Today in History
Today is Friday, Feb. 12, the 43rd day of 2016. There are 323 days left
in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On Feb. 12, 1809, Abraham
Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States, was born in
present-day Larue County, Kentucky. On this date: In 1554, Lady Jane
Grey, who'd claimed the throne of England for nine days, and her
husband, Guildford Dudley, were beheaded after being condemned for high
treason. In 1818, Chile officially proclaimed its independence, more
than seven years after initially renouncing Spanish rule. In 1909, the
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People was founded.
In 1914, groundbreaking took place for the Lincoln Memorial in
Washington, D.C. In 1915, the cornerstone was laid for the Lincoln
Memorial. In 1924, George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" premiered in
New York. In 1940, the radio play "The Adventures of Superman" debuted
with Bud Collyer as the Man of Steel. In 1959, the redesigned Lincoln
penny with an image of the Lincoln Memorial replacing two ears of wheat
on the reverse side went into circulation. In 1963, a Northwest Orient
Airlines Boeing 720 broke up during severe turbulence and crashed into
the Florida Everglades, killing all 43 people aboard. In 1973,
Operation Homecoming began as the first release of American prisoners
of war from the Vietnam conflict took place. In 1999, the Senate voted
to acquit President Bill Clinton of perjury and obstruction of justice.
In 2000, Charles M. Schulz, creator of the "Peanuts" comic strip, died
in Santa Rosa, California, at age 77. Hall-of-Fame football coach Tom
Landry, who'd led the Dallas Cowboys to five Super Bowls, died in
Irving, Texas, at age 75. Michelle Kwan won her third straight U.S.
Figure Skating Championships crown, while Michael Weiss successfully
defended the men's title. Ten years ago: A record 26.9 inches of snow
fell in New York's Central Park over a two-day period. Figure skater
Michelle Kwan effectively retired from competition as she withdrew from
the Turin Olympics due to injury (she was replaced on the U.S. team by
Emily Hughes). Snowboarder Shaun White beat American teammate Danny
Kass to win the Olympic gold medal. Five years ago: Thousands of
Algerians defied government warnings and dodged barricades in their
capital, demanding democratic reforms; demonstrations continued in
Yemen as well. Death claimed actress Betty Garrett, 91, and actor
Kenneth Mars, 75. One year ago: European leaders agreed on a truce to
halt fighting in eastern Ukraine between government forces and
Russian-backed separatist rebels. Today's Birthdays: Movie director
Franco Zeffirelli is 93. Actor Louis Zorich is 92. Baseball
Hall-of-Fame sportscaster Joe Garagiola is 90. Movie director
Costa-Gavras is 83. Basketball Hall-of-Famer Bill Russell is 82. Actor
Joe Don Baker is 80. Author Judy Blume is 78. Former Israeli Prime
Minister Ehud Barak is 74. Country singer Moe Bandy is 72. Actress Maud
Adams is 71. Actor Cliff DeYoung is 70. Actor Michael Ironside is 66.
Rock musician Steve Hackett is 66. Rock singer Michael McDonald is 64.
Actress Joanna Kerns is 63. Actor-talk show host Arsenio Hall is 60.
Actor John Michael Higgins is 53. Actor Raphael Sbarge is 52. Actress
Christine Elise is 51. Actor Josh Brolin is 48. Singer Chynna Phillips
is 48. Rock musician Jim Creeggan (Barenaked Ladies) is 46.
Rhythm-and-blues musician Keri Lewis is 45. Actor Jesse Spencer is 37.
Actress Sarah Lancaster is 36. Actress Christina Ricci is 36. NFL
quarterback Robert Griffin III is 26. Actress Jennifer Stone is 23.
Actresses Baylie and Rylie Cregut (TV: "Raising Hope") are six. Thought
for Today: "Men make history and not the other way around. In periods
where there is no leadership, society stands still. President Harry S.
Truman (1884-1972).
