Truman signed the Mutual Security Act in 1951, Canada faced the FLQ crisis in 1970, the first nuclear accident occurred in the UK in 1957, the Outer Space Treaty was issued in 1967, Agnew resigned in 1973, Panama Canal opened in 1913, London Bridge opened in Arizona in 1971, Nazis executed Gypsy children in Auschwitz in 1944, United Airlines Boeing 247 exploded due to a bomb in 1933, US Naval Academy inaugurated in 1845, and the deadliest Atlantic hurricane killed nearly 30,000 people in 1780. The tuxedo jacket debuted in the US in 1886.
US President Truman signed the Mutual Security Act. (1951) The provisions of the act, which stipulated that the United States would provide military support to “free peoples” throughout the world, were directed primarily at communist countries. The act was partly in response to the second nuclear weapon test explosion in the Soviet Union on October 3.
The “October Crisis” happened in Canada. (1970) The Front de Liberation du Quebec (FLQ) terrorist group kidnapped Pierre Laporte, the deputy premier and minister of labor in Quebec, after having previously kidnapped the British diplomat James Cross. Terrorists strangled Laporte to death eight days later and freed Cross 60 days later. Canada temporarily instituted martial law to avoid having to buy time to acquire warrants to capture and detain suspects. Terrorists have been caught and tried for the crimes.
The first nuclear accident in world history occurred. (1957) A fire broke out at the Windscale nuclear reactor in the UK, causing significant radioactive contamination. There have been no reports, however, of any lasting adverse health effects.
The “Outer Space Treaty” is issued. (1967) The treaty established laws for space, including a ban on the use of nuclear weapons in space. It has been signed, but not necessarily ratified, by 125 countries.
US Vice President Spiro T. Agnew has resigned amid allegations of tax evasion. (1973) Vice President Agnew was also accused of accepting more than $100,000 US dollars in bribes. He did not dispute the tax evasion charge and agreed to resign, becoming the first and only US vice president to resign under criminal circumstances.
The Panama Canal opened at the swipe of US President Woodrow Wilson’s finger. (1913) President Wilson detonated 8 tons (about 7,257 kilograms) of dynamite at the Gamboa Dam at the Panama Canal at the push of a button in Washington DC Construction of the canal was completed with the obstructing dam blowing up. The electric button sent a bolt of lightning through wires that detonated the dynamite on the dam.
London Bridge opened in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. (1971) London Bridge was originally located in London, England, crossing the River Thames. In 1967 it was broken up and sold to Lake Havasu founder Robert McCulloch. He had it reassembled and reinforced in the hope of attracting tourism.
The Nazis executed 800 Gypsy children in Auschwitz. (1944) More than a million Gypsies (or Roma) were killed by the Nazis during World War II. After the war, the German government denied them compensation as victims of the Holocaust, arguing that they had been persecuted not because of their race, but because of their criminal record.
It was the first sabotage of a commercial airliner in aviation history. (1933) A United Airlines Boeing 247 explodes over Chesterton, Indiana, killing all seven on board. The cause of the crash was determined to be a bomb. No suspects have ever been identified.
United States Naval Academy inaugurated. (1845) The first class of 50 students was taught by seven teachers. The school is the second oldest military academy in the United States.
The deadliest Atlantic hurricane in history killed nearly 30,000 people. (1780) Hurricane swept the Caribbean for six days with winds of 200 miles per hour (about 320 kilometers per hour).
The tuxedo jacket debuted in the United States. (1886) Griswald Lorillard, inspired by the European style, wore the elegant jacket to the “Fall Ball” at the Tuxedo Club in Tuxedo, New York. It was an instant hit.
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