Category Archives: Politics

September 30, 1886: ‘An Orgie Such as Even the Most Salacious Pen of Ancient Rome Never Dared Describe’

Posted on September 30, 2026 by lmharnisch

Sept. 30, 1886: The Times describes an all-night “orgie” in the apartments over Eckert’s saloon involving Walter S. Moore, running for secretary of state, three other men and “four common prostitutes.” By morning, Moore was trying to rouse the waiter to get a photographer ‘for an obscene purpose.’ Continue reading →

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September 28, 1938: Los Angeles Mayor Begins City Hall Cleanup

Posted on September 28, 2026 by lmharnisch

September 28, 1938: Mayor Fletcher Bowron begins a cleanup of City Hall, asking for the resignations of 117 members of 22 city commissions. Germany issues a new ultimatum on Czechoslovakia, King George VI places Britain under a state of emergency, and Hank Greenberg hits his 57th home run. Continue reading →

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April 21, 1908: Dispute Over Black and White Children Playing Together Turns Deadly

Posted on April 21, 2026 by lmharnisch

April 21, 1908: In Memphis, a quarrel between women over Black and white children playing together leads to a fight and then a shooting. And a crackdown on sending birth control information through the mail. Continue reading →

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April 1, 1938: Herbert Hoover on the Rise of Fascism in Europe

Posted on April 1, 2026 by lmharnisch

April 1, 1938: Herbert Hoover on the the status of Europe: “The Fascist form of government is today a raging power. Its acts are being rationalized into a philosophy. It has now embraced a sort of mysticism based on theories of racialism and nationalism. It is becoming a militant ideology. It does not hold within its original boundaries.” Continue reading →

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March 19, 1990: Barack Obama, Harvard Law Review editor

Posted on March 19, 2026 by lmharnisch

March 19, 1990: Meet Barack Obama, first Black president of the Harvard Law Review. Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Current Affairs, Politics | 2 Comments

Feb. 26, 1938: ‘Snow White’ Inspires ‘Dopey’ Dance

Posted on February 26, 2026 by lmharnisch

February 26, 1938: ‘Snow White’ inspires the ballroom craze: The ‘Dopey’ Dance! Continue reading →

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February 12, 1909: Los Angeles Celebrates Lincoln’s Birth

Posted on February 12, 2026 by lmharnisch

February 12, 1909: The Times celebrates Lincoln’s birthday by honoring Lincoln and featuring the city’s Black community. Continue reading →

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February 11, 1958: As L.A. Grows, Segregation Takes New Forms, Black Official Says

Posted on February 11, 2026 by lmharnisch

February 11, 1958: New patterns of segregation may be forming in L.A., the head of the National Council of Negro Women says. Continue reading →

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January 12-13: Soviet leader visits Los Angeles

Posted on January 12, 2026 by lmharnisch

January 12-13: Soviet leader Anastas Mikoyan spends two days in Los Angeles, where he meets… Jerry Lewis! Continue reading →

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December 23, 1968: N. Korea frees crew of U.S. spy ship Pueblo

Posted on December 23, 2025 by lmharnisch

December 23, 1968: North Korea releases the crew of the Navy spy ship Pueblo after 11 months of captivity. Continue reading →

Posted in @news, Current Affairs, Front Pages, Politics | 1 Comment

December 1, 1938: California prepares to execute two killers at San Quentin

Posted on December 1, 2025 by lmharnisch

December 1, 1938: California prepares to use the new gas chamber for two executions rather than the previous method of hanging. Continue reading →

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November 26, 1904: UFO over Los Angeles

Posted on November 26, 2025 by lmharnisch

November 24, 1906: No, this isn’t a flying saucer on a stick. It’s an early attempt at carbon arc street lighting. Continue reading →

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October 28, 1938: Mayor investigates honorary LAPD badges

Posted on October 28, 2025 by lmharnisch

October 28, 1938: Mayor Fletcher Bowron calls for an investigation into so-called juice badges given to celebrities and others by the LAPD. This eventually resulted in an overhaul of the badge to its current design. Continue reading →

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October 27, 1968: Wilt Chamberlain and Richard Nixon

Posted on October 27, 2025 by lmharnisch

October 27, 1968: “I’ve never gotten involved in politics before. But you have to get off the fence and declare yourself sometime and this is the time for me. I’ve known Nixon and been impressed by him for 10 years and I decided to join him. It’s intriguing to know that I might have some hand in shaping the future of this country,” Wilt Chamberlain says. Continue reading →

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October 19, 1947: Times Political Editor Kyle Palmer Waves the Banner for Earl Warren

Posted on October 19, 2025 by lmharnisch

October 19, 1947: Kyle Palmer was an institution at The Times for many years, the embodiment of a reporter as backstage powerbroker and kingmaker, and his front-page story and opinion column were the opening salvos of his campaign to put Earl Warren in the White House. Continue reading →

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September 25, 1959: Paul V. Coates — Confidential File

Posted on September 25, 2025 by lmharnisch

September 25, 1959: Paul Coates on the tragic story of Barbara Burns, the daughter of entertainer Bob “Bazooka” Burns. Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Front Pages, Paul Coates, Politics | 1 Comment

September 5, 1944: Left in Car While Mother Goes Dancing, Boy, 6, Drinks Fatal Shot of Whiskey

Posted on September 5, 2025 by lmharnisch

September 5, 1944: Maria Fierro goes dancing with Robert Fierro and Robert Gomez. Her children weren’t allowed in the cafe, so she left them in the car. Her daughter, Stella, went to get a bottle of soda, but her son, Rudolfo, found a bottle of whiskey and drank enough to kill him.
Continue reading →

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1944 in Print — Life Magazine, August 21, 1944

Posted on August 21, 2025 by lmharnisch

August 21, 1944: Life magazine has Alfred Eisenstaedt’s photo essay on European immigrants arriving in America. Continue reading →

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August 11, 1941: Van Nuys Plane Crash Kills 2

Posted on August 11, 2025 by lmharnisch

August 11, 1941: Two men are killed when their plane goes into a spin during a flying lesson and crashes into a bean field. Plus Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood. Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, Art & Artists, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Jimmie Fidler, Lee Shippey, Politics, San Fernando Valley, Transportation, World War II | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on August 11, 1941: Van Nuys Plane Crash Kills 2

Flying Saucers Over L.A.!

Posted on August 2, 2025 by lmharnisch

August 2, 1960: Newspapers are full of stories about flying saucers over Los Angeles! Continue reading →

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