Clarence Thomas (left) with President George H.W. Bush. 

After a bitter confirmation hearing, the U.S. Senate voted 52 to
48 to confirm Clarence Thomas to the U.S. Supreme Court.

In July 1991, Thurgood Marshall, the first African American to
sit on the Supreme Court, announced his retirement after 34
years.

President George H.W. Bush nominated Clarence Thomas, a
43-year-old African American judge known for his conservative
beliefs, to fill the seat.

Lyndon B. Johnson was nominated to run for the presidency at
the Democratic National Convention in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

His running mate would be Hubert H. Humphrey. Former Vice
President Johnson had assumed the reigns of government in
November 1963 when President Kennedy was assassinated.

Upon assuming office, he inherited a commitment to Vietnam
where Kennedy had sent military advisors to support the South Vietnamese government in Saigon.

Following the Tonkin Gulf incident earlier in August when
North Vietnamese torpedo boats reportedly attacked U.S.
destroyers, Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
empowering Johnson to “take all necessary measures to repel
an armed attack against the forces of the United States and to
prevent further aggression.”

In Los Angeles, California, Senator John F. Kennedy of
Massachusetts was nominated for the presidency by the
Democratic Party Convention, defeating Senator Lyndon
B. Johnson of Texas. The next day, Johnson was named
Kennedy’s running mate by a unanimous vote of the
convention.

Four months later, on November 8, Kennedy won 49.7
percent of the popular vote in one of the closest elections
for president in U.S. history, surpassing by a fraction the
49.6 percent received by Vice President Richard M. Nixon,
a Republican.

  
MIKE GRACIA

   
Ringo Starr (Sir Richard Starkey) the former
drummer with The Beatles is 84 today.

In Los Angeles, California, Senator John F. Kennedy of
Massachusetts was nominated for the presidency by the
Democratic Party Convention, defeating Senator Lyndon
B. Johnson of Texas. The next day, Johnson was named
Kennedy’s running mate by a unanimous vote of the
convention.

Senators Kennedy and Johnson during the 1960 campaign.