1952 in the United States

Events from the year 1952 in the United States.

Incumbents

Federal government">Federal government of the United States">Federal government

President: Harry S. Truman
[Vice President of the United States|President of the United States|Vice President]: Alben W. Barkley
Chief Justice: Fred M. Vinson
Speaker of the House of Representatives: Sam Rayburn
Senate Majority Leader: Ernest McFarland
Congress: 82nd

Events

January

January 14 – The Today Show premieres on NBC, becoming one of the longest-running television series in America.

February

February 2 – Groundhog Day tropical storm forms just north of Cuba, moving northeast. The storm makes landfall in southern Florida the next day as a gale-force storm and transitions to a tropical storm over the Atlantic.
February 6 – A mechanical heart is used for the first time in a human patient.
February 20 – Emmett Ashford becomes the first African-American umpire in organized baseball, by being authorized to be a substitute umpire in the Southwestern International League.

March

March 20
* The United States Senate ratifies a peace treaty with Japan.
* The 24th Academy Awards ceremony, hosted by Danny Kaye, is held at RKO Pantages Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles. Vincente Minnelli's An American in Paris and George Stevens' A Place in the Sun both win a respective six awards each, the former winning Best Motion Picture and the latter winning Best Director for Stevens. Elia Kazan's A Streetcar Named Desire receives the most nominations with 12.
March 21 – Tornadoes ravage the lower Mississippi River Valley, leaving 208 dead, through March 22.
March 22 – Wernher von Braun publishes the first in his series of articles entitled Man Will Conquer Space Soon!, including ideas for crewed flights to Mars and the Moon.
March 26 - Operation Dew I takes place in Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, and continues until April 21st, 1952.
March 29 – U.S. President Harry S. Truman announces that he will not seek reelection.

April

April 8 – Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer: The U.S. Supreme Court limits the power of the president to seize private business, after President Harry S. Truman nationalizes all steel mills in the United States, just before the 1952 steel strike begins.
April 15 – The United States B-52 Stratofortress flies for the first time.
April 23 – A nuclear test is held in the Nevada desert.
April 28 – The Treaty of San Francisco goes into effect, formally ending the occupation of Japan.
April 29 – Lever House officially opens in New York City, heralding a new age of commercial architecture in the United States.

May

May 3 – U.S. lieutenant colonels Joseph O. Fletcher and William P. Benedict land a plane at the geographic North Pole.

June

June 14 – The keel is laid for the U.S. nuclear submarine USS Nautilus.
June 19 – The United States Army Special Forces is created.

July

July 3 – The ocean liner SS United States makes her maiden crossing of the Atlantic.
July 19–26 – Washington D.C. UFO incident. Several alleged UFOs tracked on multiple radars. Jets scramble on several occasions and the objects take evasive action, only to return after the jets leave the area.
July 21 – The 7.3 Kern County earthquake strikes Southern California with a maximum Mercalli intensity of XI, killing 12 and injuring hundreds.
July 25 – Puerto Rico becomes a self-governing commonwealth of the United States.

August

August 22 – A 5.8 aftershock affects Bakersfield with a maximum Mercalli intensity of VIII, killing two and causing an additional $10 million in damage.
August 23 – Kitty Wells becomes the first woman to score a number 1 hit on the American country charts, with the song "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels".
August 29 – John Cage's 4' 33" premieres in Woodstock, New York.

September

September 2 – Dr. C. Walton Lillehei and Dr. F. John Lewis perform the first open-heart surgery at the University of Minnesota.
September 19 – The United States bars Charlie Chaplin from re-entering the country, after a trip to the UK.
September 23 – Republican vice presidential candidate Richard Nixon gives his Checkers speech.

