{"id":119041,"date":"2026-07-20T09:00:36","date_gmt":"2026-07-20T13:00:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/?p=119041"},"modified":"2026-07-19T12:15:01","modified_gmt":"2026-07-19T16:15:01","slug":"today-in-history-july-20-1969-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/?p=119041","title":{"rendered":"July 20, 1969: Tranquility"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"0720_big\"<\/p>\n

\nPresident Kennedy to the joint session of Congress on May 25 1961:<\/p>\n

“I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth.” <\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Here’s an incredible photo of their approach to the landing spot, taken from the lunar module:<\/p>\n

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\nBuzz Aldrin to NASA, after landing on the moon:<\/p>\n

“This is the LM pilot. I’d like to take this opportunity to ask every person listening in, whoever and wherever they may be, to pause for a moment and contemplate the events of the past few hours and to give thanks in his or her own way.” <\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Neil Armstrong to Mission Control:<\/p>\n

“Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed.” <\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\nThe Walter Cronkite telecast as it all happened gives me goosebumps. Of course I didn’t see it at the time, but it puts you right back there.<\/p>\n

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