August 9th: A Day of Memory, Resistance, and Global Milestones

Summary:
August 9th is a date marked by powerful moments of remembrance, resistance, and historic change. From atomic devastation and anti-apartheid activism to indigenous rights and global observances, this day invites reflection on how history shapes our present. In this article, we explore August 9th through the lens of calendars, traditions, and major world events, shining a light on its lasting global significance.

📅 August 9th in the Calendar

On the Gregorian calendar, August 9th is the 221st day of the year (222nd in leap years), leaving 144 days remaining. This date typically falls in late summer in the Northern Hemisphere and late winter in the Southern Hemisphere.

In the Julian calendar, currently used liturgically by some Eastern Orthodox churches, August 9th corresponds to August 22nd in the Gregorian calendar. This difference becomes important in historical comparisons and religious feast days.

🌐 Cultural Traditions and Observances on August 9th

🧭 International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples

Since 1994, the United Nations has designated August 9th as the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. The date commemorates the first meeting of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations in 1982 and highlights the need to protect and promote indigenous rights.

Why it matters:
There are over 476 million Indigenous people in the world today, belonging to 5,000 cultures and speaking over 4,000 languages. August 9th draws attention to the contributions, challenges, and resilience of these communities amid centuries of marginalisation.

🗓️ Key Historical Events on August 9th

☢️ 1945 – Atomic Bombing of Nagasaki

Three days after Hiroshima, on August 9, 1945, the U.S. dropped a second atomic bomb—nicknamed “Fat Man”—on the Japanese city of Nagasaki. The bomb killed an estimated 40,000 people instantly, with tens of thousands more dying later from radiation exposure.

This event, along with the Soviet declaration of war on Japan, led to Japan’s unconditional surrender just six days later, marking the end of World War II.

Why it matters:
The bombing of Nagasaki remains one of the most sobering events in human history. It not only ended the war but also ushered in the nuclear age, prompting decades of debate about ethics, warfare, and humanity’s future.

✊ 1956 – South African Women’s March Against Apartheid

On August 9, 1956, more than 20,000 South African women of all races marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to protest against the apartheid regime’s pass laws, which restricted the movement of Black South Africans.

The women left piles of petitions and stood in silence for 30 minutes before breaking into protest songs, including the now-famous “Wathint’ Abafazi, Wathint’ Imbokodo” (“You strike a woman, you strike a rock”).

Why it matters:
This peaceful yet powerful protest marked a turning point in South Africa’s anti-apartheid movement. Today, August 9th is celebrated as Women’s Day in South Africa, honouring the bravery and leadership of women in the struggle for freedom.

🧱 1974 – Gerald Ford Sworn in as U.S. President

One day after Richard Nixon resigned, Gerald R. Ford was sworn in as the 38th President of the United States on August 9, 1974. In his first speech as President, Ford famously declared, “Our long national nightmare is over.”

Why it matters:
Ford’s presidency began during a time of deep public distrust following the Watergate scandal. His decision to pardon Nixon remains controversial, but it also highlighted the challenges of restoring confidence in American democracy.

🚀 1971 – British Internment Begins in Northern Ireland

On August 9, 1971, the British government launched Operation Demetrius, which involved the mass internment without trial of hundreds of suspected Irish nationalists in Northern Ireland. The operation intensified the violence of The Troubles and drew international condemnation.

Why it matters:
Internment sparked further unrest and is widely seen as a political and strategic failure that deepened divisions in Northern Ireland, reinforcing the long and painful path toward peace.

🌌 2006 – Space Shuttle Atlantis Launched (STS-115)

On August 9, 2006, NASA launched Space Shuttle Atlantis on mission STS-115, delivering key components to the International Space Station (ISS). The flight was part of a renewed effort to complete construction of the ISS after the Columbia disaster grounded shuttle missions for years.

Why it matters:
The mission represented NASA’s determination to continue international collaboration in space and helped pave the way for today’s advanced research aboard the ISS.

