Kellogg-Briand Pact

On August 27, 1928, the Kellogg-Briand Pact was signed in Paris by 15 nations, including the United States, and many other nations signed on later. Originally conceived as a treaty between France and the U.S., it was soon broadened to include other nations. The Pact's formal name, General Treaty for the Renunciation of War, indicates the purpose of the treaty -- for nations to renounce war as a primary means of settling disputes. It was ratified by the Senate and appears to be a matter of U.S. law that's still on the books.



Suggestions for celebrating the idea of peace on this anniversary include a Let there be peace on earth sing-along or John and Yoko's Give peace a chance.

Elvis's Last Lincoln Concert

August 16th is the anniversary of Elvis's death 1977 death. The urban legend in Lincoln, Nebraska, is that Elvis's last concert was here. Well -- close, but not quite accurate, as there were another 6 concerts after the tour stop in Lincoln.

Elvis Presley played Pershing Auditorium in Lincoln on Monday night, June 20, 1977. One of the local papers, the Lincoln Journal, had a headline the next day, "Elvis magic still sparks screams". The Lincoln concert drew an audience of approximately "7,500 happy Presley fans", according to a Lincoln Journal article on June 22nd. Scalped tickets sold for at least $50. And, according to the paper, Elvis performed several types of music in addition to rock & roll, and the crowd jumped and screamed for it all. While in Lincoln, Elvis apparently stayed at the then Lincoln Hilton and dodged fans waiting for his departure by using a second limo -- a little different than after the 1956 Lincoln concert when Elvis stayed to sign autographs rather than immediately going to the limo.