Monthly Archives: July 2013

Annoyed President Kennedy discusses excessively expensive bed for pregnant Mrs. Kennedy 50 years ago today (1963)

1960s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'JOHN F. KENNEDY TAPES: Angry at Furniture Purchase'

(Thursday, July 25, 1963) — On the same day the United States, the Soviet Union and Britain initialed a treaty in Moscow prohibiting the testing of nuclear weapons in the atmosphere, in space or underwater, an annoyed President John F. Kennedy discussed a with Arthur Sylvester and Gen. Godfrey McHugh a news report on the military purchase of an excessively expensive bed for the then-pregnant First Lady Jackie Kennedy. Continue reading Annoyed President Kennedy discusses excessively expensive bed for pregnant Mrs. Kennedy 50 years ago today (1963) →

George Brett goes ballistic after being called out for using illegal bat in two-run homer 30 years ago today (1983)

1980s


Video: 'Pine Tar Incident with George Brett.wmv'

(Sunday, July 24, 1983) — A two-run homer by George Brett of the Kansas City Royals was disallowed and Brett called out today after New York Yankees manager Billy Martin pointed out there was too much pine tar on Brett’s bat.

American League president Lee MacPhail later reinstated the home run. The game was re-completed Aug. 18, 1983, with the Royals beating the Yankees, 5-4.

Bill Clinton, 16, shakes hand with President Kennedy 50 years ago today (1963)

1960s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'A Future President Meets JFK'

(Wednesday, July 24, 1963) — Future U.S. President Bill Clinton, 16, of Hot Springs, Arkansas, shook hands today with President John F. Kennedy during a Boys Nation reception at the White House.

Jetliner makes emergency landing after running out of fuel 30 years ago today (1983)

1980s


Video: 'ACI - S05E03 - Gimli Glider [Deadly Glide] FULL'

(Saturday, July 23, 1983) — An Air Canada Boeing 767 ran out of fuel today while flying from Montreal to Edmonton; the pilots were able to glide the jetliner to a safe emergency landing in Gimli, Manitoba. The near-disaster occurred because the fuel had been erroneously measured in pounds instead of kilograms at a time when Canada was converting to the metric system.

Wiley Post completes first solo flight around the world 80 years ago this hour (1933)

1930s


Video: '1933 Wiley Post makes First solo flight around the world newsreel archival footage'

(Saturday, July 22, 1933, 11:59:30 p.m. local time) — Wiley Post became the first person to fly solo around the world tonight, traveling 15,596 miles in 7 days 18 hours 45 minutes and landing 30 seconds before midnight at New York’s Floyd Bennett Field, where he had departed on July 15.

‘Seabiscuit’ premieres in the U.S. 10 years ago today (2003)

2000s, movies 2000s


Video: 'Seabiscuit' trailer

(Tuesday, July 22, 2003) — Seabiscuit, a biographical sports drama film about the life and racing career of Seabiscuit, an undersized and overlooked thoroughbred race horse, whose unexpected successes made him a hugely popular media sensation in the United States during the Great Depression, premiered today in the U.S.

Directed by Gary Ross, the film starred Tobey Maguire, Jeff Bridges, Chris Cooper, Elizabeth Banks, Gary Stevens and William H. Macy.

American forces captured Palermo, Sicily 70 years ago this hour (1943)

1940s, World War II


Video: 'Allied invasion of Sicily' (July 22, 1943, at 33:05)

(Thursday, July 22, 1943, 7:00 p.m. local time; during the Allied invasion of Sicily, part of the Italian Campaign of World War II) — The American 7th Army led by Gen. George S. Patton tonight captured Palermo, the Sicilian capital. Americans had cut off 50,000 Italian troops in the west, but Germans were escaping to the northeastern corner of the island.

Katharine Lee Bates writes ‘America the Beautiful’ poem 120 years ago today (1893)

1890s


Video: 'Katherine Lee Bates -America the Beautiful'

(Saturday, July 22, 1893) — Wellesley College professor Katharine Lee Bates today visited the summit of Pikes Peak, where she was inspired to write the original version of her poem “America the Beautiful.” Samuel A. Ward’s music to the poem would be published in 1910.

Diana Ross concert in Central Park ruined by pouring rain and heavy winds 30 years ago today (1983)

1980s, Popular Music 1980s


Video: 'Diana Ross Sings in the Rain (Central Park) 1983'

(Thursday, July 21, 1983) — A torrential storm tonight halted a concert by singer Diana Ross before more than 800,000 fans in New York’s Central Park. Ross promised her fans she would return the next day, which she did.

Israeli agents mistakenly kill a Moroccan waiter 40 years ago today (1973)

1970s


Video: 'MOSSAD death in Lillehammer part 1/2'

(Saturday, July 21, 1973) — Israeli agents in Lillehammer, Norway, killed Ahmed Bouchikhi, a Moroccan waiter, today in a case of mistaken identity, apparently thinking he was an official with Black September, the group that attacked Israel’s delegation at the 1972 Munich Olympics and killed 11 athletes. Continue reading Israeli agents mistakenly kill a Moroccan waiter 40 years ago today (1973) →