April 1959
Encyclopedia
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The following events occurred in April 1959.
January 1959
January – February – March – April – May – June – July – August – September – October – November – DecemberThe following events occurred in January 1959.-January 1, 1959 :...
– February
February 1959
January – February – March – April – May – June – July – August – September – October – November – DecemberThe following events occurred in February 1959.-February 1, 1959 :...
– March
March 1959
January – February – March – April – May – June – July – August – September – October – November – DecemberThe following events occurred in March, 1959.-March 1, 1959 :...
– April – May
May 1959
January – February – March – April – May – June – July – August – September – October – November – DecemberThe following events occurred in May, 1959.-May 1, 1959 :*A patent application January – February – March – April – May –...
– June
June 1959
January – February – March – April – May – June – July – August – September – October – November – DecemberThe following events occurred in June 1959.-June 1, 1959 :...
– July
July 1959
January – February – March – April – May – June – July – August – September – October – November – DecemberThe following events occurred in July 1959.-July 1, 1959 :...
– August
August 1959
January – February – March – April – May – June – July – August – September – October – November – DecemberThe following events occurred in August 1959.-August 1, 1959 :...
– September
September 1959
January – February – March – April – May – June – July – August – September – October – November – DecemberThe following events occurred in September 1959.-September 1, 1959 :...
– October
October 1959
January – February – March – April – May – June – July – August – September – October – November – DecemberThe following events occurred in October 1959.-October 1, 1959 :...
– November
November 1959
January – February – March – April – May – June – July – August – September – October – November – DecemberThe following events occurred in November 1959.-November 1, 1959 :...
– December
December 1959
January – February – March – April – May – June – July – August – September – October – November – DecemberThe following events occurred in December 1959.-December 1, 1959 :...
The following events occurred in April 1959.
April 1, 1959 (Wednesday)
- A U.S. Air Force cargo plane crashed at Orting, WashingtonOrting, WashingtonOrting is a city in Pierce County, Washington, United States. The population as of the 2010 census is 6,746, according to the City of Orting.- History :...
, killing all four of the crew on board. Witnesses reported that the C-118 had collided with another object in midair, and the incident has become part of UFO Lore. http://www.ufosnw.com/history.htm. The pilot, Lt. Robert R. Dimmick, radioed "We have hit something, or something has hit us", moments before the crash. - The Navajo NationNavajo NationThe Navajo Nation is a semi-autonomous Native American-governed territory covering , occupying all of northeastern Arizona, the southeastern portion of Utah, and northwestern New Mexico...
Supreme Court came into existence, along with a set of district courts with jurisdiction in Navajo territory in Arizona and New Mexico. - After the Soviet Union restricted travel of American diplomats, the U.S. did the same for the Soviets in America.
April 2, 1959 (Thursday)
- NASANASAThe National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
announced the names of the seven men chosen as astronauts for Project MercuryProject MercuryIn January 1960 NASA awarded Western Electric Company a contract for the Mercury tracking network. The value of the contract was over $33 million. Also in January, McDonnell delivered the first production-type Mercury spacecraft, less than a year after award of the formal contract. On February 12,...
. Originally planning to select six men, the Space Task GroupSpace Task GroupThe Space Task Group was a working group of NASA engineers created in 1958, tasked with superintending America's manned spaceflight programs. It was headed by Robert Gilruth andbased at the Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. After President John F...
screened 508 records and found 110 candidates who met the minimum standards, interviewed 69, invited 32 to go through tests and narrowed the number down to 18. Deputy Administrator Robert Gilruth suggested picking the seven finalists with the most flying experience. - A superboltLightningLightning is an atmospheric electrostatic discharge accompanied by thunder, which typically occurs during thunderstorms, and sometimes during volcanic eruptions or dust storms...
, more powerful than an ordinary lightning bolt, struck a cornfield near Leland, IllinoisLeland, IllinoisLeland is a village in LaSalle County, Illinois, United States. The population was 970 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Ottawa–Streator Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Leland is located at ....
, leaving a crater one foot deep, and breaking windows in homes almost a mile away. - The Soviet Union's Council for Russian Orthodox Church Affairs advised the Russian Orthodox patriarch of new measures to reduce the number of convents, followed by property and income tax increases on the convents.
- Born: Juha KankkunenJuha KankkunenJuha Matti Pellervo Kankkunen is a Finnish former rally driver. His factory team career in the World Rally Championship lasted from 1983 to 2002. He won 23 world rallies and four drivers' world championship titles, which were both once records in the series...
, Finnish rally car driver and four time world champion; in LaukaaLaukaaLaukaa is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Western Finland, next to Jyväskylä and is part of the Central Finland region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of ofwhich is water. The population density is....
April 3, 1959 (Friday)
- Vito GenoveseVito GenoveseVito "Don Vito" Genovese was an Italian mafioso who rose to power in America during the Castellammarese War to later become leader of the Genovese crime family. Genovese served as mentor to future mob boss Vincent "The Chin" Gigante...
, New York Mafia don and boss of the Genovese Crime FamilyGenovese crime familyThe Genovese crime family , is one of the "Five Families" that dominates organized crime activities in New York City, United States, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia . The Genovese crime family has been nicknamed the "Ivy League" and "Rolls Royce" of organized crime...
, was convicted on federal narcotics conspiracy charges, but was released three days later after posting $150,000 bond. - Elmer David Brunner died in the electric chairElectric chairExecution by electrocution, usually performed using an electric chair, is an execution method originating in the United States in which the condemned person is strapped to a specially built wooden chair and electrocuted through electrodes placed on the body...
at Moundsville, West VirginiaMoundsville, West VirginiaMoundsville is a city in Marshall County, West Virginia, along the Ohio River. It is part of the Wheeling Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 9,998 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Marshall County. The city was named for the Grave Creek Mound. Moundsville was settled in...
, becoming the last person to be executed in that state, which abolished the death penalty in 1965. http://www.wvculture.org/HiStory/wvhs941.html - Born: David Hyde PierceDavid Hyde PierceDavid Hyde Pierce is an American actor and comedian best known for playing psychiatrist Dr. Niles Crane on the NBC sitcom Frasier, for which he received many accolades including four Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.-Early life:Pierce, the youngest of four siblings,...
