Editorials

Today’s Highlight in History: 

On Aug. 8, 1974, President Nixon announced he would resign following new damaging revelations in the Watergate scandal. 

On this date: 

In 1815, Napoleon Bonaparte set sail for St. Helena to spend the remainder of his days in exile. 

In 1876, Thomas A. Edison received a patent for his mimeograph. 

In 1942, six convicted Nazi saboteurs who had landed in the United States were executed in Washington, D.C.; two others received life imprisonment. 

In 1945, President Truman signed the United Nations Charter. 

In 1945, the Soviet Union declared war against Japan during World War II. 

In 1953, the United States and South Korea initialed a mutual security pact. 

In 1963, thieves made off with 2.6 million pounds in banknotes in Britain’s “Great Train Robbery.” 

In 1968, Richard M. Nixon was nominated for president at the Republican national convention in Miami Beach. 

In 1973, Vice President Spiro T. Agnew branded as “damned lies” reports he had taken kickbacks from government contracts in Maryland, and vowed not to resign. But he eventually did. 

In 1978, the United States launched Pioneer Venus II, which carried scientific probes to study the atmosphere of Venus. 

Ten years ago:  

The U.S. basketball “Dream Team” clinched the gold at the Barcelona Summer Olympics, defeating Croatia 117-85. The space shuttle Atlantis returned from a problem-plagued mission. AIDS activist Alison Gertz died in Westhampton Beach, Long Island, N.Y., at age 26. 

Five years ago:  

The Teamsters and United Parcel Service completed a second day of federally mediated talks, with neither side reporting progress toward ending a strike. 

One year ago:  

Former President Reagan’s daughter Maureen died at age 60. Mohammad Khatami was sworn in for a second term as Iran’s president.