Today in History: Oct 20th

Papa Shango

Here is some random crap that has happened on this day in history... Compiled from various sources and newspaper sites.


General events on October 20th
In 1817, the first "Showboat" leaves Nashville, Tennessee, to give shows along the Mississippi. It is a converted keelboat.
In 1960, the first fully mechanized post office opens in Providence, RI.
In 1967, seven men including a Ku Klux Klan leader and a sheriff's deputy, were convicted in Meridian, Miss., on charges of violating the civil rights of three civil rights workers.
In 1968, Jackie Kennedy married multi-millionaire Aristotle Onassis, ending nearly five years of widowhood.
In 1983, 20 years ago, IBM-PC DOS Version 2.1 released.
In 1984, the world's largest aquarium at Monterey Bay, California, opens for business. For them, it was the dawning of the age of aquarium.
In 1987, Dow-Jones increases 102.27 pts/608,120,000 shares traded (record).
In 1997, US accuses Microsoft of violating pact forcing IE browser on computers.
In 1998, 5 years ago, SEC charges 37 brokerages with failure to fully report computer systems' preparedness for conversion to year 2000.


Government and Politics on October 20th
In 1803, 200 years ago, the U.S. Senate ratified the Louisiana Purchase.
In 1818, Britain and the U.S. agree that their mutual boundary should run westward "from the Lake of Woods (in Minnesota), along the 49th parallel of north latitude" to the Rocky Mountains.
In 1820, Spain sells (east) Florida to US for $5 million.
In 1883, The Treaty of Ancon ends the Pacific War between Chile and Peru.
In 1892, the city of Chicago dedicated the World's Columbian Exposition. However, the exposition did not officially open until the following May.
In 1903, 100 years ago, a joint commission ruled in favor of the United States in a dispute concerning the boundary between the District of Alaska and Canada.
In 1910, Woodrow Wilson resigned the presidency of Princeton University to pursue his next position as President of the United States.
In 1945, Egypt, Syria, Iraq and Lebanon form the Arab League to present a unified front against the establishment of a Jewish state in Palestine.
In 1947, Hollywood came under scrutiny as the House UnAmerican Activities Committee opened hearings into alleged Communist influence and infiltration in the movie industry.
In 1967, the Shah of Iran is crowned.
In 1968, In Greece, former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy marries Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis on the island of Skorpios.
In 1971, West German Chancellor Willy Brandt is awarded Nobel Peace Prize.
In 1973, 30 years ago, in the so-called "Saturday Night Massacre," special Watergate prosecutor Archibald Cox was dismissed and Attorney General Elliot L. Richardson and Deputy Attorney General William B. Ruckleshaus resigned; the resulting firestorm of criticism prompted appointment of a new special prosecutor, Leon Jaworski.
In 1973, 30 years ago, Attorney General Elliot Richardson resigns after refusing President Richard Nixon's order to remove Archibald Cox as special Watergate prosecutor.
In 1973, 30 years ago, Arab oil-producing nations ban oil exports to the United States, following the outbreak of Arab-Israeli war.
In 1975, the Supreme Court rules that teachers could spank students if the students were told in advance of the behavior that would warrant such punishment.
In 1979, the John F. Kennedy Library was dedicated in Boston.
In 1989, The Senate convicted US District Judge Alcee L. Hastings of perjury and conspiracy, and removed him from office (the conviction was overturned; Hastings was later elected to the US House of Representatives).
In 1989, Former President Reagan and his wife, Nancy, began a visit to Japan sponsored by a media conglomerate.
In 1992, with two weeks left before Election Day, President Bush accused Bill Clinton of lacking character while the Democratic nominee called on supporters to end trickle-down economics.
In 1995, Christopher Lynn Johnson, a black protest leader's son, is acquitted of burning down a Wedowee, Ala., high school whose white principal had condemned interracial prom dates.
In 1995, France, the United States and Britain announced a treaty banning atomic blasts in the South Pacific -- but only after France finished testing there the following year.
In 1995, NATO Secretary General Willy Claes resigned to face corruption charges in his native Belgium (he later received a three-year suspended jail sentence).
In 1998, 5 years ago, President Clinton named John Podesta as his chief of staff, replacing Erskine Bowles.
In 1999, The government laid out new rules to protect children's privacy on the Internet and to shield them from commercial e-mail.
In 1999, Elizabeth Dole abandoned her Republican bid to be America's first woman president.
In 1999, Elizabeth Dole, abandoned her Republican bid to be America's first woman president.
In 1999, The government laid out new rules to protect children's privacy on the Internet and to shield them from commercial e-mail


