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Ronald Reagan: Biography of the Day
Ronald Reagan "People of the Soviet Union...Americans are people of peace. If your government wants peace, there will be peace. We can come together in faith and friendship to build a safer and far better world for our children and our children's children. And the whole world will rejoice." Ronald Reagan, State of the Union Address, 1984 Born this day in 1911, Ronald Reagan, the 40th U.S. president (1981–89), was known for his fervent anticommunism, staunch conservatism, and appealing personal style that earned him the nickname the “Great Communicator.” |
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Treaty of Waitangi Establishes New Zealand as a British Colony (1840)
 Though considered the founding document of New Zealand as a nation, the Treaty of Waitangi has been the subject of much debate since it was signed by representatives of the British crown and Maori chiefs in 1840. It gave Britain control of New Zealand while recognizing the native inhabitants' land rights. However, the English and Maori texts differed, leading to many controversies over its stipulations. In 1913, one of the treaty documents was restored after having been partially eaten by what? Discuss
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United Artists Film Studio Is Founded (1919)
 In 1919, four of the leading figures in Hollywood—Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, D.W. Griffith, and Douglas Fairbanks—decided to form their own film studio to better control their own work. Though initially successful, United Artists foundered as films became more expensive to produce. It was taken over in the 1950s and began to thrive again until the 80s, when it was bought by the studio MGM. What famous actor announced plans to resurrect United Artists in 2006 as part owner of the company?
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The "Flying Tailor" Dies after Failed Parachute Jump from Eiffel Tower (1912)
 Parachutes at the dawn of the aviation age were bulky and, inconveniently, had to be pre-opened. Among those trying to improve upon their design was French tailor Franz Reichelt. He had some success testing his designs on dummies, but he had no evidence that his parachute would work with a real person when he jumped from the Eiffel Tower before a crowd of spectators and reporters. The chute failed to open, and he plummeted to his death. How had he convinced the authorities to allow the jump?
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