CAMILLE
BOHANNON

More than 6,000 people were killed when a magnitude 7.2 earthquake 
hit the city of Kobe, Japan on this day in 1995. It was the most severe 
earthquake to affect that region this century. The economic loss as a result of this earthquake is estimated to reach $200 billion.

Benjamin Franklin (January 17, 1706 – April 17, 1790)

Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the
United States. He was a leading author, printer, political
theorist, politician, freemason, postmaster, scientist,
inventor, humorist, civic activist, statesman, and
diplomat.

Benjamin Franklin wrote under the pseudonym Mrs. Silence
Dogood, and published provocative letters. He was the first
United States Ambassador to France, where he advocated
religious tolerance.

MIKE GRACIA

On  this day in 1962, United States President Kennedy went on radio
and television to inform the United States about his order to send U.S.forces to blockade Cuba. The blockade was in response to the discovery of Soviet missile bases on the island.

On this day in 1979, the ousted Shah of Iran, Mohammad Riza
Pahlavi was allowed into the U.S. for, what was called, life-
saving medical treatment, a decision made by then President
Jimmy Carter. This was one of the most controversial decisions
of post-World War Two foreign policy.

President Carter (left) raising a toast to the ousted Shah of Iran.

Admitting the deposed Shah of Iran to the U.S.triggered the Iranian hostage crisis, effecting American-Iranian relations.

A man holds a sign during a protest of the crisis in Washington, D.C..

TIM MAGUIRE

On this day in 1973, OPEC, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting
Countries began an oil-embargo against several countries including
the U.S. and Great Britain. The incident stemmed from Western
support of Israel when Egypt and Syria attacked the nation on
October 6, 1973. The embargo lasted until March of 1974.

An earthquake measuring 7.1 on the Richter Scale hit the San
Francisco Bay area in California. The quake caused about 67
deaths, 3,000 injuries, and damages up to $7 billion.

Photo of woman with seismograph drums showing the earthquake.

Loma Prieta Earthquake, Game 3, 1989 World Series.

On this day in 1777, American troops defeated British forces in
Saratoga, New York. It was the turning point in the American Revolutionary War.

SANDY KOZEL

On this day in 1933, aviator Wiley Post ended his around-the-world
flight. He had traveled 15,596 miles in 7 days, 18 hours and 45
minutes.

Wiley Hardeman Post
(November 22, 1898 – August 15, 1935)

The "Winnie Mae" a Lockheed Vega aircraft of Wiley Post, when it
was on display at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center.

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.

ROSS SIMPSON

The "St. Valentine’s Day Massacre" took place in Chicago, IL. on
this day in 1929.  Seven gangsters who were rivals of Al Capone
(below) were killed.

Alphonse Gabriel Capone (January 17, 1899 – January 25, 1947)

On this day in 1989, Iran’s Ayatollah Khomeini called on Muslims
to kill author Salman Rushdie (below).

Salman Rushdie’s fourth novel, The Satanic Verses (1988), was
the center of a major controversy, provoking protests from
Muslims in several countries.

On this day in 2002, former Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic began his defense against war crimes charges.

Dolly died on this day in 2003.

Dolly the Sheep is now a stuffed specimen, standing inside a glass
showcase at the National Museum in Edinburgh, Scotland.