This day in history

[February 25, 2011]  (AP)  Today is Friday, Feb. 25, the 56th day of 2011. There are 309 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history:

On Feb. 25, 1913, the 16th Amendment to the Constitution, giving Congress the power to levy and collect income taxes, was declared in effect by Secretary of State Philander Chase Knox.

On this date:

In 1836, inventor Samuel Colt patented his revolver.

In 1901, United States Steel Corp. was incorporated by J.P. Morgan.

In 1919, Oregon became the first state to tax gasoline, at one cent per gallon.

In 1940, a hockey game was televised for the first time, by New York City station W2XBS, as the New York Rangers defeated the Montreal Canadiens, 6-2, at Madison Square Garden.

In 1948, Communists seized power in Czechoslovakia.

In 1950, "Your Show of Shows," starring Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Carl Reiner and Howard Morris, debuted on NBC-TV.

In 1964, Cassius Clay (later Muhammad Ali) became world heavyweight boxing champion by defeating Sonny Liston in Miami Beach.

In 1986, President Ferdinand Marcos fled the Philippines after 20 years of rule in the wake of a tainted election; Corazon Aquino assumed the presidency.

In 1990, Nicaraguans went to the polls in an election that resulted in an upset victory for the alliance opposed to the ruling Sandinistas.

In 1991, during the Persian Gulf War, 28 Americans were killed when an Iraqi Scud missile hit a U.S. barracks in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.

Ten years ago: The commander of the U.S. submarine that struck and sank a Japanese trawler off Hawaii expressed his "most sincere regret" -- but Cmdr. Scott Waddle stopped short of an apology.

Five years ago: In Uganda, President Yoweri Museveni was declared the winner in the central African country's first multiparty election in 25 years. Apolo Anton Ohno upset favored South Korean Ahn Hyun-soo to win the gold in the 500-meter short track speedskating event at the Winter Games in Turin. Actor Darren McGavin died in Los Angeles at age 83.

One year ago: President Barack Obama convened a health care summit with Democrats and Republicans; after a day of debate and disagreement, the president concluded the talkfest with a bleak assessment that an accord might not be possible. In Vancouver, the Canadian women beat the United States 2-0 for their third straight Olympic hockey title. Americans Billy Demong and Johnny Spillane finished 1-2 in a Nordic combined race. Kim Yu-na of South Korea won ladies' figure skating.

Today's birthdays: Country singer Ralph Stanley is 84. Actor Tom Courtenay is 74. CBS newsman Bob Schieffer is 74. Actress Diane Baker is 73. Actress Karen Grassle is 67. Humorist Jack Handey is 62. Movie director Neil Jordan is 61. Rock musician Dennis Diken (The Smithereens) is 54. Rock singer-musician Mike Peters (The Alarm) is 52. Actress Veronica Webb is 46. Actor Alexis Denisof is 45. Actress Tea (TAY'-ah) Leoni is 45. Comedian Carrot Top is 44. Actress Lesley Boone is 43. Actor Sean Astin is 40. Singer Daniel Powter is 40. Latin singer Julio Iglesias Jr. is 38. Rhythm-and-blues singer Justin Jeffre is 38. Rock musician Richard Liles is 38. Actor Anson Mount is 38. Comedian Chelsea Handler is 36. Actress Rashida Jones is 35. Actor Justin Berfield is 25. Actors James and Oliver Phelps ("Harry Potter" movies) are 25. Rock musician Erik Haager (Carolina Liar) is 24.

Thought for today: "He who never leaves his country is full of prejudices." -- Carlo Goldoni, Italian playwright (born this date in 1707, died 1793)

[Associated Press]

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