🧠 Famous Birthdays on August 9th

Amedeo Avogadro (1776) – Italian scientist known for Avogadro’s Law in chemistry, which underpins molecular theory.
Whitney Houston (1963–2012) – Iconic American singer and actress, one of the best-selling music artists of all time.
Gillian Anderson (b. 1968) – Award-winning actress known for The X-Files and The Crown.
Sam Elliott (b. 1944) – American actor known for his deep voice and roles in westerns and dramas.

✨ Other Observances and Fun Facts

Women’s Day (South Africa) – A public holiday celebrating the role of women in the fight against apartheid, marked by marches, speeches, and cultural events.
Nagasaki Peace Ceremony – Held annually to remember the victims of the 1945 atomic bombing, with calls for world peace and nuclear disarmament.
Book Lovers Day (Unofficial) – Celebrated in various places as a day to unplug and enjoy reading.

🔚 Conclusion: A Day to Remember, Resist, and Reflect

From the shadow of atomic warfare to the light of women’s resistance and the voices of indigenous peoples, August 9th speaks across continents and cultures. It is a day to remember tragedies, honour courage, and renew our commitment to justice, peace, and progress.

Whether you’re reflecting on history or participating in cultural observances, August 9th invites you to engage with the past to better shape the future.

📣 Call to Action

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Thanks for reading—and remember: every day has a story worth telling.

: 1974

In 1974, President Nixon was forced to resign.

On the 17^th of June 1972, the Democratic National Committee’s headquarters were broken into by five men. The Burglars (Bernard Barker, Virgilio Gonzales, James McCord, Eugenio Martinez and Frank Sturgis) had many CIA connections, many being former employees, and broke into the Watergate office complex, which contained the Democratic Party’s Headquarters. They placed phone taps and bugs in the offices, which would allow the Republican Party access to private information.

On the night of the 17^th of June, security guard Frank Willis noticed that tape had been placed over the latches on doors within the complex. The doors had automatic spring latches that would lock when the door closed, but the tape over the latch prevented the lock from working. Initially, Willis just removed the tape and continued on his rounds but when he returned about an hour later, he found that the doors had been re-taped. Willis immediately called the police, and the five burglars were arrested inside the offices of the Democrats' headquarters.

The FBI began looking into the break-in and attempted wiretaps, which worried certain members of President Nixon’s re-election committee, known as the Committee for the Re-election of the President, also known as CRP, but later known as CREEP.

On the 19th of June it was revealed that one of the burglars, James McCord, was a security coordinator for the Republican National Committee and the Committee for the Re-election of the President.

President Richard Milhous Nixon, a Republican, met with his Chief of Staff, H.R. Haldeman, on the 23^rd of June 1972 to discuss the matter. Although the President appeared to be unaware of the Watergate break-in plans, having asked "Who was the asshole who ordered it", he did agree to Haldeman’s plans to use the CIA to block the investigation by the FBI.

President Nixon had a recording system installed in the Oval Office, an act that would later be used against him.

As more evidence continued to mount, the FBI announced on the 10^th of October that the Watergate incident was part of a campaign of espionage from the re-election committee. Despite this, Nixon was re-elected President of the United States by over 60% of the vote (one of the largest landslide victories in US political history).

Nixon’s re-election did nothing to end the story, which was picking up momentum thanks to a secret informer, code-named Deep Throat, who continued to feed the papers new information.

On the 23^rd of March 1973, a Judge in the case of the burglars was given a letter from McCord claiming that perjury had been committed in the Watergate incident.

On the 15^th of April, Nixon was informed that Chief of Staff H.R. Haldeman had been implicated. In order to save himself, Nixon requested Haldeman’s resignation, and Haldeman was sentenced to prison, but Nixon was far from in the clear.

After many attempts to stall, Nixon is finally forced to hand over the tapes from the Oval Office recordings and after hearing the recording from the meeting held on this day in 1972 that Nixon was clearly guilty of abusing his power and attempting to pervert the course of justice. Nixon was forced to resign on the 9^th of August 1974. He was pardoned by his successor, President Ford, but the Watergate incident led to the imprisonment of 43 people.

In 2005, it was revealed that the informer known as Deep Throat was actually the former deputy director of the FBI, William Mark Felt.