Today in History
Today is Monday, Feb. 7, the 38th day of 2022. There are 327 days left in the year.
Today’s Highlight in History:
On Feb. 7, 1964, the Beatles arrived at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport to begin their first American tour.
On this date:
In 1857, a French court acquitted author Gustave Flaubert of obscenity for his serialized novel “Madame Bovary.”
In 1943, the government abruptly announced that wartime rationing of shoes made of leather would go into effect in two days, limiting consumers to buying three pairs per person per year. (Rationing was lifted in October 1945.)
In 1948, Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower resigned as U.S. Army chief of staff; he was succeeded by Gen. Omar Bradley.
In 1962, President John F. Kennedy imposed a full trade embargo on Cuba.
In 1971, women in Switzerland gained the right to vote through a national referendum, 12 years after a previous attempt failed.
In 1984, space shuttle Challenger astronauts Bruce McCandless II and Robert L. Stewart went on the first untethered spacewalk, which lasted nearly six hours.
In 1985, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena was kidnapped in Guadalajara, Mexico, by drug traffickers who tortured and murdered him.
In 1991, Jean-Bertrand Aristide (zhahn behr-TRAHN’ ahr-ihs-TEED’) was inaugurated as the first democratically elected president of Haiti (he was overthrown by the military the following September).
In 1999, Jordan’s King Hussein died of cancer at age 63; he was succeeded by his eldest son, Abdullah (ab-DUH’-luh).
In 2009, a miles-wide section of ice in Lake Erie broke away from the Ohio shoreline, trapping about 135 fishermen, some for as long as four hours before they could be rescued (one man fell into the water and later died of an apparent heart attack).
In 2014, the Sochi Olympics opened with a celebration of Russia’s past greatness and hopes for future glory.
In 2020, two days after his acquittal in his first Senate impeachment trial, President Donald Trump took retribution against two officials who had delivered damaging testimony; he ousted Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, a national security aide, and Gordon Sondland, his ambassador to the European Union.
Ten years ago: In a setback for Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum swept GOP caucuses in Minnesota and Colorado and a non-binding primary in Missouri. A federal appeals court ruled California’s ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional, but gave gay marriage opponents time to appeal the decision before ordering the state to allow such weddings to resume.
Five years ago: Charter school advocate Betsy DeVos won confirmation as education secretary by the slimmest of margins, pushed to approval only by the historic tie-breaking vote of Vice President Mike Pence.
One year ago: After moving south to a new team and conference, Tom Brady led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a 31-9 Super Bowl victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on the Buccaneers’ home field. Despite an order from Tampa Mayor Jane Castor requiring masks at Super Bowl parties, videos went viral on social media showing throngs of mostly maskless fans and packed sports bars as the hometown Buccaneers won the championship. Pope Francis resumed greeting the public in St. Peter’s Square, seven weeks after he interrupted the Sunday noon ritual to discourage crowds from gathering during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Today’s Birthdays: Author Gay Talese is 90. Former Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis., is 87. Sen. John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., is 70. Comedy writer Robert Smigel (SMY’-guhl) is 62. Actor James Spader is 62. Country singer Garth Brooks is 60. Rock musician David Bryan (Bon Jovi) is 60. Actor-comedian Eddie Izzard is 60. Actor-comedian Chris Rock is 57. Actor Jason Gedrick is 55. Actor Essence Atkins is 50. Rock singer-musician Wes Borland is 47. Rock musician Tom Blankenship (My Morning Jacket) is 44. Actor Ashton Kutcher is 44. Actor Tina Majorino is 37. Actor Deborah Ann Woll is 37. NBA player Isaiah Thomas is 33. NHL center Steven Stamkos is 32.
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