Aug. 2 (UPI) -- On this date in history: In 1776, the Declaration of Independence, adopted on July 4, was signed by members of the Continental Congress. In 1923, U.S. President Warren G. Harding died of a stroke in a San Francisco hotel at the age of 58. He was succeeded by Vice President Calvin Coolidge. In 1934, with the death of German President Paul von Hindenburg , Chancellor Adolf Hitler became absolute dictator of Germany under the title of fuehrer, or "leader." File Photo courtesy of