July 15 - The Day in History

July 15 : General Interest 1971: Nixon announces visit to communist China During a live television and radio broadcast, President Richard Nixon stuns the nation by announcing that he will visit communist China the following year... read more American Revolution 1789 : Lafayette selected colonel-general of the National Guard of Paris http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/lafayette-selected-colonel-general-of-the-national-guard-of-paris Automotive 1903 : Ford Motor Company takes its first order http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/ford-motor-company-takes-its-first-order Civil War 1862 : CSS Arkansas attacks Union ships http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/css-arkansas-attacks-union-ships Cold War 1971 : Nixon announces trip to China http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/nixon-announces-trip-to-china Crime 1953 : A notorious English killer is executed http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/a-notorious-english-killer-is-executed 2002 : John Walker Lindh accepts plea bargain http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/john-walker-lindh-accepts-plea-bargain Disaster 1888 : Volcano buries victims in fiery mud http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/volcano-buries-victims-in-fiery-mud General Interest 1606 : Rembrandt born http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/rembrandt-born 1806 : Pike expedition sets out http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/pike-expedition-sets-out 1965 : Mariner 4 studies Martian surface http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/imariner-4i-studies-martian-surface 1997 : Versace murdered in Cunanan killing spree http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/versace-murdered-in-cunanan-killing-spree Hollywood 1988 : Die Hard debuts, makes Bruce Willis a movie star http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/die-hard-debuts-makes-bruce-willis-a-movie-star Literary 1919 : Iris Murdoch is born http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/iris-murdoch-is-born Music 1986 : Columbia Records drops country legend Johnny Cash after 26 years http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/columbia-records-drops-country-legend-johnny-cash-after-26-years Old West 1904 : The Mad Trapper of Rat River heads for U.S. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-mad-trapper-of-rat-river-heads-for-us Presidential 1979 : Jimmy Carter speaks about a national "crisis in confidence" http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/jimmy-carter-speaks-about-a-national-crisis-in-confidence Sports 2003 : Tex Schramm dies http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/tex-schramm-dies Vietnam War 1964 : Goldwater nominated for president http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/goldwater-nominated-for-president 1971 : Nixon announces a visit to China http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/nixon-announces-a-visit-to-china World War I 1918 : Second Battle of the Marne begins with final German offensive http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/second-battle-of-the-marne-begins-with-final-german-offensive World War II 1941 : Garbo makes an appearance http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/garbo-makes-an-appearance

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