Category Archives: 1960s

Siege of Khe Sanh broken 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 6 1968)


Video: 'Vietnam: The Ten Thousand Day War - Tet! [7/13]' (Apr. 6, 1968, at 38:29)

(Saturday, April 6, 1968, 1:40 p.m. Saigon Standard Time; during the Battle of Khe Sanh, part of the Vietnam War, the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — Relief forces from Operation Pegasus moved into Khe Sanh today, ending a 77-day siege. Continue reading Siege of Khe Sanh broken 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 6 1968)

Body of MLK Jr. flown to Atlanta 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 5 1968)


Video: 'MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.'S CASKET ARRIVES AT MEMPHIS AIRPORT APRIL 5, 1968 85614'

(Friday, April 5, 1968, 11:30 a.m. CST; during the African-American civil rights movement (1954–1968)) — One day after the assassination of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr., the casket containing his body was loaded aboard an American Airlines Convair chartered by Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy today at the Memphis Airport for a flight to Atlanta. Continue reading Body of MLK Jr. flown to Atlanta 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 5 1968)

Robert Kennedy urges ‘compassion’ after King murder 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 4 1968)


Video: 'The Greatest Speech Ever - Robert F Kennedy Announcing The Death Of Martin Luther King'

(Thursday, April 4, 1968, 9:30 p.m. EST; during the African-American civil rights movement (1954–1968)) — Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, moved almost to tears by the death of civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr., told a street corner rally of African-Americans tonight in Indianapolis, Indiana, that they must strive for “love, and wisdom, and compassion toward one another.” Continue reading Robert Kennedy urges ‘compassion’ after King murder 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 4 1968)

President Johnson deplores ‘brutal’ murder of King 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 4 1968)


Video: 'April 4, 1968: President Johnson addresses the nation after death of Martin Luther King Jr.'

(Thursday, April 4, 1968, 9:07 p.m. EST; during the African-American civil rights movement (1954–1968)) — U.S. President Johnson, speaking outside the entrance to the West Lobby at the White House, deplored tonight in a brief television address to the nation the “brutal slaying” of civil rights icon Martin Luther King, Jr., 39, asking “every citizen to reject the blind violence that has struck Dr. King, who lived by non-violence.” Continue reading President Johnson deplores ‘brutal’ murder of King 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 4 1968)

Martin Luther King Jr. pronounced dead 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 4 1968)


Video: '"KENNEDYS DON'T CRY" (1975)' (Apr. 4, 1968, at 1:18:30)

(Thursday, April 4, 1968, 7:05 p.m. CST; during the Memphis sanitation strike, part of the African-American civil rights movement (1954–1968)) — Civil rights icon Martin Luther King, Jr., 39, was pronounced dead tonight, sixty-four minutes after he was shot as he stood on a balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. Continue reading Martin Luther King Jr. pronounced dead 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 4 1968)

Martin Luther King Jr. assassinated 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 4 1968)


Video: 'MLK: The Assassination Tapes - The Aftermath of the Assassination' (click here to watch the full episode with shooting at 19:05)

(Thursday, April 4, 1968, 6:01 p.m. CST; during the Memphis sanitation strike, part of the African-American civil rights movement (1954–1968)) — Civil rights icon Martin Luther King, Jr., 39, was fatally shot tonight as he stood on a balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. Continue reading Martin Luther King Jr. assassinated 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 4 1968)

‘The Party’ opens in New York City 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 4 1968)


Video: 'The Party' trailer

(Thursday, April 4, 1968, 10:15 a.m. EST)The Party, an American comedy film about an Indian actor who turns a swank Hollywood party into a disaster, opened this morning at Trans Lux West Theater in New York City. Continue reading ‘The Party’ opens in New York City 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 4 1968)

King delivers ‘Mountaintop’ speech 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 3 1968)


Video: 'Martin Luther King's Last Speech: "I've Been To The Mountaintop"'

(Wednesday, April 3, 1968, 9:00 p.m. CST; during the Memphis sanitation strike, part of the African-American civil rights movement (1954–1968)) — In what turned out to be his final speech, civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech at a rally of striking sanitation workers at the Mason Temple (Church of God in Christ Headquarters) in Memphis, Tennessee. Continue reading King delivers ‘Mountaintop’ speech 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 3 1968)

‘A Star Named Arnold is Born’ episode airs on ‘Green Acres’ 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 3 1968)


Video: 'Green Acres - S 3 E 29 - A Star Named Arnold is Born (1)'

(Wednesday, April 3, 1968, 9:00-9:30 p.m. EST) — Lisa arranges for an old friend to give Arnold a chance in show business after the pig appears in a play at the Hooterville Theater on tonight’s episode of the American television sitcom series Green Acres on CBS. Continue reading ‘A Star Named Arnold is Born’ episode airs on ‘Green Acres’ 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 3 1968)

‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ premieres in Washington, D.C. 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 2 1968)


Video: '2001: A Space Odyssey' trailer

(Tuesday, April 2, 1968, 8:30 p.m. EST)2001: A Space Odyssey, a science-fiction film which follows a voyage to Jupiter with the sentient computer HAL after the discovery of a mysterious black monolith affecting human evolution, premiered today at Uptown Theater in the Cleveland Park neighborhood of Washington, D.C., in its original two-hour and 40 minute version. Continue reading ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ premieres in Washington, D.C. 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 2 1968)