Video: 'Last flight of Yury Gagarin: What killed the space icon'
(Wednesday, March 27, 1968, 10:31 a.m. MSK; during the Cold War) — Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, the first human to journey into outer space in 1961, died today when his MiG-15 jet crashed during a routine training flight near the town of Kirzhach.
Gagarin was 34.
Video: 'Life and the tragic death of Yuri Gagarin' (Mar. 27, 1968, at 26:41)
Video: 'Our World Winter 1968 Part 4' (Mar. 26, 1968, at 3:24)
(Tuesday, March 26, 1968, 1:15 p.m. EST; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — After long supporting and encouraging President Lyndon Johnson’s conduct of the Vietnam War, a majority of his foreign policy experts, a group of elder statesmen and retired generals informally known as “the Wise Men,” informed him bluntly today at the White House that “an American military solution in Vietnam was no longer attainable” and that he should take steps to disengage the U.S. from further participation. Continue reading LBJ’s ‘wise men’ turn against Vietnam War 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 26 1968)
Video: 'Elvis Gets Drafted Into the War'
(Monday, March 24, 1958, 6:30 a.m. local time) — Rock music icon Elvis Presley, 23, reported for duty this morning at the draft board office in the M&M Building, 198 South Main in Memphis, Tennessee. Continue reading Elvis Presley inducted into U.S. Army 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 24 1958)
(Friday, March 22, 1968, 5:38-6:06 p.m. EST; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — President Lyndon Johnson announced today at a news conference his intention to appoint Gen. William C. Westmoreland as Army Chief of Staff, replacing him as commander of American forces in Vietnam sometime before July 2, 1968. Continue reading LBJ recalls Westmoreland to become Army chief 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 22 1968)
Video: 'American Experience LBJ 2' (Mar. 18, 1968, at 1:18:32)
(Monday, March 18, 1968, 10:42 a.m. CST; during the Democratic Party presidential primaries, 1968 and the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — U.S. President Lyndon Johnson, speaking to delegates at the National Farmers Union Convention at the Leamington Hotel in Minneapolis, said today that the time had come for “austerity” and a “total national effort” to win the war and peace in Vietnam and solve domestic problems. Continue reading LBJ asks for ‘austerity’ to win Vietnam War 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 18 1968)
Video: 'World in Action The Demonstration 1968' (violence begins at 15:06)
(Sunday, March 17, 1968, 5:20 p.m. BST; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — A peaceful march against the Vietnam War by some 10,000 people in London turned violent today as demonstrators reached Grosvenor Square near the U.S. Embassy; more than 200 people were arrested and over 80 were reported injured. Continue reading Anti-war protest in London turns violent 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 17 1968)
Video: 'President Lyndon B. Johnson on Vietnam, March 1968 (2 clips)'
(Saturday, March 16, 1968, 10:05 a.m. EST; during the Democratic Party presidential primaries, 1968; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — As U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy was officially announcing on Capitol Hill that he would challenge President Lyndon Johnson for the 1968 Democratic presidential nomination over the Vietnam War, Johnson told the National Alliance of Businessmen today at the Sheraton Park Hotel in Washington: “Make no mistake about it—I don’t want a man in here to go back home thinking otherwise—we are going to win.” Continue reading LBJ: ‘We are going to win’ Vietnam War 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 16 1968)
Video: '1968 Presidential Election: RFK Announces He's Running'
(Saturday, March 16, 1968, 10:00 a.m. EST; during the Democratic Party presidential primaries, 1968; African-American civil rights movement (1954–1968); during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — Four days after President Lyndon Johnson barely edged out anti-war candidate U.S. Senator Eugene McCarthy of Minnesota in the New Hampshire Democratic primary, U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy of New York today entered the race for the Democratic Party presidential nomination. Continue reading RFK to challenge LBJ for Democratic presidential nomination 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 16 1968)
Video: 'Myth or Reality My Lai- Massacre in Vietnam - American Experience.mp4' (Mar. 16 1968, 27:51)
(Saturday, March 16, 1968, 8:00 a.m. Saigon Standard Time; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — The My Lai Massacre of Vietnamese civilians, including men, women, children and infants, was carried out today by U.S. Army soldiers from Company C, 1st Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 11th Brigade, 23rd (Americal) Infantry Division in Son My village in the Son Tinh District of South Vietnam. Continue reading U.S. forces kill, rape hundreds in My Lai Massacre 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 16 1968)
Video: 'Ogaden War 1977 Somalia Ethiopia'
(Wednesday, March 15, 1978; during the Ogaden War, part of the Ethiopian–Somali conflict and the Cold War) — The Ogaden War, a Somali military offensive over the disputed Ethiopian region Ogaden, ended today when the last significant Somali unit left Ethiopia. Continue reading Ogaden War ends in Ethiopian victory 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 15 1978)
