Today in History

The Egyptian Army’s Operation Eagle results in the deaths of 11 suspected terrorists and the arrest of another 23.

Rains from Hurricane Katrina cause a levee breech at the Industrial Canal in New Orleans, causing severe flooding.

A terrorist bomb kills Ayatollah Sayed Mohammed Baqir al-Hakim, the Shia Muslim leader in Iraq, and nearly 100 worshipers as they leave a mosque in Najaf where the ayatollah had called for Iraqi unity.

NATO launches Operation Deliberate Force against Bosnian Serb forces.

Thousands of Germans demonstrate against a wave of racist attacks aimed at immigrants.

USSR’s parliament suspends Communist Party activities in the wake of a failed coup.

Morocco’s King Hassan II signs unity treaty with Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi, strengthening political and economic ties and creating a mutual defense pact.

Lou Brock (St Louis Cardinals) breaks Ty Cobb’s 49-year-old career stolen bases record at 893.

Democrats nominate Hubert H Humphrey for president at their Chicago convention.

The Beatles give their last public concert (Candlestick Park, San Francisco).

Astronauts L. Gordon Cooper Jr. and Charles “Pete” Conrad Jr complete 120 Earth orbits in Gemini 5, marking the first time the US set an international duration record for a manned space mission.

Mickey Mantle ties Babe Ruth’s career strikeout record (1,330).

US U-2 spy plane spots SAM (surface-to-air) missile launch pads in Cuba.

Michael Jackson, pop singer, entertainer.

US Congress passes Civil Rights Act of 1957 after Strom Thurmond (Sen-D-SC) ends 24-hour filibuster, the longest in Senate history, against the bill.

Karen Hesse, Newbery Medal–winning author of children’s literature (Out of the Dust).

International Olympic Committee votes to allow West Germany and Japan to compete in 1952 games.

USSR explodes its first atomic bomb, “First Lightning.”

U.S. airborne troops are landed in transport planes at Atsugi airfield, southwest of Tokyo, beginning the occupation of Japan.

Richard Halligan, vocalist with band Blood Sweat & Tears.

The American Red Cross announces that Japan has refused to allow safe conduct for the passage of ships with supplies for American prisoners of war.

Robin Leach, TV host (Life Styles of the Rich and Famous).

James Brady, press secretary who was severely wounded during John Hinckley Jr.’s attempt to assassinate US President Ronald Reagan.

Elliott Gould, actor (M*A*S*H, Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice).

John McCain, Republican US presidential nominee (2008) .

William Friedkin, director, producer, writer (The Exorcist, The French Connection).

Jehan Sadat, First Lady of Egypt (1970–1981); widow of Anwar Sadat.

Lise Payette, Quebec politician, writer and columnist.

Marion Williams, gospel singer.

Dinah Washington, singer known in the 50s as “Queen of the Harlem Blues.”.

Richard Attenborough, actor, (The Great Escape, Jurassic Park) Academy Award–winning director and producer (Gandhi)

Charlie “Bird” Parker, self-taught jazz saxophonist, pioneer of the new “cool” movement.

Ingrid Bergman, Oscar winning actress famous whose films include Casablanca and Anastasia.

Preston Sturges, screenwriter, film director and playwright.

Australia defeats England in cricket for the first time. The following day a obituary appears in the Sporting Times addressed to the British team.

Union General John Pope‘s army is defeated by a smaller Confederate force at the Second Battle of Bull Run.

Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr., poet, essayist and father of Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.

Slavery is abolished in Santo Domingo.

General George Washington retreats during the night from Long Island to New York City.

John Locke, philosopher of liberalism whose ideas influenced the American founding fathers, famous for his treatise An Essay Concerning Human Understanding.

In Peru, the Inca chief Atahualpa is executed by orders of Francisco Pizarro, although the chief had already paid his ransom.

Ottoman Suleiman the Magnificent crushes a Hungarian army under Lewis II at the Battle of Mohacs.

The Temple of Jerusalem burns after a nine-month Roman siege.