March 1959 - March 18, 1959 (Wednesday)

March 18, 1959 (Wednesday)

• U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the Hawaii Statehood Bill into law at a White House ceremony, but the process of admission was not over. "Under this legislation," said Ike, "the citizens of Hawaii will soon decide whether their islands shall become our 50th state." Voters still had to elect new officials and decide on whether to accept all of the bill's provisions, with statehood conditioned on Palmyra Island not being included.
• Born: Luc Besson, French film director (The Fifth Element), in Paris, and Irene Cara, American singer (Fame), in New York