"We Interrupt This Broadcast" Trivia Quiz

Answer: October 28, 1962

The thirteen day crisis began in the early morning hours of October 16, 1962 when President Kennedy was awakened and shown pictures of nuclear missile sites in Cuba. On October 18, Soviet Minister Andrei Gomyko said the missiles were only defensive. October 21, President Kennedy set up a quarantine plan banning any ships and planes from sending weapons into Cuba. On October 28, the Soviet Premier ordered all weapons out of Cuba in exchange for Cuba's safety against U.S. invasion.

The U.S. also gave up its bases in Turkey.

Answer: August 16, 1977

Elvis Presley was forty-two when he died in his bathroom at Graceland. He was found by his girlfriend Ginger Alden in the early afternoon of August 16 when she realized he hadn't returned from the bathroom after getting up that morning.

Answer: April 12, 1945

On April 9, Lucy Mercer, Franklin's mistress, joined Franklin at their home in Georgia as he was having his portrait painted. While a painter worked on the portrait, President Roosevelt worked on a speech. On April 12, after having lunch the President spoke of being ill.

He collapsed while holding his head. His last words were telling everyone he had a terrible headache. His death was caused by a cerebral hemorrhage.

Answer: April 30, 1975

On January 27, a peace treaty was signed between U.S. and North Vietnam. After Nixon resigned in 1974, President Gerald Ford took over the evacuation of Saigon. On April 30, President Ford ordered all Americans to be helicoptered out of the embassy in Saigon. Televisions everywhere showed the chaos as Americans boarded helicopters to leave the country.

Then-NBC reporter Robert Wiener reported from inside Saigon as chaos erupted.

Answer: October 3, 1995

On the night of June 13, 1994, Nicole Simpson and Ron Goldman were murdered outside her 'condo'. O. J. Simpson was arrested and charged with murder. His trial began on January 24, 1995. On October 3 of that year, O. J. Simpson was found not guilty on the charge of murder.

Answer: February 20, 1962

It took John Glenn three hours and fifty five minutes to orbit Earth's atmosphere three times in "Friendship 7". Orbiting Earth had never been accomplished by any American until John Glenn.

Answer: March 30, 1981

President Reagan was shot outside the Hilton Hotel by John Hinckley, Jr. After seeing Jodie Foster in "Taxi Driver", Hinckley became obsessed with her and thought if he killed President Reagan it would impress her. Hinckley's bullet ricocheted off the car and struck Reagan, but did not kill him.

However, a bullet did paralyze Press Secretary James Brady. The first reports that came out about the assassination were President Reagan fine but that Brady was dead. Deputy Press Secretary Lyn Nofziger revealed in a press conference that President Reagan had been shot and Brady was in critical condition. Hinckley was sent to a high security psychiatric hospital for the attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan.

Answer: January 28, 1986

Seven astronauts, including high school teacher Christa McAuliffe, boarded the Challenger en route for space. As it lifted high into the air, the ship exploded seventy-four seconds into its ninth mission. Thousands of people watched the mid-air explosion, including Christa's parents and sister. That night President Reagan spoke, referring to the crew as brave.

The explosion was found to have been caused by a faulty O-ring. The next space shuttle launch didn't happen for two and a half years.

Answer: August 31, 1997

Princess Diana won over the hearts of everyone she met, but at 4 a.m. the morning of August 31, 1997, Princess Diana was pronounced dead after a freak car accident in Paris. Her funeral on September 6, 1997 was attended by 2,000 people while millions more watched from their television sets at home.

Answer: October 4, 1957

Sputnik (meaning traveling companion) was launched by Russia on October 4, 1957 weighing 184.3 pounds. One month later, Russia launched Sputnik II.