Associated Press
Today in History: Thursday, August 13, 2015
On Aug. 13, 1961, Berlin was divided as East Germany sealed off the border between the city’s eastern and western sectors in order to halt the flight of refugees.
On this date in:
1521- Spanish conqueror Hernando Cortez captured present-day Mexico City from the Aztecs.
1704- The Battle of Blenheim was fought during the War of the Spanish Succession, resulting in a victory for English and Austrian forces.
1899- Movie director Alfred Hitchcock was born in London.
1932- Adolf Hitler rejected the post of vice-chancellor of Germany, saying he was prepared to hold out “for all or nothing.”
1934- The comic strip “Li’l Abner” by Al Capp made its debut.
1942- Walt Disney’s animated feature “Bambi” premiered at Radio City Music Hall in New York.
1960- The first two-way telephone conversation by satellite took place with the help of Echo 1, a balloon satellite.
1981- President Ronald Reagan signed a historic package of tax and budget reductions.
1995- Baseball Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle died of liver cancer at age 63.
2003- Libya agreed to set up a $2.7 billion fund for families of 270 people killed in the 1988 Pan Am bombing.
2004- The 28th summer Olympic games opened in Athens.
2008- American Michael Phelps swam into history as the winningest Olympic athlete ever with his 10th and 11th career gold medals.
2011- Seven people were killed when a stage collapsed at the Indiana State Fair during a powerful storm just before a concert was to begin.
2011- In Republican presidential politics, Rep. Michele Bachmann won the Iowa straw poll and Texas Gov. Rick Perry declared his candidacy.
Today’s Birthdays:
Actor John Slattery (“Mad Men”) turns 53 years old today.
Fidel Castro, Former Cuban leader, 89
Pat Harrington, Actor (“One Day At A Time”), 86
Joycelyn Elders, Former surgeon general, 82
Kevin Tighe, Actor (“Emergency”), 71
Kathleen Battle, Opera singer, 67
Bobby Clarke, Hockey Hall of Famer, 66
Paul Greengrass, Director, 60
Danny Bonaduce, Actor (“The Partridge Family”), 56
Sam Champion, TV weatherman (“Good Morning America”), 54
Quinn Cummings, Actress, 48
Actress Debi Mazar (“Entourage,” “L.A. Law”) turns 51 years old today.