Epic Idiot's what happened
On This Day

July 8

1969
Vietnam War: U.S. troops begin withdrawing from Vietnam.

1947
Roswell UFO Incident: A report appears in newspaper Roswell Daily Record announcing "RAAF Captures Flying Saucer On Ranch in Roswell Region."

1924
First black to win an individual Olympic gold medal: De Hart Hubbard (American) wins in the long jump.

1896
Cross of Gold: William Jennings Bryan gives his famous speech advocating against the gold standard. "Having behind us the producing masses of this nation and the world, supported by the commercial interests, the laboring interests and the toilers everywhere, we will answer their demand for a gold standard by saying to them: You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns, you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold."

1892
American Psychological Association (APA) is founded, purpose is to advance psychology as a science.

1889
Last U.S. bareknuckle boxing match: John L. Sullivan knocks out Jack Kilrain in the 75th round for the U.S. heavyweight championship.

1889
The Wall Street Journal: The first issue of the famous paper is published.

1870
First U.S. trademark law is passed by Congress. It was later declared unconstitutional.

1776
Declaration of Independence: The first public reading is given.

1958
Kevin Bacon, American actor. Film: Footloose (1984), She's Having a Baby (1988), and Flatliners (1990).

1951
Anjelica Huston, American Oscar-winning actress. Film: Prizzi's Honor (1985, Oscar) and The Addams Family (1991, Morticia).

1935
Steve Lawrence (Sidney Leibowitz), American singer, married to partner Eydie Gorme. Music: Go Away Little Girl (1962, #1).

1931     d. 2002
Roone Arledge, American sports broadcasting pioneer, winner of 36 Emmys. TV: President of ABC Sports (1968-86) and President of ABC News (1977-98), creator of Monday Night Football, Wide World of Sports, 20/20, Prime Time Live, and Nightline.

1926     d. 2004
Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, Swiss-born American physician, author of On Death and Dying (1969). She identified the stages of dying as: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.

1917     d. 1975
Pamela Brown, English Emmy-winning actress, Victoria Regina (1961, Emmy).

1914     d. 1993
Billy Eckstine (William Eckstein), American blues singer. Music: Blue Moon, Fools Rush In, and I Apologize. He was the first black singer to become a national sex symbol.

1909     d. 1979
Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller, 41st U.S. Vice-President (1974-77) and governor of New York (1959-73).

1907     d. 1995
George Romney, American politician, automotive executive, ex-Governor of Michigan. As chief executive of AMC from 1954-62, he bucked current trends and introduced the compact car (a word he coined).

1857     d. 1911
Alfred Binet, French psychologist. He developed and pioneered the use of I.Q. tests (1904).

1839     d. 1937
John Davison Rockefeller, American philanthropist, co-founded Standard Oil Company (1870), gave away over $750,000,000.

1838     d. 1917
Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin, German aviator. He designed and built large dirigible balloons capable of long controlled flights.

1831     d. 1888
John Styth Pemberton, American pharmacist. He created Coca-Cola (1886), calling it "Esteemed Brain Tonic and Intellectual Beverage."

1766     d. 1842
Dominique-Jean Larrey, French surgeon in Napoleon's army. He initiated the use of field hospitals (the forerunner of MASH units), army ambulance corps, and triages. He also published the first description of trench foot.

1994     b. 1933
Dick Sargent (Richard Cox), American actor. TV: Bewitched (replaced Dick York as Darrin).

1986     b. 1900
Hyman George Rickover, American navy admiral, "Father of the Nuclear Navy." He directed the development of nuclear powered submarines.

1971     b. 1901
Ub Iwerks, American Oscar-winning animator, one the original artists for Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse (1928). He supervised the animation and special effects of numerous Disney films.

1967     b. 1913
Vivien Leigh, British Oscar-winning actress. Film: Gone with the Wind (1939, Oscar, Scarlett O'Hara) and A Streetcar Named Desire (1951, Oscar).

1955     b. 1896
Arch Ward, American sports editor for the Chicago Tribune. He originated the idea of major-league all-star baseball (1933) and football games (1934).

1855     b. 1790
Sir William Edward Parry, British explorer, explored the Arctic and unsuccessfully searched for a Northwest Passage.

1822     b. 1792
Percy Bysshe Shelly, English poet.

1721     b. 1649
Elihu Yale, English colonial official, for whom Yale University is named.

1695     b. 1629
Christiaan Huygens, Dutch scientist. His improvements on telescope lenses enabled him to discover Saturn's rings and 6th moon Titan (1656). He also built the first pendulum clock (1656), published the first book on probability (1657), discovered the polarization of light (1678), and founded the wave theory of light.

1623     b. ????
Gregory XV, Italian religious leader, 234th Pope (1621-23).

1153     b. ????
Eugene III, Italian-born religious leader, 167th Pope (1145-53).

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