Important Events From This day in History December 2

  

1969 U.S.A. - - Boeing 747

The Boeing 747 ( Often Known as Jumbo Jet ) a long-haul, wide body commercial airliner receives its FAA airworthiness certificate paving the way for its introduction into commercial service in 1970.

1942 U.S.A. - - First Nuclear Demonstration

A self sustaining nuclear chain reaction was demonstrated for the first time at a racquet court below the bleachers of Stagg Field at the University of Chicago.

1939 U.S.A. - - LaGuardia Airport

New York's LaGuardia Airport (dedicated as New York Municipal Airport) located on the waterfront of Flushing Bay is opened and from the beginning proved popular with major US Airlines including Pan American Airways, American. United, Eastern Air Lines and Transcontinental & Western Air.

1907 Canada - - Immigrant Workers

Toronto faced a throng of immigrant workers who faced poverty and starvation unless employment could be found for them. The worst off were 300 people from Bulgaria who were in danger of perishing in a matter of days. Advertisements had brought a large group of immigrants over from Europe to work on railways and in construction, but they were laid off until spring.

1927 Hawaii - - Sacred Stone Pilgrimage

Near Honolulu the faithful have been making pilgrimages to a sacred stone called the Wahiawa, which natives claim has healing powers. The site has attracted crowds of sick people and on the previous Sunday 1,200 visitors came to the site. Twenty miles out of Honolulu, the holy monolith is devotedly hung with garlands and it is rumored that bad luck follows those who scoff.

1930 U.S.A. - - Unemployment

President Herbert Hoover goes before Congress to make a plea for a $150 million public works program to work on various construction projects and help to put America back to work.

1932 Germany - - Economy

Germany's economy had not rallied despite the government's cut backs and 20 million Germans were at the point of starvation. Begging was common place, there was nation-wide unemployment, and industries were failing.

1943 U.S.A. - - Food Rationing

In early 1943 rationing of food was to take place starting with meat and then including canned foods. Each household was limited to 48 points in a ration book. Rationing had been in effect in England for a year before it took place in America.

1947 Palestine - - Jerusalem Riots

Following the vote by the United nations to create two states, one Jewish and one Arab in Palestine (1947 UN Partition Plan), riots break out in Jerusalem when the Arab Higher Committee declare a three-day strike and public protest against the United nations ruling.

1954 U.S.A. - - Sen. Joseph R. McCarthy

The US Senate votes to condemn Sen. Joseph R. McCarthy, R Wis., for "conduct that tends to bring the Senate into dishonor and disrepute."

1954 Cuba - - Cuban Revolution

The yacht Granma arrives on the shores of Cuba after travelling from Mexico where Fidel Castro, Che Guevara and 80 other members of the Cuban Revolution movement disembark to begin the Cuban Revolution.

1957 Japan - - US Restrictions On Imports

Aiichiro Fujiyama, foreign minister of Japan, strenuously protested American restrictions on Japanese exports to the United States. He asserted that Japan was the biggest importer of American goods and limiting Japan's exports was "a matter of life or death" for his country.

1959 France - - Dam Collapses

The Malpasset Dam in France collapses resulting in a flood that devastates Frejus and leaves over 400 dead.

1961 Cuba - - Fidel Castro

On a national radio broadcast in Cuba Fidel Castro declares that he was a Marxist-Leninist and that Cuba was to adopt Communism.

1964 U.S.A. - - Student Protesters

Students storm the administration building (Sproul Hall) on the campus of the University of California, Berkeley which protesters took over in a massive sit-in as part of the Free Speech Movement (FSM).

1967 U.K. - - Foot and Mouth

The rate of slaughter for animals affected by the Foot and mouth disease continues to increase with 134,000 animals slaughtered in the latest epidemic of foot-and-mouth disease.

1967 Egypt - - Israeli Planes Shot Down

Egyptian anti-aircraft armaments shot down two Israeli planes near Suez City. This was the first skirmish between Egypt and Israel since Israel demolished Egypt's oil refineries.

1970 U.S.A. - - Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed by President Richard Nixon to protect human health and with safeguarding the natural environment: air, water, and land begins operation. Among other things they do are to provide and monitor the EPA fuel economy test manufacturers use to advertise the gas mileage of their vehicles.

1971 United Arab Emirates - - UAE Formed

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is formed as a federation from the seven emirates of Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah, and Umm al-Quwain becoming one united country, which has evolved into a modern, high-income nation.

1974 England - - Birmingham Pub Bombing

Suspected IRA Terrorists plant bombs in two central Birmingham pubs, killing 19 people and injuring over 180.

1976 Cuba - - Fidel Castro

Fidel Castro becomes the President of Cuba who is the chief executive of the Council of State of Cuba.

1979 Pakistan - - US Embassy

A mob in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, has burned the US Embassy to the ground, killing a US marine.

1982 U.S.A. - - First Artificial Heart

Doctors at the University of Utah Medical Center performed the first implant of a permanent artificial heart in Barney Clark the artificial heart used was designed by Robert Jarvik The Jarvik-7. Barney Clark lived 112 days with the device.

1985 Switzerland - - US / USSR Meeting

After a meeting in Geneva, Switzerland United States President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev end of their two-day meeting in Switzerland announcing the Geneva Accord, which commits the two countries to speeding up arms talks, working towards the abolition of chemical weapons and a new commitment to human rights.

1988 Soviet Union - - School Bus Hijack

A bus full of school children and teachers was hijacked in southern Russia. The two armed men demanded to have an airplane at their disposal. It wasn't clear what the men were armed with, however, to protect the children Russian officials gave them an Ilyushin-76 to fly to Israel in.