LBJ, GITMO, ISLAM & BEATLE NUT(S)!

Friday, February 7, 1964; President Johnson was forced to share the front page with the newly arrived Brits.

Interestingly enough; Johnson was dealing with a Guantanamo Bay issue on the day The Beatles arrived at JFK. 

The day before, Fidel Castro had cut off the fresh water supply to the U.S. military base in protest of the detainment and fining of several Cuban fishermen who were fishing in Florida waters without a license.

Johnson's response: strict conservation of the several million gallons of water reserves on base, and the importing of water by barge until a desalination plant was built which, today, provides over 3 million gallons of water and 800,000 kilowatt hours of electricity for the base daily. 

PROBLEM SOLVED . . .

Baskin-Robbins attempts to capitalize on the growing phenomena of 'Beatlemania' in the U.S. by introducing 'Beatle Nut' ice cream on Friday, February 7, 1964. It's described as, 'pistachio ice cream with a chocolate ribbon and walnuts.'

  Also on this day, Cassius Clay (who would cross paths with The Beatles the following week when they traveled to Miami) 

joins the "Black Muslims" (Nation of Islam), and would be re-named Muhammad Ali by NOI leader, Elijah Muhammad, one month later.

                                                        

BUT,

OF ALL THESE EVENTS - THIS IS THE ONE WE'LL REMEMBER FROM FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1964

                               

   The Beatles emerge from the plane to the roar of thousands of screaming American fans . .

 

  

The band views the crowd of young people lining the rooftop of the International Arrivals Building.

All fear assuaged - America appears to love The Beatles, and (Baskin-Robbins aside) appears to be filled with 'Beatle Nuts' . .