On April 1, 1970, President Richard M. Nixon signed a
measure banning cigarette advertising on radio and
television, to take effect after Jan. 1, 1971.
Nixon, who was an avid pipe smoker, indulging in as
many as eight bowls a day, supported the legislation
at the increasing insistence of public health advocates.
SANDY KOZEL
Alexander Hamilton (January 11, 1755 or 1757 – July 12, 1804)
Alexander Hamilton Monument in
Central Park, New York City.
Television and movie actor William Talman, best known for playing
Los Angeles District Attorney Hamilton Burger in the CBS television
series Perry Mason (Sept. 21, 1957 – May 22, 1966).
Talman is also known for being the first actor in Hollywood to film an
antismoking public service announcement for the American Cancer
Society. A lifelong heavy smoker, he was diagnosed with lung cancer,
and knew he was dying when he filmed the commercial.
The short film began with the words: “Before I die, I want to do what I can
to leave a world free of cancer for my six children. Talman requested that
the commercial not be aired until after his death.
William Talman as seen in a 1957 episode of Perry Mason.
SANDY KOZEL
On this day in 1964, U.S. Surgeon General Luther Terry (above)
released a report that said that smoking cigarettes was a definite
health hazard.
Amelia Earhart Putnam became the first woman to fly solo from
Wheeler Field in Honolulu, Hawaii to Oakland Airport in Oakland,
California on this day in 1935.
Amelia in Oakland, triumphant after the Hawaii-to-California flight.
Amelia Mary Earhart, (born July 24, 1897; disappeared July 2, 1937)
JOHN BELMONT
On this day in 1964, the U.S. Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin resolution, which gave President Johnson broad powers in dealing
with reported North Vietnamese attacks on U.S. forces.
U.S. forces landed at Guadalcanal on this day in 1942, marking the
start of the first major allied offensive in the Pacific during World
War II.
U.S. Marines rest in the field during the Guadalcanal campaign.
On this day in 1947, the balsa wood raft Kon-Tiki, which had carried
a six-man crew (below) 4,300 miles across the Pacific Ocean,crashed
into a reef in a Polynesian archipelago.
On this day in 2007, at the Giants home AT&T Park in San Francisco, Berry Bonds hit a 435 foot (133 m) home run, his 756th, off a pitch
from Mike Bacsik of the Washington Nationals, breaking the all-
time career home run record, formerly held by Hank Aaron. Bonds,
was indicted later that year on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice for allegedly lying under oath to a federal grand jury looking
into steroid use among pro athletes.
Barry Lamar Bonds turned 54 in July.
