TODAY IN HISTORY

Today is Sunday, Nov. 1, the 306th day of 2020.

Today’s highlight in history

On Nov. 1, 1950, two Puerto Rican nationalists tried to force their way into Blair House in Washington, D.C., in a failed attempt to assassinate President Harry S. Truman. (One of the pair was killed, along with a White House police officer.)

On this date

In 1478, the Spanish Inquisition was established.

In 1512, Michelangelo’s justcompleted paintings on the ceiling of the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel were publicly unveiled by the artist’s patron, Pope Julius II.

In 1765, the Stamp Act, passed by the British Parliament, went into effect, prompting stiff resistance from American colonists.

In 1870, the United States Weather Bureau made its first meteorological observations.

In 1936, in a speech in Milan, Italy, Benito Mussolini described the alliance between his country and Nazi Germany as an “axis” running between Rome and Berlin.

In 1945, Ebony, a magazine geared toward Black readers, was first published.

In 1952, the U.S. exploded the first hydrogen bomb, codenamed “Ivy Mike,” at Enewetak Atoll in the Marshall Islands.

In 1973, following the “Saturday Night Massacre,” Acting Attorney General Robert H. Bork appointed Leon Jaworski to be the new Watergate special prosecutor, succeeding Archibald Cox.

In 1989, East Germany reopened its border with Czechoslovakia, prompting tens of thousands of refugees to flee to the West.

In 1991, Clarence Thomas took his place as the newest justice on the Supreme Court.

Ten years ago: The San Francisco Giants won the World Series with a 3-1 victory over the Texas Rangers in Game 5.

Five years ago: The Kansas City Royals won their first World Series crown since 1985, beating the New York Mets 7-2 in Game 5, which lasted 12 innings, ending after midnight.

Today’s birthdays

World Golf Hall of Famer Gary Player is 85. Singer Bill Anderson is 83. Actor Barbara Bosson is 81. Actor Robert Foxworth is

79. Magazine publisher Larry Flynt is 78. Singer-humorist Kinky Friedman is 76. Actor Jeannie Berlin is 71. Music producer David Foster is 71. Singer Keith Stegall is 66. Singer Lyle Lovett is 63. Apple CEO Tim Cook is 60. Singer Anthony Kiedis is 58. Musician Rick Allen (Def Leppard) is 57. Singer Sophie B. Hawkins is 56. Actor Toni Collette is 48. Actor-talk show host Jenny Mccarthy is

48. Actor David Berman is 47. Actor Penn Badgley is 34. Actor Alex Wolff is 23.