History Diaries

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Yale Professor Frederick C. Barghoorn returned home today and said he may never know why he was arrested and imprisoned in Moscow on spy charges. “Under Soviet law one can be accused of conducting intelligence activities merely by walking down the street,” Barghoorn, 52, said after his release from 16 days in a Soviet jail. He insisted, however, he was not involved in any intelligence activity.

Barghoorn flew from London to New York aboard a commercial jet liner, then was flown to his home here aboard a chartered plane. He held a press conference tonight at the university. The professor, an expert on Soviet affairs, said he was accused by the Russians of spying during each of his several trips to the Soviet Union. This time, he said, “I was so careful I did not visit a Soviet home or talk more than a few minutes with a member of the opposite sex.” Barghoorn said that he had never taken a camera into Russia.

The Russian police who arrested Professor Barghoorn knew what they were doing. His detention for 16 days in Moscow’s Lubyanka prison was no accident. The professor, who flew home after a fitful night’s sleep at a friend’s apartment in London, is confident of these conclusions. From the moment he was whisked off the street near the Metropole hotel in the evening of October 31, his identity was known to his captors.

The very manner of his arrest made clear to him he was a man the Russians wanted. As he left the hotel and walked along the street, going to his final appointment before leaving the Soviet Union the next day, plain clothes security men fell in on either side, they grasped him firmly under each arm and said to him in Russian, “Come with us, Professor Barghoorn.” The motive for his arrest is still not clear. The published Soviet charge of wanting him as a spy is regarded in London as a coverup. A much more likely reason is a brash Russian attempt to use the professor, an expert on Soviet affairs, to lead them to any Soviet citizens who might be leaking information to him.

Rumors were spreading that a coup had occurred or was about to occur in Cambodia against Prince Sihanouk, head of the government.

Burma struck at Communist headquarters throughout the country, arresting almost every known Red leader.

Introduction of Polaris missile-carrying submarines to the Pacific theater in another year will not reduce the need for aircraft carriers, the commander of the Pacific Fleet said.

For the first time in eight years Turks voted for their own local officials. Eight persons were reported killed and scores injured in scattered disturbances.

The press of Communist East Germany launched a new campaign against tours of East Berlin by Western military vehicles. It could be the foundation on which the East Germans would build some future action.

In Mexico City, Gustavo Díaz Ordaz, who had recently resigned as Interior Minister, was nominated by the Institutional Revolutionary Party (Partido Revolucionario Institucional or PRI) as its candidate for the 1964 Mexican presidential election. In that the PRI candidate had won seven consecutive presidential elections since 1929, it was expected that Díaz would be the next President of Mexico; he would receive 89% of the popular vote on July 5.

Foreign oil company agents began talks with officials of Argentina’s state oil agency seeking possible new arrangements for operating in Argentina.

Admiral U. S. Grant Sharp, commander of the United States Pacific Fleet, says he wants bigger aircraft carriers, preferably nuclear-powered, for use in the type of limited warfare he believes could occur in the Pacific. Sharp calls for replacement of Essex class carriers — first produced in 1940 — with something larger and more up-to-date. He says Russia has built up its north Pacific fleet by adding nuclear submarines.

Pape Paul VI, during a Byzantine rite in Rome’s basilica of St. Clement, sets the tone for the Vatican ecumenical council’s full scale debate today on Christian unity with an appeal to “the separated brethren.” Expressing “reverent affection” for other Christians, the pontiff says, “May the day rise quickly when, in one flock with one shepherd, unity is fully restored.” Cardinal Augustin Bea today presents a five-chapter draft decree on ecumenism for debate by 2,200 bishops.

The Vatican Ecumenical Council will vote today on a decree providing for wide reforms in Roman Catholic worship, including the traditional Mass.

Former President Dwight D. Eisenhower urged a reduction of American forces in Europe from approximately 300,000 men at present to a maximum of 20,000, or from six divisions to one.

President John F. Kennedy spent the day in Palm Beach, Florida. Kennedy attended Mass at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in West Palm Beach. A small peephole behind the vestry into the rectory is visible if you look closely; the Secret Service drilled it to keep an eye on the President as he worshiped. There is a picture in the church vestibule showing Kennedy as he exited the church, smiling at churchgoers eager for his attention. After church, he made a major announcement to party officials: he was going to make Palm Beach his Democratic re-election headquarters. Later, Kennedy went back to the compound and watched a football game, and then a private screening of the movie “Tom Jones.”

