January 5
January 5
President Truman delivers his Fair Deal speech
On January 5, 1949, President Harry S. Truman announces, in his State of the Union address, that every American has a right to expect from our government a fair deal.…
A Year In History: 1949
This Year in History:
1949
Discover what happened in this year with HISTORY’s summaries of major events, anniversaries, famous births and notable deaths.
January 25
January 25
First Emmy Awards ceremony
The first Emmy Awards ceremony is held on January 25, 1949 at the Hollywood Athletic Club. The awards recognize excellence in television (which in the 1940s was a novel medium). …
February 2
February 2
United States rejects proposal for conference with Stalin
In response to Soviet leader Joseph Stalin’s proposal that President Harry S. Truman travel to Russia for a conference, Secretary of State Dean Acheson brusquely rejects the idea as a…
February 8
February 8
Cardinal Mindszenty of Hungary sentenced
Cardinal József Mindszenty, the highest Catholic official in Hungary, is convicted of treason and sentenced to life imprisonment by the Communist People’s Court. Outraged observers in Western Europe and the United States…
February 25
February 25
Actor Robert Mitchum is released after serving time for marijuana possession
Actor Robert Mitchum is released from a Los Angeles County prison farm after spending the final week of his two‑month sentence for marijuana possession there. In the fall of 1948,…
March 19
March 19
East Germany approves new constitution
In a precursor to the establishment of a separate, Soviet‑dominated East Germany, the People’s Council of the Soviet Zone of Occupation approves a new constitution. This action, together with the…
April 4
April 4
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) pact signed
The United States and 11 other nations establish the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), a mutual defense pact aimed at containing possible Soviet aggression against Western Europe. NATO stood as…
May 11
May 11
Evidence found against French serial killer known as “The Queen of Poisoners”
The body of Leon Besnard is exhumed in Loudun, France, by authorities searching for evidence of poison. For years, local residents had been suspicious of his wife Marie, as they…
May 12
May 12
Soviet Union lifts its 11‑month blockade against West Berlin
On May 12, 1949, an early crisis of the Cold War comes to an end when the Soviet Union lifts its 11‑month blockade against West Berlin. The blockade had been…
May 23
May 23
Federal Republic of Germany is established
The Federal Republic of Germany (popularly known as West Germany) is formally established as a separate and independent nation. This action marked the effective end to any discussion of reuniting…
June 8
June 8
George Orwell’s “1984” is published
George Orwell’s novel of a dystopian future, 1984, is published on June 8, 1949. The novel’s all‑seeing leader, known as “Big Brother,” becomes a universal symbol for intrusive government and…
June 8
June 8
FBI report names Hollywood figures as communists
Hollywood figures, including film stars Fredric March, John Garfield, Paul Muni, and Edward G. Robinson, are named in a FBI report as Communist Party members. Such reports helped to fuel…
June 11
June 11
Hank Williams, Sr., makes his Grand Ole Opry debut
In the tragically short life of country legend Hank Williams, Sr., there were many broken relationships, both personal and professional, that resulted from his self‑destructive behavior. One such relationship was…
July 27
July 27
First commercial jet makes test flight
On July 27, 1949, the world’s first jet‑propelled airliner, the British De Havilland Comet, makes its maiden test‑flight in England. The jet engine would ultimately revolutionize the airline industry, shrinking…
August 3
August 3
NBA is born
On August 3, 1949, after a damaging three‑year battle to win both players and fans, the rival Basketball Association of America (BAA) and National Basketball League (NBL) merge to form…
August 29
August 29
Soviets explode atomic bomb
At a remote test site at Semipalatinsk in Kazakhstan, the USSR successfully detonates its first atomic bomb, code name “First Lightning.” In order to measure the effects of the blast,…
September 21
September 21
Mao Zedong outlines the new Chinese government
At the opening of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference in Peking, Mao Zedong announces that the new Chinese government will be “under the leadership of the Communist Party of…
September 23
September 23
President Truman announces Soviets have exploded a nuclear device
In a surprisingly low‑key and carefully worded statement, President Harry S. Truman informs the American people that the Soviets have exploded a nuclear bomb. The Soviet accomplishment, years ahead of…
September 30
September 30
Berlin Airlift ends
After 15 months and more than 250,000 flights, the Berlin Airlift officially comes to an end. The airlift was one of the greatest logistical feats in modern history and was…
October 1
October 1
Mao Zedong proclaims People’s Republic of China
Naming himself head of state, communist revolutionary Mao Zedong officially proclaims the existence of the People’s Republic of China; Zhou Enlai is named premier. The proclamation was the climax of…
