In Russia, the February Revolution (known as such because of
Russia’s use of the Julian calendar) began on March 8, 1917
when riots and strikes over the scarcity of food erupt in
Petrograd. One week later, centuries of czarist rule in Russia
ended with the abdication of Nicholas II, and Russia took a
dramatic step closer toward communist revolution.

By 1917, most Russians had lost faith in the leadership ability
of the czarist regime. Government corruption was rampant, the
Russian economy remained backward, and Nicholas repeatedly dissolved the Duma, the Russian parliament established after
the Revolution of 1905, when it opposed his will. However, the
immediate cause of the February Revolution—the first phase of
the Russian Revolution of 1917—was Russia’s disastrous
involvement in World War I.

TIM MAGUIRE

Author Alice Malsenior Tallulah-Kate Walker is 78 today.

1989

Ceausescu and his wife.

People line up in front of the application office for passports.

More than two years after the Berlin Wall was constructed by East Germany to prevent its citizens from fleeing its communist regime,
nearly 4,000 West Berliners were allowed to cross into East Berlin
to visit relatives. Under an agreement reached between East and
West Berlin, over 170,000 passes were eventually issued to West
Berlin citizens, each pass allowing a one-day visit to communist
East Berlin.

Citizens of West Berlin lining up for Christmas passes into
East Berlin.

President John Kennedy on an observation platform (left)
as he looks into East Berlin across the Communist Berlin
Wall that divided the German city. (AP Photo)

Joseph Raymond McCarthy (November 14, 1908 – May 2, 1957)

The U.S. Senate voted 65 to 22 to condemn Senator Joseph R.
McCarthy for conduct unbecoming of a senator. The action
which was equivalent to a censure, related to McCarthy’s
controversial investigation of suspected communists in the
U.S. government, military and civilian society.

What is known as “McCarthyism” began on February 9, 1950,
when McCarthy, a relatively obscure Republican senator from
Wisconsin, announced during a speech in Wheeling, West
Virginia, that he had in his possession a list of 205 communists
who had infiltrated the U.S. State Department.