around the Clock" then sold 1 million copies in a single month in 1955.

                            Bill Haley


RUSSIAN LAUNCHED INTO SPACE 53 YEARS AGO

The Soviet Union launched both the first man into space as well as the first to orbit the earth 53 years ago today, April 12, 1961.

Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin's space flight aboard the "Vostok I" lasted less than two hours.

President John F. Kennedy was forced to acknowledge the United States is still behind in the space race and added "the news will be worse before it gets better."

Gagarin became a Soviet hero and was awarded the Order of Lenin.

     Yuri Gagarin in Sweden (1964)
     Photo by Arkiv Sydsvenskan


FDR DIED OF STROKE IN WARM SPRINGS, GEORGIA 69 YEARS AGO TODAY

Warm Springs, Georgia (JFK+50) President Franklin D. Roosevelt died shortly after 1 p.m. sixty nine years ago today, April 12, 1945, of a cerebral hemorrhage at the "Little White House" here in Warm Springs.

Little White House at Warm Springs

The President, while sitting in the living room having his portrait made, suddenly grabbed his head and said: "I have a terrific headache".  Those were his last words.

FDR was carried to his bedroom where he was later pronounced dead.

As a procession took FDR's body from the home, Graham Jackson played "Going Home" and one of FDR's favorite hymns, "Nearer My God To Thee", on his accordion.

                     Graham Jackson


CIVIL WAR BEGAN IN CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA 153 YEARS AGO

Charleston, South Carolina (JFK+50) 153 years ago, April 12, 1861, at 4:30 a.m., Confederate shore batteries began to bombard Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor.

The firing on Sumter came after Commander Robert B. Anderson refused to surrender.

Confederate authorities maintained the fort, garrisoned by US troops and located in their territory, was the property of the Confederacy.

The bombardment of the fort continued throughout the day.

4000 Confederate shells were fired on Fort Sumter in the space of 33 hours.

             Bombardment of Fort Sumter

RUSSIA PUTS MAN IN ORBIT

April 12, 1961


RUSSIA PUTS MAN IN ORBIT


The Soviet Union launched both the 1st man into space as well as the 1st man to orbit the earth today.


Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin's space flight aboard the "Vostok I" lasted less than 2 hours.


President Kennedy was forced to acknowledge the United States is still behind in the space race & added "the news will be worse before it gets better."*


*Gagarin became a Soviet hero & was awarded the Order of Lenin.

     Yuri Gagarin in Sweden (1964)
     Photo by Arkiv Sydsvenskan


April 12, 1961


ADVISER SENDS JFK A MEMO ON VIETNAM


Walt Rostow, 1st US Deputy National Security Adviser & White House specialist on Southeast Asia, sent President Kennedy a memorandum today saying that now is the time to "gear up the whole Vietnam operation."


Rostow recommends sending Vice President Johnson to South Vietnam for a visit as well as increasing the number of American Special Forces there.

LBJ watches Rostow explain strategy 


April 12, 1963


MARTIN LUTHER KING ARRESTED IN BIRMINGHAM


On this Good Friday civil rights leaders Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. & Reverend Ralph Abernathy were arrested by Birmingham police for defying an Alabama court ordered ban on demonstrations*


*4 days later, King will write his famous "Letter from Birmingham Jail".

Fred Shuttlesworth, Abernathy & King


April 12, 1945


FDR DIES IN WARM SPRINGS


President Franklin D. Roosevelt died shortly after 1 p.m. today of a cerebral hemorrhage at the "Little White House" in Warm Springs, Georgia.

Little White House at Warm Springs

The President, while sitting in the living room having his portrait made, suddenly grabbed his head & said: "I have a terrific headache".  Those were his last words.

FDR was carried to his bedroom where he was later pronounced dead.*

*As a procession took FDR's body from the home, Graham Jackson played "Going Home" & one of FDR's favorite hymns, "Nearer My God To Thee", on his accordion.

                     Graham Jackson


April 12, 1861


FORT SUMTER IS UNDER SIEGE


In Charleston, South Carolina this morning at 4:30 a.m., Confederate shore batteries began to bombard United States Fort Sumter in the middle of Charleston Harbor.


The firing on Sumter came after Commander Robert B. Anderson refused to surrender.


Confederate authorities maintain the fort, garrisoned by US troops & located now in their territory, is rightly the property of the Confederacy.


The bombardment of the fort is expected to continue throughout the day.*


*4000 Confederate shells were fired on Fort Sumter in the space of 33 hours.

             Bombardment of Fort Sumter


April 12, 1954


BILL HALEY & THE COMETS RECORD "ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK"


Rock 'n Roll history was made on this date when "Bill Haley & the Comets" recorded a song written by Max C. Freedman & James E. Myers titled "We're Gonna Rock Around the Clock Tonight".


The song was to be on the "B" side of "Thirteen Women" which the group spent most of the session recording.


"Rock Around the Clock", as it would later be known, was almost an afterthought.


There were only 2 takes in 40 minutes of the 3 hour recording session.*


*The single sold a modest 75,000 copies but when actor Glenn Ford's son, Peter, "fell" for the "B" side, Glenn Ford convinced movie producers to use it as the background soundtrack for his latest film "Blackboard Jungle".  "Rock Around the Clock" then sold 1 million copies in a single month in 1955.

                            Bill Haley