Today in History

Today is Thursday, August 6, the 218th day of 2015. There are 147 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On August 6, 1945, during World War II, the United States dropped an atomic bomb 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 announced its surrender.)

On this date:

In 1813, during the Venezuelan War of Independence, forces led by Simon Bolivar recaptured Caracas.

In 1825, Upper Peru became the autonomous republic of Bolivia.

In 1862, the Confederate ironclad CSS Arkansas was scuttled by its crew on the Mississippi River near Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to prevent capture by the Union.

In 1914, Austria-Hungary declared war against Russia and Serbia declared war against Germany.

In 1926, Gertrude Ederle became the first woman to swim the English Channel, arriving in Kingsdown, England, from France in 14 1/2 hours.

In 1930, New York State Supreme Court Justice Joseph Force Crater went missing after leaving a Manhattan restaurant; his disappearance remains a mystery.

In 1956, the DuMont television network went off the air after a decade of operations.

In 1961, Soviet cosmonaut Gherman Titov became the second man to orbit Earth as he flew aboard Vostok 2.

In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act.

In 1978, Pope Paul VI died at Castel Gandolfo at age 80.

In 1986, William J. Schroeder died at at Humana Hospital-Audubon in Louisville, Kentucky, after living 620 days with the Jarvik 7 artificial heart.

In 1993, Louis Freeh won Senate confirmation to be FBI director.

Ten years ago: Anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan, whose soldier-son, Casey, was killed in Iraq, began a weeks-long protest outside President George W. Bush's Texas ranch. Former British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook, who'd quit Prime Minister Tony Blair's Cabinet to protest the Iraq war, died in Inverness, Scotland, at age 59. A Tunisian airliner plunged into the Mediterranean while trying to make an emergency landing in Sicily; 16 of the 39 people aboard were killed.

Five 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.

One year ago: President Barack Obama closed a three-day U.S.-Africa summit in Washington which brought together leaders from more than 50 African nations. Michael Worthington was put to death by the state of Missouri for raping and killing college student Melinda "Mindy" Griffin in 1995, making him the first U.S. prisoner executed since a lethal injection in Arizona the previous month in which an inmate took nearly two hours to die.

Today's Birthdays: Children's performer Ella Jenkins is 91. Actor-director Peter Bonerz is 77. Actress Louise Sorel is 75. Actor Michael Anderson Jr. is 72. Actor Ray Buktenica is 72. Actor Dorian Harewood is 65. Actress Catherine Hicks is 64. Rock singer Pat MacDonald (Timbuk 3) is 63. Country musician Mark DuFresne (Confederate Railroad) is 62. Actress Stepfanie Kramer is 59. Actress Faith Prince is 58. Rhythm-and-blues singer Randy DeBarge is 57. Actor Leland Orser is 55. Actress Michelle Yeoh (yoh) is 53. Country singers Patsy and Peggy Lynn are 51. Basketball Hall of Famer David Robinson is 50. Actor Jeremy Ratchford is 50. Actor Benito Martinez is 47. Country singer Lisa Stewart is 47. Movie writer-director M. Night Shyamalan is 45. Actress Merrin Dungey is 44. Singer Geri Halliwell is 43. Actor Jason O'Mara is 43. Singer-actor David Campbell is 42. Actress Vera Farmiga is 42. Actress Ever Carradine is 41. Actress Soleil Moon Frye is 39. Actress Melissa George is 39. Rock singer Travis McCoy (Gym Class Heroes) is 34. Actor Leslie Odom Jr. is 34. Actress Romola Garai is 33. Rock musician Eric Roberts (Gym Class Heroes) is 31.

Thought for Today: "If you want something done, ask a busy person to do it. The more things you do, the more you can do." -- Lucille Ball, American actress-comedian (born this date in 1911, died 1989).

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