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My Day in History Page April 30th |
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1789 The first presidential inauguration
In New York City, George Washington, the great military leader of the American Revolution, is inaugurated as the first president of the United States. In February 1789, all 69 presidential electors unanimously chose Washington to be the first U.S. president. In March, the new U.S. constitution officially took effect, and in April Congress formally sent word to Washington that he had won the presidency. He borrowed money to pay off his debts in Virginia and traveled to New York. On April 30, he came across the Hudson River in a specially built and decorated barge. The inaugural ceremony was performed on the balcony of Federal Hall on Wall Street, and a large crowd cheered after he took the oath of office. The president then retired indoors to read Congress his inaugural address, a quiet speech in which he spoke of "the experiment entrusted to the hands of the American people." The evening celebration was opened and closed by 13 skyrockets and 13 cannons. As president, Washington sought to unite the nation and protect the interests of the new republic at home and abroad. Of his presidency, he said, "I walk on untrodden ground. There is scarcely any part of my conduct which may not hereafter be drawn in precedent." He successfully implemented executive authority, made good use of brilliant politicians such as Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson in his cabinet, and quieted fears of presidential tyranny. In 1792, he was unanimously re-elected but four years later refused a third term. In 1797, he finally began a long-awaited retirement at his estate in Virginia. He died two years later. His friend Henry Lee provided a famous eulogy for the father of the United States: "First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen."
1939 New York World's Fair opens On April 30, 1939, the New York World's Fair opens in New York City. The opening ceremony, which featured speeches by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and New York Governor Herbert Lehman, ushered in the first day of television broadcasting in New York. Spanning 1,200 acres at Flushing Meadow Park in Queens, the fairground was marked by two imposing structures--the "Perisphere" and the "Trylon"--and exhibited new such technology as FM radio, robotics, fluorescent lighting, and a crude fax machine. Norman Bel Geddes designed a Futurama ride for General Motors, and users were transported through an idealized city of the future. Sixty-three nations participated in the fair, which enjoyed large crowds before the outbreak of World War II interrupted many of its scheduled events. Birthday Board: April 30
1898 - Cornelius Vanderbilt (reporter, columnist, author, lecturer; great, great grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt, railroad tycoon) 1912 - Eve Arden (Eunice Quedens) (Emmy Award-winning actress: Our Miss Brooks [1953], Anatomy of a Murder, Grease, Stage Door, Tea for Two) 1914 - Vermont Royster (writer) 1916 - Robert Shaw (conductor: Robert Shaw Chorale; music director of Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus) 1923 - Percy Heath (jazz musician: bass: founder of Modern Jazz Quartet; group: The Heath Brothers) 1930 - Cloris Leachman (Academy Award-winning actress: The Last Picture Show [1971]; Emmy Award-winner: A Brand New Life [1972-73], The Mary Tyler Moore Show [1973-74], Cher [1974-75], Screen Actor's Guild 50th Anniversary Celebration [1983-84]; Phyllis, Backstairs at the Whitehouse, The Facts of Life) 1933 - Willie Nelson (singer: On the Road Again, Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain, Always On My Mind, Good Hearted Woman (with Waylon Jennings), To All the Girls I've Loved Before (with Julio Iglesias); Grammy Living Legend Award [1989]; songwriter: Crazy, Hello Walls; actor: The Electric Horseman, Honeysuckle Rose, Barbarosa; led Farm Aid benefit since its inception) 1938 - Gary Collins (actor: Born Free, The Iron Horse, Roots, The Sixth Sense, The Wackiest Ship in the Army) 1941 - Johnny Farina (musician: rhythm guitar: group: Santo & Johnny: Sleepwalk, Tear Drop) 1943 - Bobby Vee (Velline) (singer: Devil or Angel, Rubber Ball, Take Good Care of My Baby, Run to Him, The Night Has a Thousand Eyes, Come Back when You Grow Up) 1944 - Jill Clayburgh (actress: An Unmarried Woman, Luna, Portnoy's Complaint, Semi-Tough, The Silver Streak, Terminal Man, Firestorm: 72 Hours in Oakland, Honor Thy Father and Mother) 1944 - Richard Schoff (singer: group: The Sandpipers: Guantanamera, Come Saturday Morning) 1946 - Don Schollander (Olympic Hall of Famer: 1st swimmer to win 4 gold medals in one Olympics [1964], also won two gold in 1968; International Swimming Hall of Famer: set 8 world records in the 400-meter freestyle and 9 in the 200-meter in his career; Sullivan Award (U.S. outstanding athlete [1964]) 1948 - Perry King (actor: A Cry in the Night, Kaleidoscope, The Lord's of Flatbush, Mandingo, Search and Destroy, Switch) Chart Toppers: April 30
1959 (Now and Then There's) A Fool Such as I - Elvis Presley Sorry (I Ran all the Way Home) - The Impalas Tijuana Jail - The Kingston Trio 1968 Cry like a Baby - The Box Tops Tighten Up - Archie Bell and The Drells The Legend of Bonnie and Clyde - Merle Haggard and The Strangers 1977 Don't Give Up on Us - David Soul Don't Leave Me this Way - Thelma Houston She's Pulling Me Back Again - Mickey Gilley 1986 Addicted to Love - Robert Palmer Manic Monday - Bangles Now and Forever (You and Me) - Anne Murray
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