President Richard Nixon’s Resignation

On August 9, 1974, President Richard Nixon resigned from office following the Watergate scandal. Gerald Ford assumed the presidency as the 38th president. Ford took the oath of office at 11:05 a.m. CST, but officially became president 40 minutes earlier after Nixon’s resignation letter was delivered to Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.

Role of Chicago Tribune in Watergate

The Chicago Tribune played a crucial role in Nixon’s resignation. In April 1974, Tribune staff traveled to Washington, D.C., to publish the full transcript of the Watergate tapes. The 246,000-word document was printed in a special 44-page section, preceding other American newspapers. Hundreds of Tribune employees participated in this task before computers became common.

Lincoln Mall Opening

Lincoln Mall opened on August 9, 1973, becoming the first enclosed mall in Chicago’s far south suburbs. It opened nearly three years before Orland Square in Orland Park. Although it closed in January 2015, the memory of Lincoln Mall remains through photographs.

Bruce Springsteen’s Soldier Field Concert

During Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Born in the U.S.A.’ tour in 1985, seven people died when a CTA bus collided with a Cadillac on their way to the Soldier Field concert.

First Night Game at Wrigley Field

The Chicago Cubs played their first full night game at Wrigley Field on August 9, 1988, after a rain delay the previous night. The Cubs secured a 6-4 win against the Mets in front of 36,399 spectators.

Bo Jackson’s Bat Break Incident

On August 9, 1993, Bo Jackson of the White Sox broke a bat over his knee after striking out at Comiskey Park. The game saw Frank Thomas hit a solo home run, breaking a 4-4 tie against the Oakland Athletics.

Weather Records in Chicago (August 9)

Recorded high temperature: 97 degrees (1913)
Recorded low temperature: 51 degrees (1972)
Precipitation: 1.6 inches (1952)
Snowfall: Trace (1954)

Vintage Chicago Memories

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