Holidays
Feast Day of Saints Peter and Paul
Day of solemnity, commemorating the martyrdoms of Peter by execution and Paul by beheading.
What Happened On
Hogan's Heroes Star Murdered
June 29, 1978
Hogan's Heroes star Bob Crane (1965-71, Col. Hogan) was found murdered in his apartment. He had been bludgeoned to death and an electrical cord was tied around his neck. Blood matching Crane's was found in his friend John Henry Carpenter's rental car (DNA testing was not available at the time). Carpenter had been visiting Crane the night before the murder. Due to lack of evidence, Carpenter was not tried for the murder until 1994, when new evidence arose. Photos of Carpenter's rental car showed what appeared to be brain matter. Carpenter was acquitted and maintained his innocence until his death.
Death Penalty Banned
June 29, 1972
The U.S. Supreme Court bans the death penalty, declaring it cruel and unusual punishment and therefore in violation of the 8th Amendment. This was overruled in 1976.
Jayne Mansfield Killed in Car Accident
June 29, 1967
34-year-old actress and sex-symbol, Jayne Mansfield, is killed in a car accident when the car she was riding in ran under the back of a slow-moving tractor-trailer, chopping off the top of her car. She and the two other front seat passengers were killed instantly. Three of her children who were riding in the back seat survived the crash. As a result of this crash, the NHTSA recommended requiring an underride guard on the back of tractor-trailers to stop cars from going underneath. This bar has become known as a "Mansfield bar".
Mansfield was regarded as the world's most-photographed Hollywood celebrity and is still one of the most recognized icons of the 1950s.
Vietnam War - First Major U.S. Ground Offensive
June 29, 1965
First major U.S. ground offensive of the war begins when 3,000 troops attack 20 miles northeast of Saigon.
First Nuclear-Powered Satellite
June 29, 1961
The U.S. launches Transit IV-A. It used a 4.7-pound plutonium-238 power source.
Marilyn Monroe Marries Arthur Miller
June 29, 1956
The movie star Marilyn Monroe marries playwright Arthur Miller. Monroe's popularity as a sex symbol and Miller's reputation as an intellectual led to the headline "Egghead Weds Hourglass." Monroe then converted to Judaism, which caused Egypt to ban her films. They would divorce five years later and Monroe would die 18 months after that.
Highway Act
June 29, 1956
The "National Interstate and Defense Highways Act" is signed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, authorizing $25 billion for the construction of 41,000 miles (66,000 km) of the Interstate Highway System over a 10-year period. It was the largest public works project in American history up to that time.
It included the word "defense" in the title so that some of the cost could be diverted from defense funds and Air Force bases could be connected to provide access in order to defend the United States in case of war.
East-west highways are assigned even numbers and north-south highways are assigned odd numbers.
It was officially declared completed in 1992 at a cost of approximately $114 billion ($558 billion in today's money).
Moonraker
June 29, 1979
Moonraker premieres in the U.S., 11th in the James Bond series, it starred Roger Moore as 007.
Federal Energy Office
June 29, 1973
The Federal Energy Office is established. It was created in response to the Arab Oil Embargo.
Vietnam War
June 29, 1966
The U.S. begins bombing the North Vietnam cities of Hanoi and Haiphong for the first time.
U.S. Withdraws Its Last Troops from Korea
June 29, 1949
They had been there since World War II.
First Revolver Patent
June 29, 1833
First patent for a revolver is issued, to David Colburn of New York, although the first revolver had been built by John Gill of North Carolina in 1829.
Townshend Revenue Act
June 29, 1767
The Townshend Revenue Act is passed by the English Parliament, taxing tea and other imports.
Birthdays
Invented Safety Glass
Édouard Bénédictus
Born June 29, 1878 d. 1930
French artist, inventor. In 1903, Édouard Bénédictus accidentally knocked over a glass beaker. He was surprised to see that instead of shattering into many pieces, it cracked but held its form keeping the pieces together. He deduced that this was due to the plastic cellulose nitrate that the beaker had contained. After some experimentation he created laminated glass in which a layer of celluloid was sandwiched between two layers of glass. He patented his invention in 1909 after hearing about a car crash where two women were severely injured by glass debris from the windshield.
Bénédictus was also renowned for his art deco designs.
George Hincapie (George Hincapié Garcés)
Born June 29, 1973
American bicycle racer. U.S. National Road Race Champion (1998, 2006, 2009). He assisted Lance Armstrong in all seven of his Tour de France (TDF) victories and was a teammate of Alberto Contador for his 2007 TDF victory, making him one of only two riders to have raced on eight TDF-winning teams.
