What Happened On This Day ? August 3
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2005
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad takes office in Iran
An engineer and teacher by professional, Ahmadinejad became the 6th president of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
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2005
Coup in Mauritania
A military coup replaced long-time president Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya. Colonel Ely Ould Mohamed Vall took over the transitional government until elections were held in 2005.
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1960
Niger gains its independence from France
The West African country became a French colony in the early 20th century. Hamani Diori became the first president of the country.
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1946
World's first theme park opens its doors in in Santa Claus, Indiana, USA
Santa Claus Land is now known as Holiday World & Splashin' Safari.
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1900
Firestone Tire and Rubber Company is founded
The American tire company was founded by Harvey Samuel Firestone in Akron, Ohio. In 1988, the company was taken over by Japan's Bridgestone Corporation.
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2008
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
Russian soldie, author, Nobel Prize laureate
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2004
Henri Cartier-Bresson
French photographer
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1995
Ida Lupino
English actress, director
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1929
Thorstein Veblen
American economist, sociologist
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1924
Joseph Conrad
Polish/English author