TODAY IN HISTORY

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT

Feb. 19, 1968

The children’s program “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” created by and starring Fred Rogers, made its network debut on National Educational Television, a forerunner of PBS, beginning a 31-season run. ALSO ON THIS DATE

1473

Astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus was born in Torun, Poland.

1807

Former Vice President Aaron Burr, accused of treason, was arrested in the Mississippi Territory, in present-day Alabama.

1846

The Texas state government was formally installed in Austin, with J. Pinckney Henderson taking the oath of office as governor.

1881

Kansas prohibited the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages.

1934

A blizzard began inundating the northeastern United States, with the heaviest snowfall occurring in Connecticut and Massachusetts.

1942

During World War II, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, which paved the way for the relocation and internment of people of Japanese ancestry, including U.S.-born citizens. Imperial Japanese warplanes raided the Australian city of Darwin; at least 243 people were killed.

1945

Operation Detachment began during World War II as some 30,000 U.S. Marines began landing on Iwo Jima, where they commenced a successful month-long battle to seize control of the island from Japanese forces.

1997

Deng Xiaoping, the last of China’s major Communist revolutionaries, died at age 92.

2006

Israel halted the transfer of hundreds of millions of dollars in tax money to the Palestinians after Hamas took control of the Palestinian parliament.