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TIL that during the Cold War, the U.S. once accidentally dropped a nuclear bomb on North Carolina. Although it failed to detonate, it was later revealed that only a single safety switch prevented a catastrophic explosion.

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b6BMa TIL of Max Naumann, the leader of the Association of German National Jews, a Jewish organization during Nazi Germany that came out in support of Hitler. Despite their loyalty to Hitler, the group was rejected by Nazis and deemed illegal. Max & other members were sent to concentration camps.
m1dKO TIL Interior Secretary James Watts banned the Beach Boys from playing on the National Mall, Watt said "hard rock" music "brought the wrong element" citing drug and alcohol use. Instead, Watt invited longtime Las Vegas star Wayne Newton to provide a more 'patriotic, family-based entertainment.'
bJ40 TIL that Madagascar actually accounts for the most plague deaths in the world.
0Nb1 TIL before The Hobbit was published in Nazi Germany, JRR Tolkien was asked whether he was Aryan. He replied “But if I am to understand that you are enquiring whether I am of Jewish origin, I can only reply that I regret that I appear to have no ancestors of that gifted people.”
b6X4a TIL that the first instance of Panda Diplomacy was by Madame Chiang, who arranged for pandas to be sent to San Francisco as a dramatic way of saying thank you. The pandas received attention, but not as much as hoped, because on their way to the US, Pearl Harbor had been bombed.