The way it was: Today in history

Throwback Thursday: A look back at events on September 29.

Construction workers take a lunch break on a steel beam atop the RCA Building at Rockefeller Center, New York, Sept. 29, 1932. In the background is the Chrysler Building. According to PBS, it was the first development in the world to contain offices, restaurants, retail outlets, entertainment venues (Radio City Music Hall) and a broadcast center

Munich Treaty - 1938

French Head of Government Edouard Daladier is photographed signing the Munich Treaty as Nazi German Chancellor Adolf Hitler (2nd R), Reichsmarshal Hermann Goering (3rd L), Hitler’s Secretary Martin Bormann (R) and nazi top officers look on on September 29, 1938 in Munich.

The treaty signed between Nazi Germany, France, Italy and the United Kingdom authorized Hitler to annex a Czech territory called the Sudetes. Germany finally invaded Czechoslovakia on March 15, 1939.

WWII Protests - 1938

As a protest against Hitler’s attitude towards Czechoslovakia, a number of women wearing gas masks and carrying placards started a 48-hour vigil, September 29, 1938 outside the building in which the German consulate has offices in New York City. They said picketing would continue October 1, when a “Save Czechoslovakia” parade would be held.

Willie Mays - 1954

New York Giants center fielder Willie Mays, running at top speed with his back to the plate, gets under a 450-foot blast off the bat of Cleveland Indians first baseman Vic Wertz to pull the ball down in front of the bleachers wall in the eighth inning of Game 1 of the World Series at the Polo Grounds in New York, September 29, 1954. In making the miraculous catch with two runners on base, Mays came within a step of crashing into the wall. The Giants won 5-2.

The game marked the last time the New York Giants played at the famous Polo Grounds. The following year the team became the San Francisco Giants.

Stan Musial retires - 1963

After hanging up his uniform, Stan Musial, having played his final game, sits in the St. Louis Cardinals dressing room and waits for teammates to come off the field.

Musial left the game after getting 2 hits in 3 times up, against Cincinnati, September 29, 1963, then waited while the game went into extra innings.

Pnom Penh - 1966

People hold pieces which together form a likeness of French President Charles de Gaulle at the Pnom Penh Olympic stadium August 29, 1966, for his visit in Cambodia. On September 29, 1966, in a famous speech in Cambodia’s capital Phnom Penh, de Gaulle expressed France’s disapproval of the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War, calling for a U.S. withdrawal from Vietnam as the only way to ensure peace.

Chicago 7 trial - 1969

Four defense lawyers in the conspiracy trial of eight political activists, hold a press conference at Federal Building in Chicago, September 29, 1969, after Judge Julius Hoffman dismissed contempt charges against them.

From left are Dennis Roberts, Oakland, California; Michael Tigar, Los Angeles; Gerald Lefcourt, New York, and Michael Kennedy, San Francisco. The seven defendents Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, Tom Hayden, John Froines, David Dellinger, Rennie Davis and Lee Weiner were charged by the federal government with conspiracy, inciting to riot among other charges in connection with anti-Vietnam protests during the Democratic National Convention. Bobby Seale was originally charged with the group, but in a separate trial was sentenced to four years for contempt of court. The sentence was later overturned.

Chile overthrow - 1973

Two bullet holes on the wall above chair are seen as evidence that Chilean President Salvador Allende committed suicide during the September 11 military coup, seen September 29, 1973.

Tawana Brawley - 1988

Tawana Brawley, second from right, declares, “I am not a liar,” in Newark, New Jersey, September 29, 1988, during her first news conference since the case surfaced last November. Looking on from left are, Alton Maddox, Rev. Al Sharpton, and Glenda Brawley at far right.

Brawley, 15, from Wappinger Falls, New York, accused four white men of rape after being missing for four days in November 1987. The case received widespread national attention after she was found in a trash bag, covered in racial slurs and feces. In October 1988, after hearing from 180 witnesses, a grand jury decided that Brawley had not been a victim of an attack, but created the appearance of one. A New York prosecutor was one of those accused by the teenager. He later successfully sued.

Space shuttle Discovery - 1988

Spectators watch the successful ascent of the space shuttle Discovery at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, Sept. 29, 1988.

Discovery’s successful launch marked the return of the U.S. to manned space exploration following the Challenger disaster that killed the entire crew.

Russian constitutional crisis - 1993

Riot militia troops in full battle gear with shields stand under the snow September 29, 1993, blocking one of the roads to the Russian parliament building in Moscow. A deadline issued by the Russian defense minister to hand over all arms passed in the morning without a response by those inside.

President Boris Yeltsin tried to dissolve the legislature despite not having the authority to do so. The constitutional crisis led to parliament impeaching Yeltsin and protesters taking over the mayor’s office. Yelstin used military force against protesters resulting in the death of an estimated 187 people and injuries to more than 400 people.

Haiti - 1994

U.S. military police protect a suspected “attache” from a mob in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, September 29, 1994 after a grenade exploded during a rally following the return of the exiled mayor of the Haitian capital. President Jean Bertrand Aristide was returned to power October 15 after being exiled in the U.S. for four years.

Chief Justice John Roberts - 2005

U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts receives applause after he was sworn in during a ceremony in the East Room at the White House September 29, 2005 in Washington D.C.

Earlier in the day the U.S. Senate voted in favor of Roberts becoming the 17th Chief Justice of the highest court in the United States.

Stock market plunge - 2008

Gerard Farco with Keybanc Capital Markets looks at the board of the New York Stock Exchange September 29, 2008 as the Dow Jones Industrial Average sank 770.59 points (6.92) percent to 10,372.54, after the closing bell, in the worst single-day point decline ever, based on provisional data at the close of trade.