Published: Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Today in History
Today is Wednesday, Feb. 3, the 34th day of 2010. There are 331 days left in the year.
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT
On Feb. 3, 1943, during World War II, the U.S. transport ship Dorchester, which was carrying troops to Greenland, sank after being hit by a German torpedo; of the more than 900 men aboard, only about 230 survived. Four Army chaplains gave their life belts to four other men and went down with the ship.
ON THIS DATE
In 1865, President Abraham Lincoln and Confederate Vice President Alexander Stephens held a shipboard peace conference off the Virginia coast; the talks deadlocked over the issue of Southern autonomy.
In 1913, the 16th Amendment to the Constitution, providing for a federal income tax, was ratified.
In 1959, rock-and-roll stars Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson died in a small plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa.
In 1966, the Soviet probe Luna 9 became the first manmade object to make a soft landing on the moon.
In 2005, Alberto Gonzales won Senate confirmation as attorney general.
In 2009, Eric Holder became the first black U.S. attorney general as he was sworn in by Vice President Joe Biden. The White House announced that Tom Daschle had asked to be removed from consideration as health and human services secretary after acknowledging he’d failed to pay all his taxes.
Associated Press
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT
On Feb. 3, 1943, during World War II, the U.S. transport ship Dorchester, which was carrying troops to Greenland, sank after being hit by a German torpedo; of the more than 900 men aboard, only about 230 survived. Four Army chaplains gave their life belts to four other men and went down with the ship.
ON THIS DATE
In 1865, President Abraham Lincoln and Confederate Vice President Alexander Stephens held a shipboard peace conference off the Virginia coast; the talks deadlocked over the issue of Southern autonomy.
In 1913, the 16th Amendment to the Constitution, providing for a federal income tax, was ratified.
In 1959, rock-and-roll stars Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson died in a small plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa.
In 1966, the Soviet probe Luna 9 became the first manmade object to make a soft landing on the moon.
In 2005, Alberto Gonzales won Senate confirmation as attorney general.
In 2009, Eric Holder became the first black U.S. attorney general as he was sworn in by Vice President Joe Biden. The White House announced that Tom Daschle had asked to be removed from consideration as health and human services secretary after acknowledging he’d failed to pay all his taxes.
Associated Press
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