The USS Nautilus (above), the world’s first nuclear submarine,was commissioned by the U.S. Navy.

The Nautilus was constructed under the direction of U.S. Navy
Captain Hyman G. Rickover, a Russian-born engineer who
joined the U.S. atomic program in 1946. In 1947, he was put in
charge of the navy’s nuclear-propulsion program and began work
on an atomic submarine. 

In 1952, the Nautilus‘ keel was laid by President Harry S. Truman,
and on January 21, 1954, first lady Mamie Eisenhower broke a
bottle of champagne across its bow as it was launched into the
Thames River at Groton, Connecticut.

For the first time in U.S. history, a debate between major party
presidential candidates is shown on television.

The presidential hopefuls, John F. Kennedy, a Democratic senator
of Massachusetts and Richard M. Nixon, the vice president of
the United States, met in a Chicago studio to discuss U.S.
domestic matters.

TIM MAGUIRE

Actor/Producer Michael Douglas is 77 years old
today.

CAMILLE
BOHANNON

Patricia Campbell Hearst (born February 20, 1954)

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.