Today in History

Today is Saturday, Feb. 22, the 53rd day of 2020. There are 313 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Feb. 22, 1980, the "Miracle on Ice" took place in Lake Placid, New York, as the United States Olympic hockey team upset the Soviets, 4-3. (The U.S. team went on to win the gold medal.)

On this date:

In 1732 (New Style date), the first president of the United States, George Washington, was born in Westmoreland County in the Virginia Colony.

In 1857, Robert Baden-Powell, founder of the Boy Scouts, was born in London.

In 1862, Jefferson Davis, already the provisional president of the Confederacy, was inaugurated for a six-year term following his election in November 1861.

In 1909, the Great White Fleet, a naval task force sent on a round-the-world voyage by President Theodore Roosevelt, returned after more than a year at sea.

In 1924, Calvin Coolidge delivered the first presidential radio broadcast from the White House.

In 1935, it became illegal for airplanes to fly over the White House.

In 1984, David Vetter, a 12-year-old Texas boy who'd spent most of his life in a plastic bubble because he had no immunity to disease, died 15 days after being removed from the bubble for a bone-marrow transplant.

In 1987, pop artist Andy Warhol died at a New York City hospital at age 58.

In 1995, actor Ed Flanders, 60, died at his own hand in Denny, California.

In 1997, scientists in Scotland announced they had succeeded in cloning an adult mammal, producing a lamb named "Dolly." (Dolly, however, was later put down after a short life marred by premature aging and disease.)

In 2004, consumer advocate Ralph Nader announced he was running again for president, this time as an independent.

In 2018, the U.S. women's hockey team won the gold medal at the Winter Olympics in South Korea, beating Canada 3-2 after a shootout tiebreaker.

Ten years ago: Najibullah Zazi, accused of buying beauty supplies to make bombs for an attack on New York City subways, pleaded guilty to conspiring to use weapons of mass destruction, conspiring to commit murder in a foreign country and providing material support for a terrorist organization. (Zazi faced up to life in prison but spent nearly a decade after his arrest helping the U.S. identify and prosecute terrorists; he was given a 10-year sentence followed by supervised release.) New York City police officer Richard Kern, accused of sodomizing a drug suspect in a subway station, was acquitted at trial; two colleagues were acquitted of a cover-up.

Five years ago: At the 87th Academy Awards, "Birdman" won best picture; Julianne Moore received the best actress Oscar for "Still Alice" while Eddie Redmayne was recognized as best actor for "The Theory of Everything." Joey Logano won his first career Daytona 500 after taking the lead following a restart with 19 laps remaining.

One year ago: R&B star R. Kelly was charged in Chicago with aggravated sexual abuse involving four victims, including at least three between the ages of 13 and 17. (Kelly is being held without bond in Chicago; he is facing a variety of charges in three states.) Police in Jupiter, Fla., said New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft faced charges of soliciting a prostitute after he was twice videotaped in a sex act at a shopping-center massage parlor. (Kraft has pleaded not guilty but issued a written apology.) A California couple pleaded guilty to torture and years of abuse that included shackling some of their 13 children to beds and starving them. (The couple would be sentenced to up to life in prison.) Producers of the Fox TV show "Empire" announced that actor Jussie Smollett's character would be removed from the final two episodes of the season after his arrest on charges that he staged a racist, anti-gay attack on himself.

Today's Birthdays: Actor Paul Dooley is 92. Actor James Hong is 91. Actor John Ashton is 72. Actress Miou-Miou is 70. Actress Julie Walters is 70. Basketball Hall of Famer Julius Erving is 70. Actress Ellen Greene is 69. Former Sen. Bill Frist, R-Tenn., is 68. Former White House adviser David Axelrod is 65. Actor Kyle MacLachlan is 61. World Golf Hall of Famer Vijay Singh is 57. Actress-comedian Rachel Dratch is 54. Actor Paul Lieberstein is 53. Actress Jeri Ryan is 52. Actor Thomas Jane is 51. TV host Clinton Kelly is 51. Actress Tamara Mello is 50. Actress-singer Lea Salonga is 49. Actor Jose Solano is 49. International Tennis Hall of Famer Michael Chang is 48. Rock musician Scott Phillips is 47. Singer James Blunt is 46. Actress Drew Barrymore is 45. Actress Liza Huber is 45. Rock singer Tom Higgenson (Plain White T's) is 41. Rock musician Joe Hottinger (Halestorm) is 38. Actor Zach Roerig is 35. Actor Daniel E. Smith is 30.

Thought for Today: "It is better to offer no excuse than a bad one." -- President George Washington (1732-1799).

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