Stuff that happened this month, 50 years ago.
Jim Morrison, lead singer of The Doors, was found dead in his bath in Paris, France, on July 3. He was 27.
On July 5, President Richard Nixon certified the 26th amendment to the US Constitution, which lowered the voting age from 21 to 18.
US National Security Adviser Henry Kissinger made a secret trip to the People’s Republic of China on July 9. On a reported flight to Pakistan, part of a “fact-finding trip” and diplomatic visit to Asian nations, the plane carrying Kissinger turned north and landed in Beijing. While the international press were told Kissinger was temporarily sidelined with a stomach ailment and recovering at a mountain resort in Pakistan, he was instead meeting with Chinese Prime Minister Zhou Enlai for three days. President Richard Nixon, in a nationwide address on July 15, announced he had accepted an invitation to visit China, which would take place before May 1972.
The South Tower of the World Trade Center was topped off on July 19 at the height of 1,362 feet, making it the second-tallest structure in the world, exceeded only by its neighbor tower to the north.
Fiddler on the Roof became the longest-running musical on Broadway with its 2,845th consecutive performance on July 21. The record had been held by Hello, Dolly! Fiddler on the Roof had first been performed on Broadway on September 22, 1964.
Apollo 15, carrying astronauts David Scott, Alfred Worden, and James Irwin, launched from Cape Canaveral, Fla., on July 26, beginning a four-day journey to the Moon. After landing on the 30th, Scott became the first person to drive a wheeled vehicle on the Moon on the 31st, while Irwin rode along as a passenger. The trip covered about 2.5 miles from the landing site before returning.
On July 29, I was officially released from active duty in the US Navy. More about that to follow.