, American actor, in Saratoga Springs, New YorkSaratoga Springs, New YorkSaratoga Springs, also known as simply Saratoga, is a city in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 26,586 at the 2010 census. The name reflects the presence of mineral springs in the area. While the word "Saratoga" is known to be a corruption of a Native American name, ...
April 4, 1959 (Saturday)
- In a speech at Gettysburg CollegeGettysburg CollegeGettysburg College is a private four-year liberal arts college founded in 1832, in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, United States, adjacent to the famous battlefield. Its athletic teams are nicknamed the Bullets. Gettysburg College has about 2,700 students, with roughly equal numbers of men and women...
, U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower announced the first American commitment to keeping South VietnamSouth VietnamSouth Vietnam was a state which governed southern Vietnam until 1975. It received international recognition in 1950 as the "State of Vietnam" and later as the "Republic of Vietnam" . Its capital was Saigon...
as a separate, non-Communist nation. "We reach the inescapable conclusion", said Eisenhower, "that our own national intersts demand some help from us in sustaining in Vietnam the morale, the economic progress and the military strength necessary to its continued existence in Freedom."
April 5, 1959 (Sunday)
- In DortmundDortmundDortmund is a city in Germany. It is located in the Bundesland of North Rhine-Westphalia, in the Ruhr area. Its population of 585,045 makes it the 7th largest city in Germany and the 34th largest in the European Union....
, West GermanyWest GermanyWest Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
, Rong Guotan of Communist China defeated Ferenc Sido of Hungary to win the 25th World Table Tennis Championships, becoming the first Chinese player to do so. http://home.tiscali.nl/proftafeltennis/Rong%20Guotuan.pdf - At the Southmoor Hotel in ChicagoChicagoChicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, black nationalist S.A. Davis, Chairman of the Joint Council of Repatriation, and eight of his associates met with George Lincoln RockwellGeorge Lincoln RockwellGeorge Lincoln Rockwell was the founder of the American Nazi Party. Rockwell was a major figure in the neo-Nazi movement in the United States, and his beliefs and writings have continued to be influential among white nationalists and neo-Nazis.-Early life:Rockwell was born in Bloomington,...
, white supremacist, and two of his associates in the American Nazi Party, to discuss a joint resolution in support of government-supported "repatriation" of African-Americans to a homeland on the African continent.
April 6, 1959 (Monday)
- The Academy AwardsAcademy AwardsAn Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
ceremony took place at the RKO Pantages Theatre in Hollywood. GigiGigi (1958 film)Gigi is a 1958 musical film directed by Vincente Minnelli. The screenplay by Alan Jay Lerner is based on the 1944 novella of the same name by Colette...
won a record nine Oscars, including the award for Best Picture. - Texas A&M UniversityTexas A&M UniversityTexas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
won in its fight against admitting women as students, as the U.S. Supreme Court dismissed an appeal by two women from as state court decision. - Robert SobukweRobert SobukweRobert Mangaliso Sobukwe was a South African political dissident, who founded the Pan Africanist Congress in opposition to the apartheid regime. In 2004 Sobukwe was voted 42nd in the SABC3's Great South Africans....
founded the Pan Africanist Congress as a black African alternative to the African National Congress. - Hal HolbrookHal HolbrookHarold Rowe "Hal" Holbrook, Jr. is an American actor. His television roles include Abraham Lincoln in the 1976 TV series Lincoln, Hays Stowe on The Bold Ones: The Senator and Capt. Lloyd Bucher on Pueblo. He is also known for his role in the 2007 film Into the Wild, for which he was nominated for...
began his career of portraying a retired author, with his first performance of Mark Twain Tonight! at the Forty-first Street Theatre in Manhattan.
April 7, 1959 (Tuesday)
- In Washington, the National Safety CouncilNational Safety CouncilThe National Safety Council is a 501 nonprofit, nongovernmental public service organization dedicated to protecting life and promoting health. Headquartered in Itasca, Illinois, NSC is a member organization, founded in 1913 and granted a congressional charter in 1953...
first warned parents about the risk of suffocation posed by plastic bags, particularly those used by dry cleaners. The AMA, as well as a trade association of dry cleaning stores, joined in the warning. In January, Dr. Paul B. Jarrett of Phoenix had begun a campaign to educate the public after five children had suffocated in the previous year. - The first photograph of a falling meteoriteMeteoriteA meteorite is a natural object originating in outer space that survives impact with the Earth's surface. Meteorites can be big or small. Most meteorites derive from small astronomical objects called meteoroids, but they are also sometimes produced by impacts of asteroids...
was taken in PribramPríbramPříbram is a city in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic with a population of 35,147. The city is located on the Litavka river and the foothills of Brdy, 60 kilometers south-west of Prague, the country's capital...
, CzechoslovakiaCzechoslovakiaCzechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
. - For the first time, a radar signal was sent between the Earth and the Sun. A team led by Dr. Von R. Eshleman, Lt. Col. Robert C. Barthle, and Dr. Philip B. Gallagher, transmitted the beam from Stanford UniversityStanford UniversityThe Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
in Palo Alto, CaliforniaPalo Alto, CaliforniaPalo Alto is a California charter city located in the northwest corner of Santa Clara County, in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, United States. The city shares its borders with East Palo Alto, Mountain View, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Stanford, Portola Valley, and Menlo Park. It is...
, and received the return 17 minutes later. The morning experiments were repeated on April 10 and April 12, and the data was published in the journal Science on February 5, 1960. - By a margin of 386,845 to 314,380 voters in OklahomaOklahomaOklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
elected to repeal the state's constitutional prohibition on the sale of alcohol, leaving Mississippi as the only dry American state. Liquor sales began on September 1. - The town of Jackpot, NevadaJackpot, NevadaJackpot is an unincorporated community in Elko County, Nevada, United States. The Zip Code Tabulation Area for its ZIP code, 89825, had a population of 1,189 as of the 2010 census. Located less than 1 mile from the Idaho border on U.S...