October

October 7 – The New York Yankees defeat the Brooklyn Dodgers, 4 games to 3, to win their 15th World Series Title.
October 12 – The Gamma Sigma Sigma National Service Sorority is founded in New York City at Panhellenic Tower.
October 14 – The United Nations begins work in the new headquarters of the United Nations in New York City.
October 16 – Limelight opens in London; writer/actor/director/producer Charlie Chaplin arrives by ocean liner; in transit his re-entry permit to the USA is revoked by J. Edgar Hoover.
October 1 to 31 – With an average coast-to-coast precipitation of, this is easily the driest month over the contiguous United States since reliable records began in 1895

November

November 1 – Nuclear testing: Operation Ivy: The United States successfully detonates the first hydrogen bomb, codenamed "Mike", at Enewetak Atoll in the Marshall Islands in the central Pacific Ocean, with a yield of 10.4 megatons.
November 4
*1952 United States presidential election: Republican candidate Dwight D. Eisenhower defeats Democratic Governor of Illinois Adlai Stevenson. The Constitution Party nominates candidates.
*The U.S. National Security Agency is founded.
November 20 – The first official passenger flight over the North Pole is made from Los Angeles to Copenhagen.
November 29 – Korean War: U.S. President-elect Dwight D. Eisenhower fulfills a political campaign promise, by traveling to Korea to find out what can be done to end the conflict.
November – Publication of Web of Evil comic book begins.

December

December 1 – The New York Daily News carries a front-page story announcing that Christine Jorgensen, a transsexual woman in Denmark, has become the recipient of the first successful sexual reassignment operation.
December 14 – The first successful surgical separation of Siamese twins is conducted in Mount Sinai Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio.
December 20 – The crash of a U.S. Air Force C-124 Globemaster at Moses Lake, Washington kills 86 servicemen.

Undated

Nearly 58,000 cases of polio are reported in the U.S.; 3,145 die and 21,269 are left with mild to disabling paralysis.
The National Prohibition Foundation is incorporated in Indiana.
The American Embassy School of New Delhi is founded.
13-year-old Jimmy Boyd's record of I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus is released, selling 3 million records.

Ongoing

Births

January

January 2
* Shirley Fulton, African-American prosecutor and judge
* Wendy Phillips, actress
January 3 – Jim Ross, wrestling announcer
January 6 – Moondog Spot, wrestler
January 8 – Mel Reynolds, academic and politician
January 9 – Mike Capuano, lawyer and politician
January 12
* Charles Faulkner, life coach, motivational speaker, trader and author
* Walter Mosley, author
January 14 – Maureen Dowd, journalist
January 16
* L. Blaine Hammond, colonel, pilot and astronaut
* Julie Anne Peters, engineer and author
January 19
* Beau Weaver, voice actor
* Bruce Jay Nelson, computer scientist
January 20
* Dave Fennoy, African-American voice actor
* Paul Stanley, co-founder of hard rock band KIϟϟ
January 21 – Louis Menand, writer and critic
January 22 – Dan Dorazio, American football coach
January 23 – Shelby Jordan, American football player
January 27 – Brian Gottfried, tennis player
January 28 – Bruce Helford, television writer and producer
January 30 – Steve Bartek, guitarist and composer

February

February 1 – Stan Kasten, baseball executive, president of the Washington Nationals
February 2 – John Cornyn, U.S. Senator from Texas from 2002
February 5 – Mark Fuhrman, police detective, author and radio host
February 14 – Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL
February 16 – James Ingram, R&B singer-songwriter, record producer and instrumentalist
February 22
*Robert Bauer, attorney
*Albert Bryant, Jr., general
*Cyrinda Foxe, model and actress
*Bill Frist, U.S. Senator from Tennessee from 1995 to 2007
*Wayne Levi, golfer
February 24 – Maxine Chernoff, poet, novelist and editor
February 29
* Gary the Retard, member of The Wack Pack
* Sharon Dahlonega Raiford Bush, first female African-American primetime weather anchor

March

March 1 – Janice Burgess, screenwriter
March 2 – Laraine Newman, actress and comedian
March 4 – Ronn Moss, actor
March 5 – Robin Hobb, writer
March 8 – George Allen, U.S. Senator from Virginia from 2001 to 2007
March 11 – Frank LeMaster, American football player
March 14 – Martin Dempsey, United States Army general
March 22 – Bob Costas, sportscaster
March 23 – Rex Tillerson, 69th United States Secretary of State, CEO of ExxonMobil
March 25 – Billy "Harp" Hamilton, singer, songwriter, harmonica-guitar player
March 27 – Jim Bolla, basketball coach
March 31
*Vanessa del Rio, actress
*Frank De Martini, architect

