Today in history
On Nov. 22, 1963, the 35th President of the United States, John F. Kennedy, was shot to death during a motorcade in Dallas; Texas Gov. John B. Connally, in the same open car as Kennedy, was seriously wounded; suspected gunman Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested. Death also claimed authors Aldous Huxley and C.S. Lewis.
In 1515, Mary of Guise, the second wife of King James V and the mother of Mary, Queen of Scots, was born in Lorraine, France.
In 1718, English pirate Edward Teach — better known as "Blackbeard" — was killed during a battle off present-day North Carolina.
In 1890, French president Charles de Gaulle was born in Lille, France.
In 1914, the First Battle of Ypres (EE'-pruh) during World War I ended with an Allied victory against Germany.
In 1928, "Bolero" by Maurice Ravel (rah-VEL') had its premiere at the Paris Opera.
In 1935, a flying boat, the China Clipper, took off from Alameda, California, carrying more than 100,000 pieces of mail on the first trans-Pacific airmail flight.
In 1944, the MGM movie musical "Meet Me in St. Louis," starring Judy Garland, had its world premiere in St. Louis.
In 1955, comic Shemp Howard of "Three Stooges" fame died in Hollywood at age 60.
In 1965, the musical "Man of La Mancha" opened on Broadway. Singer-songwriter Bob Dylan married Sara Lownds (the marriage lasted 12 years).
In 1975, Juan Carlos was proclaimed King of Spain.
In 1989, Rene Mouawad was killed by a bomb after serving 17 days as president of Lebanon.
In 1990, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, having failed to win re-election of the Conservative Party leadership on the first ballot, announced she would resign.
Ten years ago: An Arab-American college student, Ahmed Omar Abu Ali, was convicted by a federal jury in Alexandria, Virginia, of joining al-Qaida and plotting to assassinate President George W. Bush. (Abu Ali was later sentenced to life in prison.) Angela Merkel (AHN'-geh-lah MEHR'-kuhl) took power as Germany's first female chancellor. Ted Koppel hosted his final edition of ABC News' "Nightline." Country star Tim McGraw, alternative rockers Green Day, soul stars Destiny's Child and hip-hop chart toppers Black Eyed Peas each won two trophies at the American Music Awards.
Five years ago: Thousands of people stampeded during a festival in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh, leaving some 350 dead and hundreds injured in what the prime minister called the country's biggest tragedy since the 1970s reign of terror by the Khmer Rouge. Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto was overwhelmingly elected the National League's Most Valuable Player.
“A man does what he must — in spite of personal consequences, in spite of obstacles and dangers and pressures — and that is the basis of all human morality.” — President John F. Kennedy (1917-1963).