SANDY KOZEL

Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli (May 3, 1469 – June 21 1527) 

Machiavelli was an Italian diplomat, politician, historian, philosopher,
humanist, and writer of the Renaissance period. He has often been
called the father of modern political science.

On this day in 1948, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that covenants prohibiting the sale of real estate to blacks and other minorities
were legally unenforceable.

In his debut at Yankee Stadium against the St. Louis Browns on
this day in 1936, the “$75,000 rookie”, Joe DiMaggio recorded a
triple and two singles in six plate appearances, showcasing that consistently sweet swing that fans would come to know and love.

He was the only Yankees player to get a hit off of Browns’ relief
pitcher Russ Van Atta that day, as New York defeated St. Louis,
14-5.
 

Peter Seeger (May 3, 1919 – January 27, 2014)

Pete Seeger had a string of hit records during the early 1950s as a member
of the Weavers, most notably their recording of Lead Belly‘s "Goodnight,
Irene", which topped the charts for 13 weeks in 1950. Members of the
Weavers were blacklisted during the McCarthy Era. In the 1960s, Seeger
re-emerged on the public scene as a prominent singer of protest music in
support of international disarmament, civil rights, counterculture, and environmental causes.

As a songwriter, Pete Seeger’s best-known songs include "Where Have
All the Flowers Gone?" (with Joe Hickerson), "If I Had a Hammer (The
Hammer Song)" (with Lee Hays of the Weavers), and "Turn! Turn! Turn!".

James Joseph Brown (May 3, 1933 – December 25, 2006)

Singer, songwriter, dancer, musician, record producer and bandleader,
James Brown is often referred to as the "Godfather of Soul". In a career
that lasted 50 years, he influenced the development of several music
genres. Brown began his career as a gospel singer in Toccoa, Georgia.

James Brown & The Famous Flames At The Apollo.

ROSS SIMPSON

On this day in 2003, President George W. Bush announced the end
of major combat in Iraq.

Francis Gary Powers’ U-2 spy plane was shot down over the Soviet
Union on this day in 1969. Powers was taken prisoner.

Francis Gary Powers (August 17, 1929 – August 1, 1977)

The Empire State Building in New York was dedicated and opened
on this day in 1931. At 102 stories tall, it was the tallest building        
in the world at the time.

The movie "Citizen Kane," directed and starring Orson Welles,
premiered in New York on this day in 1941. It was Welles’s first
feature film and was nominated for Academy Awards in nine
categories, it won an Academy Award for Best Writing (Original Screenplay) by Herman J. Mankiewicz and Welles. The film is
Considered  by many critics, filmmakers, and fans to be the
greatest film of all time.       


    
    
    
   

Elvis Presley and Priscilla Beaulieu were married on this day in 1967
and were together until 1973.

ROSS SIMPSON

Adolf Hitler and Eva Braun committed suicide on this day in 1945,
one day after their wedding. One week later Germany surrendered
unconditionally.

A Russian soldier is standing amid the rubble in Adolf Hitler’s
command bunker where he and wife Eva Braun were alleged
to have committed suicide.

Communists North Vietnamese troops entered the Independence
Palace of South Vietnam in Saigon on this day in 1975. Eleven
Marines lifted off of the U.S. Embassy were the last soldiers to
evacuate.

George Washington’s inauguration as first President of America took
place at Federal Hall in New York City on this day in 1789. It became
the first U.S. national holiday.

Federal Hall as it looks today.

On this day in 1803, the United States purchased the Louisiana
Territory from France for $15 million.

Depiction of the official signing of the Louisiana Purchase.

Willie Hugh Nelson was born in Abbott, Texas in 1933. He’s now 85.

Country singer, activist, poet, songwriter, actor, and author Willie Nelson
helped create Farm Aid. He has written many country hits, including
“ On the Road Again”,"Funny How Time Slips Away" and "Hello Walls."

Airman Willie Nelson

Willie Nelson’s guitar Trigger (Martin N-20 classical)

SANDY KOZEL

On this day in 1992, rioting began after a jury decision to acquit four
Los Angeles policemen (below) in the Rodney King beating trial. A
total of 54 people were killed in 3 days.

Rodney King, central figure in L.A. riots.

On this day in 1945, the Nazi death camp, Dachau, was liberated and
on the same day in a bunker in Berlin, Adolf Hitler and Eva Braun
(below) were married. 
    
    
    
   

President Nixon announced he was releasing edited transcripts of secretly made White House tape recordings related to the Watergate scandal.

Jerome Allen "Jerry" Seinfeld is 64 years old today. He was born in
Brooklyn, New York.

Stand-up comedian, producer, actor, and writer Jerry Seinfeld co-created
and starred in the NBC sitcom Seinfeld, which became one of the most
popular television comedies of all time, winning ten Emmy Awards during
its run which began in 1989 and aired for nine seasons. In 2012, he began
the internet comedy series Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, where he
chats with other comedians. 

Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974)

One of the jazz worlds most influential figures. He led his famed orchestra
from 1923 until his death. He called his music American Music, not jazz. He
helped compose more than 1,000 original pieces, many of which became
standards. Ellington was called Duke by his friends growing up because
his suave sophistication reminded them of a nobleman.

Kemal Amin "Casey" Kasem  (April 27, 1932 – June 15, 2014) Born in
Detroit, Michigan.

Casey Kasem was the famed disc jockey of American Top 40, a national radio
show from 1970 until his retirement in 2009. He also provided the voice of
“Shaggy” (below) in the animated Saturday morning TV series Scooby-Doo.