Today in History
Today is Tuesday, Feb. 7, the 38th day of 2017. There are 327 days left
in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On Feb. 7, 1817, America's
first public gas street lamp was lighted in Baltimore at the corner of
Market and Lemon streets (now East Baltimore and Holliday streets). On
this date: In 1795, the 11th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution,
dealing with states' sovereign immunity, was ratified. In 1857, a
French court acquitted author Gustave Flaubert of obscenity for his
serialized novel "Madame Bovary. In 1931, aviator Amelia Earhart
married publisher George P. Putnam in Noank, Connecticut. In 1936,
President Franklin D. Roosevelt authorized a flag for the office of the
vice president. In 1948, Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower resigned as Army
chief of staff; he was succeeded by Gen. Omar Bradley. In 1962,
President John F. Kennedy imposed a full trade embargo on Cuba. In
1971, women in Switzerland gained the right to vote through a national
referendum, 12 years after a previous attempt failed. In 1984, space
shuttle Challenger astronauts Bruce McCandless II and Robert L. Stewart
went on the first untethered spacewalk, which lasted nearly six hours.
In 1986, the Philippines held a presidential election marred by charges
of fraud against the incumbent, Ferdinand E. Marcos. Haitian
President-for-Life Jean-Claude Duvalier (doo-VAHL-yay') fled his
country, ending 28 years of his family's rule. In 1991, Jean-Bertrand
Aristide (zhahn behr-TRAHN' ahr-ihs-TEED') was inaugurated as the first
democratically elected president of Haiti (he was overthrown by the
military the following September). In 1992, European Community members
signed the Maastricht Treaty, which led to creation of the euro. In
1999, Jordan's King Hussein died of cancer at age 63; he was succeeded
by his eldest son, Abdullah. Ten years ago: U.S. officials confirmed a
new security operation was under way in Baghdad; U.S. armor rushed
through streets, and Iraqi armored personnel carriers guarded bridges
and major intersections. A Marine CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter was shot
down by insurgents northwest of Baghdad, killing all seven people on
board. The Food and Drug Administration approved alli (AL'-eye), a diet
pill that could be bought without a prescription. Five years ago: In a
setback for Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum
swept GOP caucuses in Minnesota and Colorado and a non-binding primary
in Missouri. A federal appeals court ruled California's ban on same-sex
marriage was unconstitutional, but gave gay marriage opponents time to
appeal the decision before ordering the state to allow such weddings to
resume. One year ago: Von Miller forced two fumbles to set up Denver's
two touchdowns and the Broncos defense frustrated Cam Newton all game
to carry Peyton Manning to his second NFL championship with a 24-10
victory over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50. North Korea defied
international warnings and launched a long-range rocket that the United
Nations and others called a cover for a banned test of technology for a
missile that could strike the U.S. mainland. Today's Birthdays: Author
Gay Talese is 85. Former Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis., is 82. Reggae musician
Brian Travers (UB40) is 58. Comedy writer Robert Smigel (SMY'-guhl) is
57. Actor James Spader is 57. Country singer Garth Brooks is 55. Rock
musician David Bryan (Bon Jovi) is 55. Actor-comedian Eddie Izzard is
55. Actor-comedian Chris Rock is 52. Actor Jason Gedrick is 50. Actress
Essence Atkins is 45. Rock singer-musician Wes Borland is 42. Rock
musician Tom Blankenship (My Morning Jacket) is 39. Actor Ashton
Kutcher is 39. Actress Tina Majorino is 32. Actress Deborah Ann Woll is
32. Thought for Today: "A cruel story runs on wheels, and every hand
oils the wheels as they run. Ouida (Marie Louise de la Ramee), English
writer (1839-1908).