He had watched the Chicago Bears play the Green Bay Packers. Both teams had a record of 8-1 going into the game, which was played at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Kennedy bet on the Bears and he won his wager. The Bears won the game by a score of 26-7. According to author Thurston Clarke in his recent book entitled “JFK’s Last Hundred Days: The Transformation of a Man and the Emergence of a Great President,” at page 310, Kennedy had the following conversation with his friend and former college roommate Torby Macdonald:

The weekend reminded Macdonald of the months before the Second World War, “when there was nothing of moment on anybody’s mind.” The only jarring note came when he and Kennedy were swimming together and began discussing how they both feared being incapacitated by a stroke, as their fathers had been. Macdonald asked Kennedy how he would like to die. “Oh, a gun,” he said. “You never know what hit you. A gunshot is the perfect way.”

Later, Kennedy followed his motorcade back to the airport. Photographer Bob Davidoff snapped a shot of Kennedy waving goodbye on the tarmac. Davidoff recalls in his memoir that Kennedy told him, “Goodbye, I’ll see you in a few weeks.”

Kennedy never returned to Palm Beach; he was assassinated in Texas just five days later.

President Kennedy prepares what is described as a major address on Latin-American relations for delivery today in Miami. He confers with Richard Goodwin, a peace corps official and specialist in Latin-American affairs, and Ralph Dungan, a White House assistant, in the oceanfront villa of his father, Joseph P. Kennedy, in Palm Beach. The speech is expected to deal with the Alliance of Progress aid program and Argentina’s annulment of its oil contracts with private foreign companies.

Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller thrusts his bid for the Republican Presidential nomination before a national television audience. The New York governor criticizes his G.O.P. opponent, Senator Barry Goldwater (R-Arizona) and President Kennedy. Rockefeller says Goldwater will have to modify his position substantially if he hopes to win the Republican Presidential nomination. He says President Kennedy does not have a real understanding of the free enterprise system.

Ten integrationists who attempt to enter four all-white Methodist churches in bi-racial groups in Jackson, Mississippi, are arrested on charges of trespassing and disturbing public worship when they defy police orders to leave. Police say four clergymen from Detroit and one from Cleveland are among those arrested. The others are three men from Cleveland and two students from Tougaloo College, a predominantly Negro school near Jackson.

Two gunmen accompanied by women companions kidnap a policeman, a banker, and a grocer in a fruitless attempt to rob the bank in Morrisonville, Illinois, then escape with $2,000 in cash and checks from a grocery safe. The gunmen first disarm the town’s night policeman, force him to drive to the home of the bank’s head cashier, whom they order to open the bank’s vault. The cashier says the vault has a time lock, so the gunmen drive the group to the home of the grocer, who opens his store’s safe for the gunmen. The robbers bind the men in a cemetery near Morrisonville and drive off.

Two bandits enter the New York City apartment of John Gurian, 63, a vice president of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner, and Smith, and escape with $60,000 in gems. Gurian and his wife, Stella, are at breakfast when the maid answers the back door bell to find the two men with guns. Gurian is shoved into a bedroom and slugged with a pistol barrel when he fails to move fast enough. An elevator man gets into the apartment and hits one of the holdup men, then flees with Mrs. Gurian, who notifies police.

At a dinner party, August Busch, Jr., Chairman of the Anheuser-Busch Brewing Company, made an unfortunate remark that ended plans for Walt Disney to locate his new theme park in St. Louis, Missouri. Mayor Raymond Tucker had suggested that the proposed park should offer beer and liquor to its patrons, but the Disney Company had reiterated its position that alcohol sales would be inconsistent with the company’s image. Busch remarked to Disney, “Any man who thinks he can design an attraction that is going to be a success in this city, and not serve beer or liquor, ought to have his head examined.” A historian would write later, “[T]he remark had not offended Walt’s sense of morality; it was actually worse than that. It had insulted his business acumen.” Disney said nothing to Busch, but upon returning to his hotel, he canceled the next day’s plans to sign a letter of commitment to building Riverfront Square in St. Louis, and told one of his vice-presidents, “It’s all finished. We’re not coming. Forget about it.” Five days later, he would find a site in central Florida for his next theme park.

