The struggle of stutterers doesn’t sound like blockbuster material, but in 2011 “ The King’s Speech” won the Best Picture Oscar.  The film is based on the true story of England’s King George VI, who overcame his stutter to unite his nation while on the brink of World War II.  Oct. 22 is International Stuttering Awareness Day to raise public awareness to the millions affected by the condition.

Also on This Day:

1962 Cuban Missile Crisis

On Oct. 22, 1962, President John F. Kennedy informed the nation that Soviet missile bases were spotted in Cuba. The U.S. ordered a naval quarantine of Cuba, demanding that the missile bases be dismantled. The days that followed Kennedy’s announcement were tense, pushing the two nuclear super powers to the brink of war.  On Oct. 28, the Soviet Union agreed to remove the missile bases, and the United States agreed to remove its own missiles from Turkey.

1964 President Hoover’s Funeral

Herbert Hoover, the 31st president of the U.S., died Oct. 20, at the age of 90.

1968 Apollo 7 Splashdown

Apollo 7 was the first successful manned mission of NASA’s Project Apollo.

1999 Internet Revolution

The Internet’s new, integral role in education, business and personal shopping.

Famous Birthdays

1938 Christopher Lloyd

1946 Deepak Chopra

1952 Jeff Goldblum

1969 Spike Jonze

1975 Jesse Tyler Ferguson

1982 Robinson Cano

1985 Zac Hanson

1990 Jonathan Lipnicki

Jump back to Oct. 21: Day in History.

View more videos from This Month in History: October.