April

April 1
* Annette O'Toole, actress
* Rey Robinson, sprinter and coach
April 5 – Mitch Pileggi, actor
April 12 – Ralph Wiley, sports journalist
April 15
* Glenn Shadix, actor
* Sam McMurray, actor
April 16
* Bill Belichick, American football coach
*David Hann, politician
*Billy West, voice actor
April 20 – David Currier, alpine skier
April 22 – Marilyn Chambers, porn actress
April 24 – Pat Zachry, baseball player
April 25 – Lane Caudell, actor
April 26 – Spice Williams-Crosby, actress and stunt performer
April 27 – Larry Elder, radio personality
April 28 – Mary McDonnell, actress
April 29 – Dave Valentin, Latin jazz flautist

May

May 2 – Christine Baranski, actress
May 6
* Gregg Henry, actor and musician
* Michael O'Hare, actor
May 8 – Ronnie Dapo, child actor
May 11
*Warren Littlefield, businessman
*Mike Lupica, sports journalist
May 13 – John Kasich, Governor of Ohio
May 14 – Robert Zemeckis, film director, producer and screenwriter
May 15 – Chazz Palminteri, actor
May 18
* Diane Duane, writer
* George Strait, country musician
May 21
* Carl Carlton, singer-songwriter
* Mr. T, actor
May 25 – Gordon H. Smith, U.S. Senator from Oregon from 1997 to 2009
May 26 –David Meece, singer-songwriter and pianist
May 28 – Victoria Cunningham, actress, Playboy Playmate

June

June 3 – Billy Powell, keyboard player and songwriter
June 4 – Scott Wesley Brown, Christian musician
June 6 – Marsha Blackburn, politician
June 8 – Dave Jennings, American football player and sportscaster
June 12 – Spencer Abraham, U.S. Senator from Michigan from 1995 to 2001
June 14
* Pat Summitt, basketball player and coach
* Leon Wieseltier, philosopher, journalist, and critic
June 17 – Mike Milbury, ice hockey player, coach and executive
June 18
* Carol Kane, actress
* Miriam Flynn, actress
June 19 – Jim Johnston, composer and musician
June 20 – John Goodman, actor
June 21
* Dave Downs, baseball player
* Marcella Detroit, singer
June 23
* Marv Kellum, American football player
* Phil Saviano, sexual abuse activist
June 25 – Leonard Lance, politician
June 26
* Michele McDonald, nurse, model and beauty pageant titleholder
* William Arthur Pailes, astronaut
June 27 – Douglas Unger, novelist
June 30
* David Garrison, actor
* Patrick Pinney, actor

July

July 1
* David Arkenstone, musician and composer
* Leon "Ndugu" Chancler, drummer
July 2 – Linda M. Godwin, scientist
July 4 – Paul Rogat Loeb, author and activist
July 5 – Hillbilly Jim, professional wrestler and radio host
July 6
* Grant Goodeve, voice actor
* Jennifer Savidge, actress
July 7 – Cheryl Gould, journalist
July 8
* Jerry Hertaus, politician and businessman from Minnesota
* Marianne Williamson, spiritual teacher, author and lecturer
July 9 – John Tesh, composer, musician, and television host
July 11 – Robert Baer, author
July 12 – Philip Taylor Kramer, rock musician
July 14
* Bob Casale, rock keyboardist
* Franklin Graham, evangelist, son of Billy Graham
* Ken Hutcherson, American football player
* Sheila Oliver, politician
* Stan Shaw, actor
July 15
* Terry O'Quinn, actor
* Marky Ramone, musician
* Johnny Thunders, guitarist and singer, co-founder of the New York Dolls, inspiration for punk and glam metal; also founder of The Heartbreakers
July 16
* Stewart Copeland, drummer and songwriter
* Richard Egielski, author and illustrator
July 17
* David Hasselhoff, actor, singer, producer and businessman
* Nicolette Larson, pop singer
* Billy Sprague, Christian musician
July 20 – Renny Cushing, former Democratic leader of the New Hampshire House of Representatives
July 21 – John Barrasso, U.S. Senator from Wyoming from 2007
July 27 – Rich Dauer, baseball player and coach
July 31
* Chris Ahrens, ice hockey player
* Michael Wolff, jazz pianist

