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UPI Almanac for Saturday, Aug. 2, 2014

Iraq invaded Kuwait, George W. Bush nominated ... on this date in history.

By United Press International
George W. Bush, his wife, Laura, and Dick Cheney and his wife, Lynne, acknowledge cheers from delegates at the conclusion of the Republican National Convention in Philadelphia, Aug. 3, 2000. cs/Ezio Petersen UPI
1 of 5 | George W. Bush, his wife, Laura, and Dick Cheney and his wife, Lynne, acknowledge cheers from delegates at the conclusion of the Republican National Convention in Philadelphia, Aug. 3, 2000. cs/Ezio Petersen UPI | License Photo

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Today is Saturday, Aug. 2, the 214th day of 2013 with 151 to follow.

The moon is waxing. Morning stars are Jupiter, Mercury, Neptune, Uranus and Venus. Evening stars are Mars and Saturn.

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Those born on this date are under the sign of Leo. They include French sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, designer of the Statue of Liberty, in 1834; film executive Jack Warner in 1892; singer Helen Morgan in 1900; actors Myrna Loy in 1905 and Beatrice Straight in 1914; former Israeli President Shimon Peres in 1923 (age 91); author James Baldwin and actor Carroll O'Connor, both in 1924; businessman and sports team owner Lamar Hunt, inducted into the football Hall of Fame, in 1932; football Hall of Fame member Billy Cannon and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Garth Hudson, both in 1937 (age 77); filmmaker Wes Craven in 1939 (age 75); Chilean writer Isabel Allende in 1942 (age 72); actors Peter O'Toole in 1932, Joanna Cassidy in 1945 (age 69), Kathryn Harrold in 1950 (age 64), Victoria Jackson in 1959 (age 55), Mary-Louise Parker in 1964 (age 50) and Edward Furlong in 1977 (age 37); author Caleb Carr in 1955 (age 59); and writer/director/actor Kevin Smith in 1970 (age 44).

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On this date in history:

In 1776, the Declaration of Independence, adopted on July 4, was signed by members of the Continental Congress.

In 1923, U.S. President Warren G. Harding died of a stroke in a San Francisco hotel at the age of 58. He was succeeded by Vice President Calvin Coolidge.

In 1934, with the death of German President Paul von Hindenburg, Chancellor Adolf Hitler became absolute dictator of Germany under the title of fuehrer, or "leader."

In 1968, a major earthquake in the Philippines rocked Manila, killing 307 people.

In 1974, John Dean, counsel to U.S. President Richard Nixon, was sentenced to 1-to-4 years in prison for his part in the Watergate coverup.

In 1985, 135 people died in the crash of a Delta Airlines L-1011 jet at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.

In 1990, Iraq invaded neighboring Kuwait after weeks of tension over disputed land and oil production quotas.

In 2000, the Republican Party nominated George W. Bush and Dick Cheney to head its ticket for the November elections.

In 2010, U.S. scientists estimated that the BP oil spill touched off by an April 20 explosion on an offshore rig leaked 5 million barrels of crude into the Gulf of Mexico, making it the world's largest oil spill of its kind.

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In 2012, Kofi Annan, outgoing U.N. Arab League envoy to Syria, said a political solution "is essential" in the war-torn country because "military means alone will not end the crisis." He said Syrian President Bashar Assad had to step down.

In 2013, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the U.S. unemployment rate fell to 7.4 percent -- a four-year low.


A thought for the day: English philosopher Samuel Johnson said, "A man should keep his friendships in constant repair."

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