Today in History: Nov. 16

Al Capone, right, Chicago's infamous gang overlord during prohibition, leaves Harrisburg, Pa., on Nov. 16, 1939 with a federal officer for Lewisburg, Pa., where he was released after spending seven years in prison in Atlanta and San Francisco's Alcatraz.   (AP Photo)
In 1939, mob boss Al Capone, ill with syphilis, was released from prison after serving 7 1/2 years for tax evasion and failure to file tax returns. Capone is seen here on the right, leaving Harrisburg, Pa., on Nov. 16, 1939 with a federal officer. (AP Photo)
Actress and singer Marion Marlowe poses on the set of the Broadway musical "The Sound of Music" in New York City on Dec. 11, 1959. (AP Photo)
In 1959, the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical “The Sound of Music” opened on Broadway. Here, actress and singer Marion Marlowe poses on the set of the Broadway musical “The Sound of Music” in New York City on Dec. 11, 1959. (AP Photo)
Skylab 4 commander Gerald P. Carr in space suit  November 1973. (AP Photo)
In 1973, Skylab 4, carrying a crew of three astronauts, was launched from Cape Canaveral on an 84-day mission. Here, Skylab 4 commander Gerald P. Carr is seen in a space suit in November 1973. (AP Photo)
In 2006, Democrats embraced Nancy Pelosi as the first woman House speaker in history, but then selected Steny Hoyer as majority leader against her wishes. FILE – In this Sept. 6, 2018, file photo, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., speaks during her weekly news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington. Consumer and health care groups say they’re trying to block a move by the pharmaceutical industry to commandeer must-pass opioids epidemic legislation as a vehicle for rolling back drugmaker discounts to Medicare beneficiaries with high prescription costs. Republican leaders were saying little about behind-the-scenes discussions on Sept. 21,, but a spokesman for Pelosi calls it a “a multi-billion dollar handout to Big Pharma.” (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)
In 1982, an agreement was announced in the 57th day of a strike by National Football League players. FILE – In this Sept. 16, 2018, file photo, spectators watch the first half of an NFL football game between the Washington Redskins and the Indianapolis Colts at FedEx Field in Landover, Md. Washington is 3-2 at home this season and leads the NFC East. But after cornerback Josh Norman called out Redskins fans in the aftermath of an ugly victory at Tampa Bay, the spotlight is on the atmosphere at FedEx Field Sunday against the AFC South-leading Houston Texans. (AP Photo/Mark Tenally, File)
Oklahoma flag, US State Flag, USA
In 1907, Oklahoma became the 46th state of the union. (Thinkstock)
On Nov. 16, 1933, the United States and the Soviet Union established diplomatic relations. FILE – In this aerial file photo taken on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017, a woman walks past a state of Soviet Union founder Vladimir Lenin at the Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, in Kazakhstan. The thousands of statues of Vladimir Lenin spread across the vast region bring to mind poet Vladimir Mayakovsky’s ringing line of devotion: “Lenin lived, Lenin lives, Lenin will live.” (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky, file)
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Al Capone, right, Chicago's infamous gang overlord during prohibition, leaves Harrisburg, Pa., on Nov. 16, 1939 with a federal officer for Lewisburg, Pa., where he was released after spending seven years in prison in Atlanta and San Francisco's Alcatraz.   (AP Photo)
Actress and singer Marion Marlowe poses on the set of the Broadway musical "The Sound of Music" in New York City on Dec. 11, 1959. (AP Photo)
Skylab 4 commander Gerald P. Carr in space suit  November 1973. (AP Photo)
Oklahoma flag, US State Flag, USA

Today is Friday, Nov. 16, the 320th day of 2018.

Today’s Highlight in History:

On Nov. 16, 1933, the United States and the Soviet Union established diplomatic relations.

On this date:

In 1776, British troops captured Fort Washington in New York during the American Revolution.

In 1907, Oklahoma became the 46th state of the union.

In 1914, the newly created Federal Reserve Banks opened in 12 cities.

In 1939, mob boss Al Capone, ill with syphilis, was released from prison after serving 7 1/2 years for tax evasion and failure to file tax returns.

In 1959, the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical “The Sound of Music” opened on Broadway.

In 1961, House Speaker Samuel T. Rayburn died in Bonham, Texas, having served as speaker since 1940 except for two terms.

In 1966, Dr. Samuel H. Sheppard was acquitted in Cleveland at his second trial of murdering his pregnant wife, Marilyn, in 1954.

In 1973, Skylab 4, carrying a crew of three astronauts, was launched from Cape Canaveral on an 84-day mission.

In 1981, actor William Holden was found dead in his apartment in Santa Monica, California; he was 63.

In 1982, an agreement was announced in the 57th day of a strike by National Football League players.

In 1997, China’s most prominent pro-democracy campaigner, Wei Jingsheng (way jeeng-shuhng), arrived in the United States after being released following nearly 18 years of imprisonment in his country.

In 2006, Democrats embraced Nancy Pelosi as the first woman House speaker in history, but then selected Steny Hoyer as majority leader against her wishes.

Ten years ago: Iraq’s Cabinet overwhelmingly approved a security pact with the United States calling for American forces to remain in the country until 2012. Space shuttle Endeavour linked up with the international space station. The Pittsburgh Steelers rallied to beat the San Diego Chargers 11-10, the first such final score in NFL history.

Five years ago: In his weekly Saturday radio and Internet address, President Barack Obama said improved energy efficiency and higher energy production in the United States were yielding environmental and economic benefits that were helping ensure cleaner air and a more competitive business landscape.

One year ago: Minnesota Democratic Sen. Al Franken became the first member of Congress to be caught up in a wave of allegations of sexual abuse and inappropriate behavior, after a Los Angeles radio anchor accused him of forcibly kissing her and groping her during a 2006 USO tour. The federal bribery trial of Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey ended with the jury hopelessly deadlocked on all charges. (Federal prosecutors decided in January not to retry him.) Jose Altuve of the World Champion Houston Astros won the American League Most Valuable Player award; Giancarlo Stanton of the Marlins was the winner in the National League. At the Latin Grammy Awards in Las Vegas, several artists dedicated their performances and awards to Puerto Rico as the island struggled to recover from Hurricane Maria.

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