Epic Idiot's what happened
On This Day

May 18

1993
Hair Force One: Pres. Clinton ties up an airport while he gets a $200 haircut aboard an Air Force One jet on the runway.

1992
World War II: Former Nazi commandant Josef Schwammberger is sentenced to life in prison for killing more than 600 people and shooting a rabbi for refusing to work on Jewish holy day.

1992
Murphy Brown: The TV character has her baby, much to the disapproval of Vice-Pres. Dan Quayle.

1992
Gulf War: A British coroner's jury ruled that nine British soldiers, killed during the war 1991 by U.S. friendly fire, were killed by the unlawful reckless action of two American pilots.

1983
Reagan: The U.S. President sticks his thumbs in his ears, wiggles his fingers and says to the press "I've been waiting years to do this."

1980
Mount St. Helens erupts in Washington State, covering 120 square miles with volcanic ash.

1967
Artificial Insemination: Oklahoma becomes the first U.S. state to legalize artificial insemination for humans.

1953
First Woman to Break the Sound Barrier: At Rogers Dry Lake, California, Jacqueline Cochran flies a Canadair F-86 Sabre jet borrowed from the Royal Canadian Air Force at an average speed of 652.337 mph.

1952
First woman to sail solo across the Atlantic: Ann Davidson departs from Plymouth, England on her 23-foot sailboat. She arrived in Miami, Florida in August of 1953.

1934
First federal law authorizing the death penalty: A law making the killing of a federal officer a mandatory capital offense is enacted.

1756
Great Britain declares war against France.

1504
Michelangelo: The Italian Renaissance artist's marble sculpture of David is placed in front of the Palace of the Signory after its completion.

1946
Reggie Jackson (Reginald Martinez Jackson), American Baseball Hall of Famer, holder of the American League record for strikeouts.

1931
Robert Morse, American Tony-winning actor. Broadway: How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1962, Tony).

1930
Pernell Roberts, American actor. TV: Bonanza (Adam Cartwright) and Trapper John, M.D. (Trapper John).

1922
Bill Macy, American actor. TV: Maude (Maude's husband Walter).

1920     d. 2005
John Paul II (Karol Wojtyla), 264th Pope (1978-2005), the first Polish Pope. He reigned as pope of the Roman Catholic Church for almost 27 years, making his the second-longest pontificate.

1918     d. 1954
George Schwartz "Wheaties" Welch, American WWII flying ace. It is alleged that he broke the sound barrier two weeks before Chuck Yeager. However, he did so during a dive. Yeager's feat was during level flight.

1912
Richard Brooks, American director, screenwriter. Film: The Blackboard Jungle (1955) and Looking for Mr. Goodbar (1977).

1912
Perry Como (Pierino Como), American singer, Emmy-winning TV personality. Music: Don't Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes (1952, #1) and It's Impossible (1970).

1897
Frank Capra, Oscar-winning director. Film: It Happened One Night (1937) and It's a Wonderful Life (1947).

1872     d. 1970
Bertrand Russell, British mathematician, Nobel-winning philosopher, author. He was the most distinguished philosopher of his time.

1840     d. 1933
Alphonso David Rockwell, American physician, noted for his study of the use of electricity in medicine. He invented the first electric chair (first used in 1890).

1825     d. 1906
Daniel Wesson, American gun-maker, co-founder of Smith & Wesson (1857).

1990     b. 1936
Jill Ireland, British-born American actress. After being diagnosed with cancer she became a spokesman for victims of the disease. Film: Death Wish II (1981).

1988     b. 1916
Daws Butler (Charles Dawson Butler), American cartoon voice. TV: voice of Elroy Jetson and Yogi Bear.

1986     b. 1902
John Bubbles (John William Sublett), American tap dancer, creator of Rhythm Tap. Known for his role as Sportin' Life in Porgy and Bess (1935).

1973     b. 1880
Jeannette Rankin, American politician, first U.S. Congresswoman (1917-19, 1941-43, Montana, Republican). She was the only member of the House to oppose the declaration of war against Japan.

1967     b. 1892
Andy Clyde, Scottish-born actor. Film: Hopalong Cassidy movies (Gabby Hayes). TV: Lassie (Cully Wilson).

526     b. ????
Saint John I, religious leader, 53rd Pope (523-526).

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