Today in history: August 2
Ten years ago: Kofi Annan resigned as peace envoy to Syria, blaming the Syrian government’s intransigence, the growing militancy of Syrian rebels and a divided U.N. Security Council that he said failed to forcefully back his effort.
1921: “Black Sox”
In 1921, a jury in Chicago acquitted several former members of the Chicago White Sox baseball team and two others of conspiring to defraud the public in the notorious “Black Sox” scandal.
1923: Warren G. Harding
On Aug. 2, 1923, the 29th president of the United States, Warren G. Harding, died in San Francisco; Vice President Calvin Coolidge became president.
1939: Albert Einstein
In 1939, Albert Einstein signed a letter to President Franklin D. Roosevelt urging creation of an atomic weapons research program.
1945: Potsdam conference
In 1945, President Harry S. Truman, Soviet leader Josef Stalin and Britain’s new prime minister, Clement Attlee, concluded the Potsdam conference.
2012: Michael Phelps
Michael Phelps added to his medal collection with his first individual gold medal of the London Games in the 200-meter individual medley.
2012: Gabby Douglas
Gabby Douglas became the third American in a row to win gymnastics’ biggest prize when she claimed the all-around Olympic title;
2012: Kofi Annan
Ten years ago: Kofi Annan resigned as peace envoy to Syria, blaming the Syrian government’s intransigence, the growing militancy of Syrian rebels and a divided U.N. Security Council that he said failed to forcefully back his effort.
2017: Ara Parseghian
Five years ago: Former Notre Dame football coach Ara Parseghian died at his home in Granger, Indiana, at the age of 94.
Things to know today: The killing of Ayman al-Zawahri; hotly contested 2022 primaries today; Beyoncé changes lyric after backlash. Get caught up.