(Tuesday, November 2, 1954) — Democratic leader Lyndon B. Johnson of Texas was elected to a second term in the Senate today over Republican Carlos G. Watson 84.6% to 14.9%. And since the Democrats won the majority in the Senate in the midterm elections, Johnson then became majority leader in January 1955 (click here to watch American Experience: LBJ at 39:27)
Video: 'French - Algerian War (1954 - 1960)' (5 videos)
(Monday, November 1, 1954, early morning local time) — The Algerian War, a war between France and the Algerian independence movements from 1954 to 1962, which led to Algeria gaining its independence from France, began early this morning as FLN maquisards (guerrillas) attacked military and civilian targets throughout Algeria in what became known as the Toussaint Rouge (Red All-Saints’ Day).
Video: 'The Disneyland Story' (6 videos)
(Wednesday, October 27, 1954, 7:30 p.m. EST) — Disneyland, an anthology television series which would air under different titles for several decades, including The Wonderful World of Disney, debuted tonight on ABC.
Video: 'Hollywood Couples - Marilyn Monroe And Joe Dimaggio' (Oct. 27, 1954, at 33:16)
(Wednesday, October 27, 1954) — Actress Marilyn Monroe and baseball player Joe DiMaggio were divorced today in Santa Monica, California, after only nine months of marriage.
Video: 'Benjamin Davis'
(Wednesday, October 27, 1954) — U.S. Air Force Col. Benjamin O. Davis Jr. was promoted to brigadier general by President Dwight Eisenhower today, the first black officer to achieve that rank in the USAF.
(Monday, October 25, 1954, about 7:00 p.m. EST) — A meeting of President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s Cabinet was broadcast live on radio and television tonight; during the session, Secretary of State John Foster Dulles, just returned from Europe, reported on agreements signed in Paris on the future of West Germany (click here to watch the video).
To date, it’s the only presidential Cabinet meeting to be carried on radio and TV.
Video: 'Casino Royale James Bond 1954'
(Thursday, October 21, 1954, 8:30-9:30 p.m. EST) — Casino Royale, a television adaptation of the novel of the same name by Ian Fleming and the first onscreen appearance of the character of James Bond (played by Barry Nelson), was broadcast tonight live on the CBS dramatic anthology series Climax!.
Nelson’s character is played as an American agent with “Combined Intelligence” and is referred to as “Jimmy” by several characters.
Video: 'Regency TR-1: The First Transistor Radio'
(Monday, October 18, 1954) — Texas Instruments today unveiled the Regency TR-1, the first commercially produced transistor radio.
Video: 'Vietnam The Ten Thousand Day War 2of13 Dien Bien Phu' (Oct. 11, 1954, at 29:23)
(Monday, October 11, 1954; during the Cold War) — Transfer of civil administration of North Vietnam to the Viet Minh was given today. Ho Chi Minh was appointed Prime Minister of North Vietnam, which would be run as a socialist state.
Video: 'Vietnam a Television History Episode 1' (Oct. 9, 1954, at 57:07)
(Saturday, October 9, 1954; during the Cold War) — Thirty thousand Viet Minh soldiers, including many who had fought the French at Dien Bien Phu during the First Indochina War, today marched into Hanoi amid the cheers of a flag-waving populace.
