Today in History: Going the Distance

Gehrig along with other Yankees legend, Babe Ruth

For any fan of baseball, Lou Gehrig was no doubt an amazing player. Today in 1933 was the day that Henry Louis Gehrig of the New York Yankees, breaks former Yankee Everett Scott's record for consecutive games played. Scott had played 1,307 consecutive games until Gehrig played in 1,308th on August 17th, 1933 versus the St. Louis Browns. Gehrig went 2-5 with an RBI. The Yankees lost 6-7 to the Browns, but Gehrig would go on to play in 2,230 consecutive games, a Major League record for over half a century until Cal Ripken Jr. surpassed him on September 6th, 1995.

Nearly a year after starting construction on August 13th, 1961, a man tries to cross the Berlin Wall, though is killed on this day in 1962. Before this man's death, he attempted to escape with another friend from East Germany to West Germany for freedom. His friend climbed over the barbed wired fence and managed a few cuts, but escaped safely to West Berlin. The man killed on this day attempted to escape, but was shot by machine guns controlled by East German soldiers. Even after being shot, the man stood up and attempted climbed across the wall, only to be shot once again. The man falls from the wall on the East German side, slowly bleeding into a painful death. Horrified West German soldiers and residents watched this man left to bleed for an hour before he finally dies. West German soldiers attempted to throw bandages at the man while angry West Berlin citizens screamed at the East German guards who seemed to be satisfied with the bleeding man. Throughout its 38 years, the Berlin Wall saw many who tried to cross the wall. Interestingly, nearly 80 peopled were killed trying to cross the wall east to west, but no one was ever shot attempting to enter into the east.

The Double Eagle II
flies through the sky

In fun and quirky events, the first balloon, the Double Eagle II, crosses the Atlantic Ocean after six days on this day in 1978. Manned by pilots Ben Abruzzo, Maxie Anderson, and Larry Newman, the helium filled hot air balloon flew from Preque Isle, Maine, to a barley field near Paris, France. The Double Eagle II flew rather smoothly for the first few days of flight until August 16th, where atmospheric conditions caused the balloon to fly at a safer altitude of 20,000ft to the dangerous conditions of 4,000ft. As the men flew along France, their families followed them in car. Two of the men on this flight, Ben Abruzzo and Larry Newman, along with two other men, Ron Clark and Rocky Aoki, also flew on the first transpacific balloon flight in 1981.

Clinton during his
public apology on
August 17, 1998

August 17th, 1998 was quite a day for Bill Clinton. On this day in 1998, Clinton becomes the first president in office to testify to the Office of Independent Council. After four years of investigation, a testimony finally came to accused Clinton of several scandals including sexual harassment and illegal real-estate dealing. After testifying, Clinton publicly addressed the nation live via television explaining his side of the story, admitting that he did in fact have an "inappropriate relationship" with Monica Lewinsky. Clinton was impeached by Congress, though was later acquitted, allowing him to serve his full presidential term. Polls revealed that the public did not condone of Clinton's affair, but was not a worthy action for impeachment or resignation.