Today is Friday, Aug. 8, the 220th day of 2003. There are 145 days left in the year. On this date in

Today is Friday, Aug. 8, the 220th day of 2003. There are 145 days left in the year. On this date in 1974, President Nixon announces he will resign following new damaging revelations in the Watergate scandal.
In 1876, Thomas A. Edison receives a patent for his mimeograph. In 1942, six convicted Nazi saboteurs who'd landed in the United States are executed in Washington, D.C.; two others received life imprisonment. In 1945, President Truman signs the United Nations Charter. In 1945, the Soviet Union declares war against Japan during World War II. In 1953, the United States and South Korea initial a mutual security pact. In 1963, Britain's "Great Train Robbery" takes place as thieves make off with 2.6 million pounds in banknotes. In 1968, Richard M. Nixon is nominated for president at the Republican national convention in Miami Beach, Fla. In 1973, Vice President Spiro T. Agnew brands as "damned lies" reports he had taken kickbacks from government contracts in Maryland, and vows not to resign -- which he eventually does. In 1978, the United States launches Pioneer Venus Two, which carries scientific probes to study the atmosphere of Venus. In 1993, in Somalia, four U.S. soldiers are killed when a land mine is detonated underneath their vehicle, prompting President Clinton to order Army Rangers to try to capture Somali warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid. In 1998, President Clinton, in his Saturday radio address, vows the bombers of two U.S. embassies in Africa would be brought to justice, "no matter how long it takes or where it takes us." In 2002, Saddam Hussein organizes a big military parade and then warns "the forces of evil" not to attack Iraq as he seeks once more to shift the debate away from world demands that he live up to agreements that ended the Gulf War; bankrupt telecommunications firm WorldCom says it has uncovered another $3.3 billion in bogus accounting, adding to the $3.85 billion fraud it revealed in June.
August 8, 1978: Lawrence County Common Pleas Judge Howard W. Lyon dies of a heart ailment in University Hospital, Cleveland. He suffered a heart attack in October in his chambers and never returned to the bench. He was 56.
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The Mahoning County Democratic Central Committee adopts a constitution during a meeting in Krakusy Hall that prohibits Democratic public officials from serving as party chairman.
The 141 soap box derby winners, including one from Germany, arrive in Akron for the All-American Soap Box Derby. David Hamilton and Frank Shirley, both of Howland, winners of the 21st annual Warren Soapbox Derby, flew to Akron in a Lyden Oil Co. plane.
August 8, 1963: An 18-year-old amateur boxer is arrested by detectives on two charges of assault and battery in the beating of a special policemen outside Mack's Roller Rink.
A 24-year-old hazel-eyed Boardman brunette wins her way into the national finals for the Miss United States beauty contest in statewide competition at Avon Lake. Betsy Nittoli will next compete in Huntington, W. Va., for the title of Miss United States.
Mannesmann-Meer Inc. has found its move from Easton, Pa., to Youngstown five years ago well justified, says Helmut Borger, vice president in charge of finance of the firm, speaking before the Youngstown Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors' Club.
August 8, 1953: Youngstown Mayor Charles Henderson will ask the Civil Aeronautics Administration to give an opinion on whether the Youngstown Municipal Airport can safely handle a proposed Air Force reserve training center as well as commercial airline traffic.
At least 3,500 workmen at Republic Steel Corp. plants in Youngstown are idle and the furnaces are down in a walkout sparked by a dispute over incentive pay schedules.
Youngstown's hospitals are crowded, with waiting lists at North and South Side hospitals and St. Elizabeth's almost filled to capacity. No reason could be assigned to the rush of patients. North side has 397; South Side, 253, and St. Elizabeth's about 300.
August 8, 1928: Construction work on the dam for Lake Newport, under construction in Mill Creek Park some distance above Lanterman's Falls, is moving along. Completion is expected in the early fall.
The Youngstown Chamber of Commerce praises city school officials and executives for their overall performance, but questions the need to spend money on "frills" such as manual training, medical services, home economics and physical education courses.
Youngstown Mayor Joseph L. Heffernan orders an investigation into alleged rough treatment of a 16-year-old boy and 24-year-old man arrested on suspicion of robbery, but Police Chief J. J. McNicholas says the case is a closed book as far as his department is concerned.