NFL Football:

Johnny Unitas threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Jimmy Orr with five seconds left to play today to give the Baltimore Colts a 37—34 victory over the Minnesota Vikings in a National Football League game. Unitas started the Colts on an 88-yard scoring march with 1:10 left to play. His 45-yard aerial to Ray Berry set up the winning touchdown. Baltimore led 16—0 in the first quarter, but the Vikings stormed back to take leads of 27—16 and 34—23. Unitas’ third scoring pass of the day, a 60-yarder to Orr with 3:18 left in the game, pulled the Colts to within 34—30 of the Vikings.

Nothing could stop the Chicago Bears today as they stormed over the Green Bay Packers in a manner few teams have in recent seasons. The victory gave the Bears sole possession of first place in the National Football League’s Western Division. This big struggle between the two powers who had been previously tied for the lead turned into a 26—7 rout by the Bears before 49,166 fans at Wrigley Field. The powerful defense of Coach George Halas’s Bears was at its best and the offense, engineered by Bill Wade, the quarterback, toyed with the supposedly strong Packer defenders. Roger Leclerc booted four field goals, one short of the league record for a game, to highlight the Bears’ efforts. There were also the offensive efforts of a strong front line, the running of Willie Galimore (79 yards), the passing of Wade (6 of 14 for 92 yards) and the powerful line plunges of Rick Casares and Joe Marconi. Much of these accomplishments were set up by the brilliant defensive play of Rosey Taylor, Richie Petitbon, Dave Whitsell, Bennie McRae, Leclerc, Joe Fortunato, Doug Atkins and others. The defensive corps made five interceptions, including two by Taylor, to throttle the passing of John Roach and Zeke Bratkowski, the Packer quarterbacks. Bart Starr, the regular Packer quarterback whose hand was broken recently, got into the game for only one play. He held for the extra-point placement kick after Green Bay’s touchdown.

Roman Gabriel stung the injury-riddled Detroit Lions’ defensive secondary with three long touchdown passes to Carroll Dale today as the Los Angeles Rams scored a surprising 28—21 victory. The Rams, who were 10-point underdogs, jumped to a 14—7 half-time lead and then rallied for two fourth-period touchdowns after the Lions had taken a 21—14 lead. The Lions’ quarterback, Earl Morrall, also threw three touchdown passes, one to Terry Barr for 20 yards early in the fourth period that put the Lions ahead, 21—14. Los Angeles came right back to tie the game at 21—21. The Rams marched 60 yards in four plays, Gabriel capping the drive with a 42-yard touchdown pass to Dale. After forcing the Lions to punt, the Rams moved in for the deciding touchdown as Gabriel fired a 51-yard scoring pass to Dale.

Don Meredith completed 25 of 33 passes for 302 yards and two touchdowns today and led the Dallas Cowboys to a 27—20 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. The Cowboys moved into fifth place in the National Football League’s Eastern Conference. Meredith hit his first nine passes without a miss. He misfired only three times in the first half in completing 16 for 228 yards, He put the Cowboys into a 17—6 half-time lead that was never seriously threatened despite a second-half aerial flurry by King Hill of the Eagles. Meredith threw a 1-yard scoring pass to Pettis Norman in the first quarter and a 14-yarder to Frank Clarke in the third period. The Eagles, with Hill passing to Ronnie Goodwin, Tommy McDonald and Pete Retzlaff, scored twice in the last half.

Gary Ballman returned a kickoff 92 yards in the closing minutes today to nullify a great passing exhibition by Norman Snead of Washington and give the Pittsburgh Steelers a 34—28 National Football League victory. Ballman’s run came after Snead had sent the Redskins into a 28—27 lead with a 21-yard pass to Pat Richter. It was the second long touchdown for Ballman. He scored; on a 67-yard pass from Ed Brown to tie the score 14—14 late in the second quarter. Bobby Mitchell had his best day of the season, with 11 receptions for 218 yards. This included a 19-yard touchdown pass from Snead and a 20-yard scoring pass from Billy Barnes.

Charlie Johnson passed for two touchdowns today and led the St. Louis Cardinals to a 20—14 upset victory over the Cleveland Browns. Jim Brown, the Browns’ fullback, gained 154 yards in 22 carries. He became the National Football League’s foremost ground-gainer in history, surpassing Ollie Matson’s career total of 11,317 yards in 11 seasons, Brown has gained 11,353 yards in less than seven seasons by rushing, pass-catching and returning kicks. He ran 59 yards for a touchdown on the second play of the game. The crowd of 75,932 saw Johnson hit on 25 of 34 passes for 285 yards. He set two Cardinal season records-most completions (170) and most yards passing (2,485). The deciding touchdown came late in the final period on Johnson’s 19-yard pass to Bill Triplett. Jim Ninowski of the Browns started at quarterback for the first time in more than a year.

