Today in history january 15 on this day 20250114 p5roga.html – Breaking News & Latest Updates 2026
Advertisement
Advertisement
This was published 1 year ago

TODAY IN HISTORY: Why president got a custom-made trenchcoat as a life-saving measure

Nick Pearson
Nick Pearson

Powered by
1 / 6

Her attempted murder took place 17 days after another woman, Squeaky Fromme, also tried to shoot Ford in California.

"Am I sorry I tried? Yes and no. Yes, because it accomplished little except to throw away the rest of my life. And, no, I'm not sorry I tried, because at the time it seemed a correct expression of my anger," Moore told the court at her sentencing.

She had been evaluated by the Secret Service before the shooting, but was deemed to not pose a threat.

Attribution: AP
2 / 6

In the wake of the two assassination attempts, Ford began wearing a bulletproof trenchcoat when in public.

The coat was made by famed brand London Fog and looked like any other, but it was lined with Kevlar.

"It bothered me and I certainly would have preferred not to do it but I felt it my obligation to do it," he later said.

Attribution: Gerald Ford Presidential Library
3 / 6

YMCA PE teacher James Naismith published the rules of the new sport he had invented on January 15, 1892.

Naismith was looking for a sport that teenage boys could play inside during the bitter winter months in New England.

Naismith put peach baskets on opposing sides of a gymnasium and tasked the boys with throwing the ball in it.

Twelve years later, basketball was in the Olympic Games.

Attribution: Public Domain
Advertisement
4 / 6

Naismith had to adapt the rules after the first game was incredibly violent.

By the end of the game, there were several black eyes, one separated shoulder and a boy knocked unconscious.

But by the end of the year, it had been adopted internationally by the YMCA.

Attribution: Public Domain
5 / 6

And in 1898, he was offered a job coaching basketball at the University of Kansas.

Despite inventing the game, his record as coach was unimpressive. 

With 55 wins and 60 losses, he is the only coach in University of Kansas history with more losses than wins.

Attribution: Public Domain
6 / 6

The molasses bent the steel plating of the elevated railway line as it swept through.

Boston Harbour was brown for months after the disaster.

For decades afterwards, north Boston was known for the sweet smell in air, especially in summertime, a remnant of the disaster.

Attribution: Public Domain
email icon

Contact us

Share a tip-off, video or photo with us

View more galleries

Most viewed in World

More to explore