2011 Standard and Poor's lowered the United States'
AAA credit rating by one notch to AA-plus.
2010 Thirty-three workers were trapped in a copper
mine in northern Chile after a tunnel caved in. (They were rescued after being
entombed for 69 days).
2010 The Senate confirmed Elena Kagan as the
Supreme Court's 112th justice and the fourth woman in its history. The vote was
63-37.
1981 The federal government began firing striking
air traffic controllers.
1969 The U.S. space probe Mariner 7 flew by Mars,
sending back photographs and scientific data.
1966 The album "Revolver" by the Beatles
was released.
1963 The United States, Britain and the Soviet
Union signed a treaty in Moscow banning nuclear tests in the atmosphere, outer
space and underwater.
1957 "American Bandstand," hosted by Dick
Clark, made its network TV debut on ABC.
