August 20 - The Day in History

August 20 : General Interest 1911: First around-the-world telegram sent, 66 years before Voyager II launch On this day in 1911, a dispatcher in the New York Times office sends the first telegram around the world via commercial service... read more American Revolution 1794 : Battle of Fallen Timbers http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/battle-of-fallen-timbers Automotive 2004 : Record-setting tow-truck parade held in Washington State http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/record-setting-tow-truck-parade-held-in-washington-state Civil War 1862 : Horace Greeley's "The Prayer of Twenty Millions" is published http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/horace-greeleys-the-prayer-of-twenty-millions-is-published Cold War 1968 : Soviet Union intervenes in Czechoslovakia http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/soviet-union-intervenes-in-czechoslovakia Crime 1989 : The Menendez brothers murder their parents http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-menendez-brothers-murder-their-parents Disaster 1995 : Trains collide and explode in India http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/trains-collide-and-explode-in-india General Interest 1940 : Trotsky assassinated in Mexico http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/trotsky-assassinated-in-mexico 1968 : Soviets Invade Czechoslovakia http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/soviets-invade-czechoslovakia 1975 : Viking 1 launched to Mars http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/iviking-1i-launched-to-mars 1982 : U.S. Marines deployed to Lebanon http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/us-marines-deployed-to-lebanon Hollywood 1918 : Valley of the Dolls author Jacqueline Susann born http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/valley-of-the-dolls-author-jacqueline-susann-born Literary 1921 : Jacqueline Susann born http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/jacqueline-susann-born Music 1977 : "Best of My Love," by the Emotions, hits the top of the U.S. pop charts http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/quotbest-of-my-lovequot-by-the-emotions-hits-the-top-of-the-us-pop-charts Old West 1804 : Corps of Discovery suffers its only death http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/corps-of-discovery-suffers-its-only-death Presidential 1833 : Benjamin Harrison is born http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/benjamin-harrison-is-born Sports 1920 : Professional football is born http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/professional-football-is-born Vietnam War 1954 : United States decides to support Diem http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/united-states-decides-to-support-diem 1971 : Minh and Ky withdraw from presidential race http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/minh-and-ky-withdraw-from-presidential-race 1974 : Military aid to Saigon slashed http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/military-aid-to-saigon-slashed World War I 1932 : German artist unveils monument honoring soldiers killed in World War I http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/german-artist-unveils-monument-honoring-soldiers-killed-in-world-war-i World War II 1944 : Brits launch Operation Wallace and aid French Resistance http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/brits-launch-operation-wallace-and-aid-french-resistance

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