This Week in History

AUGUST 14

Rugby Bob Johnson was born.

Kelly Anaya was born.

Elisa Burke was born.

1935 – The Social Security Act became law.

2003 – The largest blackout in North American history hit the northeast.

AUGUST 15

George Boggiano was born.

Maryanne Ford was born.

1939 – The Wizard of Oz premiered in Hollywood.

1969 – Woodstock Music and Art Fair opened at Max Yasgur’s dairy farm in Bethel, New York.

AUGUST 16

Skylar Ronayne was born.

Jo Jo O’Grady was born.

Gerri-Lynn Morizzo was born.

James Johnson was born.

Louisa Louis was born.

1829 – The original Siamese twins, Eng and Chang, arrived in Boston.

1977 – Elvis Presley died at Graceland from heart failure at age 42.

AUGUST 17

Beth Hanning was born.

Vincent Hoban was born.

Tara Benn was born.

Rick Horan was born.

1896 – Prospectors found gold in Alaska, a discovery that set off the Klondike gold rush.

2008 – U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps won his eighth gold medal, breaking the record set by Mark Spitz in the 1972 Games.

AUGUST 18

Jon Kiebon was born.

1227 – Mongol conqueror Genghis Khan died in China.

AUGUST  19

Whitney Aycock was born.

Courtney Carroll was born.

Jimmy Mullen was born.

1934 – Germans voted to make Adolf Hitler Fuhrer.

1960 – American U-2 pilot Francis Gary Powers was convicted of espionage in Moscow.

AUGUST 20

Jamie Agoglia was born.

Kendra Lane-Allen was born.

1980 – Italian Reinhold Messner made the first successful solo ascent of Mount Everest and without oxygen.

2000 – Tiger Woods won the PGA Championship becoming the first player since Ben Hogan in 1953 to win three majors in one year.