August

August 2 – Art James, MLB baseball outfielder
August 8
* Mike Ivie, baseball player
* Robin Quivers, African American radio personality
August 9 – Vicki Morgan, model
August 10
* Daniel Hugh Kelly, actor
* Brison Manor, American football player
August 11 – Bob Mothersbaugh, rock composer and guitarist
August 12 – Daniel Biles, associate justice of the Kansas Supreme Court
August 13
* Gary Gibbs, football coach
* Herb Ritts, photographer
August 16 – Gianna Rolandi, soprano
August 18 – Patrick Swayze, actor
August 24
* Bob Corker, U.S. Senator from Tennessee from 2007 to 2019
* Carlo Curley, organist and educator
* Brian Muehl, puppeteer
* Mike Shanahan, American football player and coach
August 25 – Charles M. Rice, virologist, Nobel Prize recipient
August 26 – Michael Jeter, actor
August 27
* Paul Reubens, actor, writer and comedian
* Roger Stone, lobbyist
August 28 – Rita Dove, poet and essayist
August 31 – Lee Hyla, composer

September

September 1 – Michael Massee, actor
September 19
* Nile Rodgers, musician
* George Warrington, president of Amtrak ; executive director of NJ Transit
September 22 – Bob Goodlatte, U.S. Congressman from Virginia
September 23 – Jim Morrison, baseball player
September 24
* Joseph Patrick Kennedy II, politician
* Mark Sandman, rock musician, artist
September 25
* bell hooks, author, academic, and activist
* Jimmy Garvin, professional wrestler
* Christopher Reeve, actor and activist
September 29 – Max Sandlin, politician

October

October 2 – Robin Riker, actress and author
October 13
* Michael R. Clifford, astronaut and army officer
* Mundo Earwood, country music singer, songwriter
* Beverly Johnson, African-American model, actress and businesswoman
October 14
* Harry Anderson, actor, comedian, and magician
* Rick Aviles, actor
October 16 – Ron Taylor, actor
October 18
* Andy Johnson, American football player
* Chuck Lorre, sitcom creator
October 21 – Patti Davis, actress and author
October 22
* Julie Dash, director, producer and screenwriter
* Jeff Goldblum, actor, a spouse of actress Geena Davis
* Greg Hawkes, musician
October 24
* Jane Fancher, author and illustrator
* Mark Gray, country singer, songwriter
* Peter Smagorinsky, theorist and educator
* Reggie Walton, baseball player
* David Weber, science-fiction and fantasy author

November

November 2 – Laurence D. Fink, business investor
November 3 – Jim Cummings, voice actor
November 5 – Bill Walton, basketball player and sportscaster
November 7 – David Petraeus, U.S. Army general
November 8
* Alfre Woodard, actress
* Jerry Remy, baseball player and broadcaster
November 9 – Sherrod Brown, U.S. Senator from Ohio from 2007 to 2025
November 12 – Ronald Burkle, entrepreneur
November 14
* Bill Farmer, voice actor, comedian and impressionist
* Maggie Roswell, actress
November 15 – Randy Savage, professional wrestler also known as Macho Man
November 19 – Stephen Soldz, psychoanalyst and activist
November 27 – Buddy Rose, professional wrestler
November 30
* Keith Giffen, comic book writer, artist
* Mandy Patinkin, American actor and singer
* Henry Selick, filmmaker and animator

