Previously on this day

More than sixty million Americans watched the first ever televised debate between two candidates running for Presidency.
In total, Republican candidate Vice President Richard Nixon and Senator John F Kennedy, the Democratic candidate, went on to appearing four debates. During this first debate each candidate was given eight minutes to give an opening speech, prior to the start of a series of questions from reporters, prior to each giving a final statement. Richard Nixon went on to become President of the United States of America in 1969. It was not until 1976 when the next televised debate was screened.

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Due to the invasion of Poland by the German troops on this day back in 1939, both British and French forces were preparing to go to war with Germany for the second time in a century.

It was just before dawn when approx 1.5 million troops crossed into Polish territory. Shortly afterwards planes were bombarding the cities, including the capital Warsaw, as the Germans made very swift progress.
The invasion of Poland by Germany resulted in the start World War 2, which lasted a total of 6 years, ending in 1945.

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On this day, 18th July 1990: Two English teenagers were held in Thailand over drugs. The two girls were called Patricia Cahill, 17, and Karen Smith, 18, they were from the Midlands and they were arrested for drug smuggling in Thailand.

The girls were arrested at Bangkok airport whilst trying to board a flight to Amsterdam. They had nearly 70lb (32kg) of powdered heroin with a street value of about £4m hidden in shampoo bottles and coffee and biscuit tins. The girls claim they did not know what was in the containers, given to them by a third person.

The girls dad said he did not even know his daughter had left the country. Patrick Cahill thought she was holidaying in Scotland. He said that Patricia was “dead against drugs, she was dead against abortions and things like that.”

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On the 21st July 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk on the Moon. When Neil first landed on the moon he is quoted as saying: “Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed.” He said the Eagle has landed because the space craft they travelled in was called the Eagle.

The most famous saying from Neil Armstong being on the moon is when he first stepped down on to the moon, he declared: “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”

The activity on the moon was captured by TV cameras which were installed on the Eagle and turned on by Neil Armstrong once they landed. When he was on the moon Neil Armstrong took photographs and soil samples, he was then joined by his partner Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin the two collected data and jumped across the landscape, finally they planted the American Stars and Stripes flag and unveiled a plaque which read: “Here men from the planet Earth first set foot upon the Moon July 1969 AD. We came in peace for all mankind.”

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What happened on this day in history?

There are many, many websites online which tell you what happened on this day in history. The best one of these that I have found is the BBC Website - On This Day.

The BBC website allows you to choose which date you would like to view in history from a drop down and then it gives you the option to view all the articles from that day in history.

It is my birthday on the 23rd March 1984, I was born at 6am in the morning, the year I was born, Torvill and Dean won the ice skating Olympics. Since then they have been hosting on Dancing on Ice - they are still good. However, it is a mystery to me as to why Torvill always wears long skirts rather than wearing the short ones?

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