Samantha Smith
Born June 29, 1972 d. 1985
American school-girl. Her 1982 letter to Soviet leader Yuri Andropov asking if he wanted a nuclear war with the U.S. led to a two-week visit to the Soviet Union, and a part in the prime-time TV series Lime Street (1985). She died at age 13 when the plane she was on crashed short of the runway, killing all on board.
Fred Grandy (Fredrick Lawrence Grandy)
Born June 29, 1948
American actor, politician. TV: The Love Boat (1977-86, Gopher), U.S. Congressman (Iowa, 1987-95), and President and CEO of Goodwill Industries (1995-2000).
Gary Busey
Born June 29, 1944
American actor. Film: The Buddy Holly Story (1978) and Carny (1980).
How to Live 120 Years - Or Die Trying
Dr. Roy Walford
Born June 29, 1924 d. 2004
American physician. He pioneered the calorie-restricted diet for increasing lifespan. He discovered that when mice were fed a nutrient-rich calorie-restricted diet, they doubled their lifespan. He believed that if this were applied to humans they could live to be 120 years old. He also lived in Biosphere 2 (1991-93), where he served as the crew's physician. He died of ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) at age 79. Ironically, mice studies show that calorie-restricted diets may speed up the progression of ALS, and this may have hastened his death. Writings: The 120 Year Diet: How to Double Your Vital Years.
While he was a medical student, he and a mathematics graduate student went to Reno, Nevada and observed the roulette wheels to determine which were unbalanced and therefore biased. They then bet heavily on the biased wheels. They amassed large winnings before the casinos caught on and banned them. They used their winnings to buy a yacht and sail the Caribbean for over a year.
Slim Pickens (Louis Burton Lindley, Jr.)
Born June 29, 1919 d. 1983
American actor, Hall of Fame rodeo clown. Film: Dr. Strangelove (1964, B-52 pilot who rides the bomb to doom), Blazing Saddles (1974), and The Howling (1981).
Ruth Warrick
Born June 29, 1916 d. 2005
American Emmy-winning actress. She declined a lifetime achievement award from the South Carolina Arts Commission because she was offended by the legislators' decision to fly the Confederate flag on the state Capitol grounds. Film: Citizen Kane (1941, Kane's first wife). TV: All My Children (Phoebe Tyler).
Forefather of Modern Winemaking
Émile Peynaud
Born June 29, 1912 d. 2004
French winemaker, called "the forefather of modern winemaking." While controversial and anti-traditional, his methods generally produced superior wines.
Nelson Eddy
Born June 29, 1901 d. 1967
American singer, actor. Known for his films with Jeanette MacDonald. He was one of the first crossover superstars and was once the highest paid singer in the world. Movie: Naughty Marietta (1935), Rose-Marie (1936), and Maytime (1937).
William James Mayo
Born June 29, 1861 d. 1939
American surgeon. He and his brother, Charles Horace Mayo, co-founded the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (1915).
First ship to transit the canal, the SS Ancon (1914)
First ship to transit the canal, the SS Ancon (1914)
George Washington Goethals
Born June 29, 1858 d. 1928
American engineer. He built the Panama Canal (1914) and was the first governor of the Canal Zone (1914-16).
Peter I
Born June 29, 1844 d. 1921
King of Serbia (1903-21).
John II
Born June 29, 1397 d. 1479
King of Aragon (1458-79) and Navarre (1425-79).
Deaths
Katharine Hepburn
Died June 29, 2003 b. 1907
American Oscar-Emmy-winning actress. Film: Morning Glory (1933, Oscar), Bringing Up Baby (1938), The African Queen (1951), and On Golden Pond (1981, Oscar). She teamed with Spencer Tracy for numerous films. She is the only person to have won four Oscars.
Lana Turner (Julia Turner)
Died June 29, 1995 b. 1921
American actress. In 1958, her daughter stabbed Lana's gangster boyfriend Johnny Stompanato, Jr. to death. Stompanato was beating Lana Turner when her 14-year-old daughter came in a stabbed him with a knife. The coroner ruled the daughter acted in self defense. Film: The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946) and Peyton Place (1957).
Bob Crane
Died June 29, 1978 b. 1928
American actor. TV: Hogan's Heroes (1965-71, Col. Robert Hogan). Crane was found murdered in his apartment. He had been bludgeoned to death and an electrical cord was tied around his neck. Blood matching Crane's was found in his friend John Henry Carpenter's rental car (DNA testing was not available at the time). Carpenter had been visiting Crane the night before the murder. Due to lack of evidence, Carpenter was not tried for the murder until 1994, when new evidence arose. Photos of Carpenter's rental car showed what appeared to be brain matter. Carpenter was acquitted and maintained his innocence until his death.
