Soviet hard-liners announced that President Mikhail Gorbachev had been removed from power on this day in 1991. Gorbachev returned to power two days later.
Adolf Hitler was approved for sole executive power in Germany as Fuehrer on this day in 1934.
Francis Gary Powers (far right) an American U-2 pilot, was convicted of espionage in Moscow on this day in 1960.
Will Rogers and Wiley Post were killed in a plane crash near Point Barrow, AK.on this day in 1935. Post and American humorist Will Rogers perished when the aircraft Post was piloting crashed on takeoff from a lagoon near Point Barrow in the Territory of Alaska.
Will Rogers (left) and Wiley Post before taking off for Alaska.
John Herbert Dillinger (June 22, 1903 – July 22, 1934)
John Dillinger was an American gangster in the Depression-era who was shot and killed by the special agents on July 22, 1934 at approximately 10:40 p.m, according to a New York Times report the next day. His death came only two months after the deaths of fellow notorious criminals Bonnie and Clyde.
A crowd formed at Chicago’s Biograph Theater shortly after Dillinger was killed there by FBI agents.
In northern Iraq on this day in 2003, Saddam Hussein’s sons Odai and Qusai died after a gunfight with U.S. forces.
The September 11 commission’s final report was released on this day in 2004. The 575-page report concluded that hijackers exploited "deep institutional failings within our government." The report was released to White House officials the day before.
The members of The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States.
Walter Frederick Morrison (January 16, 1920 – February 9, 2010)
Inventor and entrepreneur Walter ”Fred” Morrison introduced the Frisbee, as we know it today, on this day in 1957. It was originally called the Flyin-Saucer.
William Frisbie opened the Frisbie Pie Company in 1871 in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Students from nearby universities discovered that the empty pie tins (above) could be tossed and caught, providing endless hours of game and sport.
On this day in 1776, Richard Henry Lee’s resolution to break away from Britain was adopted by the Continental Congress.
On this day in 1964, U.S. President Johnson signed the "Civil Rights Act of 1964" into law. The act made it illegal in the United states to discriminate against others because of their race.
On this day in 1937, American aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart disappeared in the Central Pacific during an attempt to fly around the world at the equator.
Winston Churchill rallies Britain during World War 2 with his famous "finest hour" speech on this day in 1940.
On this day in 1815, at the Battle of Waterloo Napoleon was defeated by an international army under the Duke of Wellington. Napoleon abdicated on June 22.
The War of 1812 began as the U.S. declared war against Great Britain on this day in 1812. The conflict began over trade restrictions and numerous other disputes between the two countries.
On this day in 1928, Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean when she flew from Newfoundland to Wales.
Dr. Sally Ride became the first American woman in space aboard the space shuttle Challenger on this day in 1983.
Sally Kristen Ride (May 26, 1951 – July 23, 2012)
Sir James Paul McCartney is 76 years old today.
Singer and multi-instrumentalist of The Beatles, Paul McCartney wrote such hit songs for the band as "Penny Lane," "Blackbird" and "Eleanor Rigby." After his time with The Beatles he formed the band Wings and embarked upon a solo career. He has earned 21 Grammy Awards across his career.
