TODAY IN HISTORY
the 53rd day of 2018. There are 312 days left in the year. On this date in 1732 (New Style date), the first president of the United States, George Washington, was born in Westmoreland County in the Virginia Colony.
English colonists in the Massachusetts Bay Colony first sampled popcorn brought to them by a Native American named Quadequina for their Thanksgiving celebration.
Jefferson Davis, already the provisional president of the Confederacy, was inaugurated for a six-year term following his election in November 1861.
“Lady Windermere’s Fan” by Oscar Wilde was first performed at London’s St. James’ Theater.
the Great White Fleet, a naval task force sent on a round-theworld voyage by President Theodore Roosevelt, returned after more than a year at sea.
President Calvin Coolidge delivered the first radio broadcast from the White House as he addressed the country over 42 stations. it became illegal for airplanes to fly over the White House.
Pan Am Flight 9035, a Boeing 314 flying boat, crashed while attempting to land in Lisbon, Portugal. Twenty-five people were killed; 14 survived, including actress-singer Jane Froman.
the inaugural Daytona 500 race was held; although Johnny Beauchamp was initially declared the winner, the victory was later awarded to Lee Petty. more than 25,000 U.S. and South Vietnamese troops launched Operation Junction City, aimed at smashing a Vietcong stronghold near the Cambodian border. (Although the communists were driven out, they later returned.) Pakistan officially recognized Bangladesh (formerly East Pakistan).
the “Miracle on Ice” took place in Lake Placid, N.Y., as the United States Olympic hockey team upset the Soviets, 4-3. (The U.S. team went on to win the gold medal.)
scientists in Scotland announced they had succeeded in cloning an adult mammal, producing a lamb named “Dolly.” (Dolly, however, was later put down after a short life marred by premature aging and disease.)
Actor Paul Dooley is 90. Actor James Hong is 89. Actor John Ashton is 70. Actresses Miou-Miou and Julie Walters, and Basketball Hall-of-Famer Julius Erving are 68. Actress Ellen Greene is 67. Former Sen. Bill Frist, R-Tenn., is 66. Former White House adviser David Axelrod is 63. Actor Kyle MacLachlan is 59. World Golf Hall-of-Famer Vijay Singh is 55. Actress-comedian Rachel Dratch is 52. Actor Paul Lieberstein is 51. Actress Jeri Ryan is 50. Actor Thomas Jane and TV host Clinton Kelly are 49. Actress Tamara Mello is 48. Actress-singer Lea Salonga and actor Jose Solano are 47. International Tennis Hall-of-Famer Michael Chang is 46. Rock musician Scott Phillips is 45. Singer James Blunt is 44. Actresses Drew Barrymore and Liza Huber are 43. Rock singer Tom Higgenson (Plain White T’s) is 39. Actor Zach Roerig is 33. Actor Daniel E. Smith is 28.