The State of Vietnam referendum held on 23 October 1955 determined the future form of government of the State of Vietnam, the nation that was to become South Vietnam. It was contested by Prime Minister Ngô Đình Diệm (pictured), who proposed a republic, and former emperor Bảo Đại, the head of state. Diệm won the election, which was widely marred by electoral fraud, with 98.2% of the vote. In the capital Saigon, Diệm was credited with more than 600,000 votes, although only 450,000 people were on the electoral roll. He accumulated tallies in excess of 90% of the registered voters, even in rural regions where opposition groups prevented voting. The referendum was the last phase in the power struggle between Bảo Đại and his prime minister. In the period leading up to the vote, campaigning for Bảo Đại was banned, while Diệm's election campaign used personal attacks against him, including pornographic cartoons and rumours that he was illegitimate. Bảo Đại was attacked by the government-controlled media, and police went door-to-door, warning people of the consequences of failing to vote. After his brother Ngô Đình Nhu successfully rigged the poll, Diệm proclaimed himself president.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_of_Vietnam_referendum,_1955

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1833:

With the arrival of two British naval ships at the Falkland Islands, the United Kingdom re-asserted sovereignty there. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reassertion_of_British_sovereignty_over_the_Falkland_Islands_(1833)

1848:

Joseph Jenkins Roberts began his term as the first President of Liberia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Jenkins_Roberts

1946:

Canadian-American jockey George Woolf (pictured), who rode Seabiscuit to a famous victory over War Admiral in 1938, was fatally injured when he fell from his horse during a race. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Woolf

1961:

Twenty-five people died in Finland's worst civilian air accident when Aero Flight 311 crashed near Kvevlax. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aero_Flight_311

1973:

American businessman George Steinbrenner and a group of investors bought the New York Yankees professional baseball team for US$8.7 million. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Yankees

1996:

The Motorola StarTAC, the first clamshell mobile phone, was released and went on to become one of the first mobile phones to gain widespread consumer adoption. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorola_StarTAC

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

cacophonous: Containing, consisting of, or producing harsh, unpleasant or discordant sounds. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/cacophonous

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

We must not say every mistake is a foolish one. --Cicero https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Cicero