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Amelia Earhart flew over the Atlantic, later disappeared. Statue of Liberty arrived in US as a gift from France. Watergate burglars arrested, led to Nixon’s resignation. OJ Simpson arrested for murder. Population Registration Act repealed in South Africa. Union Station massacre occurred. Supreme Court ruled against Bible verses in school. Republican Party held first convention. Gay couples married in California briefly. Taj Mahal construction began. Joe Piscopo and Newt Gingrich were born. MC Escher, known for impossible designs, was also born.
Amelia Earhart flew over the Atlantic Ocean. (1928) Earhart flew from Newfoundland to Wales in about 21 hours — however she did not fly this flight; Wilmer Stutz was the pilot. Earhart later became the first woman to cross the Atlantic on a solo flight. In 1937, during an attempt to go around the world, she disappeared. She was declared legally dead two years later on January 5, 1939.
The Statue of Liberty has arrived in the United States. (1885) The statue, which is actually officially called Liberty Enlightening the World, was a gift from France to the United States to mark the centennial of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. He resides in New York Harbor on Liberty Island.
The Watergate burglars have been arrested. (1972) The five men, who were later determined to be part of President Richard Nixon’s re-election campaign, attempted to break into the Democratic National Headquarters at the Watergate Hotel in Washington, D.C. There was an attempt to cover up the break-in and the investigation showed that President Nixon was involved in the cover-up. The scandal led to President Nixon’s resignation on August 9, 1974, and several of his staffers were indicted and convicted.
OJ Simpson was arrested for murder. (1994) An American professional football player, Simpson was accused of murdering his ex-wife Nicole and her friend Ronald Goldman. He was later famously acquitted despite overwhelming evidence of his guilt.
The Population Registration Act has been repealed in South Africa. (1991) The law was originally passed in 1950 and required South Africans to be racially classified at birth. Parliament’s decision to repeal the law was seen as a major move towards the end of Apartheid, officially considered to have occurred in 1994 with the first elections in which all races could participate.
The Union Station massacre happened. (1933) Four FBI agents and the fugitive they were carrying, Frank Nash, were killed in a shootout with gangsters who were trying to free Nash. After being pardoned twice for murder and burglary, he was arrested and convicted again of assault and was serving a 25-year sentence when he escaped in 1930. The FBI had just gotten Nash back after his three-year run when they were all killed.
The United States Supreme Court ruled that it is not necessary to read Bible verses and recite the Lord’s Prayer in school. (1963) In Abington School District v. Schempp, the judges voted 8 to 1 against authorizing the requirement. Judge Potter Stewart voiced the only dissent.
The Republican Party of the United States held its first convention. (1856) The first Republican National Convention, held at Lafayette Hall in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, established the party nationally. Their first convention to nominate a presidential candidate was held several months later in Philadelphia. Former California Senator John C. Frémont was the party’s first presidential candidate.
Hundreds of gay couples get married in California. (2008) Due to a California State Supreme Court order, marriage licenses were granted to same-sex couples effective June 16, 2008. The order was reversed in a state vote on Proposition 8 on 5 November 2008. Couples who were married during those few months are still considered legally married according to the state of California.
The construction of the Taj Mahal began. (1631) Upon the death of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal, in childbirth, Emperor Shah Jahan I began the 20-year construction of his tomb, the Taj Mahal.
American comedian Joe Piscopo is born. (1951) Piscopo is perhaps most famous for his comedic performances on the American television program Saturday Night Live. He is also a well-known impersonator, particularly for his Frank Sinatra impersonations.
American politician Newt Gingrich is born. (1943) Gingrich was re-elected to the United States House of Representatives 10 times and served as Speaker of the House from 1995 to 1999. He resigned on January 3, 1999.
Dutch artist MC Escher is born. (1898) Escher is known for his depictions of the impossible and designs that can be looked at in more ways than one: in Sky & Water I, fish swim right, birds fly left and right, all in a complex combination of sky and water.
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