Today in history

Today is Friday, February 9, the 40th day of 2018 and the 51st day of winter.

Today’s Highlights in History:

In 1825, the U.S. House of Representatives elected John Quincy Adams as president, a decision that became necessary after no candidate took the majority of the electoral votes in the election of 1824. In 1861, Jefferson Davis was elected president of the Confederate

States of America. In 1950, during a speech in West Virginia, Sen. Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin claimed to have a list of more than 200 “known communists” serving in the State Department. In 1964, the Beatles made their first appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show.”

Today’s fact: The game of volleyball (then called Mintonette) was created in Holyoke, Massachusetts, on this day in 1895.

Today’s sports: In 1971, pitcher Leroy “Satchel” Paige became the first Negro League veteran to be nominated for the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Today’s number: 73 million – viewers estimated to have tuned in to see the Beatles’ first appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show.” At 45.3 percent of all U.S. television-owning households, it became the highestrated TV telecast and is still the 26th-highest rated of all time.

Today’s moon: Between last quarter moon ( Feb. 7) and new moon

( Feb. 15).