Monthly Archives: October 2012

Seattle World’s Fair closes 50 years ago today (1962)


Video: 'Seattle World's Fair: "Century 21 Calling" 1962 American Telephone & Telegraph ( AT&T )'

(Sunday, October 21, 1962) — The Century 21 Exposition (also known as the Seattle World’s Fair) closed today after six months and nearly 10 million visitors. President John F. Kennedy was scheduled to attend the closing ceremony, but canceled because of what was described as a “head cold.” The actual reason turned out to be the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Kennedy asks newspaper editors to sit on story confirming Soviet missiles in Cuba 50 years ago today (1962)


Video: October 21, 1962 (at 0:22)

(Sunday, October 21, 1962, day six of the Cuban missile crisis, part of the Cold War) — U.S. President John F. Kennedy telephoned newspaper editors-in-chief at The New York Times and The Washington Post to ask the editors to refrain from printing any stories of the impending military actions related to the discovery of deployed Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba until after his national address the following day, by which time the American fleet was in position to enforce a blockade. Continue reading Kennedy asks newspaper editors to sit on story confirming Soviet missiles in Cuba 50 years ago today (1962)

St. Louis Cardinals win World Series 30 years ago today (1982)


Video: '1982 World Series game seven ninth inning audio'

(Wednesday, October 20, 1982) — The St. Louis Cardinals won the 1982 World Series today, beating the Milwaukee Brewers 6-3 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri, in the seventh and deciding game. It was the Cardinals’ nine World Series title. Continue reading St. Louis Cardinals win World Series 30 years ago today (1982)

Kennedy, advisers decide to quarantine Cuba 50 years ago today (1962)


Video: October 20, 1962 (at 0:00)

(Saturday, October 20, 1962, day five of the Cuban missile crisis, part of the Cold War) — U.S. President John F. Kennedy, in Chicago campaigning for congressional candidates, decides to return to the White House as the crisis reaches a new urgency. After five hours of discussion with top advisors, a quarantine is decided upon. Continue reading Kennedy, advisers decide to quarantine Cuba 50 years ago today (1962)

Kennedy advisers debate whether to bomb, invade and/or blockade Cuba 50 years ago today (1962)


Video: October 19, 1962 (at 8:08)

(Friday, October 19, 1962, day four of the Cuban missile crisis, part of the Cold War) — U.S. President John F. Kennedy met today with the Joint Chiefs of Staff to discuss the military options for responding to the missiles in Cuba. Continue reading Kennedy advisers debate whether to bomb, invade and/or blockade Cuba 50 years ago today (1962)

Gromyko lies to JFK about Soviet military actions in Cuba 50 years ago today (1962)


Video: October 18, 1962 (at 7:40)

(Thursday, October 18, 1962, 5:00 p.m. EDT, day three of the Cuban missile crisis, part of the Cold War) — Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko met with U.S. President John F. Kennedy today at the White House and assured him that Soviet military actions in Cuba were purely defensive. Continue reading Gromyko lies to JFK about Soviet military actions in Cuba 50 years ago today (1962)

American U-2 flights identify three Soviet SS-5 missile sites in Cuba 50 years ago today (1962)


Video: October 17, 1962 (at 6:55)

(Wednesday, October 17, 1962, day two of the Cuban missile crisis, part of the Cold War) — American U-2 flights identified the first of three Soviet SS-5 missile sites in Cuba today. Continue reading American U-2 flights identify three Soviet SS-5 missile sites in Cuba 50 years ago today (1962)

Sinead O’Connor booed off the stage during Dylan tribute 20 years ago tonight (1992)


Video: 'Sinead O'Connor: 'War' live at the Bob Dylan Tribute'

(Friday, October 16, 1992) — Singer Sinead O’Connor was booed off the stage tonight at a Madison Square Garden show honoring Bob Dylan’s 30 years of music. The crowd was still reacting to O’Connor’s appearance on Saturday Night Live two weeks earlier, when she had torn up a picture of the pope.