Today in history

Today is the 48th day of 2023 and the 59th day of winter.

Today’s history: In 1801, the U.S. House of Representatives resolved an electoral tie by electing Thomas Jefferson president and his opponent, Aaron Burr, vice president.

▪ In 1933, the Blaine Act initiated the repeal of Prohibition in the United States.

▪ In 1974, a disgruntled U.S. Army private stole an Army helicopter at Fort Meade in Maryland and landed it on the White House lawn.

▪ In 1996, world chess champion Garry Kasparov defeated the IBM supercomputer Deep Blue in the last game of a sixgame match, winning the series by a final score of 4-2.

Today’s fact: The House of Representatives conducted 36 votes (one tie, 35 indecisive) before Thomas Jefferson was chosen as president over Aaron Burr.

Today’s sports: In 1943, Joe Dimaggio of the New York Yankees enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force. He was released on medical discharge in September 1945 due to chronic stomach ulcers.

Today’s quote: “My attitude is that if you push me towards something that you think is a weakness, then I will turn that perceived weakness into a strength.” — Michael Jordan

Birthdays

Hans Morgenthau (1904-1980), political scientist; Red Barber (1908-1992), sportscaster; Hal Holbrook (1925-2021), actor; Jim Brown (1936- ), football player; Rene Russo (1954- ), actress; Larry the Cable Guy (1963- ), comedian; Michael Jordan (1963- ), basketball player; Michael Bay (1965- ), filmmaker; Billie Joe Armstrong (1972- ), musician; Joseph Gordon-levitt (1981- ), actor; Paris Hilton (1981- ), socialite/ media personality; Ed Sheeran (1991- ), singer-songwriter.