Monthly Archives: May 2022

Richard Nixon becomes first U.S president to visit Moscow 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 22 1972)

1970s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Nixon in Moscow - 1972 | Movietone Moment | 22 May 2020)'

(Monday, May 22, 1972, 3:55 p.m. Moscow Standard Time; during the Moscow Summit (1972), part of the Cold War) — Richard M. Nixon became the first United States President to visit Moscow (and only the second President, after Franklin D. Roosevelt, to visit the Soviet Union), as he and Henry Kissinger arrived this afternoon to begin a summit meeting with Leonid I. Brezhnev, the Secretary General of the Communist party. Continue reading Richard Nixon becomes first U.S president to visit Moscow 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 22 1972) →

First Democratic National Convention convenes in Baltimore 190 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 21 1832)

1830s, U.S. Presidents

(Monday, May 21, 1832, 11:00 a.m. local time) — The 1832 Democratic National Convention, the first presidential nominating convention ever held by the Democratic Party, convened this morning at The Athenaeum in Baltimore, Maryland. Continue reading First Democratic National Convention convenes in Baltimore 190 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 21 1832) →

Amelia Earhart becomes first woman to fly solo across Atlantic Ocean 90 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 21 1932)

1930s


Video: 'Heroine Of The Skies (1932)'

(Saturday, May 21, 1932, 1:46 p.m. Irish Standard Time) — Amelia Earhart, 34, became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean today as she landed her single engine Lockheed Vega 5B in a pasture at Culmore, north of Derry, Northern Ireland, about 15 hours after leaving Harbour Grace, Newfoundland. Continue reading Amelia Earhart becomes first woman to fly solo across Atlantic Ocean 90 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 21 1932) →

‘Woman Is the Nigger of the World’ by John Lennon debuts at #76 in USA 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 20 1972)

1970s, Popular Music 1970s, The Beatles 1970s

(Saturday, May 20, 1972) — The single “Woman Is the Nigger of the World,” a phrase originally coined by his wife Yoko Ono to point out women’s subservience to men and male chauvinism across all cultures and performed by ex-Beatle John Lennon (and Plastic Ono Band with Elephant’s Memory and The Invisible Strings), debuted at #76 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles charts. Continue reading ‘Woman Is the Nigger of the World’ by John Lennon debuts at #76 in USA 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 20 1972) →

Marilyn Monroe serenades JFK with ‘Happy Birthday, Mr. President’ 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 19 1962)

1960s, Movies 1960s, Popular Music 1960s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Marilyn Monroe-Happy Birthday Mr. President'

(Saturday, May 19, 1962, just before JFK began speaking at 11:30 p.m. EDT) — Actress Marilyn Monroe, accompanied by jazz pianist Hank Jones, performed a sultry rendition of Happy Birthday to You tonight for guest-of-honor President John F. Kennedy before 15,000 people attending a star-studded Democratic fundraising gala at New York’s old Madison Square Garden. Continue reading Marilyn Monroe serenades JFK with ‘Happy Birthday, Mr. President’ 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 19 1962) →

John Lennon & Yoko Ono interviewed about search for Ono’s daughter 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 18 1972)

1970s, Popular Music 1970s, Television 1970s, The Beatles 1970s


Video: 'John Lennon and Paul McCartney Interview Southern Cross Hotel, Melbourne June 15, 1964' (video is actually from May 18, 1972, interview with John & Yoko is for the first 21 minutes, 44 seconds; the rest of the video is either without the Lennons or repetitive)

(Thursday, May 18, 1972) — Ex-Beatle John Lennon and his wife, Yoko Ono, were interviewed today by NBC reporter Pat Collins on their Bank Street apartment balcony in New York City about their struggle to stay in the U.S. to continue the search for Yoko’s daughter from her first marriage, Kyoko. Continue reading John Lennon & Yoko Ono interviewed about search for Ono’s daughter 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 18 1972) →

John Lennon pleads for mercy to remain in United States at immigration hearing in New York 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 17 1972)

1970s, Popular Music 1970s, The Beatles 1970s


Video: 'Lennons' deportation hearings wind up - decision due in July'

(Wednesday, May 17, 1972) — Former Beatle John Lennon pleaded with the U.S. government today to show “mercy” to himself, his wife, Yoko Ono, and her missing daughter and allow them to remain in the United States despite his marijuana conviction. Continue reading John Lennon pleads for mercy to remain in United States at immigration hearing in New York 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 17 1972) →

‘Blue Tango’ by Leroy Anderson peaks at #1 in USA 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 17 1952)

1950s, Popular Music 1950s

(Saturday, May 17, 1952) — “Blue Tango” by Leroy Anderson (and his “Pops” Concert Orchestra) peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart for the first of five consecutive weeks (May 17/24/31, June 7/14, 1952). Continue reading ‘Blue Tango’ by Leroy Anderson peaks at #1 in USA 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 17 1952) →

24 stockbrokers meet on Wall Street to form New York Stock Exchange 230 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 17 1792)

1790s


Video: '17th May 1792: The Buttonwood Agreement establishes the New York Stock Exchange'

(Thursday, May 17, 1792) — The New York Stock Exchange had its beginnings today as 24 stockbrokers met outside of 68 Wall Street in New York and signed the Buttonwood Agreement, named after their traditional meeting place under a buttonwood tree. Continue reading 24 stockbrokers meet on Wall Street to form New York Stock Exchange 230 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 17 1792) →