Today in History

Today is Friday, Nov. 7, the 311th day of 2014. There are 54 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Nov. 7, 1944, President Franklin D. Roosevelt won an unprecedented fourth term in office, defeating Republican Thomas E. Dewey.

On this date:

In 1861, former U.S. President John Tyler was elected to the Confederate House of Representatives (however, Tyler died before he could take his seat).

In 1914, the first issue of The New Republic magazine was published, presenting itself as "A Journal of Opinion which Seeks to Meet the Challenge of a New Time."

In 1916, Republican Jeannette Rankin of Montana became the first woman elected to Congress.

In 1917, Russia's Bolshevik Revolution took place as forces led by Vladimir Ilyich Lenin overthrew the provisional government of Alexander Kerensky.

In 1940, Washington state's original Tacoma Narrows Bridge, nicknamed "Galloping Gertie," collapsed into Puget Sound during a windstorm.

In 1954, the CBS News program "Face the Nation" premiered with Ted Koop as host; the guest was Sen. Joseph R. McCarthy, R-Wis.

In 1962, Republican Richard Nixon, having lost California's gubernatorial race, held what he called his "last press conference," telling reporters, "You won't have Nixon to kick around anymore." Former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt, 78, died in New York City.

In 1972, President Richard Nixon was re-elected in a landslide over Democrat George McGovern.

In 1973, Congress overrode President Richard Nixon's veto of the War Powers Act, which limits a chief executive's power to wage war without congressional approval.

In 1974, British peer Richard John Bingham, 7th Earl of Lucan, disappeared after his children's nanny, Sandra Rivett, was bludgeoned to death at his family's London home; he has not been seen since.

In 1980, actor Steve McQueen died in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico, at age 50.

In 1989, L. Douglas Wilder won the governor's race in Virginia, becoming the first elected black governor in U.S. history; David N. Dinkins was elected New York City's first black mayor.

Ten years ago: France rolled out overwhelming military force to put down an explosion of anti-French violence in Ivory Coast, its former West African colony. In the New York City Marathon, Britain's Paula Radcliffe won the women's race in 2:23:10, edging Kenya's Susan Chepkemei by only four seconds; South Africa's Hendrik Ramaala won the men's race in 2:09:28. Actor and musical star Howard Keel died at age 85.

Five years ago: In a victory for President Barack Obama, the Democratic-controlled House narrowly passed, 220-215, landmark health care legislation to expand coverage to tens of millions lacking it and place tough new restrictions on the insurance industry. David Haye won the WBA heavyweight title with a majority decision over Nikolai Valuev in Nuremberg, Germany.

One year ago: Seeking to calm a growing furor, President Barack Obama told NBC News he was "sorry" Americans were losing health insurance plans that he repeatedly had said they could keep under his health care law, but he stopped short of apologizing for making those promises in the first place. The Food and Drug Administration announced it was requiring the food industry to phase out artery-clogging trans fats. Shares of Twitter went on sale to the public for the first time; by the closing bell, the social network was valued at $31 billion. A Russian spacecraft carrying the Olympic torch and three astronauts docked with the International Space Station ahead of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.

Today's Birthdays: Evangelist Billy Graham is 96. Actor Barry Newman is 76. Singer Johnny Rivers is 72. Singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell is 71. Former CIA Director David Petraeus is 62. Actor Christopher Knight (TV: "The Brady Bunch") is 57. Rock musician Tommy Thayer (KISS) is 54. Actress Julie Pinson is 47. Rock musician Greg Tribbett (Mudvayne) is 46. Actor Christopher Daniel Barnes is 42. Actors Jason and Jeremy London are 42. Actress Yunjin Kim is 41. Actor Adam DeVine is 31. Rock musician Zach Myers (Shinedown) is 31. Actor Lucas Neff is 29. Rapper Tinie Tempah is 26. Rock singer Lorde is 18.

Thought for Today: "Man cannot live by incompetence alone." Charlotte Whitton, Canadian feminist (1896-1975).

Copyright 2014, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.