In a surprisingly low-key and carefully worded statement, President
Harry S. Truman (above) informed the American people that the
Soviets exploded a nuclear bomb. The Soviet accomplishment,
years ahead of what was thought possible by most U.S. officials,
caused a panic in the American government. 

The United States developed the atomic bomb during the latter
stages of World War II and dropped two bombs on Japan in August
1945.

On September 10, 1897, a 25-year-old London taxi driver named
George Smith becomes the first person ever arrested for drunk
driving after slamming his cab into a building. He later pleaded
guilty and was fined 25 shillings.

In the United States, the first laws against operating a motor
vehicle while under the influence of alcohol went into effect 
in New York in 1910.

CARLATA BRADLEY

During the 1972 Summer Olympics at Munich, in the early morning
of September 5, a group of Palestinian terrorists stormed the
Olympic Village apartment of the Israeli athletes, killing two and
taking nine others hostage. The terrorists were part of a group
known as Black September, in return for the release of the hostages,
they demanded that Israel release over 230 Arab prisoners being held
in Israeli jails and two German terrorists. In an ensuing shootout at the
Munich airport, the nine Israeli hostages were killed along with five
terrorists and one West German policeman. Olympic competition
was suspended for 24 hours to hold memorial services for the
slain athletes.

The modern United States receives its crowning star when President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a proclamation admitting Hawaii into the
Union as the 50th state (above). The president also issued an order
for an American flag featuring 50 stars arranged in staggered rows:
five six-star rows and four five-star rows. The new U.S. flag became
official July 4, 1960.