Marion Gordon "Pat" Robertson
(March 22, 1930 – June 8, 2023) 

Religious broadcaster, political commentator, presidential
candidate, and Southern Baptist minister, Robertson
founded the Christian Broadcasting Network in 1960 and
was host of “The 700 Club for more than 50 years, died at
his home in Virginia. He was 93.

On this day in history, June 8, 1969, the New York Yankees
retired slugger Mickey Mantle’s number — No. 7 — in front
of some 61,000 Major League baseball fans at the sold-out
stadium. People cheered both their approval of the player’s
athletic accomplishments and their likely dismay that he had
chosen to step away from a remarkable career. 

Yankees Mickey Mantle during his number retirement
ceremony at Yankee Stadium.

Mickey (“the Mick”) Charles Mantle
(October 20, 1931 – August 13, 1995)

First-edition cover

George Orwell’s novel of a dystopian future, 1984, was
published on June 8, 1949. The novel’s all-seeing leader,
known as “Big Brother,” became a universal symbol for
intrusive government and oppressive bureaucracy.

George Orwell (Eric Arthur Blair ) who was born in India,
the son of a British civil servant.

Eric Arthur Blair
(25 June 1903 – 21 January 1950)