Headline History

It was the eruption of gang warfare in Chicago and the date was Feb. 14, 1929, the "St. Valentine's Day Massacre."  Chicago's underworld was now in open war and booze was at the center of the heated dispute. The U.S.A was also going through a debate on immigration reform. In this edition of Headline History, host Dan Lovallo reviews both of these hot button issues.

In 1977, much like today, the United States was going through a presidential transition, as President Ford was about to hand the reigns of power over to Jimmy Carter. On Jan. 1, 1977, President Ford said he would ask Congress to admit Puerto Rico to the USA as the nation's 51st state. Much like today, the USA was in debate over to eliminate the Electoral College. And Frank Sinatra did a kind thing for a small radio station owner.  Those stories and more are covered on this edition of Headline History.

In the United States, Sunday, Dec. 7, 1941, began calmly.  By mid-afternoon in the continental U.S., and early morning in Hawaii, the world had changed forever.  Japan had attacked the United States, assaulting Pearl Harbor with an air and sea attack. This episode is the final installment of the series covering the days leading up to and the day of Pearl Harbor. 

As the first Saturday in December rolled around, Great Britain declared war on Finland, Hungary and Romania, but the big story was still the "secret military plan" of the Roosevelt administration.  Meanwhile, President Roosevelt's Secretary of War, Henry L. Stimson, questioned the loyalty and patriotism of the newspaper, which first leaked the story of the military blueprint.  It was The Chicago Tribune that first reported the story. Dec. 6, 1941 would be the last full day the United States would be at "peace."

Two days before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, and the U.S. was in an uproar,  but it was not over stalled negotiations between Japan and the United States.   From Congress to every street corner, Americans were reacting to a Chicago Tribune story that President Roosevelt had his staff put together a grandiose military plan that would include the addition of 10 million troops.  Many, who believed that FDR had promised that he would not lead the country into war, felt the president had now gone back on that promise. The story had the nation a buzz, wondering if war was in the U.S. future.

As war tensions grow in the United States, three days before the attack on Pearl Harbor, newspapers run with the story that the Roosevelt administration plans a massive military buildup of more than 10 million troops.  Although some attention will be played toward Asia, the main focus will be the European theater, where the U.S. hopes to lead an Allied invasion by July 1, 1943.  

As our countdown to Pearl Harbor continues, talks between the United States and Japan had reached a stalemate.  However, the world had learned that an attempted revolt in Italy, to topple dictator Benito Mussolini, had almost succeeded.  Interestingly, the effort occurred in February of 1940 but had only come to light four days before Pearl Harbor. Meanwhile, tensions heightened in the United States, as it became inevitable the nation was on the verge of entering World War II. 

Talks between the U.S. and Japanese envoys all but broke down on Dec. 2, 1941.  The turn of events, seemingly placed the country on a path toward entering World War II.   In this edition of Headline History, we examine the latest news stories that seemed to heighten the notion that the United States was once again on a collision course with war. 

As we approach the 75th anniversary of Pearl Harbor, what were the days' news stories preceding the "date which will live in infamy"?   This is the first of daily episodes leading up to and following the attack, examining news stories that showed a United States of America on edge.

As Americans sat down to Thanksgiving dinner in 1967, the USA was being torn apart by war.  Increasingly, war protests from New York City to Washington, DC turned public opinion in many sectors against a conflict in a far off land. With that as a backdrop, the U.S. was able to celebrate a victory on Thanksgiving, as Americans captured Hill 875, in one of the fiercest battles ever fought by U.S. troops. This edition of Headline History is the story of that battle and other news from Nov. 23, 1967.

Nov. 16, 1941, the Sunday before Thanksgiving.  As it turned out, this would be the last Thanksgiving the United States would experience, before entering World War II.   Three weeks later, the world would change forever. In this latest episode of Headline History, I detail the stories making news on that weekend.  Although the scent of war was in the air, we were still an innocent nation, thinking about a conflict in a far off land.  That would all change in short order.     

It was the day after the day Sen. John F. Kennedy edged out Vice President Richard Nixon to become the 35th President of the United States. Scanning the headlines, one is reminded of how reminiscent some of the stories are of the 2016 presidential election.  

It was a speech that launched a career that would culminate with in the Presidency of the United States. On Oct. 27, 1964, actor Ronald Reagan gave a speech on behalf of Republican Party presidential nominee Barry Goldwater, the U.S. Senator from Arizona.  Goldwater would get swamped in the general election one week later, but the speech by Reagan, "A Time for Choosing," launched a star-studded political career. 

In July of 1903 the world was focused on the Vatican, where Pope Leo XIII was clinging to life.  For two weeks, as reporters hovered outside St. Peter's Basilica, the Pope rallied, failed, rallied and failed.   This episode of Headline History is the story of a Pope who had a will to live and the media that reported the story. 

June 1940, the month that changed the world.  When the month started, Paris and France were still intact.  By month's end, Paris and France were under Nazi control and Adolf Hitler was at the peak of his power.   In the United States, the nation debated whether to enter the conflict.  It was also a presidential election year, and one major party would nominate a candidate who had never run for elective office, a businessman-Democrat-turned Republican.   This episode is the story of the month that changed the world.

Headline History host Dan Lovallo details the events of April 12, 1945, the day President Franklin D. Roosevelt died, ending the longest tenure of any United State president.

April 4, 1968 would be a turning point in American history.  It was the last day of Civil Rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s life.  Dr. King would die at the hands of an assassin's bullet by nightfall, and a nation, already divided, plunged into despair. Headline History host Dan Lovallo examines the events of that day, beginning with President Lyndon B. Johnson, who started his day in New York City at a joyous occasion, and ended it, pleading with the nation to be calm.  On this fateful day figures, who would play a central part in this strife-torn year, would all emerge in news stories.  One in particular, gave a speech that still resonates today. 

On the eve of the 50th Super Bowl between the Carolina Panthers and the Denver Broncos, host Dan Lovallo remembers the first Super Bowl.  The pregame hype before the Green Bay Packers-Kansas City Chiefs game was much different than the hype preceding this contest. 

On January 3, 1960, the news was filled with John F. Kennedy's announcement that he would seek the Democratic Party nomination for President of the United States.  Not to be outdone, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, about the enter the final year of his presidency, was shown hard at work on the upcoming budget and his State of the Union address.   The space race was on, with the Soviets boasting about their progress but also admitting the U.S.A. was making significant gains too.   And psychoanalysis was the rage even in 1960, as a medical report weighed in on how the conclusion of the holiday season was a relief to many.   Host Dan Lovallo delves into this and more on Headline History. 

What was Christmas 1944 like in the United States?  A war weary nation seemingly had victory within its grasp, until Nazi Germany mounted one last counter-offensive. Host Dan Lovallo relives those dramatic days, leading up to Dec. 25, 1944.