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Senator McCarthy sparked the Second Red Scare with claims of “known Communists” in the US government. The Beatles’ first live TV appearance set a record with over 70 million viewers. The US sent combat troops to Vietnam, causing global controversy. The luxury liner Normandy burned down. Joanne Woodward received the first Hollywood Walk of Fame star. Satchel Paige became the first African-American in the Baseball Hall of Fame. John Quincy Adams became president without a voting majority. Volleyball was invented by a YMCA instructor. Fyodor Dostoyevsky died, and the US Meteorological Bureau was established.
Senator Joseph McCarthy gave a speech that kicked off the Second Red Scare. (1950) McCarthy claimed to have a list of over 200 “known Communists” working in high positions in the US government, sparking widespread hysteria about “subversives”. Despite the fact that most of his claims have never been verified, McCarthy became an instant celebrity and thousands were blacklisted or investigated for “subversive” tendencies.
The Beatles appeared on the Ed Sullivan show. (1964) Fans go wild for the “Fab Four” in their first live television appearance. The girls cried and passed out during the show, which set a record with over 70 million viewers.
The United States sent the first combat troops to Vietnam. (1965) Although some US troops had been in Vietnam in an advisory capacity for several years, this was the first combat troop engagement in the area. The increased US involvement in Vietnam was not very popular globally; both Russia and China threatened to intervene if the United States continued to send troops.
“Normandy” burned down. (1942) The opulent luxury liner was being converted into a wartime transport vessel when she accidentally caught fire and burned until she capsized. During her heyday, Normandie carried many celebrities, including Ernest Hemingway, Walt Disney and James Stewart.
Awarded the first star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. (1960) The first star went to Joanne Woodward, who won the Oscar for The Three Faces of Eve. Woodward was also known for her marriage to Paul Newman, one of Hollywood’s longest-lived and happiest.
Satchel Paige became the first African-American in the Baseball Hall of Fame. (1971) Paige was a star pitcher and also became the oldest person to play in the major leagues – she was still playing in her late 50s. His nomination to the Baseball Hall of Fame came more than 30 years after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in baseball.
John Quincy Adams became president despite the lack of a voting majority. (1825) Adams was elected to the House of Representatives after the Electoral College failed to secure a majority. His appointment was largely due to the influence of Henry Clay, whom Adams later appointed as his Secretary of State.
The game of volleyball is said to have been invented. (1895) The game was originally called Mintonette, and was invented by a YMCA instructor named William G. Morgan. The game was supposed to be a combination of tennis and handball, and was also inspired by the invention of another new game – basketball, which was just starting to catch on.
Fyodor Dostoyevsky died. (1881) Dostoyevsky was an extremely influential Russian novelist; famous works by him include The Brothers Karamazov and Crime and Punishment. He died of natural causes in Moscow and his funeral was attended by over 40,000 mourners.
The United States Meteorological Bureau was established. (1870) Originally placed under the control of the Army, then transferred to the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Commerce before finally becoming the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
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