On August 26, 1944, the streets of Paris echoed with the triumphant steps of French Gen. Charles de Gaulle, who, with unshakable courage, led a victory march through the newly liberated city, defying the ever-present danger of German snipers. The Allies had freed Paris from the grip of Nazi occupation, and de Gaulle’s parade marked a moment of exhilarating victory.
Fast reverse to 1939, when history was made on the small screen: the very first televised major league baseball games were broadcast on the experimental station W2XBS. It was a double-header between the Cincinnati Reds and the Brooklyn Dodgers at the iconic Ebbets Field. In a thrilling display of talent, the Reds took the first game 5-2, while the Dodgers roared back to win the second, 6-1.
In 1958, a wave of excitement swept across Alaska as its residents turned out in droves to the polls, voting overwhelmingly in favor of statehood. The vote marked the dawn of a new era for the 49th state of the union.
The year 1968 saw the opening of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, a pivotal event in U.S. history. What was expected to be a typical political gathering turned into four days of intense drama, culminating in the nomination of Hubert H. Humphrey for president. However, it was the fierce and bloody police crackdown on antiwar protesters outside that stole the spotlight, leaving an indelible mark on the nation’s consciousness.
In 1972, the world’s attention turned to Munich, West Germany, where the summer Olympics opened in a spectacular display of international camaraderie and athletic prowess.
Just a few years later, in 1978, history took a solemn yet hopeful turn when Cardinal Albino Luciani of Venice was elected pope, choosing the name Pope John Paul I. His papacy, however, was tragically brief, as he passed away just over a month later, leaving the world in shock and mourning.
The year 1980 brought a dramatic moment when the FBI, in a tense attempt to disarm a bomb at Harvey’s Resort Hotel in Stateline, Nevada, accidentally detonated the device. Miraculously, the hotel had been evacuated, and no one was injured.
In 1985, 13-year-old Ryan White, an AIDS patient from Kokomo, Indiana, made headlines when he began “attending” classes at Western Middle School from home, using a telephone hook-up. School officials had barred White from attending in person due to his illness, sparking a national conversation about fear, discrimination, and compassion.
In 2009, the world was stunned when Jaycee Dugard, who had been kidnapped 18 years earlier, was discovered alive in California. Her miraculous survival and recovery after years of captivity captured the hearts and minds of people around the globe.
And in 2022, an FBI affidavit revealed a startling discovery: 14 out of 15 boxes retrieved from former President Donald Trump’s Florida estate contained classified documents, many marked top secret, mixed in with a curious assortment of newspapers, magazines, and personal correspondence. The revelation sent shockwaves through the nation, igniting intense debates and discussions.
Today in History: December 3
Excerpts:Today in History: December 3:
In 1947, the Tennessee Williams play “A Streetcar Named Desire” opened on Broadway.
In 2015, Defense Secretary Ash Carter ordered the armed services to open all military jobs to women.
Today in History: December 2
Today in History: December 2:
In 1804, Napoleon crowned himself emperor of France in a coronation ceremony at Notre Dame de Paris cathedral.
In 2018, Israeli police recommended indicting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on bribery charges, adding to a growing collection of legal troubles for the longtime leader.
Today in History: December 1
Today in History: December 1:
In 1955, Rosa Parks, a Black seamstress, was arrested after refusing to give up her seat to a white man on a Montgomery, Alabama, city bus.
In 1824, the presidential election was turned over to the House of Representatives after none of the candidates (John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, William Crawford, and Henry Clay) won over 50% of the electoral vote.
Today in History: November 30
Excerpts:Today in History: November 30:
In 1999, an estimated 40,000 demonstrators clashed with police as they protested against the World Trade Organization in Seattle.
In 1936, London’s Crystal Palace exhibition hall was destroyed by a massive fire.
In 1993, President Bill Clinton signed the Brady Bill, which required a five-day waiting period for handgun purchases