Buddhist monk Quang Duc publicly burns himself to death in a plea for President Ngo Dinh Diem to show "charity and compassion" to all religions. Diem, a Catholic who had been oppressing the Buddhist majority, remained stubborn despite continued Buddhist protests and repeated U.S. requests to liberalize his government's policies. More Buddhist monks immolated themselves during ensuing weeks. Madame Nhu, the president's sister-in-law, referred to the burnings as "barbecues" and offered to supply matches. In November 1963, South Vietnamese military officers assassinated Diem and his brother during a coup.
Also on This Day
- Lead Story
- John Wayne dies, 1979
- American Revolution
- Congress appoints Committee of Five to draft the Declaration of Independence, 1776
- Automotive
- "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" released; features 1961 Ferrari, 1986
- Civil War
- Yankees seek to destroy rail line at Trevilian Station, 1864
- Cold War
- China issues warrant for Tiananmen dissident, 1989
- Crime
- Mobster Henry Hill, inspiration for "Goodfellas," is born, 1943
- Disaster
- Tragedy at Le Mans, 1955
- General Interest
- Henry VIII marries first wife, 1509
- Jeannette Rankin born, 1880
- D-Day landing forces converge, 1944
- University of Alabama desegregated, 1963
- Six-Day War ends, 1967
- Hollywood
- E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial released, 1982
- Literary
- William Styron is born, 1925
- Music
- Hank Williams, Sr., makes his Grand Ole Opry debut, 1949
- Old West
- Russian explorer Izmailov arrives at Yakutat Bay, Alaska, 1788
- Presidential
- JFK faces down defiant governor, 1963
- Sports
- Ben Hogan wins U.S. Open with courageous comeback, 1950
- Vietnam War
- Buddhist immolates himself in protest, 1963
- Battle for control of Kompong Speu in Cambodia, 1970
- World War I
- Allies launch counterattack against Germans in France, 1918
- World War II
- Britain strikes back at Italy, 1940
- Operation Corkscrew is launched by Britain, 1943
Buddhist immolates himself in protest
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This Week in History, Jun 11 - Jun 17
- Jun 11, 1963
- Buddhist immolates himself in protest
- Jun 11, 1970
- Battle for control of Kompong Speu in Cambodia
- Jun 12, 1965
- South Vietnamese premier resigns
- Jun 12, 1972
- Lavelle testifies before Congress
- Jun 13, 1971
- The New York Times publishes the "Pentagon Papers"
- Jun 13, 1973
- Kissinger and Le Duc Tho sign new peace agreement
- Jun 14, 1968
- Dr. Spock convicted for aiding draft resisters
- Jun 14, 1969
- U.S. command announces troop withdrawal
- Jun 15, 1964
- Johnson decides against submitting resolution to Congress
- Jun 15, 1965
- U.S. planes bomb North Vietnam
- Jun 16, 1961
- Kennedy agrees to send instructors to train troops
- Jun 16, 1965
- More troops to be sent to Vietnam
- Jun 16, 1970
- Communists isolate Phnom Penh
- Jun 17, 1969
- North Vietnamese reoccupy Ap Bia Mountain
- Jun 17, 1972
- Watergate burglars arrested
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