Today in history: Aug. 6
President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act, and more events that happened on this day in history.
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1911: Lucille Ball
In 1911, actor-comedian Lucille Ball was born in Jamestown, New York.
1926: Gertrude Ederle
In 1926, Gertrude Ederle became the first woman to swim the English Channel, arriving in Kingsdown, England, from France in 14 1/2 hours.
1930: Joseph Force Crater
In 1930, New York State Supreme Court Justice Joseph Force Crater went missing after leaving a Manhattan restaurant; his disappearance remains a mystery.
1945: Hiroshima
In 1945, during World War II, the U.S. B-29 Superfortress Enola Gay dropped an atomic bomb code-named “Little Boy” on Hiroshima, Japan, resulting in an estimated 140,000 deaths. (Three days later, the United States exploded a nuclear device over Nagasaki; five days after that, Imperial Japan surrendered.)
1965: Lyndon B. Johnson
In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act.
1973: Stevie Wonder
In 1973, entertainer Stevie Wonder was seriously injured in a car accident in North Carolina.
1978: Pope Paul VI
In 1978, Pope Paul VI died at Castel Gandolfo at age 80.
1991: Harry Reasoner
In 1991, TV newsman Harry Reasoner died in Norwalk, Connecticut, at age 68.
1993: Louis Freeh
In 1993, Louis Freeh won Senate confirmation to be FBI director.
2009: Sonia Sotomayor
In 2009, Sonia Sotomayor was confirmed as the first Hispanic Supreme Court justice by a Senate vote of 68-31.
2010: Mark Hurd
Ten years ago: In a stunning announcement, Hewlett-Packard Co. said it had ousted CEO Mark Hurd after an investigation of a sexual harassment complaint found that he had falsified expense reports and other documents to conceal a relationship with a contractor.
2013: Nidal Malik Hasan
In 2013, U.S. Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan went on trial at Fort Hood, Texas, charged with killing 13 people and wounding 32 others in a 2009 attack. (Hasan, who admitted carrying out the attack, was convicted and sentenced to death.)
2015: "Hamilton"
Five years ago: “Hamilton,” the hip-hop flavored biography about Alexander Hamilton, the nation’s first treasury secretary, opened on Broadway.
2015: Jon Stewart
Five years ago: Jon Stewart bade an emotional goodbye after 16 years as host of Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show.”
2015: Republican Presidential Debate
Five years ago: The first Republican presidential debate aired on Fox News Channel; when the 10 candidates were asked whether any of them would not pledge to support the eventual GOP nominee, only Donald Trump raised his hand, saying, “I will not make the pledge at this time,” angering Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, who accused Trump of “hedging his bets.”
2019: Mike DeWine
One year ago: Ohio Republican Gov. Mike DeWine, prompted to act by the weekend shooting in Dayton, proposed measures to address mass shootings, including required background checks for nearly all gun sales in Ohio and allowing courts to restrict firearms access for people perceived as threats.
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