September 8 - This Day in History

September 8: General Interest
1974: Ford pardons Nixon

In a controversial executive action, President Gerald Ford pardons his disgraced predecessor Richard Nixon for any crimes he may have committed or participated in while in office. Ford later defended this action before the House Judiciary Committee, explaining that he wanted to end the national divisions created by the Watergate scandal... read more


American Revolution
1781 : Bloody battle begins at Eutaw Springs, South Carolina
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/bloody-battle-begins-at-eutaw-springs-south-carolina


Automotive
1986 : Nissan's first European factory opens
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/nissans-first-european-factory-opens


Civil War
1863 : Rebels thwart Yankees at the Second Battle of Sabine Pass
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/second-battle-of-sabine-pass-texas


Cold War
1945 : American troops arrive in Korea to partition the country
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/american-troops-arrive-in-korea-to-partition-the-country


Crime
1935 : Huey Long is shot
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/huey-long-is-shot


Disaster
1900 : Deadly hurricane batters Texas
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/deadly-hurricane-batters-texas


General Interest
1664 : New Amsterdam becomes New York
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/new-amsterdam-becomes-new-york

1900 : Deadly hurricane destroys Galveston
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/deadly-hurricane-destroys-galveston

1941 : Siege of Leningrad begins
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/siege-of-leningrad-begins


Hollywood
1986 : Oprah goes national
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/oprah-goes-national


Literary
1947 : Ann Beattie is born
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/ann-beattie-is-born


Music
2003 : RIAA begins suing individual sharers of copyrighted mp3 files
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/riaa-begins-suing-individual-sharers-of-copyrighted-mp3-files


Old West
1810 : The Pacific Fur Company's first ship leaves for Oregon
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-pacific-fur-companys-first-ship-leaves-for-oregon


Presidential
1974 : President Ford pardons former President Nixon
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/president-ford-pardons-former-president-nixon


Sports
1998 : McGwire passes Maris
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/mcgwire-passes-maris


Vietnam War
1954 : SEATO established
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/seato-established

1968 : ARVN general killed
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/arvn-general-killed


World War I
1915 : German airship hits central London
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/german-airship-hits-central-london


World War II
1943 : Italian surrender is announced
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/italian-surrender-is-announced