Today in history
On August 13, 1967, the crime caper biopic “Bonnie and Clyde,” starring Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway, had its U.S. premiere; the movie, directed by Arthur Penn, was considered shocking as well as innovative for its graphic portrayal of violence.
In 1624, King Louis XIII of France appointed Cardinal Richelieu (ree-shuh-LYOO’) his first minister.
In 1792, French revolutionaries imprisoned the royal family.
In 1846, the American flag was raised for the first time in Los Angeles.
In 1910, Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, died in London at age 90.
In 1923, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk was again elected Speaker of Turkey’s Grand Assembly.
In 1934, the satirical comic strip “Li’l Abner,” created by Al Capp, made its debut.
In 1942, Walt Disney’s animated feature “Bambi” had its U.S. premiere at Radio City Music Hall in New York, five days after its world premiere in London.
In 1961, East Germany sealed off the border between Berlin’s eastern and western sectors before building a wall that would divide the city for the next 28 years.
In 1979, Lou Brock of the St. Louis Cardinals became the 14th player in major league baseball history to reach the 3,000th career hit plateau as his team defeated the Chicago Cubs, 3-2.
In 1981, in a ceremony at his California ranch, President Ronald Reagan signed a historic package of tax and budget reductions.
In 1989, searchers in Ethiopia found the wreckage of a plane which had disappeared almost a week earlier while carrying Rep. Mickey Leland, D-Texas, and 14 other people — there were no survivors.
In 1997, the animated comedy series “South Park” began airing on Comedy Central. The British comedy-drama “The Full Monty” was released by Fox Searchlight Pictures.
Ten years ago: President George W. Bush’s political strategist, Karl Rove, announced his resignation. A bridge under construction in the ancient Chinese city of Fenghuang collapsed, killing 64 people. Two women among the 23 South Koreans kidnapped by the Taliban in Afghanistan were freed. Philanthropist Brooke Astor died in Briarcliff Manor, New York, at age 105. Hall of Fame Yankees shortstop and broadcaster Phil Rizzuto died in West Orange, New Jersey, at age 89.
Five years ago: A routine serving of an eviction notice to a man living near the Texas A&M University campus turned deadly when the resident opened fire, leading to the death of a law enforcement officer and another man before the gunman was killed. Helen Gurley Brown, 90, the longtime editor of Cosmopolitan magazine, died in New York. The Boston Red Sox’s unofficial goodwill ambassador, Johnny Pesky, died at age 92.
“It is always too late, or too little, or both. And that is the road to disaster.” — David Lloyd George, English statesman (1863-1945).