On this day

January 20, 1955

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

Historical Context for January 20, 1955

In 1955, the world population was approximately 2,740,213,792 people^[†]

Notable Births

1955McKeeva Bush, Caymanian politician, Premier of the Cayman Islands^[†]

William McKeeva Bush, is a Caymanian politician, former Speaker of the Parliament of the Cayman Islands and former Premier of the Cayman Islands. Bush, the former leader of the Cayman Democratic Party, served as the elected member for the constituency of West Bay West from 1984 to 2025. He was the territory's longest ever serving political figure with service spanning over 40 years, previously serving his tenth term in the Parliament of the Cayman Islands. In the 2025 general election, his continuous 40 year career was toppled after being unseated by newcomer Julie Hunter, who ran with the Cayman Islands National Party.

Notable Deaths

1955Robert P. T. Coffin, American author and poet (born 1892)^[†]

Robert Peter Tristram Coffin was an American poet, educator, writer, editor and literary critic. Awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1936, he was the poetry editor for Yankee magazine.

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Headlines from January 20, 1955

President's News Conference Filmed for TV and Newsreels for First Time; PRESS CONFERENCE ON TV FIRST TIME

By Special to The New York Times

conf filmed; films ed by White House; substantial parts released for pub showing; experiment goes off well; illus

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CHINA OPPONENTS TRADE AIR BLOWS; 200 Red Planes Hit Tachens -- Nationalists Strike Back in Raids on Shipping Chinese Communists Attack the Tachen Islands Red Chinese Batter Tachen Isles In One of Heaviest Aerial Blows

By Henry R. Liebermanspecial To the New York Times

200 Communist planes raid Tachens; fighting reptdly continues on Yikiang; Nationalist planes attack coastal shipping; Upper Tachen fortifications noted; illus; map

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CHINA TRUCE PLAN WELCOMED IN U. N.; Delegates of Britain and New Zealand Back Eisenhower Idea on Formosa Strait CHINA TRUCE PLAN WELCOMED IN U. N.

By Thomas J. Hamiltonspecial To the New York Times

Sir P Dixon (GB) and Sir L K Munro (NZ) welcome Eisenhower suggestion that UN seek truce; reptdly have studied placing issue before Security Council; India reptdly would back truce only as part of final solution to be arranged by conf between US and Communists; speculation

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Somoza Says Costa Ricans Violated Border in F-51's; BORDER VIOLATED, SOMOZA CHARGES

By the Associated Press

Illus

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JUMP IN STATE TAX IN 1955 PREDICTED; Democratic Chief Cites Three Possibilities for Meeting Additional Expenditures JUMP IN STATE TAX IN 1955 PREDICTED

By Leo Eganspecial To the New York Times

Assemblyman Bannigan repts Harriman surveys sentiment for legalizing off-track betting; Gov's office denies survey; says Gov is seeking views of several persons

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Organizer for I. L. A. Is Slain Gang-Style; DOCK UNION AIDE SLAIN GANG-STYLE

By A. H. Raskin

Smith, W C: found slain in auto, Bklyn

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BESIEGED CONVICTS OPEN NEGOTIATIONS; 'Some Progress' Reported at Boston Prison -- Tank on Scene -- Hostages Fed BESIEGED CONVICTS NAME GRIEVANCES

By John H. Fentonspecial To the New York Times

dr and chaplains optimistic; supposed ringleader T Green visited by daughter; convicts allow hostages to be fed; army tank stationed outside prison; Warden J O'Brien refuses to allow tank inside prison; favors waiting policy; illus

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Congress to Survey U.S. Atomic Industry; CONGRESS SLATES AN ATOM INQUIRY

By Special to The New York Times

com to hold hearings on status of indus development; AEC to rept on many phases of gen program; Act requires hearings during 1st 60 days of each Cong session

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RISE IN POLICE SET FOR MORNINGSIDE IN FIGHT ON CRIME; 24th Precinct Is to Get 118 Additions, Bringing Total to 300 in Next 6 Weeks 'OPERATION 25' WIDENED The Area, Embracing 400,000 Persons, Is Called Second Worst Problem Spot RISE IN POLICE SET FOR MORNINGSIDE

By Peter Kihss

shifts made to enlarge 24th Pct, Morningside area

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PRESIDENT FAVORS U. N. TRUCE EFFORT ON FORMOSA ISSUE; Cease-Fire in Disputed Strait Between Two Chinas Worth Trying For, He Says DULLES ASKS RESTRAINT Gives Hammarskjold Pledge of Support After Hearing Report on Jailed Fliers President Favors Effort by U. N. To Win Truce on Formosa Issue

By Elie Abelspecial To the New York Times

Dulles and Hammarskjold conf, Washington; Lodge, Bokhari, Asst Sec Robertson attend; Hammarskjold stresses restraint; Dulles says Eisenhower, despite strong sentiment in favor of direct action, wants UN to handle issue; says US will refrain from direct action that might embarrass UN; Eisenhower says Hammarskjold deserves chance to win fliers release, news conf; conf with Knowland; differs with Knowland stand; urges patience; Hammarskjold leaves Washington

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EISENHOWER ACTS TO AVERT CONFLICT IN 'RISK' DECISIONS; Orders Special Justice Unit to Resolve Contradictions as in Ladejinsky Case Eisenhower Acts to Bar Conflict In Decisions on Security Cases

By W. H. Lawrencespecial To the New York Times

Eisenhower announces steps to avoid similar controversy, news conf; rejects newsman's statement that Benson gave him '1-sided' rept; voices confidence in Benson and Stassen; comments on Cain statement

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Mrs. Moss Restored To a Job by Wilson; WILSON RESTORES MRS. MOSS TO A JOB

By Anthony Levierospecial To the New York Times

Sec Wilson restores Mrs Moss to Army job but transfers her from Pentagon; says record does not show subversion or disloyalty but notes derogatory data before '46; rev; Stevens comment

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