Events from We Didn't Start the Fire

10 events from We Didn't Start The Fire

Period: Jan 1, 1949 to Dec 31, 1989

Harry S. Truman

Aug 29, 1949

With information provided by its espionage networks in the United States, the Soviet Union's atomic bomb project progressed much faster than had been expected and they exploded their first bomb on August 29, 1949.

Marlon Brando

Jan 1, 1951

Although he did not cooperate with the Hollywood publicity machine, he went on to play Kowalski in the 1951 film version of A Streetcar Named Desire, a popular and critical success that earned four Academy Awards.

Santayana goodbye

Sep 26, 1952

George Santayana, philosopher, essayist, poet, and novelist, died at age 88.

Joseph Stalin

Mar 5, 1953

Joseph Stalin dies, yielding his position as leader of the Soviet Union

James Dean

Sep 30, 1955

James Dean achieves success with East of Eden and Rebel Without a Cause, gets nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor, and dies in a car accident on September 30 at the age of 24

Nikita Khrushchev

Feb 23, 1956

Nikita Khrushchev makes his famous Secret Speech denouncing Stalin's "cult of personality".

Buddy Holly

Feb 3, 1959

Buddy Holly dies in a plane crash with Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper, in a day that had a devastating impact on the country and youth culture.

John Glenn

Feb 20, 1962

John Glenn, flew the first American manned orbital mission termed "Friendship 7".

Menachem Begin

Jan 1, 1977

Menachem Begin becomes Prime Minister of Israel in 1977 and negotiates the Camp David Accords with Egypt's president in 1978.

Sally Ride

Jan 1, 1983

Sally Ride becomes the first American woman in space. Dr. Ride's quip from space "Better than an E-ticket", harkens back to the opening of Disneyland mentioned earlier, with the E-ticket purchase needed for the best rides.