On this day

May 20, 1949

Revisit the news, notable people, and historical moments connected to this date.

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Headlines from May 20, 1949

U. S. Rests Case in Red Trial; Judge Limits Dismiss Moves; U. S. RESTS ITS CASE IN COMMUNISTTRIAL

By Russell Porter

Hidalgo cross-examined; corroborates previous testimony; Govt rests case; Medina denies moves for mistrial; heeds defense argument quoting recent US Sup Ct decision in Rev Terminiello case and agrees to hear argument on motion for acquittal on ground Govt presented no proof of 'clear and present danger'; agrees to hear ltd arguments on defense motions to throw Govt case out; denies motion for delay to prepare motions; defendants and attys protest

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Soviet Opens Road 5 Hours For 200 Berlin Food Trucks; Blockades Autobahn Again and Rejects West View That Pact Permits Highway Use -- Situation Confused -- 3 Powers Protest SOVIET OPENS ROAD TO BERLIN 5 HOURS

By Sydney Grusonspecial To the New York Times

BERLIN, May 19 -- The Russians reopened the Autobahn between Berlin and the West to German truck traffic for five hours tonight. But they also reaffirmed their determination to bar this traffic from using the broad highway to supply this city, spiking hopes of a speedy accord on the implementation of the agreement that ended the eleven-month blockade.

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ACHESON PLEDGES U. S. WILL BE FIRM AT BIG 4 SESSIONS; He Bars Any Retreat on Moves to Revive Free World -- Leaves for Paris Today GERMAN PICTURE BETTER But End of Blockade 'Is Not in Itself Solution,' Senate Group Told by Secretary ACHESON PLEDGES U. S. WILL BE FIRM

By William S. Whitespecial To the New York Times

Acheson pledges firm stand; outlines principles to Sen Foreign Relations Com; backed by Sen Connally; holds Western position better than at earlier council meetings; he and J F Dulles see Pres Truman

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PECORA PROPOSED AS TAMMANY CHIEF; Justice Awaits a Formal Bid as O'Dwyer, Fair Dealers and Liberals Push Rogers Ouster PECORA PROPOSED AS TAMMANY CHIEF

By Warren Moscow

pressure for Rogers and Mancuso ousting grows; Justice Pecora reptd approached to take leadership; he denies rept; comment on Rogers uncertainty; younger leaders seen backing S Moses, H Brickman and C G deSapio for reform adm to break F Costello power; Liberal party and Fair Deal Dems conf with O'Dwyer; need to press for change in leaders election stressed

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Notable Births

Robert Morin

1949Robert Morin, Canadian director, cinematographer, and screenwriter[†]

Robert Morin is a Canadian film director, screenwriter, and cinematographer. In 2009, he received the Governor General's Award in Visual and Media Arts.

1949Michèle Roberts, English author and poet[†]

Michèle Brigitte Roberts FRSL is a British writer, novelist and poet. She is the daughter of a French Catholic teacher mother and English Protestant father, and has dual UK–France nationality.

Dave Thomas (actor)

1949Dave Thomas, Canadian actor, director, producer, and screenwriter[†]

David William Thomas is a Canadian actor, comedian and television writer, known for being one half of the duo Bob and Doug McKenzie with Rick Moranis. He appeared as Doug McKenzie on SCTV, for which he won a Primetime Emmy Award out of two nominations, and in the film Strange Brew (1983), which he also co-directed. As a duo, they made two albums, The Great White North and Strange Brew, the former gaining them a Grammy Award nomination and a Juno Award.

Notable Deaths

Damaskinos of Athens

1949Damaskinos of Athens, Greek archbishop and politician, 137th Prime Minister of Greece (born 1891)[†]

Archbishop Damaskinos Papandreou, born Dimitrios Papandreou, was the archbishop of Athens and All Greece from 1941 until his death in 1949. He was also the regent of Greece between the pull-out of the German occupation force in 1944 and the return of King George II to Greece in 1946. His rule was between the liberation of Greece from the Axis occupation of Greece during World War II and the Greek Civil War.

Historical Events

National Security Agency

1949In the United States, the Armed Forces Security Agency, the predecessor to the National Security Agency, is established.[†]

The National Security Agency (NSA) is an intelligence agency of the United States Department of Defense, under the authority of the director of national intelligence (DNI). The NSA is responsible for global monitoring, collection, and processing of information and data for global intelligence and counterintelligence purposes, specializing in a discipline known as signals intelligence (SIGINT). The NSA is also tasked with the protection of U.S. communications networks and information systems. The NSA relies on a variety of measures to accomplish its mission, the majority of which are clandestine. The NSA has roughly 32,000 employees.