Epic Idiot's what happened
On This Day

July 5

1989
Iran-Contra Affair: Lt. Col. Oliver North is sentenced to two years probation, 1,200 hours of community service, and fined $150,000. He had been convicted of aiding and abetting in the obstruction of Congress, destroying government documents, and receiving an illegal gratuity. The destruction charge was overturned in 1990.

1975
First black Wimbledon men's singles champion: Arthur Ashe beats Jimmy Connors.

1951
Invention of the junction transistor is announced by Dr. Shockley of Bell Laboratories.

1943
Largest tank battle of World War II, the Battle of Kursk in the Soviet Union, employing over 2,000,000 men and 6,000 tanks.

1935
The Wagner Act is signed into law, guaranteeing workers the right to organize and collectively bargain with their employers. It also barred the formation of company unions.

1865
Salvation Army: William Booth founds the Christian Mission in London. It was renamed the Salvation Army in 1878. (Source: An Almanac of the Christian Church)

1862
First black U.S. military unit: First Carolina Regiment is organized to fight for the Union in the Civil War.

1951
Huey Lewis (Hugh Anthony Cregg III), American singer. Music: The Heart of Rock & Roll (1983) and The Power of Love (1985, #1).

1936
Shirley Knight, American Emmy-winning actress. TV: thirtysomething (Hope's mother), Desperate Housewives (Bree Van De Kamp).

1934
Katherine Helmond, American actress, TV's Jessica Tate of Soap and Mona of Who's the Boss?

1932     d. 1948
Froggy Laughlin (William Robert Laughlin), American actor, The Little Rascals (Froggy). He appeared in 29 Our Gang films. He was killed in a bicycle accident.

1904     d. 1980
Milburn Stone, American Emmy-winning actor. TV: Gunsmoke (Doc Adams).

1879     d. 1945
Dwight Filley Davis, American politician, tennis player, U.S. Secretary of War (1925-29), awarded (1923) the Distinguished Service Cross, national tennis doubles champion (1899-1901), and founded (1900) the Davis Cup.

1857     d. 1933
Clara Zetkin, German communist leader, women's rights activist. She created the International Women's Day, which has been celebrated March 8th since 1910.

1853     d. 1902
Cecil John Rhodes, English colonial statesman. He established Rhodesia and Rhodes scholarships. His will declared that his estate should be used to secure British world domination, and that Rhodes scholars should strive to unify English-speaking people.

1810     d. 1891
Phineas Taylor Barnum, "The Great American Showman," of Barnum and Bailey's Circus.

1801     d. 1870
David Glasgow Farragut, American naval officer, made his famous proclamation in 1864 during the Battle of Mobile Bay: "Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead." In 1866 he became the first U.S. admiral.

1794     d. 1851
Sylvester W. Graham, American reformer, invented the Graham cracker.

1781     d. 1826
Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, English colonial official, founder of Singapore (1819).

1709     d. 1767
Etienne de Silhouette, French finance minister, his name became synonymous with reducing things to their simplest form.

2006     b. 1942
Kenneth Lay, American businessman, founder and chairman of Enron. He was found guilty of 10 counts of fraud and conspiracy related to the collapse of Enron.

2005     b. 1923
Vice AdmiralJames Bond Stockdale, American naval officer. He led the first bombing strike on North Vietnam (1965) and flew 201 missions before he was shot down and held prisoner for 7½ years - four of which were in solitary confinement. He was the highest-ranking Naval POW of Vietnam. He was Ross Perot's 1992 vice-presidential running mate.

1993     b. 1908
Harrison Evans Salisbury, American Pulitzer-winning reporter, Soviet expert, and editor of the New York Times. He was the first American reporter in Hanoi during the Vietnam War.

1992     b. 1933
Georgia Brown (Georgia Klot), singer, actress, best known for her portrayal of Nancy in Oliver!

1991     b. 1901
Mildred Dunnock, American actress. Stage: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1956, originated the role of Big Mama). Film: Death of a Salesman (1951, Willy Loman's wife) and Baby Doll (1956).

1991     b. 1920
Howard Nemerov, American Pulitzer-winning poet, third U.S. poet laureate.

1969     b. 1911
Ben Alexander, American actor. TV: Dragnet (the second Frank Smith).

1826     b. 1781
Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, English colonial official, founder of Singapore (1819).

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