At 9:32 a.m. EDT, Apollo 11, the first U.S. lunar landing mission,
was launched on a historic journey to the surface of the moon.
After traveling 240,000 miles in 76 hours, Apollo 11 entered into
a lunar orbit on July 19.
The crew of Apollo 11, from left, Neil Armstrong, Michael
Collins and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin in 1969. NASA/AP.
On July 15, 1978, the “Longest Walk”—a 2,800-mile trek for
Native American justice that had started with several hundred
marchers in California in California—ended in Washington,
D.C., accompanied by thousands of supporters.
The intent of the event was to call attention to issues affecting
Native Americans, such as a lack of jobs and housing, and
legislation before Congress that could dramatically change
their rights.
On July 14th, 1946, at the dawn of the post-World War II baby
boom, Dr. Benjamin Spock published The Common Sense
Book of Baby and Child Care. It would become a foundational
work on the topic of parenting, transforming how generations
of children were raised.
The book, which has sold more than 50 million copies and
been translated into more than 50 languages, stands as one
of the best-selling nonfiction works of the 20th century.
The book’s premise told mothers, "You know more than you
think you do."
Benjamin McLane Spock (May 2, 1903 – March 15, 1998)
In Los Angeles, California, Senator John F. Kennedy of
Massachusetts was nominated for the presidency by the
Democratic Party Convention, defeating Senator Lyndon
B. Johnson of Texas. The next day, Johnson was named
Kennedy’s running mate by a unanimous vote of the
convention.
Four months later, on November 8, Kennedy won 49.7
percent of the popular vote in one of the closest elections
for president in U.S. history, surpassing by a fraction the
49.6 percent received by Vice President Richard M. Nixon,
a Republican.
CAMILLE BOHANNON
William Henry Cosby Jr. is a former comedian, actor, spokesman,
and media personality. He performed over a period of decades in
film, television, and stand-up comedy, with his longest-running
live-action role being that of Cliff Huxtable in the NBC sitcom
The Cosby Show (1984-1992). He also released several stand-
up comedy albums. Cosby still holds the record earning the
most Grammy Awards for Best Comedy Album with seven
wins.
