A word about April 25

The great Ella Fitzgerald was born on this day in 1917.   She is known to many as "The First Lady of Song", a well deserved title in my opinion.  She died in 1996.

On this day in 1980, President Carter addressed the nation to give us some very bad news.  As the president explained, the operation intended to rescue the US diplomats held in Iran since November 1979, was called off due to technical problems.  Regrettably,  8 US servicemen were killed when one of the departing helicopters collided with a AC-130 transport airplane on the ground.  It was a terrible morning to say the least.    Very bad morning.

Did you read "Robinson Crusoe" by Daniel Defoe published on this day in 1719?  We understand that it was based on the experiences of Alexander Selkirk, a Scottish sailor lost off the coast of South America in the early 1700's. 

Back in 1976,  Rick Monday of the Chicago Cubs took his position in center field at the legendary Wrigley Field.  He was playing catch with José Cardenal, his teammate.    Rick saw a couple of guys trying to burn the U.S. flag; he ran and grabbed it before they could light the match. The two idiots were arrested, and Monday gave the flag to one of the security guards.  And Monday saved the US flag!     

We spoke with Leopoldo Lopez-Gil about Venezuela:  CLICK HERE TO LISTEN.

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April 1980: President Carter between Mariel and the failed Iran rescue mission

If you remember April 1980, then you recall two huge front page stories that rocked the Carter presidency.

First, it was Mariel and the arrival of 100,000 Cubans to the US. It was a boat-lift like no other and became very controversial, specially with then Governor Clinton of Arkansas who faced very hostile voters.

Second, it was Iran and the US diplomats held hostage when the US Embassy was attacked the previous November.

On this day in 1980, President Carter approved a mission to go into Iran and rescue the diplomats held hostage. Unfortunately, he had to address the nation hours later to tell us what went wrong.   

It was a terrible morning to say the least. The operation was called off due to technical problems but 8 US servicemen were killed when one of the departing helicopters collided with a AC-130 transport airplane on the ground.

It was horrible.

The hostages were eventually released a few minutes after President Reagan was sworn in on January 1981.

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