October 23: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

October 23, 2022 Brooklyn Eagle History

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ON THIS DAY IN 1942, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “Pro-Dewey defections in the ranks of the Democrats tend to indicate the Brooklyn vote in the election for governor on Nov. 3 may come close to a ‘toss-up,’ John R. Crews, Kings County Republican leader, asserted today. Even if President Roosevelt comes out with another and stronger endorsement than his original declaration in favor of John J. Bennett Jr., the Democratic candidate against Thomas E. Dewey, the final outcome is not likely to be appreciably influenced, Crews declared.

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ON THIS DAY IN 1949, the Eagle reported, “Sixteen American and Canadian jet fighter planes successfully defended New York against an attempted mock atomic bomb attack yesterday, ‘shooting down’ 12 B-26 bombers twice each before the big ships gave up and returned to their base. Not one of the Royal Canadian Air Force, New York State Guard or New Jersey State Guard fighter planes was ‘damaged’ by the ‘enemy’ force, authorities in charge of ‘Operation Metropolis’ reported. The practice maneuver was considered more of a test of the cooperation between American and Canadian forces than on atomic bomb defenses, but officials representing both countries were pleased that the attacking bombers didn’t get within striking distance of the nation’s biggest city.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1960, the Eagle reported, “Sen. Jack Kennedy returns this week to pivotal Brooklyn in an attempt to clinch enough votes in the borough to swing New York State over to his column in the Electoral College. He will make six speeches here in strategic spots. Riding high, after what Brooklyn Democrats called a ‘tremendous visit,’ the presidential contender from Massachusetts will deliver an address at the Eastern Parkway Arena Thursday night. Kennedy spoke to an estimated 30,000 persons on a quick swing through Brooklyn. Several times during the ride through the borough’s streets, he was almost pulled from the rear of his open convertible by well-wishers. In a new development, President Eisenhower announced yesterday that he and Vice President Nixon would make major campaign speeches in New York Nov. 2. Nixon had previously canceled his single scheduled appearance in the boro. Kennedy, campaigning yesterday through Missouri and Kansas, called on Nixon to abide by Eisenhower’s code of ‘face to face’ settlement of differences by agreeing to a fifth ‘Great Debate.’ Vice President Nixon, on a campaign swing in Eastern Pennsylvania, broadened his attack on Kennedy on the Cuban issue.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1962, the Eagle reported, “WASHINGTON (UPI) — President Kennedy last night clamped a Naval blockade on Cuba because Soviet intermediate range missiles and other arms had turned the island into an armed camp capable of hurling destruction into the heart of America. The blockade on shipment of offensive weapons to the Fidel Castro regime was part of a seven-step program ordered by the president to meet the ‘threat to hemispheric security’ posed by the Soviet arms buildup. The president said the Naval blockade would not deny Cubans the civilian necessities of life. The buildup, the president said in a nationwide radio and television report to the people, now includes medium range ballistic missiles capable of firing nuclear warheads for more than 1,000 miles … The United States, the president said, was asking for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council where this country will introduce a resolution calling for prompt dismantling and withdrawal of all offensive weapons in Cuba under U.N. supervision. The president said the offensive weapons would have to be removed before the quarantine could be lifted. He called on Soviet Premier Nikita S. Khrushchev ‘to halt and eliminate this clandestine, reckless and provocative threat to world peace and to stable relations between our two nations.’”

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NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include World Golf Hall of Famer Chi-Chi Rodriguez, who was born in 1935; “The Right Stuff” director Philip Kaufman, who was born in 1936; National Soccer Hall of Famer Pele, who was born in 1940; Oscar-winning filmmaker Ang Lee, who was born in1954; jazz singer Dianne Reeves, who was born in 1956; country singer Dwight Yoakam, who was born in 1956; “The Evil Dead” director Sam Raimi, who was born in 1959; “Eat It” singer “Weird Al” Yankovic, who was born in 1959; former NFL quarterback Doug Flutie, who was born in 1962; former N.Y. Mets pitcher Al Leiter, who was born in 1965; TV personality Cat Deeley, who was born in 1976; “Deadpool” star Ryan Reynolds, who was born in 1976; TV personality Meghan McCain, who was born in 1984; and “Game of Thrones” star Emilia Clarke, who was born in 1986.

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A TOAST TO THE HOST: Johnny Carson was born on this day in 1925. The Iowa native worked for various radio and TV shows before he was named the permanent host of “The Tonight Show” in 1962 after the resignation of Jack Parr. He remained on the air for more than 30 years and, along with sidekick Ed McMahon and bandleader Doc Severinsen, basically invented the TV talk show format as we know it today. He died in 2005.

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HUNGARY FOR FREEDOM: Hungary declared independence on this day in 1989, 33 years after Russian troops crushed a popular revolt against Soviet rule. The announcement followed a weeklong purge by parliament of the Stalinist elements from Hungary’s 1949 constitution, which defined the country as a socialist people’s republic. Free elections in March 1990 relegated the Communist Party to the ranks of the opposition for the first time in four decades.

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Special thanks to “Chase’s Calendar of Events” and Brooklyn Public Library.

Quotable:

“New York is an exciting town where something is happening all the time, most unsolved.”

— talk show host Johnny Carson, who was born on this day in 1925