Category Archives: 1950s

MacArthur challenges Truman’s handling of Korean War in letter to GOP lawmaker 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 5 1951)

1950s, Korean War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Korean War - PART 19, Hard fighting, 6.25' (MacArthur letter to Martin at 8:47)

(Thursday, April 5, 1951; during the Korean War, part of the Cold War and the Korean conflict) — U.S. House Minority Leader Joseph William Martin, Jr. read the text of a letter today he had received from U.S. General Douglas MacArthur, commander of the United Nations forces defending South Korea, dated Mar. 20, 1951, criticizing U.S. President Harry S. Truman administration’s handling of the Korean War.
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Rodgers and Hammerstein’s ‘The King and I’ musical premieres on Broadway 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 29 1951)

1950s, Broadway


Video: 'THE KING AND I - Through Time and History'

(Thursday, March 29, 1951, 8:00 p.m. EST) — The King and I, the fifth musical by the team of Rodgers and Hammerstein, about the relationship between the King of Siam and a British schoolteacher, premiered tonight at Broadway’s St. James Theatre located at 246 West 44th Street in midtown Manhattan.
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Julius and Ethel Rosenberg convicted of passing atomic weapons secrets to Soviets 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 29 1951)

1950s, Cold War


Video: 'Spy Saga of Julius & Ethel Rosenberg - Decades TV Network'

(Thursday, March 29, 1951, 11:00 a.m. EST; during the Cold War) — Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were convicted today in New York of conspiracy to commit espionage for passing atomic weapons information to the Soviet Union.
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UN troops recapture Seoul for second time during the Korean War 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 14 1951)

1950s, Cold War


Video: 'Korean War - PART 19, Hard fighting, 6.25' (UN forces recapture Seoul at 5:27)

(Wednesday, March 14, 1951, 2:40 a.m. Korea Standard Time; during Operation Ripper, part of the Korean War and the Cold War) — United Nations troops reoccupied Seoul today after the South Korean capital was abandoned without a fight by the Chinese and North Korean invaders now in full retreat all along the Korean front.
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‘Be My Love’ by Mario Lanza peaks at #1 in USA 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 10 1951)

1950s, Movies 1950s, Popular Music 1950s

(Saturday, March 10, 1951) — “Be My Love” by Mario Lanza peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart for one week.
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‘If (They Made Me a King)’ by Perry Como peaks at #1 in USA 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 3 1951)

1950s, Popular Music 1950s

(Saturday, March 3, 1951) — “If (They Made Me a King)” by Perry Como peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart for six non-consecutive weeks (Mar. 3/17/24/31, Apr. 7/14, 1951).
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Twenty-second Constitutional Amendment limiting U.S. presidents to two terms of office ratified 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 27 1951)

1950s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'The 22nd Amendment Explained: The Constitution for Dummies Series'

(Tuesday, February 27, 1951) — The Twenty-second Amendment to the United States Constitution, which limits to two the number of times a person is eligible for election to the office of President of the United States, was ratified today when the Minnesota Legislature approved it, completing the requisite ratification by 36 of the then 48 states.
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85 killed, 500+ hurt in Woodbridge, New Jersey train derailment 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 6 1951)

1950s


Video: '81 Killed In Train Wreck (1951)'

(Tuesday, February 6, 1951, 5:43 p.m. EST; during the Woodbridge train derailment) — A Pennsylvania Railroad passenger train jammed with rush hour commuters derailed today crossing a temporary wooden trestle in Woodbridge, New Jersey, killing 85 people and injuring over 500.
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United Nations headquarters officially opens in New York 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 8 1951)

1950s


Video: 'Behind the scenes of the UN General Assembly'

(Monday, January 8, 1951) — The $65 million Headquarters of the United Nations, an intergovernmental organization that aims to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation and be a center for harmonizing the actions of nations, officially opened today in New York City.
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Chinese, North Korean capture Seoul for second time during the Korean War 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 4 1951)

1950s, Cold War


Video: 'Korean War - PART 18, Retreat from the North, 6.25' (Chinese, North Korea forces recapture Seoul at 4:26)

(Thursday, January 4, 1951, the entire US IX Corps had left Seoul by 7:40 a.m. Korea Standard Time; during the Third Battle of Seoul, part of the Korean War, the Cold War and the Korean conflict) — Chinese and North Korean communist forces occupied the smoldering ghost city of Seoul, South Korea, this morning and smashed to the banks of the Han River, following hard on the heels of United Nations troops retreating southward.
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