TODAY IN HISTORY

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT

Feb. 7, 1962

President John F. Kennedy imposed a full trade embargo on Cuba.

ALSO ON THIS DATE 1795

The 11th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, dealing with states’ sovereign immunity, was ratified.

1812

Author Charles Dickens was born in Landport, Portsmouth, England.

1817

America’s first public gas street lamp was lighted in Baltimore at the corner of Market and Lemon streets.

1904

A fire began in Baltimore that raged for about 30 hours and destroyed more than 1,500 buildings.

1943

The government abruptly announced that wartime rationing of shoes made of leather would go into effect in two days, limiting consumers to buying three pairs per person per year.

1948

Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower resigned as U.S. Army chief of staff; he was succeeded by Gen. Omar Bradley.

1964

The Beatles arrived at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport to begin their first American tour.

1971

Women in Switzerland gained the right to vote through a national referendum, 12 years after a previous attempt failed.

1984

Space shuttle Challenger astronauts Bruce McCandless II and Robert L. Stewart went on the first untethered spacewalk, which lasted nearly six hours.

1999

Jordan’s King Hussein died of cancer at age 63; he was succeeded by his eldest son, Abdullah.

2009

A miles-wide section of ice in Lake Erie broke away from the Ohio shoreline, trapping about 135 fishermen, some for as long as four hours before they could be rescued.