July 15 - This 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. The statement marked a dramatic turning point in U.S.-China relations, as well as a major shift in American foreign policy... 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