Today in News History

On July 8, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1776, Church bells (possibly including the Liberty Bell) are rung after John Nixon delivers the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence of the United States. In 1909, Ike Petersen, American football player (died 1995) was born. In 1918, Paul B. Fay, American businessman, soldier, and diplomat, 12th United States Secretary of the Navy (died 2009) was born. In 1918, Edward B. Giller, American Major General (died 2017) was born. In 1994, Kim Jong Il begins to assume supreme leadership of North Korea upon the death of his father, Kim Il Sung. In 1994, Space Shuttle Columbia is launched on an international science mission. In 1994, Lars-Eric Lindblad, Swedish-American businessman and explorer (born 1927) passed away. In 1997, Bryce Love, American football player was born. In 2011, Space Shuttle Atlantis is launched in the final mission of the U.S. Space Shuttle program. In 2014, Ben Pangelinan, Guamanian businessman and politician (born 1956) passed away. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.