Vice President Nixon Attacked in Venezuela
Vice President Richard Nixon faced a violent mob attack while on a goodwill tour in Caracas, Venezuela, on May 13, 1958. The attack was a stark demonstration of anti-American sentiment in Latin America during a period of heightened Cold War tensions and U.S. interventions in Latin American politics. The incident prompted a reassessment of American […]
U.S. Congress Declares War on Mexico
On May 13, 1846, the U.S. Congress officially declared war on Mexico, initiating the U.S.-Mexican War. This conflict stemmed from the annexation of Texas and the disputes over its border, as well as American desires to acquire lands in what are now California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado. The war significantly altered the […]
Bob Dylan’s Stand on “The Ed Sullivan Show”
Bob Dylan, then a rising folk singer, famously walked out on a scheduled performance on “The Ed Sullivan Show” on May 12, 1963. Dylan had planned to perform “Talkin’ John Birch Paranoid Blues,” a satirical song about the Red Scare and the John Birch Society, but was asked by the show’s producers to choose a […]
Tragedy at the Mille Miglia Race
The 1957 Mille Miglia, a popular and prestigious car race in Italy, ended in horror when a Ferrari driven by Spanish race car driver Alfonso de Portago blew a tire and crashed into the crowd, killing himself, his co-driver, and eleven spectators, including five children. This catastrophic event led to the permanent cancellation of the […]
The Tragic End of the Lindbergh Kidnapping
On May 12, 1932, the Lindbergh kidnapping reached a tragic conclusion when the body of Charles Lindbergh Jr., the kidnapped son of famed aviator Charles Lindbergh and his wife Anne Morrow Lindbergh, was found dead near their home in New Jersey. The child, only 20 months old, had been abducted from his crib ten weeks […]
The Passing of Bob Marley
Reggae superstar Bob Marley passed away on May 11, 1981, at the age of 36, after battling cancer. Marley’s death marked the end of a brief but impactful career that saw him rise from the streets of Kingston, Jamaica, to international stardom. His music, imbued with messages of peace, love, and resistance against oppression, left […]
Escalation in Vietnam
President John F. Kennedy, on May 11, 1961, ordered a significant increase in United States military presence in South Vietnam. This decision marked a pivotal escalation in U.S. involvement in Vietnam, signifying a deepening of the American commitment to the anti-communist cause in Southeast Asia. Kennedy’s orders led to the deployment of thousands of American […]
The Dust Bowl’s Black Blizzard
On May 11, 1934, a massive dust storm swept from the Great Plains to the Eastern states, part of the series of dust storms that characterized the Dust Bowl era of the 1930s. This ecological disaster arose from a combination of severe drought and the agricultural practices of the time, which failed to protect the […]
China Releases Tiananmen Square Prisoners
On this day in 1990, China released 211 prisoners who had been arrested during the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989. These protests, primarily led by students advocating for democratic reforms, economic change, and freedom of the press, were violently suppressed on June 4, 1989. The release of these prisoners was a significant albeit partial response […]
Winston Churchill Rises to Power
Winston Churchill became the Prime Minister of Britain on May 10, 1940, as the country faced the dire threats of World War II. Churchill’s ascension to leadership came at a critical juncture, following the resignation of Neville Chamberlain. Known for his formidable oratory skills and indomitable spirit, Churchill’s leadership would prove crucial in bolstering British […]