CARLATA BRADLEY

On this day in 1986, the Ash-Shiraa, pro-Syrian Lebanese magazine,
first broke the story of U.S. arms sales to Iran to secure the release
of seven American hostages. The story turned into the Iran-Contra
affair.

Reagan meets with aides on the Iran-Contra affair.

President Ronald Reagan holds up a copy of the Tower Commission report on the Iran-Contra affair.

One of the 52 United States hostages is displayed to the crowd
outside the U.S. Embassy in Tehran by his captors, a few days
into their ordeal.

On this day in 1992, Carol Moseley-Braun became the first African-American woman U.S. senator.

Carol Elizabeth Moseley Braun turned 71 August 16.

MIKE GRACIA

On this day in 1948, Harry S. Truman defeated Thomas E. Dewey for
the U.S. presidency. The Chicago Tribune published an early edition
that had the headline "DEWEY DEFEATS TRUMAN." The Truman
victory surprised many polls and newspapers.

On this day in 1945, Howard Hughes flew his "Spruce Goose," a huge wooden airplane, for eight minutes in California. It was the plane’s
first and only flight and never went into production.

Take-off: Howard Hughes’ H-4, the "Spruce Goose." 

Hughes watches engineer Chal Bowen, October 31, 1947, two days before the flight as the radio operator looks on. Thirty-six people
were on board for the test flight.

Flight-deck seats, put in for military observers, seven guests from
the press corps and an additional seven industry representatives. 

On this day in 1959, Charles Van Doren, a game show contestant
on the NBC-TV program "Twenty-One" admitted that he had been
given questions and answers in advance.

Van Doren (at left) faces Herb Stempel (far right) on “Twenty-One,”
in 1956, under the eye of the show’s host, Jack Barry. Some fifty
million people watched the climax of their rivalry.

Charles Lincoln Van Doren turned 92 in February.

CARLATA BRADLEY

The Beirut barracks bombing was a terrorist attack that occurred on 
this day in 1983, in Beirut, Lebanon, during the Lebanese Civil War. It
involved two truck bombs striking buildings housing Multinational
Force in Lebanon (MNF) peacekeepers, specifically against United
States and French service members, killing 241 U.S. and 58 French peacekeepers, 6 civilians and the 2 suicide attackers. A group
called Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the bombings
and said that the attacks were to get the MNF out of Lebanon.       

President Ronald Reagan, first lady Nancy Reagan and Marine Commandant P.X. Kelley honor those killed in Beirut during a
Nov. 5, 1983, memorial service.

On this day in 1973, President Richard M. Nixon agreed to turn over
the subpoenaed White House tapes concerning the Watergate affair
to Judge Sirica and the House Judiciary Committee.

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Richard Nixon leaves the White House following his resignation over
the Watergate scandal.

TIM MAGUIRE

General Douglas MacArthur (center) fulfilled his promise to return
to the Philippines on this day in 1944 when an amphibious retaking
of the islands by allied forces took place.

It was on this day in 1977.

The Convair aircraft before the crash.

On this day in 1947, Hollywood came under scrutiny as the House
Un-American Activities Committee opened hearings into alleged Communist influence within the motion picture industry.

Hollywood stars (Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart in the lead) descend on the Capitol to lodge their note of protest against the
HUAC’s proceedings.

Photograph of HUAC hearing with actor Gary Cooper (far left).

SANDY KOZEL

President Clinton taking the oath before giving his testimony.

It was on this day in 1998, President Bill Clinton’s testimony in the
Monica Lewinsky scandal aired on television.

Clinton greets Lewinsky at a fundraiser before the scandal broke.

On this day in 1981, the U.S. Senate confirmed Sandra Day O’Connor
to be the first female justice on the U.S. Supreme Court.

Supreme Court Justice-nominee Sandra Day O’Connor talks with President Ronald Reagan outside the White House, July 15, 1981.

Sandra Day O’Connor turned 88 in March.

On this day in 1970, "NFL Monday Night Football" made its debut on ABC-TV. The game was between the Cleveland Browns and the New
York Jets. The Browns won 31-21.

From left to right: Howard Cosell, Keith Jackson and Don Meredith,
the original sportscasters for “Monday Night Football” at the first
game between the Jets and Browns.

Stephen Edwin King is 71 years old today.

Author Stephen King ‘s bestselling horror, science fiction,
and suspense novels include Carrie, The Shining, Misery,
and The Dark Tower series. His numerous literary honors
include a Bram Stoker Award, an O. Henry Award, and a
National Book Foundation Medal.

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From The shining (1980) starring Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall.