Today in History - July 24: With a jump from a cliff, two men changed thrillseeking
Two US daredevils became the first known BASE jumpers when they jumped from El Capitan mountain on July 24, 1966.
Michael Pelkey and Brian Schubert were experienced skydivers when they decided to take on a greater risk.
The second-largest unbroken cliff in the world, El Capitan in Yosemite National Park was uniquely suited for a BASE jump.
The pair climbed 910m before the brave plunge.
Both were injured in the jump, with Pelke breaking an ankle and Schubert breaking a leg and foot.
But they became legends in what would become the BASE jumping community, even if the term wouldn't be coined for 14 years.
Neither would BASE jump again until 2005, with a jump from the New River Gorge Bridge.
But Schubert's parachute did not open, and he fell to his death in front of a horrified crowd.
Pelkey made a successful jump soon afterwards.
US Vice President Richard Nixon and Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev got into a heated debate on July 24, 1959.
The two were walking around the American National Exhibition in Moscow when the friendly exchange became intense.
The exhibition was intended to show what life was like for Americans, in a clear effort to make Russians jealous.
But Nixon and Khrushchev couldn't help but argue as they reached a model kitchen, in front of dozens of reporters.
Khrushchev was unimpressed with the fridge, stove and dishwasher.
"Your capitalistic attitude toward women does not occur under communism," he said.
Nixon replied: "I think that this attitude towards women is universal. What we want to do is make life more easy for our housewives."
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