Historical Events tagged with "conspiracy"

Turns out history loves a label—battles, breakthroughs, and the occasional disaster, all neatly tagged for your browsing pleasure. Because sometimes you just need every weird invention in one place.

Crime & Law

Timothy McVeigh Convicted for Oklahoma City Bombing

June 2nd, 1997 27 years ago

Timothy McVeigh was convicted of 15 counts related to the Oklahoma City bombing, which killed 168 individuals. This verdict followed a lengthy trial that revealed the extent of McVeigh's involvement in this devastating act of domestic terrorism. The jury deliberated for just under 24 hours before reaching a unanimous decision in Denver.

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Politics & Government

North and Poindexter Indicted for Conspiracy

March 16th, 1988 36 years ago

Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North and Vice Admiral John Poindexter were indicted on charges of conspiracy to defraud the United States. This indictment stemmed from their involvement in the Iran-Contra affair, where U.S. officials secretly facilitated arms sales to Iran, which was under an arms embargo, and used the proceeds to fund Contra rebels in Nicaragua fighting the Sandinista government. The indictment was significant as it highlighted the illegal actions taken by U.S. government officials in outmaneuvering Congressional constraints on military funding.

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Politics & Government

First Public Viewing of Zapruder Film

March 6th, 1975 50 years ago

Robert J. Groden and Dick Gregory presented the Zapruder film of President John F. Kennedy's assassination on national television. This marked the first time that the film was shown in motion to the public. The broadcast, which aired on the program 'Good Night America,' aimed to highlight questions surrounding the official narrative of the assassination and to promote further investigation into the events of that tragic day in Dallas.

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Politics & Government

Mitchell, Haldeman, and Ehrlichman Sentenced

February 21st, 1975 50 years ago

Former United States Attorney General John N. Mitchell and former White House aides H. R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman received prison sentences for their involvement in the Watergate scandal. The scandal, which began with a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters, unearthed a series of illegal activities by members of the Nixon administration. After being convicted of conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and perjury, Mitchell was sentenced to 2½ years, while Haldeman and Ehrlichman each received sentences of 2 to 4 years. Their accountability marked a pivotal moment in the scandal’s legal ramifications.

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Politics & Government

Indictments in Watergate Break-in Conspiracy

March 1st, 1974 51 years ago

Seven individuals were indicted for their roles in the Watergate break-in and charged with conspiracy to obstruct justice. These indictments followed extensive investigations into the break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters located in the Watergate complex in Washington, D.C. These indictments marked a significant escalation in the investigation into the scandal, which ultimately led to political ramifications for the administration of President Richard Nixon.

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Social Movements & Civil Rights

Harrisburg Seven Indicted for Conspiracy

January 12th, 1971 54 years ago

Rev. Philip Berrigan and five activists were indicted on charges of conspiring to kidnap Henry Kissinger. The indictment also included allegations of plotting to blow up the heating tunnels of federal buildings in Washington, D.C. This group of anti-war activists represented a radical segment of the broader anti-Vietnam War movement, highlighting tensions surrounding U.S. foreign policy during the 1970s.

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Space Exploration

UFO Crash in Roswell Sparks Controversy

July 8th, 1947 77 years ago

In July 1947, reports emerged regarding a supposed UFO crash in Roswell, New Mexico. Local newspapers claimed the military had recovered a 'flying disc' from the site, generating widespread public interest. The United States Air Force later stated it was a weather balloon, but conspiracy theories ignited that it was an extraterrestrial craft. This incident marked a significant moment in UFO lore and public fascination with unidentified flying objects.

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Military & Warfare

Execution of July 20 Plot Conspirators

July 21st, 1944 80 years ago

Claus von Stauffenberg and four co-conspirators were executed after their failed attempt to assassinate Adolf Hitler. The plan, devised by a group of German officers and civilians, aimed to eliminate Hitler to negotiate peace with the Allies. Stauffenberg placed a bomb in a briefcase during a meeting in the Wolf's Lair, but the assassination attempt failed when the bomb did not kill Hitler. Following the plot's failure, the conspirators were rapidly arrested and executed the next day.

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Politics & Government

Polonsky Conspiracy Suppressed by Kontrrazvedka

December 5th, 1919 105 years ago

The Polonsky conspiracy involved a plan by anti-Bolshevik elements within Ukraine that sought to undermine the Ukrainian People's Republic. On December 5, 1919, this conspiracy was suppressed by the government's security service, Kontrrazvedka. Participants were apprehended and subsequently executed, highlighting the state's determination to quash dissent and maintain control during a tumultuous period of the Ukrainian War of Independence.

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