born

  • Harry Truman

    Harry Truman

    is inaugurated as U.S. president after being elected in 1948 to his own term; previously he was sworn in following the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt. He authorized the use of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan during World War II, on August 6 and August 9, 1945, respectively
  • Joseph Stalin

    Joseph Stalin

    dies on March 5, yielding his position as leader of the Soviet Union.
  • Disneyland

    Disneyland

    opens on July 17 as Walt Disney's first theme park
  • Juan Perón

    Juan Perón

    spends his last full year as President of Argentina before a September 1955 coup
  • Elvis Presley

    Elvis Presley

    signs with RCA Records on November 21, beginning his pop career.
  • John F. Kennedy

    John F. Kennedy

    beats Richard Nixon in the November 8 general election
  • John Glenn

    John Glenn

    Flew the first American manned orbital mission termed "Friendship 7" on February 20.
  • Liston beats Patterson

    Liston beats Patterson

    Sonny Liston and Floyd Patterson fight for the world heavyweight championship on September 25, ending in a first-round knockout. This match marked the first time Patterson had ever been knocked out and one of only eight losses in his 20-year professional career.
  • Richard Nixon

    Richard Nixon

    back again: Former Vice President Nixon is elected in the 1968 presidential election of the United States
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  • Heavy metal suicide

    Heavy metal suicide

    In the 1980s Ozzy Osbourne and the bands Judas Priest and Metallica were brought to court by parents who accused the musicians of hiding subliminal pro-suicide messages in their music date unknow