On this day

October 21, 1955

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

Historical Context for October 21, 1955

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

Notable Births

1955Dick DeVos, American businessman^[†]

Richard Marvin DeVos Jr. is an American businessman, author, and former politician. The son of Amway co-founder Richard DeVos, he was CEO of the multi-level marketing company from 1993 to 2002. In 2006, DeVos ran for Governor of Michigan but lost to the then-incumbent Democrat Jennifer Granholm. In 2012, Forbes magazine listed his father as the No. 351 richest person in the world, with a net worth of approximately US$5.4 billion. DeVos is the husband of Betsy DeVos, the former United States Secretary of Education in the first Trump administration.

1955Catherine Hardwicke, American film director, producer, and screenwriter^[†]

Catherine Hardwicke is an American film director, production designer, and screenwriter. Her directorial work includes Thirteen (2003), which she co-wrote with Nikki Reed, the film's co-star, Lords of Dogtown (2005), The Nativity Story (2006), Twilight (2008), Red Riding Hood (2011), Plush (2013), Miss You Already (2015), Miss Bala (2019), Prisoner's Daughter (2022), and Mafia Mamma (2023).

1955Fred Hersch, American pianist and composer^[†]

Fred Hersch is an American jazz pianist, composer, and a 17-time Grammy nominée. He was the first person to play weeklong engagements as a solo pianist at the Village Vanguard in New York City. He has recorded more than 75 of his jazz compositions.

1955Rich Mullins, American singer-songwriter (died 1997)^[†]

Richard Wayne Mullins was an American contemporary Christian music singer and songwriter best known for his worship songs "Awesome God" and "Sometimes by Step". Some of his albums were listed by CCM Magazine in their ranking of the 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music, including A Liturgy, a Legacy, & a Ragamuffin Band (1993) at No. 3, The World As Best As I Remember It, Volume One (1991) at No. 7, and Winds of Heaven, Stuff of Earth (1988) at No. 31. His songs have been performed by numerous artists, including Caedmon's Call, Five Iron Frenzy, Amy Grant, Carolyn Arends, Jars of Clay, Michael W. Smith, John Tesh, Chris Rice, Rebecca St. James, Hillsong United and Third Day. During the tribute to Rich Mullins' life at the 1998 GMA Dove Awards, Amy Grant described him as "the uneasy conscience of Christian music."

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Headlines from October 21, 1955

Times Sq. Shuttle Keeps Trains; Belt Plan Dropped as Too Costly; TIMES SQ. SHUTTLE WON'T GET A BELT

By Stanley Levey

NYCTA drops conveyor belt plan; holds cost chief factor; will modernize present facilities instead, take some load off shuttle by opening new tunnel linking Queens IND and BMT, increasing services there via 60th St funnel; map

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U. S. READY TO AID 2 ARAB PROJECTS; Officials Say It Would Finance Major Part of Nile Dam and Jordan Program U. S. Ready to Finance Parts Of Nile and Jordan Projects

By Dana Adams Schmidtspecial To the New York Times

Washington diplomats rept US ready to help finance major part of unified development program; project cost put at $200 million

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M'ARTHUR ASSERTS DOCUMENTS PROVE HIS YALTA STAND; Says Pentagon Papers Show He Was Not Consulted on Soviet Role in Pacific M'ARTHUR INSISTS STAND IS PROVED

By Milton Bracker

MacArthur says documents show he was never consulted about Yalta, statement released through aide; denies they bear out charge he supported concessions to get USSR intervention; Lincoln repts to contrary noted

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Swedish Chemist Wins Nobel Prize; Hugo Theorell, Polio Victim, Is Medical Laureate for 1955 SWEDISH CHEMIST WINS NOBEL PRIZE

By the Associated Press

Dr Theorell gets Nobel Prize for research on oxidation enzymes

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Lehman Backs Stevenson; Blow to Harriman Is Seen; LEHMAN BACKS STEVENSON ANEW

By Leo Egan

Lehman supports Stevenson after confs with Harriman, DeSapio and Wagner, NYC; text; move seen setback for Harriman; Stevenson says he is not trying to split NY delegation; hails Lehman backing; move seen putting him in open conflict with DeSapio and Prendergast; Los Angeles Mirror-News poll of leading Calif Dems shows Stevenson got 82%, Kefauver 9%, Harriman 4%; 50% see Stevenson-Kefauver primary race, 11% see Stevenson-Kefauver-Harriman contest; Sen George sees Dem victory; sees Stevenson top contender; backs no one

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RUMANIAN TELLS OF JAILED MATES; Tatarescu, Former Premier, Says Maniu Died in 1952 and Others Were Freed RUMANIAN TELLS OF JAILED MATES

By Jack Raymondspecial To the New York Times

pre-war Premier Tatarescu repts on his imprisonment, '50, in Transylvania, int; says he was questioned for over a yr on pol beliefs, freed last July; confirms Peasant party leader J Maniu died, '52, while under detention; thinks former Liberal party leader D Bratianu died, '50; repts M Popovici, Prof Nistor, V Sassu and V Pop released recently; Govt official repts Mme Pauker in Bucharest

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Russians at City Hall See a 'Melting Pot'; RED WRITERS GET MAYOR'S MESSAGE

By Charles G. Bennett

Portraits and Illustrations

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PRESIDENT TO SEE BROWNELL TODAY; POLITICS BARRED; White House Says Discussion Will Concern 'Justice Department-Matters' LEGISLATION ALSO TOPIC Attorney General May Raise the Issue of Unpaid U. S. Business Advisers PRESIDENT TO SEE BROWNELL TODAY

By Russell Bakerspecial To the New York Times

to conf with Brownell; speculation on whether Pres discussed pol with bro Milton; C J Roberts visits; 1st soc visitor outside family; more soc visits planned; Pres paints

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NEW HAVEN ROAD OPEN FOR FREIGHT; Bottleneck Caused by Flood Is Broken -- Explosives in Drums Washed Into Sound NEW HAVEN ROAD OPEN FOR FREIGHT

By Charles Grutzner

Greenwich and Danbury, Conn, organize coms to press for projects

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U.N. Completes 2 Councils; Security Body Vote Put Off; U.N. Fills Seats on Two Councils; Security Unit Fight Off a Week

By Lindesay Parrottspecial To the New York Times

meeting

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DULLES RECEIVES CONGRESS BACKING ON GENEVA PLANS; Top Leaders of Both Parties Fully Endorse His Program After Briefing Session MANY DUBIOUS ON TALKS George Says Conferees May Not Get Beyond 1st Item of Germany and Security DULLES RECEIVES CONGRESS BACKING

By William M. Blairspecial To the New York Times

Sen George doubts Geneva conf will get beyond reunification issue, int after briefing by Dulles

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U. S. Sending Planes To Fetch 3 Senators; U. S. PLANES GOING FOR 3 SENATORS

By Anthony Levierospecial To the New York Times

Defense Dept says it sends 2 USAF transports to Eur to bring back to US Sens McClellan, Stennis and Chavez and their wives at $20,000 cost; 1 plane leaves empty for Madrid; 2d to leave for Paris Oct 31; USAF hopes to get load for latter; Dept says it must furnish planes under new law providing that cost of Congressmen's trips abroad for investigatory purposes must be borne by Dept being investigated; says it must furnish special planes because Sens could not await regular transportation; Asst Sec Ross comments; cites law; cost of 1st-class airline trip for all would be $2,585.60; Sens assts comment; McClellan and Chavez, in Naples, deny asking special planes

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