1952
Soviet Jacob Malik's charge that the U.S. was using germ warfare was ruled by the United Nations to be out of order. Foreign minister Chou En-Lai had accused the U.S. of causing a deadly flu outbreak in Communist China.
Prices rose sharply when the U.S. experienced its first major bout with inflation.
An early heat wave killed dozens in the south, southeast and northeast. A record 105° was reached in New York City on June 10th.
The U.S. won 40 gold medals and finished first in team standings at the Summer Olympics in Helsinki.
In the first TV "closed-circuit" event held in U.S. theaters, Rocky Marciano won the heavyweight boxing championship.
President Truman refused to run for re-election.
Under the campaign slogan "I Like Ike," General Dwight D. Eisenhower helped the Republicans take control of the White House for the first time in 20 years. His vice president was California Senator and attorney Richard M. Nixon. Nixon - accused of using campaign funds for personal benefit - made a nationwide TV appeal known as the "Checkers speech" - explaining how he accepted a dog named Checkers for his daughters and wouldn't give it back.
Right after the election, President-elect Eisenhower flew to Korea to inspect troops, including a secret visit to the front lines of battle.
Mr. Potato Head was the first toy advertised on television. The ad campaign was so successful, nearly a quarter of TV's advertising and programming would be aimed at children within a few years.
I Love Lucy was America's favorite TV show. Dragnet won an Emmy for best TV mystery.
On radio's Edgar Bergen & Charlie McCarthy Show, Charlie prepared to marry guest Marilyn Monroe.
Betty Hutton & Cornel Wilde starred in the year's most popular movie, The Greatest Show On Earth.
Hit tunes included Your Cheatin' Heart, I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus, Glow Worm and Jumbalaya.
