“Guerrillas are like birds”, said US Army General Earle Wheeler, “They’ve got to light somewhere and the place to get them is in their nests”. This was a reference to the enemy enclave known as …
Politics
United Flight 553
It was on 8 December, 1972, that the City of Chicago experienced one of its worst airlines disasters, which became even more notorious due to the unusual list of passengers who perished in the crash. …
Working Class Anthem
It was in October of 1977 that Epic Records would release a song by country singer Johnny Paycheck that would climb to number one on the Billboard charts. The song was “Take this job and …
The 25th
It was on 1 October, 1941, that the 25th Infantry Division of the United States Army would be activated. They wouldn’t have to wait long to see action, as the attack on Pearl Harbor was …
The Day of the Jackal
It was on 22 August, 1962, that a squad of assassins attempted to kill the President of France, Charles De Gaulle. The President was travelling from the Elysée Palace to Orly airport when his vehicle …
Labor Never Quits
16 August marks the birthday of George Meany, long time President of the AFL-CIO. Born in 1894, In Harlem, New York City, to Irish American parents, Meany would quit school at 16 to become a …
“The Troubles” Begin
It was on 14 August, 1969, that the British Army commenced ‘Operation Banner’, and began what would be their longest deployment, which would not conclude for 38 years. The deployment was prompted by protests and …
Match of the Century
It was on 11 July, 1972, that American Bobby Fischer, faced off against Soviet Boris Spassky in the World Chess Championship. The match took place in the unlikely location of Reykjavik, Iceland, and unexpectedly captured …
The Language of Free Men
It was on 31 May, 1961, that President John F. Kennedy began his historic trip to France. Despite the unpredictable and sometimes difficult relation between the USA and France, Kennedy was effusive in his praise …
The Forgotten First
It is widely assumed that the debate between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon in 1960 was the first televised Presidential debate, and while that is true in regard to the two nominees of the …