Thursday, August 3, 2023

Aug. 3 history: Columbus sets sail

Today, Aug. 3 in history

In 1492, Christopher Columbus set sail from Palos, Spain, on a voyage that took him to the present-day Americas.

In 1936, Jesse Owens of the United States won the first of four gold medals at the Berlin Olympics winning the 100-meter sprint. 

In 1949, the National Basketball Association was formed as a merger of the Basketball Association of America and the National Basketball League.

In 1966, comedian Lenny Bruce, whose raunchy brand of satire and dark humor landed him in trouble with the law, was found dead in his Los Angeles home. He was 40.

In 1972, the U.S. Senate ratified the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty between the United States and the Soviet Union. (The U.S. unilaterally withdrew from the treaty in 2002.)

In 1981, U.S. air traffic controllers went on strike, despite a warning from President Ronald Reagan they would be fired, which they were.

In 1993, the Senate voted 96-to-3 to confirm Supreme Court nominee Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

In 2012, Michael Phelps rallied to win the 100-meter butterfly for his third gold of the London Olympic Games. It was his 17th career gold. Missy Franklin set a world record in the 200-meter backstroke for the 17-year-old’s third gold in London.

In 2017, Senators introduced two bipartisan bills aimed at protecting Special Counsel Robert Mueller from being fired by President Donald Trump. (Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell wouldn’t let the legislation reach the floor.) 

In 2021, New York’s state attorney general said an investigation into Gov. Andrew Cuomo found that he had sexually harassed multiple current and former state government employees. It brought increased pressure on Cuomo to resign, including pressure from President Joe Biden. (Cuomo resigned a week later.) 

In 2021, NYC became the nation’s first big city to announce it would require proof of COVID-19 vaccination at restaurants, shows and gyms. (The AP 08/03/23)

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