President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd president, signed the Social Security bill into law on this day in history, Aug. 14, 1935. He did so a mere 14 months after he sent a special message to Congress on June 8, 1934, that promised a plan for social insurance as a safeguard “against the hazards and...
American cooking expert, television personality and cookbook author Julia Child died on this day in history, Aug. 13, 2004, in Santa Barbara, California. Known for her promotion of traditional French cuisine, especially through her programs on public television, Child taught millions of Americans how to cook and helped elevate the nation’s culinary standards, according to...
Thomas Alva Edison, the Wizard of Menlo Park whose genius ushered in a new era of light and sound for humankind, invented the phonograph at his New Jersey laboratory on this day in history, Aug. 12, 1877. It was the earliest version of the record turntable that became the predominant form of music media in...
The iconic British comedy musical film, “A Hard Day’s Night,” was released on this day in history, Aug. 11, 1964, and starred the Beatles in their first feature movie. The movie was released during the height of Beatlemania as well as the British Invasion, and “A Hard Day’s Night” is widely considered a classic, according...
The Declaration of Independence, the most consequential and perhaps most heroic challenge to authority in human annals, reached the ear of King George III in London on this day in history, August 10, 1776. The Second Continental Congress voted for Independence on July 2, the day the Founding Fathers expected succeeding generations to celebrate. The...
Henry David Thoreau’s nonfiction classic “Walden, or A Life in the Woods” was first published on this day in history, on Aug. 9, 1854. “Walden” is about the virtues of simple living and self-sufficiency in a modern world. It was inspired by the two years and two months Thoreau spent living in a small cabin...
President Richard Nixon, the 37th U.S. president, announced he would be resigning from the office on this day in history, Aug. 8, 1974. In a speech delivered to the nation from the Oval Office, Nixon said his resignation would go into effect “at noon tomorrow.” On August 9, Gerald Ford would assume the presidency as...
Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl and his crew arrived in Polynesia after 101 days at sea aboard the Kon-Tiki raft on this day in history, August 7, 1947. Hyderdahl, along with five crewmen (and one parrot), left Callao, Peru, aboard the Kon-Tiki, a balsawood raft, on April 28, 1947. Heyerdahl was attempting to prove that it...
One of America’s most beloved redheads, Lucille Ball, the adored comic actress, was born on this day in history, Aug. 6, 1911, in Jamestown, New York, as Biography.com and other sources have noted. Her parents were Henry Durrell Ball, an electrician, and Desiree Ball. The family moved around due to her father’s employment, and tragically,...
Iconic Hollywood movie star Marilyn Monroe was found dead in her Los Angeles home at age 36 on this day in history, August 5, 1962. The actress was discovered face down and lying nude on her bed holding a telephone in one hand, according to History.com. Scattered throughout her room were empty pill bottles; the...