, was founded. Located a few miles south of the border with Idaho, the gambling center was created after Idaho banned gambling. http://www.jackpot-nevada.net/ - Israel created the first Holocaust Memorial DayHolocaust Memorial DayHolocaust Memorial Day or Holocaust Remembrance Day may refer to one of several commemorations of the Holocaust.-See also:* United Nations Holocaust Memorial* List of Holocaust memorials and museums...
by vote of the KnessetKnessetThe Knesset is the unicameral legislature of Israel, located in Givat Ram, Jerusalem.-Role in Israeli Government :The legislative branch of the Israeli government, the Knesset passes all laws, elects the President and Prime Minister , approves the cabinet, and supervises the work of the government...
in Tel AvivTel AvivTel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
, to be observed on the 27th day of NisanNisanNisan is the first month of the ecclesiastical year and the seventh month of the civil year, on the Hebrew calendar. The name of the month is Babylonian; in the Torah it is called the month of the Aviv, referring to the month in which barley was ripe. It is a spring month of 30 days...
, which fell on May 5 in 1959. If the 27th falls on a Friday, the observation is held on the 26th. In 2009, Nisan 27 was on April 21. - The Philippine government began use of the presidential yacht, the R.P.S. Lapu-Lapu (PY-77).
April 8, 1959 (Wednesday)
- Grace HopperGrace HopperRear Admiral Grace Murray Hopper was an American computer scientist and United States Navy officer. A pioneer in the field, she was one of the first programmers of the Harvard Mark I computer, and developed the first compiler for a computer programming language...
and other persons met at the University of Pennsylvania to discuss a computer language that would be more applicable to programming for business than FORTRANFortranFortran is a general-purpose, procedural, imperative programming language that is especially suited to numeric computation and scientific computing...
. Following the meeting, a task force overseen by Hopper created COmmon Business Oriented Language, or COBOL. - The Inter-American Development BankInter-American Development BankThe Inter-American Development Bank is the largest source of development financing for Latin America and the Caribbean...
was founded in Washington as an initiative by the Organization of American StatesOrganization of American StatesThe Organization of American States is a regional international organization, headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States...
to distribute financial aid to OAS member nations. - As many as 250 delegates to a conference of the AFL-CIO got food poisioning after eating dinner on board a train bound from Toledo to Washington.
April 9, 1959 (Thursday)
- The first seven Mercury astronauts were introduced at a press conference held by NASA in Washington. By rank, they were Lt. Col. John GlennJohn GlennJohn Herschel Glenn, Jr. is a former United States Marine Corps pilot, astronaut, and United States senator who was the first American to orbit the Earth and the third American in space. Glenn was a Marine Corps fighter pilot before joining NASA's Mercury program as a member of NASA's original...
, Lieutenant Commanders Wally SchirraWally SchirraWalter Marty Schirra, Jr. was an American test pilot, United States Navy officer, and one of the original Mercury 7 astronauts chosen for the Project Mercury, America's effort to put humans in space. He is the only person to fly in all of America's first three space programs...
and Alan ShepardAlan ShepardAlan Bartlett Shepard, Jr. was an American naval aviator, test pilot, flag officer, and NASA astronaut who in 1961 became the second person, and the first American, in space. This Mercury flight was designed to enter space, but not to achieve orbit...
, Air Force Captains Gordon CooperGordon CooperLeroy Gordon Cooper, Jr. , also known as Gordon Cooper, was an American aeronautical engineer, test pilot and NASA astronaut. Cooper was one of the seven original astronauts in Project Mercury, the first manned space effort by the United States...
, Gus GrissomGus GrissomVirgil Ivan Grissom , , better known as Gus Grissom, was one of the original NASA Project Mercury astronauts and a United States Air Force pilot...
and Deke SlaytonDeke SlaytonDonald Kent Slayton , better known as Deke Slayton, was an American World War II pilot and later, one of the original NASA Mercury Seven astronauts....
, and Navy Lt. Scott CarpenterScott CarpenterMalcolm Scott Carpenter is an American engineer, former test pilot, astronaut, and aquanaut. He is best known as one of the original seven astronauts selected for NASA's Project Mercury in April 1959....
. - Architect Frank Lloyd WrightFrank Lloyd WrightFrank Lloyd Wright was an American architect, interior designer, writer and educator, who designed more than 1,000 structures and completed 500 works. Wright believed in designing structures which were in harmony with humanity and its environment, a philosophy he called organic architecture...
died at in PhoenixPhoenix, ArizonaPhoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
, three days after intestinal surgery. - Comedian Lenny BruceLenny BruceLeonard Alfred Schneider , better known by the stage name Lenny Bruce, was a Jewish-American comedian, social critic and satirist...
made his national television debut, as a guest on The Steve Allen ShowThe Steve Allen ShowThe Steve Allen Show is an American variety show hosted by Steve Allen from June 1956 to June 1960 on NBC, from September 1961 to December 1961 on ABC, and in first-run syndication from 1962 to 1964....
http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/bruce/bruceaccount.html - The first hijackingAircraft hijackingAircraft hijacking is the unlawful seizure of an aircraft by an individual or a group. In most cases, the pilot is forced to fly according to the orders of the hijackers. Occasionally, however, the hijackers have flown the aircraft themselves, such as the September 11 attacks of 2001...
of an airliner to CubaCubaThe Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
took place after six Haitian rebels killed the pilot of a Coahata Airlines flight bound from Aux Cayes to Port-au-PrincePort-au-PrincePort-au-Prince is the capital and largest city of the Caribbean nation of Haiti. The city's population was 704,776 as of the 2003 census, and was officially estimated to have reached 897,859 in 2009....
, then flew the DC3 to Havana. - The Boston CelticsBoston CelticsThe Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
beat the Minneapolis Lakers 118–113 to sweep the four game NBA championship series, in the first of the Celtics-Lakers title matches. - Actor George ReevesGeorge ReevesGeorge Reeves was an American actor best known for his role as Superman in the 1950s television program Adventures of Superman....
, who portrayed Superman on television, was injured when the brakes failed on his Jaguar automobile, and he crashed into a light pole near his home in Beverly Hills. Reeves suffered regular headaches after the accident, and died from a gunshot wound on June 16.
April 10, 1959 (Friday)
- Japan's Crown PrinceCrown PrinceA crown prince or crown princess is the heir or heiress apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. The wife of a crown prince is also titled crown princess....
