It happened on… August 9

The Edmonton Oilers trade the world's best hockey player, Wayne Gretzky, to the Los Angeles Kings.

Watergate scandal: U.S. President Richard Nixon announces his resignation. He is succeeded by Gerald R. Ford.

Members of Charles Manson's cult commit four murders, including that of the pregnant actress Sharon Tate, wife of filmmaker Roman Polanski.

The United States drops a second atomic bomb, “Fat Man,” on Nagasaki, Japan, destroying the city.

The electric washing machine is invented by A.J. Fisher.

Nathan Ames invents the escalator.