Happy Fourth of July! Happy Birthday America! If you happen to be sharing your birthday with the nation… Happy Birthday to you too! You celebrate this special day with a number of newsmakers who were also born on the Fourth of July, including:
Calvin Coolidge
Born in 1872, the 30th President of the United States of America is the only U.S. president to be born on the nation’s birthday. He took on the position in 1923 when then President Warren Harding died in office. He won the presidency in his own right in 1924. But, four years later decided against running for a second term.
Ann Landers and Dear Abby
Born Esther Pauline Friedman and Pauline Esther Friedman in 1918, the twin sisters went on to write America’s most widely read newspaper advice columns under the pen names: Ann Landers and Dear Abby. The sisters married on the same day in 1939 and for decades shared successful careers. Ann Landers column was retired after she died in 2002. That same year Dear Abby’s daughter took over hers.
Leona Helmsley
Born in 1920, Helmsley was later dubbed the “Queen of Mean” for notoriously boasting that, “only the little people pay taxes.” She became a household name in 1989 when she was convicted of tax evasion. Helmsley served 18 months in federal prison for her illegal activity. Today, Helmsley still owns part of the Empire State Building (which she inherited from her late husband, New York City real-estate mogul, Harry Helmsley who died in 1997).
George Steinbrenner
The former coach who later took over his father’s struggling shipbuilding company was born in 1930. His “can-do” attitude propelled the family-owned business into a money making giant, allowing him to buy the New York Yankees in 1978. Since then the Bronx Bombers have gone on to win six World Series titles.
Geraldo Rivera
Born in New York in 1943, Rivera was looking forward to a successful career as a lawyer until he was recruited by the local ABC affiliate in New York City as a reporter. That job segued into a gig with ABC’s “20/20” newsmagazine. Rivera now hosts his own syndicated TV talk show.
Ron Kovic
The anti-war activist and author of the memoir “Born on the Fourth of July” was born in 1946. His popular book was made into an Academy Award-winning movie that was directed by Oliver Stone and starred Tom Cruise. The film chronicled Kovic’s service as a decorated Marine in Vietnam where he was shot and paralyzed from the waist down.
Pam Shriver
The Hall of Fame tennis player was born in 1962 and gained super star status in 1978 when as a 16-year-old amateur she beat Wimbledon champ Martina Navratilova to reach the final of the U.S. Open (where she lost to Chris Evert). Despite that loss, Shriver later went on to win 22 Grand Slam doubles titles