On August 13, 1961, East Germany closed the Brandenburg Gate and prepared to start building the Berlin Wall. UPI File Photo

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas welcomes prisoners released from Israeli prison in the West Bank town of Ramallah early August 14, 2013. File Photo by Thaer Ghanaim/UPI | License Photo

Mark Anderson, a Verizon line service technician, uses a pay phone outside the Verizon offices while picketing on the strike line August 8, 2000, in Battleboro, Vt. On August 13, 1889, William Gray patented the coin-operated telephone. File Photo by Steven E. Frischling/UPI | License Photo

Postmaster General and CEO of the U.S. Postal Service John E. Potter (L) and Mickey Mantle's sons, Daniel Mantle (C) and David Mantle unveil the "Baseball Sluggers" commemorative postage stamps at Yankee Stadium in New York on July 15, 2006. On August 13, 1995, former New York Yankees centerfielder Mickey Mantle died of liver cancer at the age of 63. File Photo by Laura Cavanaugh/UPI | License Photo

Aug. 13 (UPI) -- On this date in history:

In 1889, William Gray patented the coin-operated telephone.


In 1930, Capt. Frank Hawkes set an air speed record by flying from Los Angeles to New York in 12 hours, 25 minutes.

In 1961, East Germany closed the Brandenburg Gate and prepared to start building the Berlin Wall.

In 1980, U.S. President Jimmy Carter was nominated for a second term by the Democratic National Convention in New York. He lost in November to Ronald Reagan.

In 1990, singer/songwriter Curtis Mayfield was left paralyzed when he was hit by a wind-blown lighting rig on an outdoor stage in New York. He died in 1999.

In 1994, North Korea agreed to allow U.N. monitors to inspect a secret nuclear laboratory.

In 1995, former New York Yankees centerfielder Mickey Mantle died of liver cancer at the age of 63.

In 2004, the Summer Olympics opened in Athens, Greece, with a record 202 countries and 10,500 athletes taking part.

In 2008, Bill Gwatney, chairman of the Arkansas Democratic Party and a former legislator, was shot to death in his Little Rock office. After a 30-mile chase, a suspect was killed by police in an exchange of gunfire. A motive for Gwatney's killing was never determined.

In 2012, U.S. President Barack Obama told a campaign crowd in Iowa the result of the 2012 presidential election "will impact your lives and your children's lives for decades to come."

In 2013, Israel released 26 Palestinian prisoners as part of a deal to resume peace talks.

In 2014, Brazilian presidential candidate Eduardo Campos was among seven people killed in a plane crash southeast of Sao Paulo.

In 2016, Michael Phelps wins his 23rd Olympic gold medal to finish his swimming career as the world's most decorated Olympian.