useless trivia: What Word Means: A Shin-guard - A Plant Part That Forms A Sheath?

Questions

In 1939 William ---------- Yeats Irish poet, dies in France at 73.?

In 1958 Construction began on 1st private ---------- nuclear reactor.?

In 1961 Republic of ---------- proclaimed.?

In 1980 Jimmy ---------- NYC, comedian (Jimmy Durante Show), dies at 86.?

In 1986 Christa McAuliffe, Dr Judith Arlene Resnik, Ellison S Onizuka, Francis R Scobee, Michael J Smith and Ronald E McNair, die in the ---------- Space shuttle disaster.?