AkihitoAkihitois the current , the 125th emperor of his line according to Japan's traditional order of succession. He acceded to the throne in 1989.-Name:In Japan, the emperor is never referred to by his given name, but rather is referred to as "His Imperial Majesty the Emperor" which may be shortened to . In...
married Michiko Shoda in a 15-minute Shinto ceremony, at in Tokyo. After the wedding, Kensetsu Makayama, 19, tried to climb into the royal coach after throwing a rock at the couple. - A sniperSniperA sniper is a marksman who shoots targets from concealed positions or distances exceeding the capabilities of regular personnel. Snipers typically have specialized training and distinct high-precision rifles....
attempted to shoot Virginia Governor J. Lindsay Almond, Jr. outside the Executive Mansion in Richmond. The Governor was unhurt, and the would-be assassin was not found. - Thirty-four people, mostly children, were killed by a bomb left over from World War II. Fishermen had retrieved the 500 pound weapon from a sunken ship in the Lingayen GulfLingayen GulfThe Lingayen Gulf is an extension of the South China Sea on Luzon in the Philippines stretching . It is framed by the provinces of Pangasinan and La Union and sits between the Zambales Mountains and the Cordillera Central...
near Dagupan CityDagupan CityThe City of Dagupan is a 1st class city in the Philippines. It is an independent component city of the province of Pangasinan. According to the latest census, Dagupan City has a population of 149,554 people in 25,921 households. Located on Lingayen Gulf on the island of Luzon, Dagupan is the...
in the PhilippinesPhilippinesThe Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, and were taking apart the device while curious onlookers watched. - Born: Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, songwriter/musician; in IndianapolisIndianapolisIndianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
;-Brian SetzerBrian SetzerBrian Setzer is an American guitarist, singer and songwriter. He first found widespread success in the early 1980s with the 1950s-style rockabilly revival group The Stray Cats, and revitalized his career in the late 1990s with a jazz-oriented big band.-Career:Setzer was born in Massapequa, New York...
, rock musician (Stray Cats), in Massapequa, New YorkMassapequa, New YorkMassapequa is a hamlet located in the suburban Nassau County, New York. As of the 2010 census, the CDP had a total population of 21,685.Massapequa is located on the South Shore of Long Island.... - Died: Leonard ShockleyLeonard ShockleyLeonard Melvin Shockley was a juvenile executed in the United States for a murder committed when he was under the age of 18. Shockley, a black male, was executed in Maryland in the gas chamber for the murder of on January 16, 1958 when he was 16. Shockley was convicted of murdering a white woman...
, 17 or 18, became the last juvenile to be executed in the United States, dying in the gas chamber in MarylandMarylandMaryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
at . Shockley was the last person to be executed for a crime committed as a 16-year-old, until Sean SellersSean SellersSean Richard Sellers was an American murderer, one of 22 persons in the United States since the reinstatement of the death penalty in 1976 to be executed for a crime committed while under the age of 18. He was also the only person during this period to be executed for a crime committed under the...
, who was executed in Oklahoma on February 4, 1999, for a 1985 murder committed when he was 16.
April 11, 1959 (Saturday)
- William H. PickeringWilliam Hayward PickeringWilliam Hayward Pickering ONZ KBE was a New Zealand born rocket scientist who headed Pasadena, California's Jet Propulsion Laboratory for 22 years, retiring in 1976...
, Director of the Jet Propulsion LaboratoryJet Propulsion LaboratoryJet Propulsion Laboratory is a federally funded research and development center and NASA field center located in the San Gabriel Valley area of Los Angeles County, California, United States. The facility is headquartered in the city of Pasadena on the border of La Cañada Flintridge and Pasadena...
, announced America's plans for a manned lunar mission "within the next 5 to 10 years". Speaking to a group of Caltech alumni, Pickering said that the Nova rocketNova rocketNova was a series of proposed rocket designs, originally as NASA's first large launchers for missions similar to the production-level Saturn V, and later as larger follow-ons to the Saturn V intended for missions to Mars. The two series of designs were essentially separate, but shared their name...
, once perfected, would "be able to transport two or three men to the moon and return them to earth."
April 12, 1959 (Sunday)
- The body of former Haitian presidential candidate Clement Jumelle was hijacked from the funeral procession in Port-au-Prince. It has been speculated that Haitian dictator François DuvalierFrançois DuvalierFrançois Duvalier was the President of Haiti from 1957 until his death in 1971. Duvalier first won acclaim in fighting diseases, earning him the nickname "Papa Doc" . He opposed a military coup d'état in 1950, and was elected President in 1957 on a populist and black nationalist platform...
wanted to use the brain in a voodoo ceremony. http://www.fordi9.com/Pages/AffairClemJumelleHonoree.htm - The myth of the Chinese word for "crisis", perpetuated by Senator John F. Kennedy, who said "When written in Chinese, the word crisis is composed of two characters—one represents danger and the other represents opportunity." http://books.google.com/books?id=W6hMfnoJJSkC&pg=PA81&lpg=PA81&dq=%22on+April+12,+1959%22&source=bl&ots=5pS8NnzQpX&sig=-1KguNQ25lvTCXsr-6impccE8hw&hl=en&ei=GErJSZjXMKCstge4pMGkAw&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=7&ct=result
April 13, 1959 (Monday)
- The United States and Britain asked the Soviet Union to join in a moratoriumMoratorium (law)A moratorium is a delay or suspension of an activity or a law. In a legal context, it may refer to the temporary suspension of a law to allow a legal challenge to be carried out....
on above-ground nuclear weapons testing. - The United States launched the Discoverer II satellite from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California at . The capsule was successfully ejected, but lost after a timing error sent it to Norway rather than Hawaii.
- Dutch conductor Eduard van BeinumEduard van BeinumEduard van Beinum was a Dutch conductor.-Biography:Beinum was born in Arnhem, Netherlands, where he received his first violin and piano lessons at an early age. He joined the Arnhem Orchestra as a violinist in 1918. His grandfather was conductor of a military band...
died while rehearsing the Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam. - Singer Mario LanzaMario Lanzaright|thumb|[[MGM]] still, circa 1949Mario Lanza was an American tenor and Hollywood movie star of the late 1940s and the 1950s. The son of Italian emigrants, he began studying to be a professional singer at the age of 16....
gave his final concert, in KielKielKiel is the capital and most populous city in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein, with a population of 238,049 .Kiel is approximately north of Hamburg. Due to its geographic location in the north of Germany, the southeast of the Jutland peninsula, and the southwestern shore of the...
