This Weekend in History (August 8 and 9)

Happy Saturday! Many, many things happened this weekend in history (including the Nagasaki bombing). Here are five non-nuclear events that happened on August 8th and 9th.

1. 1854: Thoreau Publishes Walden

On August 9, 1854, Henry David Thoreau published his seminal work, Walden; or, Life in the Woods, recounting his experience living in a cabin near Walden Pond. He wrote (emphasis added):

I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practice resignation, unless it was quite necessary. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartan-like as to put to rout all that was not life, to cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to its lowest terms, and, if it proved to be mean, why then to get the whole and genuine meanness of it, and publish its meanness to the world; or if it were sublime, to know it by experience, and be able to give a true account of it in my next excursion.

2. 1930: Betty Boop Debuts

On August 9, 1930, Max Fleischer released his cartoon Dizzy Dishes, featuring the first appearance of Betty Boop. It's a bizarre short (watch it above), and this weekend marks 85 years (!) of Betty Boop.

3. 1950: Florence Chadwick Swims the English Channel

On August 8, 1950, American swimmer Florence Chadwick broke the women's record for swimming the English Channel from France to England. She made the swim in 13 hours, 20 minutes. The next year, she crossed in the opposite direction, taking 16 hours and 22 minutes, setting another record and making her the first woman to swim the channel in both directions.

4. 1963: Great Train Robbery in England

On August 8, 1963, a Royal Mail train headed to London was robbed. Fifteen men took £2.6 million (roughly equivalent to $50 million today), contained in 120 mailbags, mostly £1 and £5 notes. Less than £400,000 was recovered, despite ten of the robbers being imprisoned within six months of the robbery.

5. 1974: Richard Nixon Resigns

On August 9, 1974, Richard Nixon resigned the presidency of the United States of America. VP Gerald Ford was sworn in, becoming the 38th president. Nixon went out with a televised speech (see above—including a bunch of pre-roll before the broadcast!). For more context, check out The Atlantic's coverage of Nixon's resignation, 40 years later.

Fun fact: Nixon had a really sad lunch that day. It consisted of cottage cheese, pineapple slices, and a glass of milk.