Today in History

Today is Tuesday, Feb. 6, the 37th day of 2018. There are 328 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Feb. 6, 1778, during the American Revolutionary War, the United States won official recognition and military support from France with the signing of a Treaty of Alliance in Paris.

On this date:

In 1788, Massachusetts became the sixth state to ratify the U.S. Constitution.

In 1899, a peace treaty between the United States and Spain was ratified by the U.S. Senate.

In 1911, Ronald Wilson Reagan, the 40th president of the United States, was born in Tampico, Illinois.

In 1922, Cardinal Archille Ratti was elected pope; he took the name Pius XI.

In 1933, the 20th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the so-called "lame duck" amendment, was proclaimed in effect by Secretary of State Henry Stimson.

In 1943, a Los Angeles jury acquitted actor Errol Flynn of three counts of statutory rape.

In 1952, Britain's King George VI, 56, died at Sandringham House in Norfolk, England; he was succeeded as monarch by his 25-year-old elder daughter, who became Queen Elizabeth II.

In 1968, the Winter Olympic Games were opened in Grenoble, France, by French President Charles de Gaulle.

In 1973, Dixy Lee Ray was appointed by President Richard Nixon to be the first woman to head the Atomic Energy Commission.

In 1987, Wall Street Journal reporter Gerald Seib was released after being detained six days by Iran, accused of being a spy for Israel; Iran said the detention was a result of misunderstandings.

In 1993, tennis Hall of Famer and human rights advocate Arthur Ashe died in New York at age 49.

In 1998, President Bill Clinton signed a bill changing the name of Washington National Airport to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Pop music star Falco, who had a 1986 hit with "Rock Me Amadeus," died in a traffic accident in the Dominican Republic; he was 40. Carl Wilson, a founding member of The Beach Boys, died in Los Angeles at age 51.

Ten years ago: At least 57 deaths were reported after two days of tornadoes that plowed across Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky and Alabama. The Bush White House defended the use of the interrogation technique known as waterboarding, saying it was legal -- not torture as critics argued -- and had saved American lives. The Phoenix Suns acquired Shaquille O'Neal in a stunning blockbuster deal that sent four-time All-Star Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks to the Miami Heat.

Five years ago: The U.S. Postal Service proposed eliminating Saturday mail delivery, an announcement that immediately drew protests from some lawmakers. At least nine people were killed by a tsunami that smashed into villages in the Solomon Islands, flattening dozens of homes in the South Pacific island chain. Toy maker Hasbro Inc. announced that Monopoly fans had voted online to add a cat token to the board game, replacing the iron.

One year ago: President Donald Trump accused the media of deliberately minimizing coverage of the threat posed by the Islamic State group; the president did not immediately offer evidence to support his claim, made during the new commander in chief's first visit to the headquarters of U.S. Central Command at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida. Irwin Corey, the wild-haired comedian and actor known for his improvisational riffs and nonsensical style who billed himself as "The World's Foremost Authority," died in New York at age 102.

Today's Birthdays: Actor Rip Torn is 87. Actress Mamie Van Doren is 87. Actor Mike Farrell is 79. Former NBC News anchorman Tom Brokaw is 78. Singer Fabian is 75. Actress Gayle Hunnicutt is 75. Actor Michael Tucker is 74. Producer-director-writer Jim Sheridan is 69. Actor Jon Walmsley is 62. Actress Kathy Najimy is 61. Rock musician Simon Phillips (Toto) is 61. Actor-director Robert Townsend is 61. Actor Barry Miller is 60. Actress Megan Gallagher is 58. Rock singer Axl Rose (Guns N' Roses) is 56. Country singer Richie McDonald is 56. Singer Rick Astley is 52. Rock musician Tim Brown (Boo Radleys) is 49. "Good Morning America" co-host Amy Robach is 45. Actor Josh Stewart is 41. Actor Ben Lawson is 38. Actor Brandon Hammond is 34. Actress Crystal Reed (TV: "Teen Wolf") is 33. Actress Alice Greczyn is 32. Actress Anna Diop is 30. Rhythm and blues singer/actress Tinashe is 25.

Thought for Today: "The first duty of a leader is to make himself be loved without courting love. To be loved without 'playing up' to anyone -- even to himself." -- Andre Malraux, French author (1901-1976).

(Above Advance for Use Tuesday, Feb. 6)

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