On This Day: October 10
Today's History Show Notes - Episode 7
1957: HoJo Says No, Eisenhower Apologizes
In today’s installment of “there is nothing new under the sun,” in 1957, US President Eisenhower had to apologize to the newly appointed finance minister of Ghana, Komla Agbeli Gbdemah, after he was refused service in a Delaware restaurant. From Politico in 2018:
“A waitress at a Howard Johnson‘s restaurant in Dover, Del., on this day in 1957 refused to seat Komla Agbeli Gbedemah, the finance minister of the newly formed nation of Ghana in sub-Saharan Africa. After reporters learned of the incident, President Dwight Eisenhower apologized to Gbedemah and invited him to breakfast at the White House.
“An appalled and embarrassed president said: ‘I believe the United States as a government, if it is going to be true to its founding documents, does have the job of working hard toward that time when there is no discrimination made on such [an] inconsequential reason as race, color, or religion.’”
Also on this day, in 1874 Fiji became a “British Possession,” and then on the same day 96 years later in 1970 Fiji gained their independence from Britain. Today is a national holiday in Fiji. In a statement Monday, the US State Department wrote:
“On behalf of the United States of America, I want to congratulate the people of Fiji as you celebrate 53 years of independence on October 10… The United States is committed to friendship and partnership with Fiji for many years to come. I wish the people of Fiji health, happiness, and prosperity on this important day.”
Today was also a big day for communists and their useful idiots. Reportedly, in 1959 Lee Harvey Oswald signed a Helsinki hotel guestbook on this day, and in 1976 Beijing reported that they arrested Mao Zedong's widow. And in 1991, the US cut all foreign aid to Haiti following the ouster of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.
Hey, there’s precedent to cut all foreign aid? More of that, please!
1871: The Great Chicago Fire is Finally Extinguished
After three days, $222M in damages, 300 dead, and 100,000 homeless, the Great Chicago Fire was finally extinguished on this day in 1871. Check out this summary from History Unleashed on YouTube.
1973: US Vice President Spiro Agnew Resigns
After 65 days of denying the allegations, Agnew finally admitted that some of the tax fraud allegations against him were true, and he resigned in disgrace on this day in 1973. The scandal made President Nixon more vulnerable, proving to his political opponents that the Executive Branch was not beyond the reach of prosecution. From UPI:
“The Agnew affair has dimensions beyond a personal tragedy. It appears likely to weaken further, beyond Watergate, the people's faith in their leaders and their government and to cripple President Nixon even more in his own recurring struggle to regain control of events.”
Further weakening faith in government was probably the fact that he, “He resigned the vice presidency, pleaded ‘no contest’ to a single count of tax evasion, and accepted three years probation and a $10,000 fine.”
Another ridiculous moment in governance on this day: Ben Bernanke was awarded the Nobel Prize for Economics in 2022, along with Douglas Diamond and Philip Dybvig, for “discoveries which improved how society deals with financial crises.” Super glad we have those discoveries, right?
1977: Aerosmith's Steve Tyler And Joe Perry Injured By A Cherry Bomb
Remember that time a fan threw a cherry bomb on stage at an Aerosmith concert? I don’t, I wasn’t born yet, but that happened on this day in 1978. From Ultimate Classic Rock:
“We were going back up on the stage to do the encore,” guitarist Brad Whitford later told Goldmine. “I was going up the stairs right behind [singer] Steven [Tyler] and [guitarist] Joe [Perry], and I felt the concussion of the cherry bomb going off. Steven immediately covered his face and there was blood shooting up out of Joe’s arm, literally. So pretty quickly we got ourselves to the emergency room.”
1978: Steve Perry Joins Journey
This day was big for Steve Tyler and Joe Perry, and it was also big for Steve Perry as he joined Journey on this day in 1978. In April, Journey celebrated 50 years as a band. According to Fox News:
“Journey recently celebrated 50 years since the band first formed. The band's most well-remembered lead singer, Steve Perry, was spotted on a walk in Los Angeles earlier this month. The 74-year-old was the frontman and prominent songwriter for the band for 10 years alongside Neal Schon, Gregg Rolie, Ross Valory, Jonathan Cain, Aynsley Dunbar and Steve Smith.”
Check out this fun Journey bit by Leanne Morgan Comedy.
Other moments in music on this day include the recording of the Jesus Christ Superstar Soundtrack in 1969 and the release of Springsteen’s eighth studio album “Tunnel of Love” in 1987.
Around 100 years before “Tunnel of Love” in 1886, the first tuxedo jacket was worn to the Autumn Ball at Tuxedo Park, NY. Entertainment sure changes over the century, no?
Other Notables:
1802: First Non-Indigenous Settlement in Oklahoma
1854: US Assay Office in NYC, New York opens
1911: Robert Borden becomes the 8th Prime Minister of Canada
1980: "Private Benjamin" Is Released
1983: True Life Drama "Adam"
Death & Destruction
1863: 166 Die In The Skirmish At Blue Springs, Tennessee
1780: 20,000-30,000 Die In Great Hurricane Of 1780 – Atlantic's Deadliest Hurricane
1888: 64 Die When A Teetotalers Excursion Train Crashed In Pennsylvania
1892: Entire Hong Kong National Cricket Team Dies In Shipwreck Off Taiwan
1913: 136 Killed When British Passenger Ship Volturno Catches Fire In Atlantic
1943: 151 Die When Us Bombers Accidentally Strike Enschede, Netherlands
1960: 4,000 Die When Cyclone Hits Coast Of Gulf Of Bengal
1972: 3 Members Of The Irish Republican Army Die In A Premature Explosion
1980: 4,500 Die When A Pair Of Earthquakes Strikes Nw Algeria
1991: 4 Post workers killed by Ex-postal worker Joseph Harris
1993: 120 killed when Ferry boat leaves for west coast of South Korea
2015: 95 killed, 200 injured during bombing at a peace rally in Ankara, Turkey
2018: 10 killed in flash flooding in Majorca, Spain
2018: 42 ultimately die during Hurricane Michael which made landfall in Florida
Birthdays
1900: Helen Hayes (Actress)
1954: David Lee Roth (Musician)
1967: Gavin Newsom (Politician)
1969: Brett Favre (NFL Quarterback)
1973: Mario Lopez (Actor)
Death Days
1939: Eleanor Rigby (A Real Person)
1985: Orson Welles (Actor)
1985: Yul Brynner (Actor)
2004: Christopher Reeve (Actor)
On This Day is published Monday through Friday. Watch the Today’s History podcast weekdays at 12PM ET! Don’t forget to visit bootlegproducts.com and use coupon code ASHE1776!
Youve done it again :) great read. Very informative....