Johnson adviser McGeorge Bundy arrives in Saigon 50 years ago this morning (Feb 4 1965)


Video: 'Vietnam a Television History Part 4 LBJ Goes to War 1964 65' (Feb. 4, 1965, at 26:33)

(Thursday, February 4, 1965, morning local time; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — National Security Adviser McGeorge Bundy, who had recently urged President Lyndon Johnson to bomb North Vietnam, arrived in Saigon this morning for a “fact” search.

Ringo Starr begins shooting his role in Ken Russell’s ‘Lisztomania’ film 50 years ago today (Feb 3 1975)


Video: 'Ken Russell's Listzomania: The Holy Truth of Pope Ringo I'

(Monday, February 3, 1975) — Ex-Beatle Ringo Starr began shooting his role as the Pope for the Warner Brothers film Lisztomania today at Shepperton Studios, Middlesex and on location (into March 1975). Continue reading Ringo Starr begins shooting his role in Ken Russell’s ‘Lisztomania’ film 50 years ago today (Feb 3 1975)

Lincoln and Confederate VP Stephens meet for peace talks, but Southern autonomy stalls progress 160 years ago today (Feb 3 1865)


Video: 'History Bites : Hampton Roads Conference'

(Friday, February 3, 1865, morning local time; during the American Civil War) — U.S. President Abraham Lincoln and Confederate Vice President Alexander H. Stephens held a shipboard peace conference on the River Queen, near Union-controlled Fort Monroe in Hampton, Virginia, today; the talks deadlocked over the issue of Southern autonomy. Continue reading Lincoln and Confederate VP Stephens meet for peace talks, but Southern autonomy stalls progress 160 years ago today (Feb 3 1865)

FDR arrives in Crimea for long jeep ride to Yalta 80 years ago this hour (Feb 3 1945)


Video: '1945 Newsreel: The Yalta Conference begins' (Feb. 3, 1945, at 0:59)

(Saturday, February 3, 1945, 12:10 p.m. local time; during World War II) — U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt landed today at Saki airfield on the west coast of the Crimea, about 20 minutes ahead of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. The two men reviewed an honor guard and then continued via jeep to Livadia Palace near Yalta, USSR, where they arrived about six hours later for a week-long conference to plan the postwar world. Continue reading FDR arrives in Crimea for long jeep ride to Yalta 80 years ago this hour (Feb 3 1945)

Battle of Manila begins during World War II 80 years ago today (Feb 3 1945)


Video: 'The World At War: Pacific 3/5' (Feb. 1945, at 2:01)

(Saturday, February 3, 1945, 6:35 p.m. Japan Standard Time; during the Battle of Manila, part of the Philippines Campaign (1944–45) in the Pacific Theatre of World War II) — The Battle of Manila, the Allied campaign to liberate the capital city of the Philippines, began today as elements of the U.S. 1st Cavalry Division under Maj. Gen. Verne D. Mudge pushed into the northern outskirts of Manila and seized a vital bridge across the Tullahan River, which separated them from the city proper, and quickly captured Malacanang Palace.

‘I Want to Know What Love Is’ by Foreigner peaks at #1 in USA 40 years ago today (Feb 2 1985)

(Saturday, February 2, 1985) — “I Want to Know What Love Is” by Foreigner peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for two consecutive weeks (Feb. 2/9, 1985). Continue reading ‘I Want to Know What Love Is’ by Foreigner peaks at #1 in USA 40 years ago today (Feb 2 1985)

‘Easy Lover’ by Philip Bailey and Phil Collins peaks at #2 in USA 40 years ago today (Feb 2 1985)

(Saturday, February 2, 1985) — “Easy Lover” by Philip Bailey and Phil Collins peaked at #2 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for two weeks. Continue reading ‘Easy Lover’ by Philip Bailey and Phil Collins peaks at #2 in USA 40 years ago today (Feb 2 1985)

‘I Would Die 4 U’ by Prince and The Revolution peaks at #8 in USA 40 years ago today (Feb 2 1985)

(Saturday, February 2, 1985) — “I Would Die 4 U” by Prince and The Revolution peaked at #8 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for one week. Continue reading ‘I Would Die 4 U’ by Prince and The Revolution peaks at #8 in USA 40 years ago today (Feb 2 1985)

Balto’s heroic dogsled team delivers life-saving serum to Nome, Alaska 100 years ago this hour (Feb 2 1925)


Video: 'A 600-Mile Journey Across Alaska Saves the Town of Nome

(Monday, February 2, 1925, 5:30 a.m. local time) — The legendary 1925 serum run to Nome ended today as the last of a series of dog mushers (with Balto as the lead sled dog) brought a life-saving treatment to Nome, Alaska, the scene of a diphtheria epidemic, six days after the drug left Nenana. Continue reading Balto’s heroic dogsled team delivers life-saving serum to Nome, Alaska 100 years ago this hour (Feb 2 1925)