, West Germany. He would die on October 7 of the same year. http://www.sicilianculture.com/people/lanza.htm
April 14, 1959 (Tuesday)
- The Robert A. Taft MemorialRobert A. Taft MemorialThe Robert A. Taft Memorial and Carillon is a carillon dedicated as a memorial to U.S. Senator Robert A. Taft, son of President William Howard Taft....
, a carillonCarillonA carillon is a musical instrument that is typically housed in a free-standing bell tower, or the belfry of a church or other municipal building. The instrument consists of at least 23 cast bronze, cup-shaped bells, which are played serially to play a melody, or sounded together to play a chord...
with 27 bells, was dedicated in Washington. President Eisenhower and former president Hoover delivered remarks before a crowd of 5,000 people. http://www.gpoaccess.gov/congress/senate/notabledays/chap6.pdf - The Atlas D was launched from Cape CanaveralCape CanaveralCape Canaveral, from the Spanish Cabo Cañaveral, is a headland in Brevard County, Florida, United States, near the center of the state's Atlantic coast. Known as Cape Kennedy from 1963 to 1973, it lies east of Merritt Island, separated from it by the Banana River.It is part of a region known as the...
in its first test. With a range of 10,360 miles, the missile could travel further than any previously produced in the United States. The rocket exploded soon after launch, as did two other Atlas D launches, until succeeding on July 29, 1959. http://www.strategic-air-command.com/missiles/Atlas/Atlas_Missile_Performance.htm - The Grumman OV-1 Mohawk, built as the U.S. Army's reconnaissance airplane, made its first flight. http://www.airspacemag.com/military-aviation/mohawk.html
April 15, 1959 (Wednesday)
- U.S. Secretary of State John Foster DullesJohn Foster DullesJohn Foster Dulles served as U.S. Secretary of State under President Dwight D. Eisenhower from 1953 to 1959. He was a significant figure in the early Cold War era, advocating an aggressive stance against communism throughout the world...
resigned after the metastasizing of his abdominal cancer. Choking back tears, President Dwight D. EisenhowerDwight D. EisenhowerDwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
announced the news at a press conference in Augusta, GeorgiaAugusta, GeorgiaAugusta is a consolidated city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located along the Savannah River. As of the 2010 census, the Augusta–Richmond County population was 195,844 not counting the unconsolidated cities of Hephzibah and Blythe.Augusta is the principal city of the Augusta-Richmond County...
. - Hundreds turned out in Oklahoma CityOklahoma cityOklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma.Oklahoma City may also refer to:*Oklahoma City metropolitan area*Downtown Oklahoma City*Uptown Oklahoma City*Oklahoma City bombing*Oklahoma City National Memorial...
to wee whether Otis T. Carr would launch a flying saucer to fly 400 feet off the ground http://www.world-mysteries.com/doug_rr.htm. Carr rescheduled the launch several times, but it never took place. - Fidel CastroFidel CastroFidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
arrived in Washington for an 11 day tour of the United States http://miamiherald.typepad.com/cuban_colada/2008/04/anniversary-of.html - A Cuban airliner was hijacked to the United States by four men, who landed the plane at in Miami http://miamiherald.typepad.com/cuban_colada/2008/04/anniversary-of.html
- Born: Emma ThompsonEmma ThompsonEmma Thompson is a British actress, comedian and screenwriter. Her first major film role was in the 1989 romantic comedy The Tall Guy. In 1992, Thompson won multiple acting awards, including an Academy Award and a BAFTA Award for Best Actress, for her performance in the British drama Howards End...
, English actress, in PaddingtonPaddingtonPaddington is a district within the City of Westminster, in central London, England. Formerly a metropolitan borough, it was integrated with Westminster and Greater London in 1965...
April 16, 1959 (Thursday)
- Rioters at the Montana State PrisonMontana State PrisonThe Montana State Prison is a men's correctional facility of the Montana Department of Corrections in unincorporated Powell County, Montana, about west of Deer Lodge...
in Deer Lodge took 16 guards and 7 other people hostage. The disturbance broke out at 4:30. Two hostages were released the next day. - The first Thor missiles were deployed in Great Britain by the United States, under the command of Royal Air Force crews. The nuclear warheads on the missiles remained under American control. http://projectemily.com/Thor_Missile_in_the_UK.html
- At an altitude of 11,700 meters, an Air France flight from Paris to Dijon lost power 265 kilometers from its destination. The crew glided the plane the rest of the way. http://www.airfrancelasaga.com/spip.php?article104
- Voters in Harlem Heights, a neighborhood near Chicago, voted in a referendum to incorporate as the city of Palos Heights, IllinoisPalos Heights, IllinoisPalos Heights is a city in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 11,260 at the 2000 census, and estimated to be 12,561 in 2005.-Geography:Palos Heights is located at ....
. http://www.palosheights.org/visitors/aboutpalosheights.asp - "Judgment at Nuremberg" was telecast as a live television broadcast on Playhouse 90Playhouse 90Playhouse 90 is an American television anthology series that was telecast on CBS from 1956 to 1960 for a total of 133 episodes. It originated from CBS Television City in Los Angeles, California...
, and was then adapted to a 1961 film. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0055031/trivia
April 17, 1959 (Friday)
- Twenty-six people were killed in the crash of a Mexican C-46 airplane, enroute from MexicaliMexicaliMexicali is the capital of the State of Baja California, seat of the Municipality of Mexicali, and 2nd largest city in Baja California. The City of Mexicali has a population of 689,775, according to the 2010 census, while the population of the entire metropolitan area reaches 936,826.The city...
to Guayama. The Tigres Voladores Airlines plane exploded in midair as it made its approach to its destination. On board was Mexican film idol Pedro InfantePedro InfanteJosé Pedro Infante Cruz , better known as Pedro Infante, is the most famous actor and singer of the Golden Age of Mexican cinema and is an idol of the Latinamerican people, together with Jorge Negrete and Javier Solís, who were styled the Tres Gallos Mexicanos . He was born in Mazatlán, Sinaloa,...
. Infante's funeral would attract 110,000 fans. http://www.oppapers.com/essays/Honorable-Mexicans/60643 - Born: Sean BeanSean BeanShaun Mark "Sean" Bean is an English film and stage actor. Bean is best known for playing Boromir in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy and, previously, British Colonel Richard Sharpe in the ITV television series Sharpe...
