Today in History

The U.S. Senate fails to pass two articles of impeachment against President Bill Clinton. He had been accused of perjury and obstruction of justice by the House of Representatives.

A Court in Texas upholds $8.5 billion of a fine imposed on Texaco for the illegal takeover of Getty Oil.

The Lake Placid Winter Olympics open in New York.

The Symbionese Liberation Army asks the Hearst family for $230 million in food for the poor.

Senator Edward Kennedy advocates amnesty for Vietnam draft resisters.

The South Vietnamese win two big battles in the Mekong Delta.

The Soviets break off diplomatic relations with Israel after the bombing of Soviet legation.

Muslim Brotherhood chief Hassan el Banna is shot to death in Cairo.

Wendell Wilkie enters the American presidential race against Franklin D. Roosevelt.

The Soviet Union signs a trade treaty with Germany to aid against the British blockade.

Japan refuses to reveal naval data requested by the U.S. and Britain.

The Macon, the last U.S. Navy dirigible, crashes off the coast of California, killing two people.

Japan makes its first television broadcast–a baseball game.

Charles Lindbergh announces his engagement to Anne Morrow.

George Gershwin’s groundbreaking symphonic jazz composition Rhapsody in Blue premieres with Gershwin himself playing the piano with Paul Whiteman’s orchestra.

Winston Churchill of London is appointed colonial secretary.

China becomes a republic following the overthrow of the Manchu dynasty.

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is formed.

Omar Bradley, U.S. army general during World War II.

John L. Lewis, American labor leader.

Auguste Perret, French architect, pioneer in designs of reinforced concrete buildings.

Eugene Atget, French photographer, took over 10,000 photographs documenting Paris.

Mexican General Santa Anna crosses the Rio Grande en route to the Alamo.

George Meredith, English poet and novelist.

Chile gains independence from Spain.

Abraham Lincoln, 16th U.S. President of the United State (1861-1865).

The first fugitive slave law, requiring the return of escaped slaves, is passed.

Louisa Adams, wife of John Quincy Adams

Francis II, the last Holy Roman Emperor

Alexander Selkirk, the Scottish seaman whose adventures inspired the creation of Daniel Dafoe’s Robinson Crusoe, is taken off Juan Fernandez Island after more than four years of living there alone.

Lady Jane Grey, the Queen of England for thirteen days, is beheaded on Tower Hill. She was barely 17 years old.

Kublai Khan, the conqueror of Asia, dies at the age of 80.