A rarely used play — extremely simple in design yet very difficult to execute — produced the pivotal touchdown for the New York Giants yesterday in their 48—14 rout of the San Francisco 49ers. It was a 45-yard touchdown pass from Y. A. Tittle to Joe Morrison, in the opening moments of the second half. Tittle bootlegged to his left, pivoted, and threw all the way across the field to his right. The first half had ended with the Giants leading, 20—7, but they had stumbled often enough to make trouble seem still possible. This touchdown established a 27—7 lead and dispelled all doubt. The 49ers were in the game only briefly. They were able to produce only one startling play, a 68-yard touchdown pass from Lamar McHan to Bernie Casey. It came at the start of the second quarter and brought the 49ers to within 3 points of the Giants at 10—7. The Giants punched out 10 more points before halftime, however, and then poured it on in the second half in scoring four more touchdowns.

Baltimore Colts 37, Minnesota Vikings 34
Green Bay Packers 7, Chicago Bears 26
Los Angeles Rams 28, Detroit Lions 21
Philadelphia Eagles 20, Dallas Cowboys 27
Pittsburgh Steelers 34, Washington Redskins 28
St. Louis Cardinals 20, Cleveland Browns 14
San Francisco 49ers 14, New York Giants 48

AFL Football:

Tobin Rote, the San Diego quarterback, used his youthful corps of fleet backs with all the knowledge of his 14 years’ experience as a pro and dealt a blow to Buffalo’s Eastern Division title hopes today as the Chargers ripped the Bills, 23—13, before 38,592, a record American Football League crowd. Rote, in his first AFL season, outplayed Jack Kemp in clutch situations as the league’s two top quarterbacks squared off. Rote’s 17-yard touchdown pass to Lance Alworth at 5:51 of the third period proved to be the clinching score. Keith Lincoln romped 54 yards for a Charger touchdown on a deftly executed trap play and George Blair accounted for 11 points with field goals of 39, 15, and 41 yards and two conversions. The previous top crowd for a regular-season AFL game was 37,845, December 6, 1961, when San Diego played in Houston. The victory moved San Diego into a two-game lead over the Oakland Raiders, who were idle, in the Western Division with an 8-2 won-lost mark and maintained the Chargers’ unbeaten record against Eastern Division teams this year.

The New York Jets scored 14 points in the first half today and made them stand up to defeat the Denver Broncos, 14—9, in an American Football League contest at muddy Bears Stadium. A crowd of 14,247 watched Dick Wood fire touchdown passes to Bake Turner and the again healthy Don Maynard in the second quarter. The triumph was the Jets’ first in six games. Coach Weeb Ewbank’s team had lost four and tied one. The tie was with the Broncos in the Polo Grounds on October 26. Wood and his teammates, particularly Mark Smolinski at fullback, gained control of the game with a fine first-half offense. Then they stood off the Broncos with stout defensive work. The Broncos of Jack Faulkner scored only on field goals by Gene Mingo. He kicked them for 15, 19, and 33 yards in the first, second and third quarters, respectively. Mickey Slaughter, Denver’s first-half quarterback, and John McCormick, who played the entire second half, were stopped time and again on third-down situations. In fact, most of Denver’s offense was the work of Billy Joe, Donnie Stone and Charlie Mitchell. All ripped off substantial gains despite the muddy, slippery field.

Eddie Wilson, the No. 2 quarterback for Kansas City, passed the Chiefs to a comeback 24—24 American Football League tie with the Boston Patriots today. Wilson, making his first start after Len Dawson, the first-string signal-caller, was benched, hurled for two touchdowns and set up all the Chiefs’ points with passes before 17,270 fans at Fenway Park.

San Diego Chargers 23, Buffalo Bills 13
New York Jets 14, Denver Broncos 9
Kansas City Chiefs 24, Boston Patriots 24

Born:

Felice Schachter, American actress (“Zapped”), in Queens, New York, New York.

Adrian Branch, NBA small forward (NBA Champions-Lakers, 1987; Los Angeles Lakers, New Jersey Nets, Portland Trailblazers, Minnesota Timberwolves), in Washington, District of Columbia.

Pedro Luis Estrada, American murderer (FBI Most Wanted List), in Brooklyn, New York, New York.