December

December 1 – Ellen McLain, singer and voice actress
December 2
*Peter Kingsbery, singer, songwriter
*Rob Mounsey, keyboard player, composer and producer
*Carol Shea-Porter, social worker, academic and politician
December 6
*Chuck Baker, baseball player
*Joe Harris, American football player
*Craig Newmark, computer programmer and entrepreneur; founded Craigslist
*Jeff Schneider, baseball player
*David L. Spector, biologist and academic
December 7 – Susan Collins, U.S. Senator from Maine from 1997
December 13 – Junkyard Dog, pro wrestler
December 14 – William Hodgman, lawyer
December 20 – Ray Bumatai, musician, singer, recording artist and actor

Date unknown

Michael Nakoneczny, American artist

Deaths

January 8 – Antonia Maury, astronomer
January 18 – Curly Howard, vaudevillian
January 24 – Duke York, film actor
January 25 – Polly Moran, actress
January 26 – André Cheron, film actor
January 27 – Fannie Ward, actress
January 28 – Thomas Hicks, marathon runner
February 7
* Philip G. Epstein, screenwriter
* Pete Henry, American football player and coach
February 14
* Molly Malone, silent film actress
* John Sheehan, actor
February 21 – Francis Xavier Ford, Roman Catholic bishop, missionary, servant of God and reverend
March 1 – Gregory La Cava, film director
March 2 – Ole E. Benson, politician
March 12 – Hugh Herbert, actor and comedian
March 22 – Uncle Dave Macon, vaudeville banjoist
March 31
* Bo McMillin, American football player and coach
* Roland West, film director
* Wallace H. White, Jr., U.S. Senator from Maine
May 9 – Canada Lee, African American actor
May 10 – Clark L. Hull, psychologist
May 21 – John Garfield, screen actor
May 26 – Richard Rober, actor
May 27 – Bertha Fowler, educator
May 31 – George Magrill, film actor
June 1
* John Dewey, philosopher
* Malcolm St. Clair, filmmaker
June 6 – Thomas Walsh, Roman Catholic archbishop
June 10 – Frances Theodora Parsons, naturalist
June 13 – Emma Eames, soprano
June 17 – Jack Parsons, rocket engineer and occultist
June 25 – Luke Jordan, American blues singer and guitarist
June 27 – Elmo Lincoln, film actor
July 1 – A. S. W. Rosenbach, book collector
July 4 – Walter Long, film character actor
July 20 – Isabelle LaMal, film actress
July 22 – Harry Carter, silent film actor
July 26 – Edward Ellis, actor
August 1 – Andrew Higgins, boatbuilder and industrialist
August 2
* Charles K. French, film actor, director and screenwriter
* J. Farrell MacDonald, film character actor and director
August 11 – Riccardo Martin, tenor
August 16 – Lydia Field Emmet, painter
August 30 – Arky Vaughan, baseball player
September 5 – Fernando Luis García, Puerto Rican marine, killed in action
September 9 – Jonas H. Ingram, admiral
September 23 – Ray Mala, Nastive American film actor
September 26 – George Santayana, philosopher, died in Italy
September 30 – Waldorf Astor, 2nd Viscount Astor, businessman and politician
October 11 – Jack Conway, film producer and director
October 17 – Julia Dean, actress
October 19 – Edward S. Curtis, photographer, ethnologist and film director
October 23 – Susan Peters, actress
October 24 – Frederick Jacobi, composer
October 26
* Myrtle McAteer, tennis player
* Hattie McDaniel, African American actress
November 1 – Dixie Lee, singer
November 6 – George H. Reed, African-American screen actor
November 8 – Hugh Prosser, film actor
November 10 – John Roche, actor
November 21 – William D. Upshaw, temperance leader
December 4 – Karen Horney, psychoanalyst
December 12 – Billy Cook, spree killer, executed
December 15 – Emmanuel Boleslaus Ledvina, Roman Catholic prelate, bishop and reverend
December 19 – Pehr G. Holmes, politician
December 29 – Fletcher Henderson, African American jazz bandleader and pianist
December 30 – Luke McNamee, admiral and Governor of Guam