, English actor (as Shaun Mark Bean), in Handsworth, South YorkshireHandsworth, South YorkshireHandsworth is a suburb of south eastern Sheffield, in South Yorkshire, England. Handsworth has a population of approximately 15,000. It covers an overall area of approximately...
April 18, 1959 (Saturday)
- The Montreal CanadiensMontreal CanadiensThe Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
beat the Toronto Maple LeafsToronto Maple LeafsThe Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
5–3 to win their fourth straight Stanley Cup, in the fifth game of the series. http://ourhistory.canadiens.com/greatest-moment/Stanley-Cup-No-11 - At 3:45 a.m., fifty members of the Montana National GuardMontana National GuardThe Montana National Guard consists of the:* Montana Army National Guard* Montana Air National Guard ** 120th Fighter Wing ** 219th RED HORSE Squadron When National Guard troops are called to federal service, the President serves as Commander-in-Chief...
stormed the Montana State Prison at Deer Lodge, rescued the 16 remaining hostages, and ended the prison revolt there after 36 hours. - The Corvette Stingray was introduced, racing at Marlboro Raceway and finishing in fourth place. http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z6401/Chevrolet-Corvette-Stingray-Racer.aspx
April 19, 1959 (Sunday)
- For the first time in Switzerland's history, a woman was allowed to cast a vote. Although the nation's male voters had rejected universal suffrage on February 1February 1960January – February – March. – April – May – June – July – August – September – October – November-DecemberThe following events occurred in February 1960.-February 1, 1960 :...
, the Swiss canton of VaudVaudVaud is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland and is located in Romandy, the French-speaking southwestern part of the country. The capital is Lausanne. The name of the Canton in Switzerland's other languages are Vaud in Italian , Waadt in German , and Vad in Romansh.-History:Along the lakes,...
approved female participation in local elections. Mrs. Ida Pidoux became the first woman to exercise the new right, casting a ballot for candidates of her choice in Oulens-sur-LucensOulens-sur-LucensOulens-sur-Lucens is a former municipality in the district of Broye-Vully in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland.On July 1, 2011 it was merged into Lucens.-Geography:...
. - Fidel CastroFidel CastroFidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
appeared on Meet the PressMeet the PressMeet the Press is a weekly American television news/interview program produced by NBC. It is the longest-running television series in American broadcasting history, despite bearing little resemblance to the original format of the program seen in its television debut on November 6, 1947. It has been...
and denied that Cuba would turn to communism. Later that day, the Cuban premier met with U.S. Vice-President Richard M. Nixon. - Died: Alfred Steele, Chairman of the Pepsi Cola Company and husband of Joan CrawfordJoan CrawfordJoan Crawford , born Lucille Fay LeSueur, was an American actress in film, television and theatre....
, died at age 57 in New York. Christina CrawfordChristina CrawfordChristina Crawford is an American writer and actress, best known as the author of Mommie Dearest, an exposé of alleged child abuse by her mother, actress Joan Crawford.-Early life and education:...
, in an updated version of Mommie DearestMommie DearestMommie Dearest is a memoir and exposé written by Christina Crawford, the adopted daughter of actress Joan Crawford. The book, which depicts Christina's childhood and her relationship with her mother, was published in 1978.-Christina Crawford's claims:...
, claimed that she believed that Steele was murdered by Crawford. - Born: Donald MarkwellDonald MarkwellFor the Montgomery, Alabama, talk radio personality, Don Markwell, see Don Markwell Professor Donald John 'Don' Markwell is an Australian social scientist and college president...
, Australian social scientist and educator, Warden of Rhodes HouseRhodes HouseRhodes House is part of the University of Oxford in England. It is located on the south of South Parks Road in central Oxford, and was built in memory of Cecil Rhodes, an alumnus of the university and a major benefactor.- History :...
, OxfordOxfordThe city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
April 20, 1959 (Monday)
- The Ilyushin IL-18Ilyushin Il-18The Ilyushin Il-18 is a large turboprop airliner that became one of the best known Soviet aircraft of its era as well as one of the most popular and durable, having first flown in 1957 and still in use over 50 years later. The Il-18 was one of the world's principal airliners for several decades...
was put into service by AeroflotAeroflotOJSC AeroflotRussian Airlines , commonly known as Aeroflot , is the flag carrier and largest airline of the Russian Federation, based on passengers carried per year...
. http://www.airliners.net/aircraft-data/stats.main?id=249 - Born: Clint HowardClint HowardClinton "Clint" Howard is an American film and television actor. He is a character actor with numerous brief appearances on television and films. He has played many bit parts in movies directed by his brother, actor-turned-director Ron Howard. He is also the uncle of actress Bryce Dallas Howard...
, American actor (as Clinton E. Howard), in Burbank, CaliforniaBurbank, CaliforniaBurbank is a city in Los Angeles County in Southern California, United States, north of downtown Los Angeles. The estimated population in 2010 was 103,340.... - Died: UFO author Morris K. JessupMorris K. JessupMorris Ketchum Jessup , had a Master of Science Degree in astronomy and, though employed for most of his life as an automobile-parts salesman and a photographer, is probably best remembered for his pioneering ufological writings and his role in "uncovering" the so-called "Philadelphia...
was found dead in his car from carbon monoxide poisoning, an apparent suicide, although some believe that he was murdered.
April 21, 1959 (Tuesday)
- Alfred Dean set a record by catching a 2,664 pound great white shark off the coast of Ceduna, South Australia. http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=2918347&type=story
- The tradition of a cannon firing at noon in Rome was started again after a 20-year hiatus. http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Europe/Italy/Lazio/Rome-144659/Off_the_Beaten_Path-Rome-BR-6.html
April 22, 1959 (Wednesday)
- In 1955, Florence HouteffVictor HouteffVictor Tasho Houteff was a religious reformer and author.Houteff was born in Raicovo, Bulgaria, and as a child baptised as a member of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. As a young man, he was engaged in the mercantile trade...
, whose husband Victor had founded the Branch DavidianBranch DavidianThe Branch Davidians are a Protestant sect that originated in 1955 from a schism in the Davidian Seventh Day Adventists , a reform movement that began within the Seventh-day Adventist Church around 1930...
sect in Waco, TexasWaco, TexasWaco is a city in and the county seat of McLennan County, Texas. Situated along the Brazos River and on the I-35 corridor, halfway between Dallas and Austin, it is the economic, cultural, and academic center of the 'Heart of Texas' region....
