May 8 - This Day in History

May 8 : General Interest 1945: V-E Day is celebrated in American and Britain On this day in 1945, both Great Britain and the United States celebrate Victory in Europe Day... read more American Revolution 1792 : Militia Act establishes conscription under federal law http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/militia-act-establishes-conscription-under-federal-law Automotive 1956 : Henry Ford II leaves post at Ford Foundation http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/henry-ford-ii-leaves-post-at-ford-foundation Civil War 1864 : Lee beats Grant to Spotsylvania http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/lee-beats-grant-to-spotsylvania Cold War 1984 : Soviets announce boycott of 1984 Olympics http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/soviets-announce-boycott-of-1984-olympics Crime 1988 : Woman convicted for tampering with Excedrin http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/woman-convicted-for-tampering-with-excedrin Disaster 1950 : Flash floods in Nebraska kill 23 http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/flash-floods-in-nebraska-kill-23 General Interest 1541 : De Soto reaches the Mississippi http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/de-soto-reaches-the-mississippi 1973 : AIM occupation of Wounded Knee ends http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/aim-occupation-of-wounded-knee-ends 1984 : Soviets to boycott L.A. Olympics http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/soviets-to-boycott-la-olympics Hollywood 1963 : Sean Connery stars in his first Bond movie, Dr. No http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/sean-connery-stars-in-his-first-bond-movie-dr-no 2010 : Betty White becomes oldest Saturday Night Live host http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/betty-white-becomes-oldest-saturday-night-live-host Literary 1899 : Yeats' The Countess Cathleen opens at the Irish Literary Theatre http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/yeats-the-countess-cathleen-opens-at-the-irish-literary-theatre Music 1976 : The theme song from Welcome Back, Kotter is the #1 song in America http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-theme-song-from-welcome-back-kotter-is-the-1-song-in-america Old West 1846 : Zachary Taylor fights the Battle of Palo Alto http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/zachary-taylor-fights-the-battle-of-palo-alto Presidential 1884 : Harry S. Truman is born http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/harry-s-truman-is-born Sports 1970 : Knicks beat Lakers for NBA title http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/knicks-beat-lakers-for-nba-title Vietnam War 1970 : Nixon defends invasion of Cambodia http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/nixon-defends-invasion-of-cambodia 1972 : Mining of North Vietnamese harbors is announced http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/mining-of-north-vietnamese-harbors-is-announced World War I 1919 : New celebration of Armistice Day proposed http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/new-celebration-of-armistice-day-proposed World War II 1945 : Victory in Europe http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/victory-in-europe