1978 : ALDO MORO FOUND DEAD:
On May 9, 1978, the body of former Italian prime minister Aldo Moro is
found, riddled by bullets, in the back of a car in the center of
historic Rome. He was kidnapped by Red Brigade terrorists on March 16
after a bloody shoot-out near his suburban home. The Italian
government refused to negotiate with the extreme left-wing group,
which, after numerous threats, executed Moro on May 9. He was a
five-time prime minister of Italy and considered a front-runner for
the presidency of Italy in elections due in December.
Aldo Moro was regarded by many as Italy's most capable post-World War
II politician. A centrist leader of the Christian Democratic Party, he
served five times as prime minister in the 1960s and 1970s and
promoted cooperation between Italy's disparate political parties. When
he formed his first cabinet in 1963, he included some Socialists, who
were thus participating in the Italian government for the first time
in 16 years. Moro last served as prime minister in 1976, and in
October 1976 became president of the Christian Democrats.
On March 11, 1978, he helped end a government crisis when he worked
out a parliamentary coalition between the Communist Party and the
dominant Christian Democrats. Just five days later, Mr. Moro's car was
attacked by a dozen armed Red Brigade terrorists. His five guards were
killed, and Moro was abducted and taken to a secret location. On March
18, the Red Brigade issued a communique claiming responsibility for
the kidnapping and stating that Moro would undergo a "people's trial."
The Red Brigade, established in 1970 by Italian Renato Curcio,
employed bombings, assassinations, kidnappings, and bank robberies as
a means of promoting communist revolution in Italy. The Italian
Communist Party, which supported democracy and participated in
Parliament, condemned the terrorist Red Brigade, and the Red Brigade
accused the Communist Party of being a pawn of the bourgeoisie. Renato
Curcio and 12 other Red Brigade members were on trial in Turin when
Moro was kidnapped, and legal proceedings were only briefly halted
after his abduction.
The Italian government declined to negotiate with the kidnappers,
claiming that such an action would undermine the state and throw Italy
into chaos. Some critics accused the Christian Democrats of yielding
to pressure from the Communist Party, whose leaders were even more
strongly opposed to a dialogue with the Red Brigade. Police and the
army arrested hundreds of suspected terrorists and scoured the country
looking for the "people's prison" where Moro was being held but failed
to find any solid clues.
On March 19 and April 4, letters apparently freely written by Moro
were delivered pleading with the government to negotiate. The
government attempted secret talks, but on April 15 the Red Brigade
rejected these negotiations and announced that Moro had been found
guilty in the people's trial and sentenced to death. Threats to
execute him led nowhere, and on April 24 the terrorists demanded the
release of 13 Red Brigade members held in Turin in exchange for Moro's
life. On May 7, Moro sent a farewell letter to his wife, saying, "They
have told me that they are going to kill me in a little while, I kiss
you for the last time." Two days later, his body was found on Via
Caetani, within 300 yards of the headquarters of the Christian
Democrats and 200 yards from the Communist Party headquarters.
According to a wish expressed by Moro during his abduction, no Italian
politicians were invited to his funeral. During the next decade, many
Red Brigade leaders and members were arrested, and the organization
was greatly weakened.
history.com/tdih.do
1671 : Captain Blood steals crown jewels
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=4984
1926 : Byrd flies over the North Pole?
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=4985
1960 : FDA approves the pill
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=4986
1997 : Former POW is ambassador to Vietnam
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=4987
#########################################
On May 9, 1978, the body of former Italian prime minister Aldo Moro is
found, riddled by bullets, in the back of a car in the center of
historic Rome. He was kidnapped by Red Brigade terrorists on March 16
after a bloody shoot-out near his suburban home. The Italian
government refused to negotiate with the extreme left-wing group,
which, after numerous threats, executed Moro on May 9. He was a
five-time prime minister of Italy and considered a front-runner for
the presidency of Italy in elections due in December.
Aldo Moro was regarded by many as Italy's most capable post-World War
II politician. A centrist leader of the Christian Democratic Party, he
served five times as prime minister in the 1960s and 1970s and
promoted cooperation between Italy's disparate political parties. When
he formed his first cabinet in 1963, he included some Socialists, who
were thus participating in the Italian government for the first time
in 16 years. Moro last served as prime minister in 1976, and in
October 1976 became president of the Christian Democrats.
On March 11, 1978, he helped end a government crisis when he worked
out a parliamentary coalition between the Communist Party and the
dominant Christian Democrats. Just five days later, Mr. Moro's car was
attacked by a dozen armed Red Brigade terrorists. His five guards were
killed, and Moro was abducted and taken to a secret location. On March
18, the Red Brigade issued a communique claiming responsibility for
the kidnapping and stating that Moro would undergo a "people's trial."
The Red Brigade, established in 1970 by Italian Renato Curcio,
employed bombings, assassinations, kidnappings, and bank robberies as
a means of promoting communist revolution in Italy. The Italian
Communist Party, which supported democracy and participated in
Parliament, condemned the terrorist Red Brigade, and the Red Brigade
accused the Communist Party of being a pawn of the bourgeoisie. Renato
Curcio and 12 other Red Brigade members were on trial in Turin when
Moro was kidnapped, and legal proceedings were only briefly halted
after his abduction.
The Italian government declined to negotiate with the kidnappers,
claiming that such an action would undermine the state and throw Italy
into chaos. Some critics accused the Christian Democrats of yielding
to pressure from the Communist Party, whose leaders were even more
strongly opposed to a dialogue with the Red Brigade. Police and the
army arrested hundreds of suspected terrorists and scoured the country
looking for the "people's prison" where Moro was being held but failed
to find any solid clues.
On March 19 and April 4, letters apparently freely written by Moro
were delivered pleading with the government to negotiate. The
government attempted secret talks, but on April 15 the Red Brigade
rejected these negotiations and announced that Moro had been found
guilty in the people's trial and sentenced to death. Threats to
execute him led nowhere, and on April 24 the terrorists demanded the
release of 13 Red Brigade members held in Turin in exchange for Moro's
life. On May 7, Moro sent a farewell letter to his wife, saying, "They
have told me that they are going to kill me in a little while, I kiss
you for the last time." Two days later, his body was found on Via
Caetani, within 300 yards of the headquarters of the Christian
Democrats and 200 yards from the Communist Party headquarters.
According to a wish expressed by Moro during his abduction, no Italian
politicians were invited to his funeral. During the next decade, many
Red Brigade leaders and members were arrested, and the organization
was greatly weakened.
history.com/tdih.do
1671 : Captain Blood steals crown jewels
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=4984
1926 : Byrd flies over the North Pole?
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=4985
1960 : FDA approves the pill
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=4986
1997 : Former POW is ambassador to Vietnam
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=4987
#########################################
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