War, Crime and Disaster events on October 20th
In 1600, The Battle of Sekigahara results in the establishment of the Tokugawa clan as rulers of Japan (shoguns) until 1865 (basis of Clavell's novel).
In 1827, the Turko-Eqyptian fleet is demolished by the navies of France, Russia and Great Britain at Navarino Bay (forces the Turks to relinquished control of Greece).
In 1918, In the third of an exchange of notes between U.S. President Woodrow Wilson and the Germans aimed at an armistice, the Germans agreed to further concessions.
In 1926, Cuba: worst hurricane in 80 years, 650 reported dead.
In 1935, Mao Zedong and his Communist forces ended their "Long March" at Yan'an, in Shaanxi, northwest China, one year after beginning their epic flight from Chiang Kai-shek's Kuomintang armies in the southeast.
In 1944, during World War II, Gen. Douglas MacArthur stepped ashore at Leyte in the Philippines, 2 1/2 years after he'd said, "I shall return." Said MacArthur: "I have returned."
In 1944, two tanks filled with liquid natural gas at the East Ohio Gas Co. No. 2 works explode, causing Cleveland's most disastrous fire. The fire engulfed more than one-square mile, and nearly leveled 3 blocks near East 62nd, killing 130, and destroying 79 homes, 12 workplaces and 217 autos.
In 1944, the Yugoslav cities of Belgrade and Dubrovnik were liberated during World War II.
In 1956, 58 degrees F (15 degrees C), Esperanza Station, Antarctica (Antarctic record high).
In 1964, in Mississippi, seven members of the Ku Klux Klan are convicted of conspiracy in the murder of three civil rights workers. Eight are acquitted and no verdict is found on three others.
In 1976, more than 70 people died when the Norwegian tanker Frosta collided with the ferryboat George Prince on the Mississippi River north of New Orleans.
In 1981, three members of the radical Weather Underground were arrested following a bungled armored truck robbery in Nyack, N.Y.
In 1987, Ten people were killed when an Air Force jet crashed into a Ramada Inn hotel near Indianapolis International Airport after the pilot, who was trying to make an emergency landing, ejected safely.
In 1991, a fire of immense proportions struck in the hills above Oakland, California, killing 25 people and destroying 3,000 homes resulting in billions of dollars of property loss.
In 1991, thru Oct. 23, Oakland-Berkeley, Calif.: Brush fire in drought-stricken area destroyed over 3,000 homes and apartments. At least 24 persons died, damage estimated at $1.5 billion.
In 1992, one of Europe's leading environmentalists, Germany's Greens Party founder Petra Kelly, was found shot to death by her companion, Gert Bastian, who then committed suicide.
In 1993, 10 years ago, The Senate adopted a non-binding resolution saying Congress should give its approval before any US troops were sent to enforce a Bosnian peace accord.
In 1994, The Pentagon announced that more than 100-thousand U.S. troops were being taken off alert for possible movement to the Persian Gulf because the Iraqi threat to Kuwait had abated.
In 1995, France, the United States and Britain announced a treaty banning atomic blasts in the South Pacific – but only after France finished testing there the following year.
In 2000, An Israeli-Palestinian truce brokered by President Clinton collapsed in a hail of gunfire, with Israeli troops killing nine Palestinians and wounding 67.
In 2000, Egyptian-born Ali Mohamed, a U.S. citizen who'd served in the Army, pleaded guilty in New York to helping plan the deadly U.S. Embassy bombings in Africa in 1998 that killed 224 people, including 12 Americans.
In 2001, 2 years ago, During a visit to Shanghai, China, President Bush challenged Asian leaders to help "save the civilized world" by joining his war against terrorism.
In 2001, 2 years ago, Officials announced that anthrax had been discovered in a House postal facility on Capitol Hill.


Royalty and Religious events on October 20th
In 1314, Coronation of Louis IV, King of Germany
In 1714, George I of England crowned.
In 1740, Maria Theresa became ruler of Austria, Hungary and Bohemia upon the death of her father, Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI.
In 1973, 30 years ago, In Australia, Queen Elizabeth II officially opened the Sydney Opera House.
In 1998, 5 years ago, Jordan's King Hussein joined Mideast peace talks in Maryland at the invitation of Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.


Human Achievement and Science events on October 20th
In 1616, Thomas Bartholin born. The Danish physician and mathematician in 1652 became the first to describe fully the human lymphatic system.
In 1786, the first astronomical field expedition in America is organized (a party from Harvard observe a total eclipse of the sun at Penobscot, Maine).
In 1906, Dr. Lee DeForest gave a demonstration of his radio tube, the Electrical Vacuum Tube.
In 1956, Hannes Lindemann became the first person to cross the Atlantic Ocean in a small boat (17 feet). (?begins journey?).
In 1970, An American Norman Borlaug receives the Nobel Peace Prize for perfecting and introducing new strains of wheat and rice crops.
In 1995, Space shuttle "Columbia" was launched on a research flight that had been delayed six times.
In 1997, Mir cosmonauts performed history's first "internal spacewalk" (because of the need for spacesuits) to restore power to the damaged Spektr module of the space station.



Edited By Papa Shango on Oct. 20 2003 at 07:57

Spinoff90

In 2003, Spinoff was so bored that he actually read this post.

Papa Shango

Well i hope it was an enlightening experience.