Today in History

Today is Monday, Nov. 9, the 313th day of 2015. There are 52 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Nov. 9, 1965, the great Northeast blackout began as a series of power failures lasting up to 13 1/2 hours left 30 million people in seven states and part of Canada without electricity.

On this date:

In 1620, the passengers and crew of the Mayflower sighted Cape Cod.

In 1872, fire destroyed nearly 800 buildings in Boston.

In 1918, it was announced that Germany's Kaiser Wilhelm II would abdicate; he then fled to the Netherlands.

In 1935, United Mine Workers president John L. Lewis and other labor leaders formed the Committee for Industrial Organization (later renamed the Congress of Industrial Organizations).

In 1938, Nazis looted and burned synagogues as well as Jewish-owned stores and houses in Germany and Austria in a pogrom that became known as "Kristallnacht."

In 1953, Welsh author-poet Dylan Thomas died in New York at age 39.

In 1967, a Saturn V rocket carrying an unmanned Apollo spacecraft blasted off from Cape Kennedy on a successful test flight.

In 1970, former French President Charles de Gaulle died at age 79.

In 1976, the U.N. General Assembly approved resolutions condemning apartheid in South Africa, including one characterizing the white-ruled government as "illegitimate."

In 1988, former Attorney General John N. Mitchell, a major figure in the Watergate scandal, died in Washington at age 75.

In 1989, communist East Germany threw open its borders, allowing citizens to travel freely to the West; joyous Germans danced atop the Berlin Wall.

In 1999, with fireworks, concerts and a huge party at the landmark Brandenburg Gate, Germany celebrated the 10th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Ten years ago: Three suicide bombers carried out nearly simultaneous attacks on three U.S.-based hotels in Amman, Jordan, killing 60 victims, and wounding hundreds. Oil executives testified before Congress that their huge profits were justified, but got a skeptical reaction from lawmakers. Carolina's Erik Cole became the first player in NHL history to be awarded two penalty shots in one game. (Cole scored on the first, helping the Hurricanes defeat Buffalo 5-3.)

Five years ago: Continuing his Asia tour, President Barack Obama flew from India to Indonesia, his home for four years of his youth. Former President George W. Bush officially kicked off the release of his memoir, "Decision Points," with a book-signing in Dallas. A special prosecutor cleared the CIA's former top clandestine officer and others of any charges for destroying agency videotapes showing waterboarding of terror suspects, but continued an investigation into whether the harsh questioning went beyond legal boundaries. Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki won his 10th straight Gold Glove, tying the AL record for Gold Gloves by an outfielder shared by Ken Griffey Jr. and Al Kaline.

One year ago: The citizens of Berlin released almost 7,000 balloons into the night sky, many carrying messages of hope to mark the 25th anniversary since the fall of the wall that had once divided their city.

Today's Birthdays: Baseball Hall of Famer Whitey Herzog is 84. Baseball Hall of Famer Bob Gibson is 80. Actor Charlie Robinson is 70. Movie director Bille August is 67. Actor Robert David Hall is 67. Actor Lou Ferrigno is 64. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, is 63. Gospel singer Donnie McClurkin is 56. Rock musician Dee Plakas (L7) is 55. Actress Ion Overman is 46. Rapper Pepa (Salt-N-Pepa) is 46. Rapper Scarface (Geto Boys) is 45. Blues singer Susan Tedeschi is 45. Actor Jason Antoon is 44. Actor Eric Dane is 43. Singer Nick Lachey (98 Degrees) is 42. Rhythm-and-blues singer Sisqo (Dru Hill) is 37. Country singer Corey Smith is 36. Actress Nikki Blonsky is 27. Actress-model Analeigh Tipton is 27.

Thought for Today: "We must be free not because we claim freedom, but because we practice it." -- William Faulkner, American author (1897-1962).

Copyright 2015, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.