Today is Sunday, July 20, the 201st day of 2025. There are 164 days left in the year.
Today in history:
On July 20, 1969, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin made history by becoming the first men to walk on the moon after reaching its surface in their Apollo 11 lunar module.
Also on this date:
In 1917, America’s World War I draft lottery commenced as Secretary of War Newton Baker, blindfolded, picked the number 258 from a glass bowl during a ceremony in the Senate office building.
In 1944, a failed assassination attempt on Adolf Hitler with a bomb left the Nazi leader wounded.
In 1951, Jordan’s King Abdullah I was assassinated in Jerusalem by a Palestinian gunman who was immediately shot dead by security.
In 1976, America’s Viking 1 robot spacecraft successfully landed on Mars for the first time ever.
In 1977, a devastating flash flood struck Johnstown, Pennsylvania, resulting in the loss of over 80 lives and causing $350 million in damages.
In 1990, Supreme Court Justice William J. Brennan announced his resignation, leaving a vacancy on the court.
In 1993, White House deputy counsel Vincent Foster Jr. was found dead from a gunshot wound in a park near Washington, D.C., ruled as a suicide.
In 2006, the Senate unanimously voted to renew the Voting Rights Act for another 25 years.
In 2007, President George W. Bush signed an executive order prohibiting cruel and inhuman treatment in the detention and interrogation of terrorism suspects.
In 2012, a gunman opened fire in a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado, during a showing of “The Dark Knight Rises,” resulting in 12 deaths and 70 injuries.
In 2015, the United States and Cuba restored full diplomatic relations after more than 50 years of strained ties.
Today’s Birthdays:
- Former Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski, D-Md., turns 89 today.
- Baseball Hall of Famer Tony Oliva celebrates his 87th birthday.
- Artist Judy Chicago marks her 86th birthday.
- Country singer T.G. Sheppard is 81 years old today.
- Singer Kim Carnes turns 80 on this day.
- Rock musician Carlos Santana celebrates his 78th birthday.
- Author and commentator Thomas Friedman is 72 years old today.
- Rock musician Paul Cook (Sex Pistols) turns 69.
- Actor Frank Whaley celebrates his 62nd birthday.
- Conservationist and TV personality Terri Irwin is 61 years old today.
- Rock musician Stone Gossard (Pearl Jam) turns 59.
- Actor Josh Holloway (TV: “Lost”) celebrates his 56th birthday.
- Singer Vitamin C is also 56 today.
- Actor Sandra Oh turns 54.
- Hockey Hall of Famer Peter Forsberg celebrates his 52nd birthday.
- Actor Omar Epps also turns 52 today.
- Basketball Hall of Famer Ray Allen marks his 50th birthday.
- Hockey Hall of Famer Pavel Datsyuk turns 47.
- Supermodel Gisele Bundchen celebrates her 45th birthday.
- Actor Percy Daggs III turns 43.
- Actor John Francis Daley is 40 years old today.
- Dancer-singer-actor Julianne Hough turns 37.
- Former MLB pitcher Stephen Strasburg celebrates his 37th birthday.
