TODAY IN HISTORY

On Sept. 20, 1519, Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan and his crew set out from Spain on five ships to find a western passage to the Spice Islands. (Magellan was killed enroute.)

In 1946, the first Cannes Film Festival opened in France.

In 1964, the Beatles concluded their first full-fledged U.S. tour by performing in a charity concert in New York.

In 1995, in a move that stunned Wall Street, AT&T Corporation announced it was splitting into three companies.

In 2001, during an address to a joint session of Congress, President George W. Bush announced a new Cabinet-level office to fortify homeland security.

In 2011, repeal of the U.S. military’s 18-year-old “don’t ask, don’t tell” compromise took effect, allowing gay and lesbian service members to serve openly.