Today in History

Today in History

Today is Sunday, Feb. 7, the 38th day of 2016. There are 328 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Feb. 7, 1936, President Franklin D. Roosevelt authorized a flag for the office of the vice president.

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 1940, Walt Disney's second animated feature, "Pinocchio," premiered in New York.

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 1965, during the Vietnam War, Viet Cong forces attacked Camp Holloway, a U.S. Army helicopter base near Pleiku, killing eight Americans and wounding more than 100 others.

In 1974, the island nation of Grenada won independence from Britain.

In 1984, space shuttle Challenger astronauts Bruce McCandless II and Robert L. Stewart went on the first untethered space walk, 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 fled his country, ending 28 years of his family's rule.

In 1991, Jean-Bertrand Aristide was inaugurated as the first democratically elected president of Haiti (he was overthrown by the military the following September).

In 1999, Jordan's King Hussein died of cancer at age 63; he was succeeded by his eldest son, Abdullah.

Ten years ago: Some 10,000 mourners, including four U.S. presidents, said goodbye to Coretta Scott King during a service in Lithonia, Georgia. Abu Hamza al-Masri, a radical Muslim cleric linked to 9/11 plotter Zacarias Moussaoui, was sentenced in London to seven years in prison for inciting followers to kill non-Muslims. Phoenix Coyotes assistant coach Rick Tocchet was charged with financing a nationwide gambling ring based out of New Jersey. (Tocchet later pleaded guilty to promoting gambling and conspiracy to promote gambling and was sentenced to two years' probation.)

Five years ago: Speaking to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, President Barack Obama echoed John F. Kennedy as he prodded business leaders to "ask yourselves what you can do for America," not just for company bottom lines. AOL Inc. announced the $315 million purchase of The Huffington Post website.

One year ago: Olympic gold medalist Bruce (now Caitlyn) Jenner was involved in a fatal multiple-vehicle crash on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, California, that left one woman dead and several others injured. In a memo released by NBC, Brian Williams said he was stepping away temporarily from the anchor chair of the "NBC Nightly News" amid questions about his recollections of war coverage in Iraq (Williams ended up being permanently removed from the principal anchor chair, but remained with NBC News).

Today's Birthdays: Author Gay Talese is 84. Former Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis., is 81. Movie director Hector Babenco is 70. Actor Miguel Ferrer is 61. Reggae musician Brian Travers (UB40) is 57. Comedy writer Robert Smigel is 56. Actor James Spader is 56. Country singer Garth Brooks is 54. Rock musician David Bryan (Bon Jovi) is 54. Actor-comedian Eddie Izzard is 54. Actor-comedian Chris Rock is 51. Actor Jason Gedrick is 49. Actress Essence Atkins is 44. Rock singer-musician Wes Borland is 41. Rock musician Tom Blankenship (My Morning Jacket) is 38. Actor Ashton Kutcher is 38. Actress Tina Majorino is 31. Actress Deborah Ann Woll is 31.

Thought for Today: "A day wasted on others is not wasted on one's self." -- Charles Dickens (born this date in 1812, died 1870).