On this day in 1812, the United States declares war against Britain, although it's primarily aimed at the Dave Clark Five, the Mersey Beats, and other Liverpudian combos who will take jobs away from "mod" American groups.
On this day in 1979, President Carter and Soviet President Leonid I. Brezhnev sign the SALT Two limitation treaty in Vienna, agreeing to limit their salt intake to 500 mgs per day.