TODAY IN HISTORY

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT 1966

The Texas Western Miners defeated the heavily favored Kentucky Wildcats, 72-65, to win the NCAA Championship played in College Park, Maryland; making the contest especially noteworthy was that Texas Western became the first basketball team to start five black players in a national title game as it faced an allwhite Kentucky squad.

1687

French explorer Renerobert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, the first European to navigate the length of the Mississippi River, was murdered by mutineers in present-day Texas.

1917

A divided U.S. Supreme Court, in Wilson v. New, upheld, 5-4, the eight-hour work day for interstate railroad workers.

1931

Nevada Gov. Fred B. Balzar signed a measure legalizing casino gambling.

1945

During World War II, 724 people were killed when a Japanese dive bomber attacked the carrier USS Franklin off Japan. Adolf Hitler ordered the destruction of German facilities that could fall into Allied hands in his so-called “Nero Decree,” which was largely disregarded.

1953

The Academy Awards ceremony was televised for the first time; “The Greatest Show on Earth” was named best picture of 1952.

1979

The U.S. House of Representatives began televising its floor proceedings; the live feed was carried by C-SPAN, which was making its debut.

1987

Televangelist Jim Bakker resigned as chairman of his PTL ministry organization amid a sex and money scandal involving Jessica Hahn, a former church secretary.

2003

President George W. Bush ordered the start of war against Iraq.