January 20
President George W. Bush began his final term of office, officially sworn in by chief justice of the Supreme Court, William Rehnquist.
January 26
Condoleezza Rice is appointed the first black woman to hold the position of United States secretary of state.
March 3
Steve Fossett in his plane, GlobalFlyer, completed the first nonstop, 23,000 mile journey around the world.
April 2
Pope John Paul II dies after suffering from Parkinson’s disease; buried at the Vatican on April 19th with leaders from over 70 nations present, making it the largest funeral in history for a pope.
May 31
W. Mark Felt revealed himself as “Deep Throat,” the source who leaked information regarding Watergate (1972) in an issue of Vanity Fair.
July 6
London is chosen to be the host of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games.
August 29
Devastating Hurricane Katrina, classified as a category 4 storm, strikes the Gulf Coast. Millions of people without power, thousands die, and officials classify this storm was the worst natural disaster in U.S. history.
September 23
Furthering the damage in the Gulf Coast area, Hurricane Rita, a category 3 storm, hits and floods New Orleans.
In Sports…
The New England Patriots clench another Super Bowl trophy; defeating the Philadelphia Eagles by a field goal, score 24-21… Unable to finalize a salary cap deal for ice-hockey players, Gary Bettman, Commission of the National Hockey League, canceled the 2005 season… Chicago White Sox defeat the Houston Astros to win the 101st Major League Championship series, sweeping them 4 games to 0.
That’s Show Biz
77th Academy Awards Show – hosted by Chris Rock; best motion picture –
Million Dollar Baby; best performance by an actor in a leading role – Jamie Foxx for Ray; best performance by an actress in a leading role – Hilary Swank (right)
for |Million Dollar Baby... 57th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards Show – hosted by Ellen DeGeneres; outstanding comedy series – Everybody Loves Raymond; outstanding drama series – Lost
On TV…
Peter Jennings of ABC’s World News Tonight announced that he was battling
lung cancer and had begun chemotherapy…. Live 8 concerts around the world
are attended by millions of people to continue to promote the desire to increase aid to Africa.
We say good-bye to…
Johnny Carson - comedian (above, left)
Jack Anderson - investigative journalist
Johnnie Cochran, Jr. – trial lawyer who defended O.J. Simpson
Ossie Davis - actor, playwright, director, and civil rights leader
Sandra Dee – actress (Gidget)
Peter Jennings – broadcast journalist for ABC network
Pope John Paul II – third longest reigning pope
Rosa Parks – often referred to as “the mother of the civil rights movement” (above, right)
August Wilson – playwright, poet, author
William Rehnquist – U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice
Robert Wise – filmmaker