Today in History
Today’s highlight:
On Jan. 16, 1991, the White House announced the start of Operation Desert Storm to drive Iraqi forces out of Kuwait. Allied forces prevailed on Feb. 28, 1991.
On this date:
1547: Ivan IV of Russia, popularly known as “Ivan the Terrible,” was crowned Czar.
1865: Union Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman decreed that 400,000 acres of land in the South would be divided into 40acre lots and given to former slaves. The order, later revoked by President Andrew
Johnson, is believed to have inspired the expression, “Forty acres and a mule.”
1912: A day before reaching the South Pole, British explorer Robert Scott and his expedition found evidence that Roald Amundsen of Norway and his team had gotten there ahead of them.
1920: Prohibition began in the United States as the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution took effect, one year to the day after its ratification. It was later repealed by the 21st Amendment.
1969: Two manned Soviet Soyuz spaceships became the first vehicles to dock in space and transfer personnel.
1978: NASA named 35 candidates to fly on the space shuttle, including Sally K. Ride, who became America’s first woman in space, and Guion S. Bluford Jr., who became America’s first black astronaut in space.
1987: Hu Yaobang resigned as head of China’s Communist Party, declaring he’d made mistakes in dealing with student turmoil and intellectual challenges to the system.
1992: Officials of the government of El Salvador and rebel leaders signed a pact in Mexico City ending 12 years of civil war that had left at least 75,000 people dead.
2003: The space shuttle Columbia blasted off for what turned out to be its last flight. The mission ended in tragedy on Feb. 1, when the shuttle broke up during its return descent, killing all seven crew members.
2004: Pop star Michael Jackson pleaded not guilty to child molestation charges during a court appearance in Santa Maria, Calif.; the judge scolded Jackson for being 21 minutes late. Jackson was eventually acquitted.
2007: Sen. Barack Obama, D-ill., launched his successful bid for the White House.
Ten years ago: As precious water and food began reaching parched and hungry earthquake survivors on the streets of Haiti’s ruined capital Port-au-prince, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton met with Haitian President Rene Preval and promised that U.S. quake relief efforts would be closely coordinated with local officials.
Five years ago: Anti-terrorism raids across Europe netted dozens of suspects as authorities rushed to thwart more attacks by people with links to Mideast Islamic extremists.
One year ago: As she battled to keep Brexit on track, British Prime Minister Theresa May survived a noconfidence vote in Parliament.