Monthly Archives: July 2015

Assembly of ‘Little Boy’ atomic bomb completed 70 years ago today (July 31 1945)

(Tuesday, July 31, 1945; during Potsdam Conference of World War II) — The atomic bomb nicknamed “Little Boy,” which would become the first atomic bomb to be used in warfare, was assembled today and ready for use against Japan the following day (click here for a clip of this event from “American Experience: Truman” at 2:08:54).

President Johnson signs Medicare bill 50 years ago this hour (July 30 1965)


Video: '7/30/65: LBJ Signs Medicare Bill'

(Friday, July 30, 1965, 2:55 p.m. CDT) — U.S. President Lyndon Johnson flew to Independence, Missouri, today and signed into law Medicare, a national social insurance program for Americans aged 65 and older who have worked and paid into the system, in a moving tribute to former President Harry S. Truman. Continue reading President Johnson signs Medicare bill 50 years ago this hour (July 30 1965)

Labor union leader Jimmy Hoffa disappears 40 years ago this hour (July 30 1975)


Video: 'Jimmy Hoffa - The Real Truth (CONSPIRACY OCCULT HISTORY DOCUMENTARY)' (July 30, 1975, at 12:28)

(Wednesday, July 30, 1975, at, or sometime after, 2:45 p.m. EDT) — Former Teamsters union president Jimmy Hoffa, one of the most influential American labor leaders of the 20th century, disappeared today from the parking lot of the Machus Red Fox Restaurant in Bloomfield Township, an affluent suburb of Detroit (although presumed dead, his remains have never been found).

The Beatles interviewed during rehearsals in London 50 years ago today (July 30 1965)


Video: 'Interview with Dibbs Mather The Beatles BBC unreleased Interview'

(Friday, July 30, 1965) — The Beatles were interviewed today by Dibbs Mather today for a BBC Transcription Service disc titled The Beatles during rehearsals for a live TV broadcast scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 1, 1965, from Saville Theatre in London.

Challenger limps into a low orbit as an engine fails 30 years ago this hour (July 29 1985)


Video: 'STS-51F launch, abort & landing (7-29-85)'

(Monday, July 29, 1985, 21:00:00 UTC) — The space shuttle Challenger began an 8-day mission today that got off to a shaky start: the spacecraft achieved a safe orbit even though one of its main engines shut down prematurely after lift-off.

It was the first major malfunction during ascent in the 19 flights of the shuttle program.