Another day of contrasts, this February 27th in 1960. News of the day reported President Eisenhower arriving in Buenos Aires, Argentina on his tour of South America. Crowds were enthusiastic on the whole in Argentina, save for earlier incidents of riots and flag burning protests the night before. All was swept neatly under the carpet by parade time.

The big news from Buckingham Palace was Princess Margaret and photographer Anthony Armstrong-Jones were engaged to be married. Since Britain loves a good wedding, the whole country got excited when word got out.

Not such exciting upbeat news from the border of Lebanon and Israel where UAR troops were massed on the border and grumblings from Syria and Egypt that trouble was just hours away.

Meanwhile, back home. The Senate was heading into its 11th day of debate over the Civil Rights Bill with observations that the debate would go on continuously for weeks, only taking time out for Sundays.

Speaking of Civil Rights, Lunchcounter demonstrations were back in the news again in the South with promises of more on the way.

From the Red Scare/Cold War Department - Pentagon think tanks were reporting the possibility of a new more deadly missile system being developed by Moscow. The GRBM (Global Range Ballistic Missile) system was capable of a 10-15,000 mile range hitting just about anywhere in the world and that our defense system just wasn't up to the task of warning us in time. More nerves. Charges were also being leveled in some circles that Communism was rampant in U.S. Churches, particularly the Protestants. That one raise a few eyebrows.

And if all that weren't enough, Government buildings in Washington were the target of a veritable cloud of Pigeons and Starlings, bent on screeching and crapping on every ledge around Capitol Hill. The problem was so bad it prompted legislators to appropriate funds to install electric ledges to ward off the Aviary miscreants. All living things are capable of editorial opinions, it seems.

And so went this slice of life for February 27th 1960 as reported on the NBC World News Roundup

News on this particular February 8th was ominous. The Japanese had stepped up their assault on Singapore with increased air attacks on the city. It was an omen for things to come as the Allies were bracing for new loses, especially in the Pacific region. Feelers were put out to Russia for military assistance, but they had their own set of problems to deal with on the Eastern front.

U.S. shipping was suffering with 20 ships sunk so far in coastal waters and reports of an oil tanker torpedoed earlier on this day.

Domestically - reports were coming in of tremendous financial windfalls for companies getting defense contracts and there were rumors the Dairy Farmers were going to unionize. All adding to the headaches of running a war.

And speaking of war - the nation was switching to War Time as of this day with clocks moving one hour ahead and would stay that way for the duration. We usually call it Daylight Savings Time, but this was going to be permanent, at least for the time.

And that's how the news went seventy years ago on this February 8th in 1942 as reported by NBC and their Morning News Roundup.