, had predicted that God would establish the Kingdom of Palestine on April 22, 1959. The prophecy failed, but the Davidians continued, dying in a fire at Waco in 1993. - The Untouchables premiered on CBS. http://www.edrobertson.com/the_untouchables.htm
- In a game between the Kansas City Athletics and the Chicago White SoxChicago White SoxThe Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
, the Sox scored 11 runs in the seventh inning on only one base hit, and went on to win 20–6. http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports_whatsgoinon/2006/04/index.html - Kurt Lehover filed for a patent on the p/n junction isolation. http://www.kurtlehovec.com/doc/aninventor/aninventor.html
- Norman Rosen filed a patent for the crib bumper. http://meshcribbumper.com/
- Born: Ryan StilesRyan StilesRyan Lee Stiles is an American actor, comedian, director, and voice actor whose work is often associated with improvisational comedy. He is best known for his improv and co-production work on the American and British versions of Whose Line Is It Anyway? and the role of Lewis Kiniski on The Drew...
, comedian, in Seattle
April 23, 1959 (Thursday)
- The press secretary for the President of Panama charged that American actor John WayneJohn WayneMarion Mitchell Morrison , better known by his stage name John Wayne, was an American film actor, director and producer. He epitomized rugged masculinity and became an enduring American icon. He is famous for his distinctive calm voice, walk, and height...
was financing an attempt by Roberto AriasRoberto AriasRoberto Emilio Arias , known as "Tito", was a Panamanian international lawyer, diplomat and journalist who was the husband of Dame Margot Fonteyn...
to overthrow the government there. Wayne dismissed the accusations as ridiculous, and noted, "Roberto never talked politics, and I never heard him say anything about overthrowing the Panamanian government."
April 24, 1959 (Friday)
- The bond graphBond graphA bond graph is a graphical representation of a physical dynamic system. It is similar to the better known block diagram and signal-flow graph, with the major difference that the arcs in bond graphs represent bi-directional exchange of physical energy, while those in block diagrams and signal-flow...
was invented, described as "one of the most effective and most elegant tools for modeling system dynamics". http://www.inf.ethz.ch/personal/fcellier/Pubs/BG/icbgm_95_gussn.pdf - 1935 Triple Crown winner Omaha died on a farm in Nebraska City, Nebraska. The horse is buried on the Ak-Sar-Ben Raceway grounds, but the location has been lost. http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/weekly-feature-articles/2005/September/03/Burial-site-of-Triple-Crown-winner-Omaha-shrouded-in-mystery.aspx
- Your Hit ParadeYour Hit ParadeYour Hit Parade, is an American radio and television music program that was broadcast from 1935 to 1955 on radio, and seen from 1950 to 1959 on television. It was sponsored by American Tobacco's Lucky Strike cigarettes. During this 24-year run, the show had 19 orchestra leaders and 52 singers or...
was broadcast for the last time. http://www.ams.org/notices/200801/tx080100018p.pdf - The 34 Shan StatesShan StatesThe Shan States were the princely states that ruled large areas of today's Burma , Yunnan Province in China, Laos and Thailand from the late 13th century until mid-20th century...
were merged into one region by the government of Burma (now MyanmarMyanmarBurma , officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar , is a country in Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the southwest, and the Andaman Sea on the south....
. http://www.ywam.no/shan/eng/i_historie.html
April 25, 1959 (Saturday)
- The St. Lawrence Seaway opened at . The icebreaker D'Iberville was at the front of 70 ships that would sail from the Atlantic Ocean to Lake Ontario, starting at Montreal. At the same time, 600 miles away in Ogdensburg, New York, 19 cargo ships began the journey from the other end of the seaway. The project had taken five years and cost $475,000,000 with a majority of the funding from Canada. The Seaway was dedicated on June 26, 1959.
- At the Nazareth, PennsylvaniaNazareth, PennsylvaniaNazareth is a borough in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The population was 6,023 at the 2000 census.Nazareth is located seven miles northwest of Easton, four miles north of Bethlehem and twelve miles northeast of Allentown...
, Motor Speedway, 19-year-old Mario AndrettiMario AndrettiMario Gabriele Andretti is a retired Italian American world champion racing driver, one of the most successful Americans in the history of the sport. He is one of only two drivers to win races in Formula One, IndyCar, World Sportscar Championship and NASCAR...
made his racing debut, winning a race in a 1948 Hudson. http://wardsautoworld.com/ar/auto_rearview_mirror_2/ - In Poplarville, MississippiPoplarville, MississippiPoplarville is a city in Pearl River County, Mississippi, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 2,601. It is the county seat of Pearl River County. It hosts an annual Blueberry Jubilee, which includes rides, craft vendors, and rodeos....
, a lynch mob kidnapped 23-year-old Mack Charles Parker from his jail cell. His body was found on May 4 in the Pearl River, where he was thrown after being tortured and killed. - A force of about 80 rebels invaded PanamaPanamaPanama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
from the Caribbean Sea in an attempt to overthrow the government there. Although Cuban dictator Fidel CastroFidel CastroFidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
denounced the attack along with other OAS members, it was believed that he had sponsored the attack.
April 26, 1959 (Sunday)
- Reds pitcher Willard SchmidtWillard SchmidtWillard Raymond Schmidt was an American professional baseball player, a pitcher who played in Major League Baseball between 1952 and 1959. Listed at , , Schmidt batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Hays, Kansas....
was the first major league baseball player to be hit by a pitch twice in the same inning in a game against the Milwaukee Braves, once by Lew Burdette and once by Bob Rush. Later, he was struck by a line drive hit by Johnny Logan. Only two other players have repeated the result, Frank Thomas of the Mets in 1962, and Brady Anderson in 1999 http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/al/scoreboards/1999/05/23/recap.BAL-TEX.html - Born: John CorabiJohn CorabiJohn Corabi is a heavy metal singer and guitarist who has worked with such bands as Angora, The Scream, Mötley Crüe, Union and ESP , Ratt , Twenty 4 Seven , Zen Lunatic, Brides of Destruction, and Angel City Outlaws John Corabi (born on April 26, 1959 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is a heavy...
, heavy metal guitarist (Mötley CrüeMötley CrüeMötley Crüe is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1981. The group was founded by bass guitarist Nikki Sixx and drummer Tommy Lee, who were later joined by lead guitarist Mick Mars and lead singer Vince Neil...
