News in the Night Trivia Quiz

Answer: Joe Biden

It seems this story broke in someone's 'Huffington Post' email at 1:34 a.m. with an AP story which reported Joe Biden as Barack Obama's choice. Then, it appears that at 3:08 am, there were further electronic announcements of this choice.

Answer: Discovery of Soviet missiles in Cuba

Kennedy took about a week conferring with his advisers before announcing the news.

Answer: Navy fighters were confronted by Libyan jets and returned fire, downing the attackers

Ronald Reagan at this time was vacationing in California. Edwin Meese's decision not to wake him up was one part of a pattern which would lead to Meese's resignation as Consultant to the President. In this episode with Libya, US jets had been taunted by Libyan jet fighters, returned fire, thus shooting down these jets over the Gulf of Sidra.

Answer: the Apollo 13 spacecraft had been crippled

There was an explosion in this 1970 flight, commanded by James A. Lovell, John L. "Jack" Swigert, and Fred W. Haise. This flight is associated with the communication, "Houston, we have a problem." This flight returned to earth after many adventures. This mission has been deemed a "successful failure." Many astrology minded, superstitious people have made much of the fact that this mission was number 13.

Answer: Ronald Reagan

Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States died of complications from Alzheimer's Disease in 2004 at the age of 93 years. Reagan was President from 1981-1989.

Answer: Humberto

In the wrath of Humberto, a house was said to move backwards some seven feet. After 44 years of living in their house, a family's roof was sheered off their house. Humberto's power collapsed a carport on a man.

Answer: Dwight D. Eisenhower

Eisenhower is said to have said that he realized that he had suddenly with this heart attack become a seriously sick person.

Answer: King Fahd

King Fahd deliberately chose titles to indicate his commitment to an Islamic order. He was a complex political figure who opposed the State of Israel while supporting wars against terrorism at the same time. In an effort to protect Saudi Arabia and balance new configurations of powers, he supported the regime of Saddam Hussein.

Answer: Bill Clinton

Bill Clinton was also caught nodding off during the January 2008 ceremony honoring Martin Luther King, Jr.

Answer: France

In May, 1968, there was an enormous strike in France which began with a protest demanding the release of prisoners. In the evening of May 10, reports said there were some 60,000 demonstrators. In the middle of the night, there were steady efforts to negotiate. One could hear, it is said, shouts, of "De Gaulle, assassin." Ultimately, these demonstrations would lead to the end of the De Gaulle government

Answer: Bhopal, India

In the chaos of trying to escape the gas, at least 2,500 people died and between 50,000 and 100,00 people had injuries. Many survivors suffered long-lasting medical conditions, such as problems with vision and respiration.

Answer: Emmett Till

The killers claimed that Till had accosted a white woman and that he had a picture of a white woman in his wallet.

Answer: The War of the Worlds

Before the airing of this episode, WABC News aired a long simulacrum of a regular newscast, giving listeners the impression that an invastion by Mars was taking place. Some students of this event estimate that there were about more than five million people listening and that many were terrified, imagining that they smelled poisonous gas or that there were flashes of light in the sky. Adolf Hitler made a comment about this episode. Newspapers were flooded with articles. Today, people question whether the audience was that big; there is, however, no doubt that this event had a huge positive effect on the career of Orson Welles.

Answer: shipwreck of the Titanic

The Titanic left Southampton, England for New York City in April 1912. It ran into an iceberg one night and became the subject of one of the most famous films ever made. There was apparently room for only 1,178 people in the lifeboats and there were 2,227 people on board including the passengers and crew members. http://www.shipwrecktreasures.com/titanics_history.htm

Answer: Paul Revere

In the light of Revere's pluck and organization, there ended up being about 40 riders able to give the word of the British advancements. Although people still like to say that Revere proclamed, "The British are coming," he could not have said that since secrecy was necessary. It is now estimated that he actually said "the regulars are coming out."