Today in history
On Nov. 3, 1992, Democrat Bill Clinton was elected the 42nd president of the United States, defeating President George H.W. Bush. In Illinois, Democrat Carol Moseley-Braun became the first black woman elected to the U.S. Senate.
In 1839, the first Opium War between China and Britain broke out.
In 1900, the first major U.S. automobile show opened at New York’s Madison Square Garden under the auspices of the Automobile Club of America.
In 1908, Republican William Howard Taft was elected president, outpolling William Jennings Bryan.
In 1911, the Chevrolet Motor Car Co. was founded in Detroit by Louis Chevrolet and William C. Durant. (The company was acquired by General Motors in 1918.)
In 1936, President Franklin D. Roosevelt won a landslide election victory over Republican challenger Alfred “Alf ” Landon.
In 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 2, the second manmade satellite, into orbit; on board was a dog named Laika, who was sacrificed in the experiment.
In 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson soundly defeated Republican Barry Goldwater to win a White House term in his own right.
In 1986, the Iran-Contra affair came to light as Ash-Shiraa, a pro-Syrian Lebanese magazine, first broke the story of U.S. arms sales to Iran.
In 1997, the Supreme Court let stand California’s groundbreaking Proposition 209, which banned race and gender preference in hiring and school admissions.
Ten years ago: On the eve of Election Day 2008, Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain wrapped up their two-year campaign for the White House. Ali Hamza al-Bahlul, a video maker for Osama bin Laden, was sentenced at Guantanamo to life in prison for encouraging terrorist attacks. Authorities announced they had positively identified some of Steve Fossett’s remains found a half-mile from where the adventurer’s plane had crashed in California’s Sierra Nevada.
Five years ago: President Barack Obama stepped into Virginia’s gubernatorial race, throwing the political weight of the White House behind Democrat Terry McAuliffe, who ended up defeating Republican Ken Cuccinelli. Houston Texans coach Gary Kubiak collapsed from a mini-stroke while leaving the field at halftime of a game with the Indianapolis Colts, who rallied for a 27-24 victory. Miami Dolphins offensive lineman Richie Incognito, accused of bullying fellow player Jonathan Martin, was suspended for conduct detrimental to the team. (Incognito missed the final eight games of the season before becoming a free agent when his contract with Miami expired.)
One year ago: Netflix said it was cutting all ties with Kevin Spacey after a series of allegations of sexual harassment and assault, and that it would not be a part of any further production of “House of Cards” that includes him. A massive report from scientists inside and outside the government concluded that the evidence of global warming is stronger than ever. Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky suffered five broken ribs in an attack by a longtime next-door neighbor as Paul did yard work at his home. (Rene Boucher pleaded guilty to assaulting a member of Congress and was sentenced to 30 days in prison.)