Today In History

Today is Saturday, Nov. 4, the 308th day of 2017. There are 57 days left in the year. A reminder: Daylight saving time ends Sunday, Nov. 5 at 2:00 a.m. local time. Clocks go back one hour.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT

› 1922: The entrance to King Tutankhamen’s tomb was discovered in Egypt.

ON THIS DATE

› 1939: The United States modified its neutrality stance in World War II, allowing “cash and carry” purchases of arms by belligerents, a policy favoring Britain and France.

› 1952: The highly secretive National Security Agency came into existence.

› 1979: The Iran hostage crisis began as militants stormed the United States Embassy in Tehran, seizing its occupants; for some of them, it was the start of 444 days of captivity.

› 1980: Republican Ronald Reagan won the White House as he defeated President Jimmy Carter by a strong margin.

› 1991: Ronald Reagan opened his presidential library in Simi Valley, California; attending were President George H.W. Bush and former Presidents Jimmy Carter, Gerald R. Ford and Richard Nixon — the first-ever gathering of five past and present U.S. chief executives.

› 2008: Democrat Barack Obama was elected the first black president of the United States, defeating Republican John McCain.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS

Actress Loretta Swit is 80. Rhythm and blues singer Harry Elston (Friends of Distinction) is 79. Blues singer Delbert McClinton is 77. Former first lady Laura Bush is 71. Actress Ivonne Coll is 70. Actress Markie Post is 67. Rock singer-musician Chris Difford (Squeeze) is 63. Country singer Kim Forester (The Forester Sisters) is 57. Actress-comedian Kathy Griffin is 57. Actor Ralph Macchio is 56. “Survivor” host Jeff Probst is 56. Actor Matthew McConaughey is 48. Rapper-producer Sean “Puffy” Combs is 48. Talk show host Bethenny Frankel is 47. Actor Anthony Ruivivar is 47. Soul/jazz singer Gregory Porter is 46. Rhythm and blues singer Shawn Rivera (Az Yet) is 46. Celebrity chef Curtis Stone is 42. Rhythm and blues/gospel singer George Huff is 37. Actress Emme Rylan is 37. Actor Chris Greene (Film: “Loving”) is 35.