August 9 is the 221st day of the year (222nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 144 days remaining until the end of the year. 1173 – Construction of the campanile of the Cathedral of Pisa (now known as the Leaning Tower of Pisa) begins; it will take two centuries to complete. 1483 – Opening of the Sistine Chapel in Rome with the celebration of a Mass. 1930 – Betty Boop made her cartoon debut in Dizzy Dishes. 1944 – The United States Forest Service and the Wartime Advertising Council release posters featuring Smokey Bear for the first time. 1974 – As a direct result of the Watergate scandal, Richard Nixon becomes the first President of the United States to resign from office. His Vice President, Gerald Ford, becomes president. Birthdays: 1944 – Sam Elliott, actor 1957 – Melanie Griffith, actress 1968 – Gillian Anderson, actress
Posted on: Fri, 09 Aug 2013 23:11:23 +0000