Today In History

Today is Saturday, Feb. 25, the 56th day of 2017. There are 309 days left in the year.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT

› 1913: The 16th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, giving Congress the power to levy and collect income taxes, was declared in effect by Secretary of State Philander Chase Knox.

ON THIS DATE

› 1836: Inventor Samuel Colt patented his revolver.

› 1905: The Upton Sinclair novel “The Jungle” was first published in serial form by the Appeal to Reason newspaper.

› 1940: A National Hockey League game was televised for the first time by New York City station W2XBS as the New York Rangers defeated the Montreal Canadiens, 6-2, at Madison Square Garden.

› 1956: Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev harshly criticized the late Josef Stalin in a speech before a Communist Party congress in Moscow.

› 1964: Muhammad Ali (then known as Cassius Clay) became world heavyweight boxing champion as he defeated Sonny Liston in Miami Beach.

› 1977: The ice hockey comedy “Slap Shot” starring Paul Newman was released by Universal Pictures.

› 1986: President Ferdinand Marcos fled the Philippines after 20 years of rule in the wake of a tainted election; Corazon Aquino assumed the presidency.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS

Actor Tom Courtenay is 80. Former CBS newsman Bob Schieffer is 80. Actress Diane Baker is 79. Actress Karen Grassle is 75. Humorist Jack Handey is 68. Movie director Neil Jordan is 67. Rock musician Dennis Diken (The Smithereens) is 60. Rock singer-musician Mike Peters (The Alarm; Big Country) is 58. Actress Veronica Webb is 52. Actor Alexis Denisof is 51. Actress Tea Leoni is 51. Comedian Carrot Top is 50. Actress Lesley Boone is 49. Actor Sean Astin is 46. Singer Daniel Powter is 46. Latin singer Julio Iglesias Jr. is 44. Rhythmand-blues singer Justin Jeffre is 44. Rock musician Richard Liles is 44. Actor Anson Mount is 44. Comedian-actress Chelsea Handler is 42. Actress Rashida Jones is 41. Country singer Shawna Thompson (Thompson Square) is 39. Actor Justin Berfield is 31. Actors James and Oliver Phelps (“Harry Potter” movies) are 31. Rock musician Erik Haager (Carolina Liar) is 30.