On August 6, 1960, the revolutionary government of Cuba, led by Fidel Castro, took a dramatic step that would deepen the rift between the island nation and the United States. In a sweeping decree, Castro’s regime nationalized all American and other foreign-owned property in…
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On the morning of August 6, 1945, a single American B-29 bomber—Enola Gay—emblazoned with the name of the pilot’s mother, took off from the island of Tinian in the western Pacific. Its mission, cloaked in secrecy and unprecedented in history, was to bring a…
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On August 6, 1926, Gertrude Ederle made history by becoming the first woman to swim across the English Channel. This remarkable achievement not only shattered records but also broke gender barriers in the world of sports, proving that determination and perseverance know no bounds.…
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On August 5, 1981, President Ronald Reagan took decisive action that would become one of the most consequential labor decisions in American history. With the stroke of a pen and the full force of executive leadership, Reagan fired 11,359 air traffic controllers who had…
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American Bandstand, a television program that had a profound impact on American culture and the music industry, made its national debut on August 5, 1957. Originally a local show called “Bandstand,” it began airing in 1952 in Philadelphia on WFIL-TV. The show was hosted…
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On August 5, 1926, the greatest magician and escape artist of all time conducted his most incredible performance. Renowned for his incredible feats and death-defying stunts, Houdini secured his legendary status at the Sheraton Hotel pool in New York City by performing his Water…
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On August 4, 1914, the contours of what would become the First World War changed dramatically as three pivotal nations made their positions unmistakably clear. In response to Germany’s invasion of neutral Belgium, both Belgium and the British Empire formally declared war on the…
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On August 3, 1949, a meeting in New York City changed the course of American sports history. Officials from the Basketball Association of America (BAA) and the National Basketball League (NBL), two rival professional basketball circuits, agreed to a merger that would create the…
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On August 2, 1923, the United States suddenly had a new president. The 29th President of the United States, Warren G. Harding’s unexpected death brought an abrupt end to his term in office and left a profound impact on the nation. Harding’s tenure as…
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On August 2, 1790, the United States of America took its first count of the population. The U.S. Constitution ratified in 1789, mandated that a census be conducted to enumerate the people to apportion seats in the House of Representatives and assess direct taxes…
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