Jan. 1, 1949 to Dec. 31, 1989

Doris Day enters the public spotlight

Jan 27, 1939

[en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doris_Day](http://<a href='http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doris_Day)' >Doris Day enters the public spotlight</a> with the films My Dream Is Yours and It's a Great Feeling as well as popular songs like "It's Magic"; divorces her second husband.

Joe DiMaggio

May 14, 1941

[en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_DiMaggio](http://<a href='http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_DiMaggio)' >Joe DiMaggio </a>and the New York Yankees go to the World Series five times in the 1940s, winning four of them.

Harry Truman is inaugurated as U.S. president

Apr 12, 1945

[en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_S._Truman](http://<a href='http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_S._Truman)' >Harry Truman is inaugurated as U.S. president</a> after being elected in 1948 to his own term; previously he was sworn in following the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt. He authorized the use of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan during World War II, on August 6 and August 9, 1945, respectively.

South Pacific

Apr 7, 1949

South Pacific, the prize-winning musical, opens on Broadway on April 7.

Chinese Civil War

Oct 1, 1949

Red China as the Communist Party of China wins the [en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People's_Republic_of_China](http://<a href='http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People's_Republic_of_China)' >Chinese Civil War</a>, establishing the People's Republic of China.

North Korea and South Korea

Jun 25, 1950

[en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_War](http://<a href='http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_War)' >North Korea and South Korea</a> declare war after Northern forces stream south on June 25.

Johnnie Ray

Jun 18, 1951

[en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnnie_Ray](http://<a href='http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnnie_Ray)' >Johnnie Ray</a> signs his first recording contract with Okeh Records, although he would not become popular for another two years.

Joe McCarthy

May 2, 1957

[en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_McCarthy](http://<a href='http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_McCarthy)' >Joe McCarthy</a>, the US Senator, gains national attention and begins his anti-communist crusade with his Lincoln Day speech.

Richard Nixon

Jan 2, 1969

[en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Nixon](http://<a href='http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Nixon)' >Richard Nixon</a> is first elected to the United States Senate

Walter Winchell

Feb 20, 1972

[en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Winchell](http://<a href='http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Winchell)' >Walter Winchell</a> is an aggressive radio and newspaper journalist credited with inventing the gossip column.