Today is Friday, August ninth, the 222nd day of the 12 months 2024. There are 144 days left within the 12 months.
Today in history:
On August 9, 1945, three days after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in Japan, a US B-29 Superfortress, codenamed Bockscar, dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki. The bombing and the resulting radiation poisoning killed an estimated 74,000 people.
Also on this date:
In 1173, construction began on the Campanile of the Cathedral of Pisa – higher often known as the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
In 1936, Jesse Owens won his fourth gold medal on the Berlin Olympics when the United States took first place within the 400-meter relay.
In 1969, actress Sharon Tate and 4 other people were found brutally murdered in Tate's Los Angeles home; cult leader Charles Manson and a gaggle of his followers were later convicted of the crime.
In 1974, Gerald Ford took the oath of office to change into US President following Richard Nixon's resignation. In a speech afterwards, Ford declared: “Our long national nightmare is over.”
In 1988, President Ronald Reagan appointed Lauro Cavazos as Secretary of Education. Cavazos was the primary Hispanic within the Cabinet.
In 2014, 18-year-old black man Michael Brown Jr. was shot and killed by a police officer after an altercation in Ferguson, Missouri. Brown's death led to partially violent protests in Ferguson and other US cities and sparked the nationwide “Black Lives Matter” movement.
Today's birthdays:
- Bob Cousy, member of the Basketball Hall of Fame, is 96 years old.
- Rod Laver, member of the Tennis Hall of Fame, is 86.
- Jazz musician Jack DeJohnette is 82.
- Comedian and director David Steinberg is 82.
- Actor Sam Elliott is 80.
- Singer Barbara Mason is 77.
- John Cappelletti, a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and former NFL player, is 72.
- Doug Williams, a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and former NFL player, is 69.
- Actress Melanie Griffith is 67.
- Actress Amanda Bearse is 66.
- Rapper Kurtis Blow is 65.
- Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., is 64.
- Brett Hull, a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, is 60.
- TV presenter Hoda Kotb (KAHT'-bee) is 60.
- Deion Sanders, a member of the Pro and College Football Hall of Fame, is 57.
- Actress Gillian Anderson is 56.
- Actor Eric Bana is 56.
- Producer and director McG (aka Joseph McGinty Nichol) is 56.
- NHL player turned coach Rod Brind'Amour is 54.
- Television journalist Chris Cuomo is 54.
- Actor Thomas Lennon is 54.
- Rapper Mack 10 is 52.
- Actress Nikki Schieler Ziering is 53.
- Latin rock singer Juanes is 52.
- Actress Liz Vassey is 52.
- Actor Kevin McKidd is 51.
- Actress Rhona Mitra (ROH'-nuh MEE'-truh) is 49.
- Actor Texas Battle is 48.
- Actress Jessica Capshaw is 48.
- Actor Ashley Johnson is 41.
- Actress Anna Kendrick is 39.
Originally published:
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