Today in History

  • Wednesday, October 28, 2015 2:39pm
  • Life

Today in History

Today is Friday, Oct. 30, the 303rd day of 2015. There are 62 days left in the year.

Today’s highlight:

On Oct. 30, 1965, the miniskirt had its “coming out,” of sorts. British model Jean Shrimpton scandalized onlookers by showing up for Victoria Derby Day at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia, in a white, sleeveless shift dress that had a hem four inches above her knees. (Shrimpton was also criticized for not wearing a hat, gloves or stockings to such a formal occasion.)

On this date:

In 1735, the second president of the United States, John Adams, was born in Braintree, Massachusetts.

In 1864, Helena, Montana, was founded.

In 1921, the silent film classic “The Sheik,” starring Rudolph Valentino, premiered in Los Angeles.

In 1938, the radio play “The War of the Worlds,” starring Orson Welles, aired on CBS.

In 1945, the U.S. government announced the end of shoe rationing, effective at midnight.

In 1953, Gen. George C. Marshall was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Dr. Albert Schweitzer received the Peace Prize for 1952.

In 1961, the Soviet Union tested a hydrogen bomb, the “Tsar Bomba,” with a force estimated at about 50 megatons. The Soviet Party Congress unanimously approved a resolution ordering the removal of Josef Stalin’s body from Lenin’s tomb.

In 1974, Muhammad Ali knocked out George Foreman in the eighth round of a 15-round bout in Kinshasa, Zaire, known as the “Rumble in the Jungle,” to regain his world heavyweight title.

In 1975, the New York Daily News ran the headline “Ford to City: Drop Dead” a day after President Gerald R. Ford said he would veto any proposed federal bailout of New York City.

In 1985, schoolteacher-astronaut Christa McAuliffe witnessed the launch of the space shuttle Challenger, the same craft that carried her and six other crew members to their deaths in January 1986.

In 1997, a jury in Cambridge, Massachusetts, convicted British au pair Louise Woodward of second-degree murder in the death of 8-month-old Matthew Eappen. (The judge, Hiller B. Zobel, later reduced the verdict to manslaughter and set Woodward free.)

In 2000, comedian, television host, author and composer Steve Allen died in Encino, California, at age 78.

Ten years ago: The body of Rosa Parks arrived at the U.S. Capitol, where the civil rights icon became the first woman to lie in honor in the Rotunda; President George W. Bush and congressional leaders paused to lay wreaths by her casket. Baseball Hall of Fame catcher and manager Al Lopez died in Tampa, Florida, at age 97.

Five years ago: President Barack Obama implored voters to resist a Republican tide, warning that if the GOP prevailed in midterm elections, all the progress of his first two years in office could be “rolled back.” Comedians Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart headlined a “Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear” in Washington attended by tens of thousands. The Texas Rangers beat San Francisco 4-2, cutting the Giants’ World Series edge to 2-1.

One year ago: Israel closed all access to Jerusalem’s most sensitive religious site, revered by Jews as the Temple Mount and Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary, in a rare move that ratcheted up tensions after the attempted assassination of a Jewish religious activist and the killing of a Palestinian suspect in the case by security forces. Thomas Menino, Boston’s longest-serving mayor, died at age 71.

Today’s birthdays: Actor Dick Gautier is 84. Movie director Claude Lelouch is 78. Rock singer Grace Slick is 76. Songwriter Eddie Holland is 76. Rhythm-and-blues singer Otis Williams (The Temptations) is 74. Actress Joanna Shimkus is 72. Actor Henry Winkler is 70. Broadcast journalist Andrea Mitchell is 69. Rock musician Chris Slade (Asia) is 69. Country/rock musician Timothy B. Schmit (The Eagles) is 68. Actor Leon Rippy is 66. Actor Harry Hamlin is 64. Actor Charles Martin Smith is 62. Country singer T. Graham Brown is 61. Actor Kevin Pollak is 58. Actor Michael Beach is 52. Rock singer-musician Gavin Rossdale (Bush) is 50. Actor Jack Plotnick is 47. Comedian Ben Bailey is 45. Actress Nia Long is 45. Country singer Kassidy Osborn (SHeDAISY) is 39. Actor Gael Garcia Bernal is 37. Actor Matthew Morrison is 37. Actor Shaun Sipos is 34. Ivanka Trump is 34. Actress Janel Parrish is 27. Actor Tequan Richmond is 23.

Thought for today: “There are things that are known and things that are unknown; in between are doors.” — William Blake, English poet (1757-1827).

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