Today in History: Major Events and Birthdays on August 26th

Today in History: Major Events and Birthdays on August 26th

Today marks the 238th day of the year, with 127 days remaining. On this day in history, the first televised Major League Baseball games were broadcast in 1939, French Gen. Charles de Gaulle led a victory march in liberated Paris in 1944, Alaskans voted for statehood in 1958, and the Democratic National Convention opened in Chicago in 1968. The Summer Olympics began in Munich in 1972, and Cardinal Albino Luciani became Pope John Paul I in 1978. In 1980, the FBI accidentally detonated a bomb at Harvey’s Resort Hotel in Nevada, and in 1985, Ryan White attended school via telephone due to his AIDS diagnosis. Jaycee Dugard was found alive in California in 2009 after being missing for over 18 years, and in 2021, a terrorist attack at Kabul’s airport killed numerous Afghans and U.S. troops.

Celebrating birthdays today are former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge (81), broadcast journalist Bill Whitaker (75), puzzle creator/editor Will Shortz (74), jazz musician Branford Marsalis (66), actor-singer Shirley Manson (Garbage) (60), actor Melissa McCarthy (56), Latin pop singer Thalia (55), actor Macaulay Culkin (46), actor Chris Pine (46), comedian/actor/writer John Mulaney (44), country musician Brian Kelley (Florida Georgia Line) (41), NBA guard James Harden (37), actor Dylan O’Brien (35), actor Keke Palmer (33), and actor Charlie Gillespie (28).

In conclusion, today's historical events and birthdays showcase a mix of significant moments and notable individuals across various fields and eras.