U.S. resumes secret bombing of Cambodia as Khmer Rouge closes in on Phnom Penh 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 9 1973)

1970s, Cold War, Vietnam War


Video: 'Vietnam: A Television History - Cambodia and Laos [8/11]' (Operation Freedom Deal in 1973 at 37:07)

(Friday, February 9, 1973; during Operation Freedom Deal, part of the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — The U.S. resumed the secret bombing of Cambodia today after the communist Khmer Rouge refused to respond to pro-U.S. President Lon Nol’s unilateral cease-fire after the Paris Peace Accord was signed on Jan. 28, 1973. Continue reading U.S. resumes secret bombing of Cambodia as Khmer Rouge closes in on Phnom Penh 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 9 1973) →

‘Hey Paula’ by Paul & Paula peaks at #1 in USA 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 9 1963)

1960s, Popular Music 1960s

(Saturday, February 9, 1963) — “Hey Paula” by Paul & Paula (Ray Hildebrand, Jill Jackson) peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for three consecutive weeks (Feb. 9/16/23, 1963). Continue reading ‘Hey Paula’ by Paul & Paula peaks at #1 in USA 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 9 1963) →

‘Up on the Roof’ by The Drifters peaks at #5 in USA 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 9 1963)

1960s, Popular Music 1960s

(Saturday, February 9, 1963) — “Up on the Roof” by The Drifters peaked at #5 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for one week. Continue reading ‘Up on the Roof’ by The Drifters peaks at #5 in USA 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 9 1963) →

‘The Ballad of Jed Clampett’ by Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs peaks at #44 in USA 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 9 1963)

1960s, Popular Music 1960s, Television 1960s

(Saturday, February 9, 1963) — “The Ballad of Jed Clampett,” the theme song for The Beverly Hillbillies TV show by Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs, peaked at #44 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for one week. Continue reading ‘The Ballad of Jed Clampett’ by Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs peaks at #44 in USA 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 9 1963) →

Guadalcanal Campaign ends with Allied victory over Japanese forces 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 9 1943)

1940s, World War II


Video: '181 - Victory at Guadalcanal - WW2 - February 12, 1943' (Feb. 9, 1943, at 4:51)

(Tuesday, February 9, 1943, during the Guadalcanal Campaign, part of the Solomon Islands campaign of the Pacific Theater of World War II) — U.S. Army Major General Alexander Patch, realizing that the Japanese were gone, declared Guadalcanal secure for Allied forces today, ending the Guadalcanal Campaign on and around the island of Guadalcanal in the southwest Pacific with an Allied victory over Japanese forces. Continue reading Guadalcanal Campaign ends with Allied victory over Japanese forces 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 9 1943) →

U.S. President William Henry Harrison born in Charles City County, Virginia 250 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 9 1773)

1770s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'William Henry Harrison: America's briefest President'

(Tuesday, February 9, 1773) — William Henry Harrison, the ninth president of the United States, was born today at Berkeley Plantation, the home of the Harrison family of Virginia on the James River in Charles City County. Continue reading U.S. President William Henry Harrison born in Charles City County, Virginia 250 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 9 1773) →

‘All I Have’ by Jennifer Lopez featuring LL Cool J peaks at #1 in USA 20 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 8 2003)

2000s, Popular Music 2000s

(Saturday, February 8, 2003) — “All I Have” by Jennifer Lopez featuring LL Cool J peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for the first of four consecutive weeks (Feb. 8/15/22, Mar. 1, 2003). Continue reading ‘All I Have’ by Jennifer Lopez featuring LL Cool J peaks at #1 in USA 20 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 8 2003) →

College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, granted a charter by Britain’s King William III 330 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 8 1693)

1720s and before


Video: 'The founding of the College of William and Mary'

(Wednesday, February 8, 1693) — The College of William & Mary, a public research university in Williamsburg in the Virginia Colony, was granted a charter today by Britain’s King William III under a royal charter (legally, letters patent) to “make, found and establish a certain Place of Universal Study, a perpetual College of Divinity, Philosophy, Languages, and other good arts and sciences … to be supported and maintained, in all time coming.” Continue reading College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, granted a charter by Britain’s King William III 330 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 8 1693) →

Senate unanimously approves committee to investigate break-in at Democratic National Headquarters in Washington’s Watergate complex 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 7 1973)

1970s, U.S. Presidents, Watergate


Video: 'The Final Report: Watergate (National Geographic)' (Feb. 7, 1973, at 15:32)

(Wednesday, February 7, 1973; during the Watergate scandal) — The U.S. Senate voted today, 70 to 0, to undertake a full?scale investigation of the Watergate bugging case and of reported efforts to sabotage the campaigns of Democratic Presidential candidates last spring. Continue reading Senate unanimously approves committee to investigate break-in at Democratic National Headquarters in Washington’s Watergate complex 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 7 1973) →

Vee Jay Records releases first record by The Beatles in the United States 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 7 1963)

1960s, Popular Music 1960s, The Beatles 1960s


Video: 'Please Please Me (Remastered 2009)'

(Thursday, February 7, 1963) — Vee Jay Records today released the first record by the British rock music band The Beatles in the U.S., the single “Please Please Me” and “Ask Me Why.” Continue reading Vee Jay Records releases first record by The Beatles in the United States 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 7 1963) →