Today in History

Today in History

Today is Wednesday, Nov. 8, the 312th day of 2017. There are 53 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Nov. 8, 2016, Republican Donald Trump was elected America's 45th president, defeating Democrat Hillary Clinton in an astonishing victory for a celebrity businessman and political novice. Republicans kept their majorities in the Senate and House.

On this date:

In 1793, the Louvre began admitting the public, even though the French museum had been officially open since August.

In 1889, Montana became the 41st state.

In 1892, former President Cleveland defeated incumbent Benjamin Harrison, becoming the first (and, to date, only) chief executive to win non-consecutive terms to the White House.

In 1923, Adolf Hitler launched his first attempt at seizing power in Germany with a failed coup in Munich that came to be known as the "Beer-Hall Putsch."

In 1932, New York Democratic Gov. Franklin D. Roosevelt defeated incumbent Republican Herbert Hoover for the presidency.

In 1942, Operation Torch, resulting in an Allied victory, began during World War II as U.S. and British forces landed in French North Africa.

In 1950, during the Korean War, the first jet-plane battle took place as U.S. Air Force Lt. Russell J. Brown shot down a North Korean MiG-15.

In 1960, Massachusetts Sen. John F. Kennedy defeated Vice President Richard M. Nixon for the presidency.

In 1974, a federal judge in Cleveland dismissed charges against eight Ohio National Guardsmen accused of violating the civil rights of students who were killed or wounded in the 1970 Kent State shootings.

In 1987, 11 people were killed when an Irish Republican Army bomb exploded as crowds gathered in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland, for a ceremony honoring Britain's war dead.

In 1988, Vice President George H.W. Bush won the presidential election, defeating the Democratic nominee, Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis.

In 1994, midterm elections resulted in Republicans winning a majority in the Senate while at the same time gaining control of the House for the first time in 40 years.

Ten years ago: The Senate confirmed President George W. Bush's nomination of Michael Mukasey to be attorney general, 53-40. President Bush suffered the first veto override of his seven-year-old presidency as the Senate enacted, 79-14, a $23 billion water resources bill despite his protest that it was filled with unnecessary projects. Dominican singer-songwriter Juan Luis Guerra swept the Latin Grammy Awards, taking home five musical honors including album of the year, record of the year and song of the year.

Five years ago: Jared Lee Loughner was sentenced to life in prison without parole for the January 2011 shootings in Tucson, Arizona, that killed six people and wounded 13 others, including Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. Longtime baseball executive and Hall of Famer Lee MacPhail, 95, died in Delray Beach, Florida.

One year ago: Democrat Zena Stephens of Jefferson County made history upon her election as the first black woman sheriff in Texas.

Today's Birthdays: Actor Norman Lloyd is 103. Actress Stephane Audran is 85. Actor Alain Delon is 82. Singer-actress Bonnie Bramlett is 73. Singer Bonnie Raitt is 68. TV personality Mary Hart is 67. Former Playboy Enterprises chairman and chief executive Christie Hefner is 65. Actress Alfre Woodard is 65. Singer-songwriter Rickie Lee Jones is 63. Nobel Prize-winning author Kazuo Ishiguro is 63. Rock musician Porl Thompson (The Cure) is 60. Singer-actor Leif Garrett is 56. Chef and TV personality Gordon Ramsay is 51. Actress Courtney Thorne-Smith is 50. Actress Parker Posey is 49. Rock musician Jimmy Chaney is 48. Actress Roxana Zal is 48. Singer Diana King is 47. Actor Gonzalo Menendez is 46. Rock musician Scott Devendorf (The National) is 45. Actress Gretchen Mol is 44. ABC News anchor David Muir is 44. Actor Matthew Rhys is 43. Actress Tara Reid is 42. Country singer Bucky Covington is 40. Actress Dania Ramirez is 38. Actress Azura Skye is 36. Actor Chris Rankin is 34. TV personality Jack Osbourne is 32. Actress Jessica Lowndes is 29. Singer-actor Riker Lynch is 26. Country singer Lauren Alaina is 23. Actor Van Crosby (TV: "Splitting Up Together") is 15.

Thought for Today: "One never notices what has been done; one can only see what remains to be done." -- Marie Curie (1867-1934).