Jayne Mansfield (Vera Jane Palmer)
Died June 29, 1967 b. 1933
American actress, sex-symbol, and Playboy Playmate. She became the first major American actress starring in a Hollywood motion picture to have a nude scene with the film Promises! Promises! (1963).
Mansfield was regarded as the world's most-photographed Hollywood celebrity and is still one of the most recognized icons of the 1950s.
She was killed in a car crash at age 34 when the car she was riding in ran under the back of a slow-moving tractor-trailer, chopping off the top of her car. She and the two other front seat passengers were killed instantly. Three of her children who were riding in the back seat survived the crash. As a result of this crash, the NHTSA recommended requiring an underride guard on the back of tractor-trailers to stop cars from going underneath. This bar has become known as a "Mansfield bar".
Film: Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter (1955), The Girl Can't Help It (1956), and Too Hot to Handle (1960).
First Prime Minister of Poland
Ignacy Paderewski
Died June 29, 1941 b. 1860
Polish pianist, composer, statesman. He was the first prime minister (1919-20) of the newly independent Poland, although he resigned after ten months to resume his concert career.
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Died June 29, 1861 b. 1806
English poet. She's famous for the line, "How do I love thee? Let me count the ways."
"How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of everyday's
Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints,—I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life!—and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death."
Henry Clay
Died June 29, 1852 b. 1777
American statesman, "The Great Compromiser." U.S. Secretary of State (1825-29), U.S. Senator (1849-52, 1831-42, 1810-11, 1806-07, Kentucky), U.S. House of Representatives (1823-25, 1815-21, 1813-14, 1811-13, Kentucky). Along with Daniel Webster and John C. Calhoun he helped create the Missouri Compromise of 1820 and the Compromise of 1850 to ease tensions between the states regarding slavery. He himself was a slave owner, but freed his slaves in his will.
Alan Arkin
Died June 29, 2023 b. 1934
American Oscar-Tony-winning actor, director. Arkin was a member of the sketch comedy group The Second City before acting Broadway.
Stage: Enter Laughing (1963, Tony). Film: The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming (1966), Wait Until Dark (1967), and Catch 22 (1970). TV: Sesame Street (1970-71, Larry and Phyllis sketches with then wife Barbara Dana as Phyllis).
Donald Rumsfeld
Died June 29, 2021 b. 1932
U.S. Secretary of Defense (1975-77, 2001-2006), White House Chief of Staff (1974-75), U.S. House of Representatives (Illinois, 1963-69). He holds the distinction of being both the youngest and oldest Secretary of Defense in U.S. history. Quote: "Death has a tendency to encourage a depressing view of war."
Carl Reiner
Died June 29, 2020 b. 1922
American Emmy-Grammy-winning actor, writer. He created the Dick Van Dyke Show (1961-66) in which he played Alan Brady. He and Mel Brooks formed a comedy duo and together created the 2000 Year Old Man as one of their skits. He directed The Jerk (1979), Oh, God! (1977), and All of Me (1984).
His wife Estelle Lebost delivered the line "I'll have what she's having" in the film When Harry Met Sally… (1989).
Their son is actor/director Rob Reiner.
Rosemary Clooney
Died June 29, 2002 b. 1928
American singer, actress. The 1978 TV movie Escape From Madness dramatized her confinement in a California mental hospital.
Aladena "Jimmy the Weasel" Fratianno
Died June 29, 1993 b. 1913
Italian-born American mob boss. In 1977, while he was head of the Los Angeles crime family, he became a government witness against the mob. His testimony contributed to the conviction of 26 mob members. He was the subject of the books The Last Mafioso and Vengeance is Mine.
Irving Wallace
Died June 29, 1990 b. 1916
American novelist. His books have sold over 120,000,000 copies.
Fatty Arbuckle (Roscoe Conkling Arbuckle)
Died June 29, 1933 b. 1887
American actor, director. He was involved in what is considered the First Hollywood Celebrity Scandal. During a three-day party, a young starlet became ill and died a few days later. Arbuckle was tried for manslaughter, and although eventually acquitted, he and his films were blacklisted. See Scandal. He was also the recipient of the first movie pie thrown in the face - A Noise From the Deep premieres, in which Actress Mabel Normand hits 'Fatty' Arbuckle in the face with a custard pie, starting a long comedic tradition.
Joseph Aloysius Hansom
Died June 29, 1882 b. 1803
English inventor. His taxi cab (1834) featured a suspended axle and seated the driver above and behind the passengers. It quickly became a favorite in England.
Montezuma (Moctezuma II)
Died June 29, 1520 b. circa 1466
last Aztec Emperor (1502-20). He was killed during the Spanish conquest of Mexico by Cortez.