CARLATA BRADLEY

It was on this day in Seneca Falls.

It was on this day in 1993.

Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT), the official United States policy on gays serving
in the military was announced by President Bill Clinton (below). It allowed
closeted members of the military to serve, while prohibiting those in the
military who were openly gay to serve. Prior to “don’t ask, don’t tell,” there
had been an outright ban on gays in the military.

Apollo 11 entered lunar orbit on this day in 1969.

Daedalus Crater was one of the sights seen as Apollo 11’s command module passed over the far side of the moon.

Baseball’s career hit leader Pete Rose (left) was sentenced on this
day in 1990 to five months in a Federal correctional institution for
filing false income-tax returns. The sentence did not permit parole,
so Rose would serve the full term.

Peter Edward Rose Sr. also known by his nickname "Charlie
Hustle", turned 77 on April 14.

A total 55 countries joined the boycott of the opening ceremony
in Moscow which began on this day in 1980.

CAMILLE BOHANNON

Roman Emperor Gaius Julius Caesar (July 12, 100 BC – March 15, 44 BC)

On this day in 1984, Democratic presidential candidate Walter F.
Mondale named U.S. Rep. Geraldine A. Ferraro of New York to be
his running mate. Ferraro was the first woman to run for vice
president on a major party ticket.

Russian republic president Boris N. Yeltsin (above) announced
his resignation from the the Soviet Communist Party on this day
in 1990.

George Eastman (July 12, 1854 – March 14, 1932)

George Eastman was an American entrepreneur who
founded the Eastman Kodak Company and popularized
the use of roll film, helping to bring photography to the
mainstream.

George Eastman taking pictures with his Kodak
camera, 1926.

Oscar Greeley Clendenning Hammerstein II 
(July 12, 1895 – August 23, 1960)

Oscar Hammerstein was an American music writer,
theatrical producer, and (usually uncredited) theatre
director of musicals for almost forty years. He won
eight Tony Awards and two Academy Awards for
Best Original Song.

SANDY KOZEL

On this day in 1940, the 114-day Battle of Britain began during World
War II.

The Telstar Communications satellite was launched on this day
in 1962. It relayed TV and telephone signals between Europe and
the U.S.

Millard Fillmore (January 7, 1800 – March 8, 1874)

Following Zachary Taylor’s death, Millard Fillmore (above)
became the 13th President of the United States on this day
in 1850. He was the last member of the Whig Party to hold
the office of president.

Zachary Taylor (November 24, 1784 – July 9, 1850)

The identity and source of Taylor’s illness are the subject
of historical speculation, although it is known that Taylor
and several of his cabinet members had come down with
similar intestinal ailments on July 4, 1850, while attending
holiday celebrations during a fund-raising event.

Shamil Salmanovich Basayev
(January 14, 1965 – July 10, 2006) 

Basayev was a Chechen militant Islamist and
a leader of the Chechen movement.

He was killed by an explosion on July 10,
2006.  Controversy still surrounds who was
responsible for his death.

Folk singer/songwriter Arlo Davy Guthrie is 71 years older today.

Like his father, Woody Guthrie, he is known for singing songs of protest
against social injustice, and storytelling around a song.

Voice actor/comedian Melvin Jerome Blanc
(May 30, 1908 – July 10, 1989)

Having earned the nickname The Man of a Thousand Voices, Blanc is
regarded as one of the most influential people in the voice acting
industry.

Mel Blanc died of advanced coronary artery disease on this day in
1989 at Cedars-Sinai, at the age of 81.

Mel Blanc at the KGW radio studio in Portland,
Oregon, circa 1948.

SANDY KOZEL

On this day in 1947, the engagement of Britain’s Princess Elizabeth
to Lt. Philip Mountbatten was announced.
 

On this day in 1997, Mike Tyson was banned from the boxing ring
and fined $3 million for biting the ear of opponent Evander Holyfield
during their bout on June 22, 1997 (below).

Actor Rodney Stephen Steiger
(April 14, 1925 – July 9, 2002)

Cited as "one of Hollywood’s most charismatic
and dynamic stars", Steiger died of pneumonia
and kidney failure as a result of complications
from surgery for a gall bladder tumor on July 9,
2002, in Los Angeles. He was 77.

Rod Steiger in 1969

Rod Steiger received his third Oscar nomination and won
his only Oscar for playing Gillespie, a police chief in the
1969 film The Heat of the Night (1967).

Popular actor Thomas Jeffrey Hanks is 62 today.

Legendary actor Tom Hanks has won back-to-back Academy Awards for
Best Actor for his roles in Philadelphia in 1993 and Forrest Gump in
1994. He has starred in many other classics, including Cast Away 
(2000), The Green Mile (1999), Saving Private Ryan (1998), and Apollo
13 (1995).

1986

MIKE GRACIA

It was on this day in 2005.
    
    
    
    
   

It was on this day in 1865.

John Wilkes Booth (May 10, 1838 – April 26, 1865)

Public testimony at the Iran-Contra hearing began on this day in 1987 with testimony from Oliver North.

Oliver Laurence North will be 75 in October.

On this day in 1981, United States President Reagan announced he
was nominating Arizona Judge Sandra Day O’Connor to become the
first female justice on the U.S. Supreme Court.

President Ronald W. Reagan talks with Supreme Court nominee
Sandra Day O’Conner at the White House on July 15, 1981.

Former Beatle drummer Ringo Starr (Sir Richard Starkey) is 78 today.