SANDY KOZEL

Central Pacific and Union Pacific Rail Roads meet in Promontory, UT. 
on this day in 1869. A golden spike was driven in the rail during the      
celebration of the first transcontinental railroad in the U.S.

The Nazis staged massive public book burnings in Germany on this
day in 1933. The books targeted for burning were those viewed as
being subversive or representing ideologies opposed to Nazism.

On this day in 1941, Rudolf Hess, Adolf Hitler’s deputy, parachuted
into Scotland on what he claimed was a peace mission.

Allied military and locals pose with the remains of Rudolph Hess’ Messerschmitt ME-110 after it crash-landed near the Scottish
village of Eaglesham.

Nelson Mandela made history by becoming the first black president
of South Africa after more than three centuries of white rule. He was sworn in to office on this day in 1994.

Convicted of 33 murders, John Wayne Gacy Jr. was sentenced to
death on March 13, 1980, for 12 of those killings. He spent 14 years
on death row before he was executed by lethal injection at Stateville Correctional Center on this day in 1994.  

Gacy during a TV interview in 1992.

Bono (Paul David Hewson) is 58 today. Born in Dublin, Ireland.

Bono is best known as the lead vocalist and primary lyricist of rock band U2
which earned over 20 Grammy Awards and has sold of 150 million records.

SANDY KOZEL

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved for sale an
oral birth-control pill for the first time on this day in 1960.

Chairman Newton N. Minow testifies before a Senate subcommittee.

Americans Richard Byrd (left) and Floyd Bennett (right) became the
first men to fly an airplane over the North Pole on this day in 1926.

Myron Leon "Mike" Wallace (May 9, 1918 – April 7, 2012)

Media personality Mike Wallace was a journalist, and game show
host. He interviewed a wide range of prominent newsmakers during
his seven decade career. He was one of the original correspondents
for CBS‘ 60 Minutes, which debuted in 1968. Wallace retired as a
regular full-time correspondent in 2006, but appeared occasionally
on the television series until 2008.

William Martin Joel is 69 years old today. He was born
in The Bronx, New York City.

Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter and pianist Billy
Joel gained fame for his song "Piano Man" and became the
third best-selling solo artist in the United States.

From 1973 to 2013, he wrote 33 top forty hits, including "Just
the Way You Are," which hit #3 in 1977.

He learned boxing to defend himself from bullies, and won 22
bouts in the amateur Golden Gloves circuit. He played the
piano at bars to help support his mother while in high school.

Frankie Valli (Francesco Stephen Castelluccio) was born in Newark,
New Jersey. 
       

Frankie Valli has been the front man with the Four Seasons since 1960. The
groups hits included "Big Girls Don’t Cry" and "Sherry." He was inducted
into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the Four Seasons. Frankie had 29
Top 40 hits with The Four Seasons and 9 more as a solo artist. Before fame,
Frankie Valli once worked as a barber until his singing career was able to
support him.

ROSS SIMPSON

Adolf Hitler and Eva Braun committed suicide on this day in 1945,
one day after their wedding. One week later Germany surrendered
unconditionally.

A Russian soldier is standing amid the rubble in Adolf Hitler’s
command bunker where he and wife Eva Braun were alleged
to have committed suicide.

Communists North Vietnamese troops entered the Independence
Palace of South Vietnam in Saigon on this day in 1975. Eleven
Marines lifted off of the U.S. Embassy were the last soldiers to
evacuate.

George Washington’s inauguration as first President of America took
place at Federal Hall in New York City on this day in 1789. It became
the first U.S. national holiday.

Federal Hall as it looks today.

On this day in 1803, the United States purchased the Louisiana
Territory from France for $15 million.

Depiction of the official signing of the Louisiana Purchase.

Willie Hugh Nelson was born in Abbott, Texas in 1933. He’s now 85.

Country singer, activist, poet, songwriter, actor, and author Willie Nelson
helped create Farm Aid. He has written many country hits, including
“ On the Road Again”,"Funny How Time Slips Away" and "Hello Walls."

Airman Willie Nelson

Willie Nelson’s guitar Trigger (Martin N-20 classical)

SANDY KOZEL

On this day in 1992, rioting began after a jury decision to acquit four
Los Angeles policemen (below) in the Rodney King beating trial. A
total of 54 people were killed in 3 days.

Rodney King, central figure in L.A. riots.

On this day in 1945, the Nazi death camp, Dachau, was liberated and
on the same day in a bunker in Berlin, Adolf Hitler and Eva Braun
(below) were married. 
    
    
    
   

President Nixon announced he was releasing edited transcripts of secretly made White House tape recordings related to the Watergate scandal.

Jerome Allen "Jerry" Seinfeld is 64 years old today. He was born in
Brooklyn, New York.

Stand-up comedian, producer, actor, and writer Jerry Seinfeld co-created
and starred in the NBC sitcom Seinfeld, which became one of the most
popular television comedies of all time, winning ten Emmy Awards during
its run which began in 1989 and aired for nine seasons. In 2012, he began
the internet comedy series Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, where he
chats with other comedians. 

Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974)

One of the jazz worlds most influential figures. He led his famed orchestra
from 1923 until his death. He called his music American Music, not jazz. He
helped compose more than 1,000 original pieces, many of which became
standards. Ellington was called Duke by his friends growing up because
his suave sophistication reminded them of a nobleman.