$10,000 in apparent Watergate hush money goes down in Chicago plane crash 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 8 1972)

1970s, Watergate


Video: 'WGN-9 1972 United Flight 553 Crash!!! Chicago Coverage.'

(Friday, December 8, 1972, 2:29 p.m. CST, during the Watergate scandal) — Dorothy Hunt, 52, a CIA employee and the wife of Watergate burglary conspirator, E. Howard Hunt, was killed this afternoon when United Airlines Flight 553 from Washington to Chicago crashed during an aborted landing and go around while approaching Chicago Midway Airport during an ice storm. Continue reading $10,000 in apparent Watergate hush money goes down in Chicago plane crash 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 8 1972) →

‘Don’t Hang Up’ by The Orlons at peaks #4 in USA 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 8 1962)

1960s, Popular Music 1960s

(Saturday, December 8, 1962) — “Don’t Hang Up” by The Orlons peaked at #4 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for one week. Continue reading ‘Don’t Hang Up’ by The Orlons at peaks #4 in USA 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 8 1962) →

‘The Lonely Bull’ by Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass peaks at #6 in USA 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 8 1962)

1960s, Popular Music 1960s

(Saturday, December 8, 1962) — “The Lonely Bull” by Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass peaked at #6 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for one week. Continue reading ‘The Lonely Bull’ by Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass peaks at #6 in USA 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 8 1962) →

‘Monsters’ Holiday’ by Bobby ‘Boris’ Pickett & the Crypt-Kickers debuts at #80 in USA 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 8 1962)

1960s, Christmas, Popular Music 1960s

(Saturday, December 8, 1962) — “Monsters’ Holiday” by Bobby “Boris” Pickett & the Crypt-Kickers debuted at #80 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. Continue reading ‘Monsters’ Holiday’ by Bobby ‘Boris’ Pickett & the Crypt-Kickers debuts at #80 in USA 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 8 1962) →

America’s final manned mission to the moon launched as Apollo 17 blasts off from Cape Canaveral 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 7 1972)

1970s, space exploration


Video: 'Launch of Apollo 17 TV Coverage' (video begins 13:02 before lift-off)

(Thursday, December 7, 1972, 12:33:00 a.m. EST) — Delayed for more than two hours by a minor technical error, Apollo 17 vaultedfrom launch pad 39-A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida toward the moon early this morning, propelled by a fiery rocket on was man’s last voyage to another world. Continue reading America’s final manned mission to the moon launched as Apollo 17 blasts off from Cape Canaveral 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 7 1972) →

U.S. President Andrew Jackson re-elected over challenger Henry Clay 190 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 5 1832)

1830s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'The American Presidential Election of 1832'

(Wednesday, December 5, 1832, during the 1832 United States presidential election) — President Andrew Jackson, a Democrat from Tennessee, was elected to a second term today, defeating National Republican Party nominee Senator Henry Clay of Kentucky. Continue reading U.S. President Andrew Jackson re-elected over challenger Henry Clay 190 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 5 1832) →

George Washington unanimously re-elected as first President of the United States 230 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 5 1792)

1790s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'The American Presidential Election of 1792'

(Wednesday, December 5, 1792, during the 1792 United States presidential election) — George Washington of Virginia was unanimously re-elected today as the first president of the United States. Continue reading George Washington unanimously re-elected as first President of the United States 230 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 5 1792) →

U.S. President Martin Van Buren born in Kinderhook, New York 240 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 5 1782)

1780s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'American President #8: Martin Van Buren (1837-1841)'

(Thursday, December 5, 1782) — Martin Van Buren, the eighth president of the United States from 1837 to 1841 and the eighth vice president of the United States (under President Andrew Jackson) from 1833 to 1837, was born today in the village of Kinderhook, New York. Continue reading U.S. President Martin Van Buren born in Kinderhook, New York 240 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 5 1782) →

Great Smog of London descends on British capital, killing thousands of people 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 5 1952)

1950s


Video: 'The Great Smog of 1952 | A Short Documentary | Fascinating Horror'

(Friday, December 5, 1952; during the Great Smog of London) — The Great Smog of London, lethal smog that caused by a combination of industrial pollution and high-pressure weather conditions, descended on the British capital today for the first five days, bringing the city to a near standstill and resulting in thousands of deaths. Continue reading Great Smog of London descends on British capital, killing thousands of people 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 5 1952) →

Ex-Beatle Ringo Starr attends London premiere of ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’ 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 4 1972)

1970s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'ALICE IN WONDERLAND - IN COLOUR'

(Monday, December 4, 1972, evening GMT) — Fresh from filming his part for the movie That’ll Be The Day, ex-Beatle Ringo Starr and his wife, Maureen, attended the Royal charity premiere of Josef Shaftel’s production of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland at the Odeon Marble Arch tonight in London in the presence of Her Majesty The Queen. Continue reading Ex-Beatle Ringo Starr attends London premiere of ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’ 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 4 1972) →