Today in History

Today in History

Today is Wednesday, Nov. 9, the 314th day of 2016. There are 52 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Nov. 9, 1976, the U.N. General Assembly approved resolutions condemning apartheid in South Africa, including one characterizing the white-ruled government as "illegitimate."

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 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.

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 1986, Israel revealed it was holding Mordechai Vanunu, a former nuclear technician who'd vanished after providing information to a British newspaper about Israel's nuclear weapons program. (Vanunu was convicted of treason and served 18 years in prison.)

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 1991, singer-actor Yves Montand died near Paris at age 70.

Ten years ago: Republican Sen. George Allen conceded defeat in the Virginia Senate race to Democrat Jim Webb, sealing the Democrats' control of Congress. World champion figure skater Michelle Kwan was appointed America's first public diplomacy envoy by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. CBS newsman Ed Bradley died in New York at age 65.

Five years ago: After 46 seasons as Penn State's head football coach and a record 409 victories, Joe Paterno was fired along with the university president, Graham Spanier, over their handling of child sex abuse allegations against former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky. Taylor Swift won her second entertainer of the year award at The Country Music Association Awards.

One year ago: Minimizing sharp differences, President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed their commitment to seeking elusive Middle East peace during a White House meeting. The president of the University of Missouri system and the head of its flagship campus resigned with the football team and others on campus in open revolt over what they saw as indifference to racial tensions at the school. President Obama launched his own personal Facebook page. Andy White, 85, a top session drummer in England during the 1960s who stepped in for newcomer Ringo Starr as the Beatles recorded their debut single "Love Me Do," died in Caldwell, New Jersey. Stripper Carol Doda, 78, died in San Francisco.

Today's Birthdays: Baseball Hall of Famer Whitey Herzog is 85. Baseball Hall of Famer Bob Gibson is 81. Actor Charlie Robinson is 71. Movie director Bille August is 68. Actor Robert David Hall is 68. Actor Lou Ferrigno is 65. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, is 64. Gospel singer Donnie McClurkin is 57. Rock musician Dee Plakas (L7) is 56. Actress Ion Overman is 47. Rapper Pepa (Salt-N-Pepa) is 47. Rapper Scarface (Geto Boys) is 46. Blues singer Susan Tedeschi is 46. Actor Jason Antoon is 45. Actor Eric Dane is 44. Singer Nick Lachey (98 Degrees) is 43. Country musician Barry Knox (Parmalee) is 39. Rhythm-and-blues singer Sisqo (Dru Hill) is 38. Country singer Corey Smith is 37. Actress Nikki Blonsky is 28. Actress-model Analeigh Tipton is 28.

Thought for Today: "When one burns one's bridges, what a very nice fire it makes." -- Dylan Thomas (1914-1953).