Video: '1962: Mariner 2 (NASA)'
(Monday, August 27, 1962, 2:53 a.m. EDT) — The United States launched the Mariner 2 space probe today from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 12, which would fly past Venus in December 1962.
1972 Summer Olympics open in Munich 40 years ago this hour (1972)
Video: 'Olympic Ceremony Database - Munich 1972 (Opening Ceremony)'
(Saturday, August 26, 1972, 3:00 p.m. local time, 10 a.m. EDT) — Opening ceremonies for the 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were held today at Olympic Stadium in Munich, West Germany.
It was the second Summer Olympics to be held in Germany, after the 1936 Games in Berlin, which had taken place under the Nazi regime.
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Thousands of protesters attempt to disrupt Republican convention 40 years ago today (1972)
Video: 'ABC Evening News' (Aug. 23, 1972)
(Wednesday, August 23, 1972, 6:00 p.m. EDT) — As President Richard M. Nixon and Vice President Spiro T. Agnew prepared to accept their renominations, thousands of protesters converged today on Miami to try to disrupt the 1972 Republican National Convention at the Miami Beach Convention Center. Continue reading Thousands of protesters attempt to disrupt Republican convention 40 years ago today (1972)
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Germans launch Battle of Stalingrad with massive bombing 70 years ago today (1942)
Video: Germans bomb Stalingrad (at 8:59)
(Sunday, August 23, 1942, during the Battle of Stalingrad, part of the Eastern Front of World War II) — The Germans launched the Battle of Stalingrad today with a massive strategic bombing that caused a firestorm, killing thousands and turning Stalingrad into a vast landscape of rubble and burnt ruins. Continue reading Germans launch Battle of Stalingrad with massive bombing 70 years ago today (1942)
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Germans Sixth Army reach Volga 70 years ago today (1942)
Video: Germans reach Volga River (at 5:29)
(Sunday, August 23, 1942, during Case Blue, the German summer offensive of 1942, part of the Eastern Front of World War II) — The spearhead of Germany’s Sixth Army reached the Volga River just north of Stalingrad in the Soviet Union today.
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Botched bank robbery ends in death and arrest 40 years ago this hour (1972)
Video: ABC News (Aug. 23, 1972)
(Wednesday, August 23, 1972, 4:45 a.m. EDT) — A hostage drama that began yesterday at a Chase Manhattan Bank in Brooklyn, N.Y., ended this morning when John Wojtowicz was arrested and Salvatore Naturile was killed by the FBI at New York’s Kennedy Airport. The incident inspired the movie Dog Day Afternoon.
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Nixon renominated, embraced by Sammy Davis, Jr. 40 years ago tonight (1972)
Video: Nixon attends youth rally with Davis (at 1:47)
(Tuesday, August 22, 1972, evening) — Entertainer Sammy Davis, Jr., grabbed a startled U.S. President Richard Nixon from behind and squeezed his arms while Nixon talked to about 8,000 of his youthful supporters at a youth rally tonight in Miami, Florida. Continue reading Nixon renominated, embraced by Sammy Davis, Jr. 40 years ago tonight (1972)
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Wife of white separatist killed by FBI sharpshooter at Ruby Ridge 20 years ago today (1992)
Video: 'Discovery Times: Ruby Ridge' (Aug. 22, 1992 at 9:14)
(Saturday, August 22, 1992) — On the second day of the Ruby Ridge siege in Idaho today, an FBI sharpshooter killed Vicki Weaver, the wife of white separatist Randy Weaver. The sharpshooter later said he was targeting the couple’s friend Kevin Harris, and didn’t see Vicki Weaver.
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Lennon continues rehearsals for ‘One to One’ benefit concerts 40 years ago today (1972)
Video: 'Come Together' (Aug. 22, 1972)
(Tuesday, August 22, 1972) — Ex-Beatle John Lennon continued rehearsing today at Butterfly Studios in New York City for the “One to One” benefit concerts for children with mental challenges, scheduled for Madison Square Garden on Aug. 30.
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Botched bank robbery that inspired ‘Dog Day Afternoon’ film begins 40 years ago today (1972)
Video: 'Memorable movie moments-Dog day afternoon'
(Tuesday, August 22, 1972, afternoon) — A hostage drama began today at a Chase Manhattan Bank in Brooklyn, N.Y., as John Wojtowicz and Salvatore Naturile seized seven employees during a botched robbery that would inspire the movie Dog Day Afternoon.
