16 October

All of these happened on 16 October, with the last prompting the satirical songwriter Tom Lehrer to declare that 'satire became obsolete' the day it happened. He never performed in public again.

Sadly for the urban myth-makers, the two were unconnected. 'I don't know how that got started,' Lehrer said in interview years later. 'For one thing, I quit long before that happened, so historically it doesn't make any sense. I've heard that quoted back to me, but I've also heard it quoted that I was dead, so there you are.'

I hold your hand in mine, dear,
I press it to my lips.
I take a healthy bite
From your dainty fingertips.

My joy would be complete, dear,
If you were only here,
But still I keep your hand
As a precious souvenir.