), in Philadelphia
April 27, 1959 (Monday)
- Liu Shao-chi was named as the new President of the People's Republic of ChinaPresident of the People's Republic of ChinaThe President of the People's Republic of China is a ceremonial office and a part of State organs under the National People's Congress and it is the head of state of the People's Republic of China . The office was created by the 1982 Constitution...
, as Mao Tse-tung gave up the ceremonial post to concentrate on the job of First Secretary of the Communist Party. - At 7:00 a.m. Eastern time, NBC's national broadcasts were shut down by a walkout of engineering personnel. The dispute arose over the planned airing of a Today show segment that had been recorded without union personnel. Programming resumed three hours later.
- Philibert TsirananaPhilibert TsirananaPhilibert Tsiranana was a Malagasy politician and leader, who served as the first President of Madagascar from 1959 to 1972....
was elected the first president of the Malagasy Republic on the island of MadagascarMadagascarThe Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
. http://www.eisa.org.za/WEP/madoverview3a.htm - The radio program One Man's Family was broadcast for the last time, after 27 years on NBC radio http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0193-11173_ITM
- Born: Sheena EastonSheena EastonSheena Easton is a Scottish recording artist. Easton became famous for being the focus of an episode in the British television programme The Big Time, which recorded her attempts to gain a record contract and her eventual signing with EMI Records.Easton rose to fame in the early 1980s with the pop...
, Scottish-born pop singer (as Sheena Shirley Orr), in Bellshill, North Lanarkshire
April 28, 1959 (Tuesday)
- Former President Harry Truman told students at Columbia University that he had made the decision to drop nuclear weapons on Hiroshima and on Nagasaki because an invasion would have cost millions of lives.
- Casa de las AmericasCasa de las AméricasCasa de las Américas is an organization that was founded by the Cuban Government in April 1959, four months after the Cuban Revolution, for the purpose of developing and extending the socio-cultural relations with the countries of Latin America, the Caribbean and the rest of the world...
was founded in Cuba by order of Fidel Castro http://www.juventudrebelde.co.cu/culture/2009-02-03/preparations-for-havana-casa-literary-prizes-in-full-swing/ - The Vatican announced that Roman Catholics worldwide would receive dispensation to eat meat on Friday during the May Day holiday.
- The U.S. Senate confirmed Clare Boothe LuceClare Boothe LuceClare Boothe Luce was an American playwright, editor, journalist, ambassador, socialite and U.S. Congresswoman, representing the state of Connecticut.-Early life:...
as ambassador to Brazil by 79–11 vote, in spite of efforts by Senator Wayne MorseWayne MorseWayne Lyman Morse was a politician and attorney from Oregon, United States, known for his proclivity for opposing his parties' leadership, and specifically for his opposition to the Vietnam War on constitutional grounds....
to block the nomination. In thanking the Senate, Mrs. Luce then caused an uproar when she said in a statement, "My difficulties, of course, go some years back and began when Senator Wayne Morse was kicked in the head by a horse", referring to a 1951 accident in which the Senator's jaw had been broken, and calls were made for her resignation. Ambassador Luce quit on May 1. During the debate, Senator Everett DirksenEverett DirksenEverett McKinley Dirksen was an American politician of the Republican Party. He represented Illinois in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate...
made a memorable gaffe in defending Mrs. Luce, saying "Why thresh old straws or beat an old bag of bones?"
April 29, 1959 (Wednesday)
- The Las Vegas Convention CenterLas Vegas Convention CenterThe Las Vegas Convention Center is owned and operated by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority in Las Vegas, Nevada....
opened. http://www.hotel-online.com/News/PR2006_1st/Feb06_LVConvCenter.html - The fraternity Phi Kappa ThetaPhi Kappa ThetaPhi Kappa Theta is a national social fraternity with over 50 chapters and colonies at universities across the United States. "Phi Kaps", as they are commonly referred to colloquially, are known for diversity among their brothers and a dedication to service.-History:Phi Kappa Theta was established...
was created by the merger of Phi KappaPhi Kappa ThetaPhi Kappa Theta is a national social fraternity with over 50 chapters and colonies at universities across the United States. "Phi Kaps", as they are commonly referred to colloquially, are known for diversity among their brothers and a dedication to service.-History:Phi Kappa Theta was established...
and Theta Kappa Phi. http://phikappatheta-lewis.tripod.com/id7.html
April 30, 1959 (Thursday)
- Félix Houphouët-BoignyFélix Houphouët-BoignyFélix Houphouët-Boigny , affectionately called Papa Houphouët or Le Vieux, was the first President of Côte d'Ivoire. Originally a village chief, he worked as a doctor, an administrator of a plantation, and a union leader, before being elected to the French Parliament and serving in a number of...
was inaugurated as the first African Prime Minister of Côte d'IvoireCôte d'IvoireThe Republic of Côte d'Ivoire or Ivory Coast is a country in West Africa. It has an area of , and borders the countries Liberia, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana; its southern boundary is along the Gulf of Guinea. The country's population was 15,366,672 in 1998 and was estimated to be...
(the Ivory Coast) - The Convair B-36 Peacemaker, in operation since 1946, was flown for the last time. http://thoughtcrimewave.blogspot.com/2008/06/graveyard-of-aluminum-overcast.html
- The Lockheed ElectraLockheed L-188 ElectraThe Lockheed Model 188 Electra is an American turboprop airliner built by Lockheed. First flying in 1957, it was the first large turboprop airliner produced in the United States. Initial sales were good, but after two fatal crashes which prompted an expensive modification program to fix a design...
made its first flight, tested for delivery to Western AirlinesWestern AirlinesWestern Airlines was a large airline based in California, with operations throughout the Western United States, and hubs at Los Angeles International Airport, Salt Lake City International Airport, and the former Stapleton International Airport in Denver...
. http://1000aircraftphotos.com/Postcards/809.htm - Born: Stephen HarperStephen HarperStephen Joseph Harper is the 22nd and current Prime Minister of Canada and leader of the Conservative Party. Harper became prime minister when his party formed a minority government after the 2006 federal election...
, 22nd Prime Minister of CanadaPrime Minister of CanadaThe Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
, (2006–present), in TorontoTorontoToronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...