TODAY IN HISTORY
TODAY IS TUESDAY, NOV. 28, the 332nd day of 2017. There are 33 days left in the year.
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT IN HISTORY: On this date in 1942, fire engulfed the Cocoanut Grove nightclub in Boston, killing 492 people in the deadliest nightclub blaze ever. (The cause of the rapidly-spreading fire, which began in the basement, is in dispute; one theory is that a busboy accidentally ignited an artificial palm tree while using a lighted match to fix a light bulb.)
In 1520, Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan reached the Pacific Ocean after passing through the South American strait that now bears his name.
In 1861, the Confederate Congress admitted Missouri as the 12th state of the Confederacy after Missouri’s disputed secession from the Union.
In 1905, Sinn Fein was founded in Dublin. In 1943, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet leader Josef Stalin began conferring in Tehran during World War II.
In 1958, Chad, Gabon and Middle Congo became autonomous republics within the French community.
In 1964, the United States launched the space probe Mariner 4 on a course toward Mars, which it flew past in July 1965, sending back pictures of the red planet.
In 1990, Margaret Thatcher resigned as British prime minister during an audience with Queen Elizabeth II, who then conferred the premiership on John Major.
In 2001, Enron Corp., once the world’s largest energy trader, collapsed after would-be rescuer Dynegy Inc. backed out of an $8.4 billion takeover deal. (Enron filed for bankruptcy protection four days later.)
TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS: Recording executive Berry Gordy Jr. is 88. Former Sen. Gary Hart, D-Colo., is 81. U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross is 80. Singer-songwriter Bruce Channel is 77. Singer Randy Newman is 74. CBS News correspondent Susan Spencer is 71. Movie director Joe Dante is 70. Former “Late Show” orchestra leader Paul Shaffer is 68. Actor Ed Harris is 67. Former NASA astronaut Barbara Morgan is 66. Actress S. Epatha Merkerson is 65. Former Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff is 64. Country singer Kristine Arnold (Sweethearts of the Rodeo) is 61. Actor Judd Nelson is 58. Movie director Alfonso Cuaron is 56. Actress Gina Tognoni is 44. Actor Ryan Kwanten is 41. Actress Aimee Garcia is 39. Actress Mary Elizabeth Winstead and R&B singer Trey Songz are 33.