MIKE GRACIA

On this day in 1997, Dr. Martin Luther King JR’s son Dexter (left) 
met with James Earl Ray, the accused assassin of his father.

April 1968

It was on this day in 2002.

On this day in 1998, the FDA approved the prescription drug Viagra,
the first pill for male impotence.

Quentin Jerome Tarantino was born in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Film director, producer, and screenwriter Quentin Tarantino first received
acclaim for his 1990s crime films Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction and Jackie
Brown.  He dropped out of High School his freshman year to go to acting
school.

TIM MAGUIRE

On this day in 1963, Dallas nightclub owner Jack Ruby shot and
killed Lee Harvey Oswald live on national television.

On this day in 1859, Charles Darwin, a British naturalist, published
"On the Origin of Species." It was the paper in which he explained
his theory of evolution through the process of natural selection.

Hijacker Dan Cooper, known as D.B. Cooper, parachuted from a Northwest Airlines 727 over Washington state with $200,000
ransom money on this day in 1971.  

From left: Northwest Airlines First Officer Bill Rataczak, Captain Bill
Scott and Flight attendant Tina Mucklow talk to the media. 

Freddie Mercury of Queen died of AIDS complications at the age
of 45 on this day in 1991.

Farrokh "Freddie" Mercury (Bulsara)

TIM MAGUIRE

America’s Great Depression began with the crash of the Wall Street stock
market on this day in 1929.

On this day in 2004, Osama bin Laden (above) addressed the people of the
United States on Al-Jazeera television, excepting responsibility for the
September 11 attacks. Al-Jazeera did not say how it had obtained the tape.

Israel invaded Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula during the Suez Canal Crisis on this
day in 1956.

Leon Czolgosz (above) the assassin of U.S. President McKinley, was
electrocuted on this day in 1901.

A rendering of President William McKinley (white shirt) being shot by 
anarchist Leon Czolgosz during the Pan-American Exposition in
Buffalo, New York on September 21, 1901.

On this day in 1998, the space shuttle Discovery blasted off with John Glenn
on board. Glenn was 77 years old. In 1962 he became the first American to
orbit the Earth.

MIKE GRACIA

It was on this day in 2005.

John Wilkes Booth

Public testimony at the Iran-Contra hearing began on this day in
1987 with National Security Council staff member Oliver North
testifying before a Congressional committee.  He was ultimately
indicted on 16 felony counts.

It was on this day in 1981, President Ronald Reagan announced
he was nominating Arizona Judge Sandra Day O’Connor to
become the first female justice on the U.S. Supreme Court.

Sandra Day O’Connor turned 81 in March.

Ringo Starr (Richard Starkey) is 77 years old today.

Ringo Starr was asked to join The Beatles after their drummer
Pete Best had a falling out with the band.

    
TIM MAGUIRE

The Prophet of Islam, Muhammad, is depicted in his death bed. He 
died on this day in 632.

James Earl Ray, alleged assassin of Martin Luther King, Jr was
captured and arrested at London’s  Heathrow Airport on this day
in 1967.

Thirty four U.S. Navy crewmen were killed. Israel apologized for
the attack, saying that the USS Liberty had been attacked in error
after being mistaken for an Egyptian ship. 

Both the Israeli and U.S. governments conducted inquiries and
issued reports that concluded the attack was a mistake due to
Israeli confusion about the ship’s identity.
        
        
 
        
       

The damaged USS Liberty after the attack.

The New York Yankees retired Mickey Mantle’s number (7) on
this day in 1969.

Mickey Mantle giving his speech the day his number was retired.

Mickey Charles Mantle (October 20, 1931 – August 13, 1995)