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Daily Bread for 10.22.15

Good morning, Whitewater.

Whitewater’s Thursday will be mild and sunny, with a high of sixty-four. Sunrise is 7:17 and sunset is 8:01, for 10h 43m 44s of daytime. The moon is a waxing gibbous with 68% of its visible disk illuminated.

Whitewater’s Community Development Authority meets today at 5 PM.

On this day in 1962, following the American discovery of nuclear-armed missiles in Cuba, Pres. Kennedy addressed the nation about the crisis:

1022_bigWashington, Oct. 22–President Kennedy imposed a naval and air “quarantine” tonight on the shipment of offensive military equipment to Cuba.

In a speech of extraordinary gravity, he told the American people that the Soviet Union, contrary to promises, was building offensive missiles and bomber bases in Cuba. He said the bases could handle missiles carrying nuclear warheads up to 2,000 miles.

Thus a critical moment in the cold war was at hand tonight. The President had decided on a direct confrontation with–and challenge to–the power of the Soviet Union.

Direct Thrust at Soviet

Two aspects of the speech were notable. One was its direct thrust at the Soviet Union as the party responsible for the crisis. Mr. Kennedy treated Cuba and the Government of Premier Fidel Castro as a mere pawn in Moscow’s hands and drew the issue as one with the Soviet Government.

The President, in language of unusual bluntness, accused the Soviet leaders of deliberately “false statements about their intentions in Cuba.”

The other aspect of the speech particularly noted by observers here was its flat commitment by the United States to act alone against the missile threat in Cuba.

Nation Ready to Act

The President made it clear that this country would not stop short of military action to end what he called a “clandestine, reckless and provocative threat to world peace.”

Mr. Kennedy said the United States was asking for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council to consider a resolution for “dismantling and withdrawal of all offensive weapons in Cuba.”

He said the launching of a nuclear missile from Cuba against any nation in the Western Hemisphere would be regarded as an attack by the Soviet Union against the United States. It would be met, he said, by retaliation against the Soviet Union.

On this day in 1938, Dick Post of Footville had a productive day, to be followed by yet another such day:

1938 – Footville Man Wins Husking Title
On this date Dick Post of Footville won his sixth county title by husking a record 24.5 bushels of corn in 80 minutes. Two days later, he husked 1,868 pounds in 80 minutes to win the state championship. Post finished fourth in the nationals at Sioux Falls, S.D. [Source: Janesville Gazette October 22, 1938, p.4]

A Google a Day asks a sports question:

An NFL game was given the nickname “Ghost to the Post”, as a result of two memorable plays by a great receiver and blocker who played college ball at what university?

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