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Sunday, January 21, 2007

January 19, 1961: SAC Bombers Fly Around-The-Clock

"The Strategic Air Command began flying some of its heavy bombers on an around-the-clock basis today in the second stage of a plan to make possible as airborne alert. In such an alert, a certain number of nuclear-armed bombers wold be constantly in the air, ready to retaliate in the event of an attack," the New York Times reports. "Heretofore, the Strategic Air Command headquarters at Offut Air Base, near Omaaha, Beb., has been conducting 'feasibility studies' at various bases.... President Eisenhower referred to the plan in his Budget Message, in which he stressed the threat of a ballistic missile attack."

"Gov. S. Ernest Vandiver urged tonight a retreat from Georgia's policy of massive resistance to public school desegregation rulings of the Federal courts. The Governor asked the Legislature to adopt a package plan that would allow communities to decide whether to close their schools or obey the courts," the New York Times reports.

"Adlai E. Stevenson told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee today that the United States would have to face the possibility of Communist China's admission into the United Nations. He denied that he ehad ever advocated Peiping's entrance into the international body, but he said that it might be 'impossible to prevent," the New York Times reports.

January 17: US Restricts Travel To Cuba, Soviets Warn US is Broadening Conflict in Laos

"The United States announced today limitations on the travel of Americans to Cuba," the New York Times reported on this day in 1960. "The State Department said that United States citizens desiring to travel to Cuba must until further notice, obtain passports 'specifically endorsed by the Department of State for such travel.'"

"The Soviet Union told the United States today that it was risking a broadening of the conflict in Laos by bolstering the Government's forces with military aircraft. The warning was contained in a protest against the United States' transfer of four AT6 military training planes to the Vietiane Government," the Times reports.

"The Algerian nationalist Provisional Government announced today its readiness 'to begin negotiations with the French Government on conditions of a free consultation of the Algerian people.' 'Free consultation' was taken to mean a referendum to determine Algeria's political future," the Times reports.

"Two Negroes attended classes without incident today at the University of Georgia. Their re-entry marked the second day of desegregation in the state's public education system," the Times reports.

"The Eisenhower Administration has authorized the Navy to install Polaris ballistic missiles aboard the nuclear-powered cruiser Long Beach. This would be the first installation of the Navy's prize nuclear weapon aboard a surface warship," the Times reports. "Informants say the Long Beach will carry eight Polarises, compared with normal complements of sixteen on submarines, for which the weapon was originally designed.

January 18, 1961: Eisenhower Farewell Warning, US 'Uneasy' Over Congo, Laos Wants French Out

"President Eisenhower cautioned the nation in a farewell address from the White House tonight to be vigilant against dangers to its liberties implicit in a vast military establishment and a permanent armaments industry unparalleled in peacetime," the New York Times reports.

"The United States is becoming increasingly uneasy over the trend in the Congo and the performance of the United Nations there," the Times reports. "It seems certain that the Kennedy Administration which assumes its responsibilities Friday, will be told by its political and military advisers that it must act quickly to redress a bad situation."

"The Laotian Government of Premier Boun Oum has demanded that some French advisers be withdrawn from the country," the Times reports. ... "The Laotian-French dispute has complicated the already complex situation in Laos and has contributed to the inability of the Allied powers to arrive at a unified stand, diplomats acknowledge. ... withdrawal of the French would imperil the existence of the small United States Military Advisory Group in Laos. This group, it was said, is in Laos only uner agreement with the French, ostensibly to instruct the Laotian Army in the use of arms and equipment supplied by the United States."