August 14th, 1945:

In Washington, President Harry Truman announces Japan's unconditional surrender, ending World War Two.

Weeks later, a surrender ceremony on the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay formally concludes six years of fighting in Europe and the Pacific.

2003:

Fifty million people lose power, as a huge blackout hits the northeastern United States and parts of Canada.

An Ohio-based utility later receives much of the blame for the outages, which highlight the condition of North America's power grid.

1935:

In Washington, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the Social Security Act.

The law provides retirement income to elderly Americans and other government benefits to this day.

1969:

British troops arrive in Northern Ireland.

They are sent there to intervene amid a surge in sectarian violence between Protestants and Roman Catholics.

But that violence continues to flare in the troubled province, until a peace process emerges decades later.

1980:

During the Cold War, workers begin a strike at the Lenin Shipyard in Gdansk, Poland.

The job action leads to the Solidarity labor movement --- the first independent union behind the Iron Curtain.

Solidarity helps topple communism in Poland by the end of the decade.

And, 1945:

Steve Martin --- actor, comedian, writer and producer --- is born in Waco, Texas.

Today in History, August 14th --- ___ ___, The Associated Press. ===========================================================