TODAY IN HISTORY: Clinton beats Bush

In 1888, Britain’s “Jack the Ripper” murdered his final victim.

In 1927, the Holland Tunnel — the first underwater tunnel for vehicular traffic — opened to the public. It provides access between New York City and New Jersey beneath the Hudson River.

In 1936, U.S. president Franklin D. Roosevelt was re-elected for a second term in a landslide victory over Alf Landon. Roosevelt carried all but two states — Maine and Vermont.

In 1942, the Alaska Highway to the continental United States was completed.

In 1956, the Soviet suppression of the Hungarian Revolution began.

In 1957, one of the most advanced atomic energy reactors in the world opened at Chalk River, Ont. The triple-purpose reactor was used for research and experiments in the development of electricity, the production of plutonium and manufacturing a wide variety of radioactive isotopes used in medicine, industry and agriculture.

In 1977, Elton John announced at a London concert that he was retiring from live performances. There was speculation his withdrawal was prompted by adverse reaction to his announcement that he was bisexual. John returned to performing in 1979.

In 1978, Wayne Gretzky scored his first goal for the Edmonton Oilers in a 4-3 victory over the Winnipeg Jets. The 17-year-old had been sold to the Oilers by the Indianapolis Racers the previous day. In his first game with Edmonton, Gretzky wore number 20 instead of 99 for the only time in his pro hockey career.

In 1992, Bill Clinton won a landslide victory, defeating George Bush in the U.S. presidential election.

In 1998, Minnesotans elected former pro wrestler Jesse “The Body” Ventura to be their governor.

In 1998, Canadian author Alice Munro won the $25,000 Giller Prize for fiction.

In 2010, B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell announced his plans to step down after 26 years in politics, nine of them in the premier’s office, after a Liberal leadership convention in February, 2011. Following his announcement, he was walked to his car by Speaker of the House Bill Barisoff and retired MLA Rick Thorpe.

In 2017, Netflix announced two-time Academy Award winner Kevin Spacey would no longer be a part of “House of Cards” and it was cutting all other ties with the actor after a series of allegations of sexual harassment and assault.