 Today's highlight
in history:
On Feb. 7, 1812, author Charles Dickens, widely regarded as the
greatest novelist of the Victorian era, was born in Landport,
Portsmouth, England.
On this date:
In 1795, the Eleventh Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, dealing
with states' sovereign immunity, was ratified.
In 1812, the last of three major New Madrid Earthquakes, with an
estimated magnitude of 7.7 (according to the USGS), shook the
central Mississippi River Valley.
In 1857, a French court acquitted author Gustave Flaubert of
obscenity for his serialized novel "Madame Bovary."
In 1904, a fire began in Baltimore that raged for about 30 hours and
destroyed more than 1,500 buildings.
In 1936, President Franklin D. Roosevelt authorized a flag for the
office of the vice president.
In 1943, the government announced the start of shoe rationing,
limiting consumers to buying three pairs per person for the
remainder of the year.
In 1948, Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower resigned as 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 space walk, which
lasted nearly six hours.
In 1992, European Community members signed the Maastricht Treaty,
which led to creation of the euro.
In 1999, Jordan's King Hussein died of cancer at age 63; he was
succeeded by his eldest son, Abdullah.
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Ten years ago: Former Enron chief executive Jeffrey Skilling
insisted to skeptical members of Congress that he knew of nothing
improper about the complex web of partnerships that had brought down
the company. Authorities in Oklahoma captured the last two of four
escaped prison inmates from Texas who'd been on the run for more
than a week.
Five years ago: A Marine CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter was shot
down by insurgents northwest of Baghdad, killing all seven people on
board. The Food and Drug Administration approved alli (AL'-eye), a
diet pill that can be bought without a prescription.
One year ago: Speaking to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce,
President Barack Obama echoed John F. Kennedy as he prodded business
leaders to "ask yourselves what you can do for America," not just
for company bottom lines. AOL Inc. announced the $315 million
purchase of The Huffington Post website.
Today's birthdays: Author Gay Talese is 80. Sen. Herb Kohl,
D-Wis., is 77. Actor Miguel Ferrer is 57. Reggae musician Brian
Travers (UB40) is 53. Comedy writer Robert Smigel (SMY'-guhl) is 52.
Actor James Spader is 52. Country singer Garth Brooks is 50. Rock
musician David Bryan (Bon Jovi) is 50. Actor-comedian Eddie Izzard
is 50. Actor-comedian Chris Rock is 47. Actor Jason Gedrick is 45.
Actress Essence Atkins is 40. Rock singer-musician Wes Borland is
37. Rock musician Tom Blankenship (My Morning Jacket) is 34. Actor
Ashton Kutcher is 34. Actress Tina Majorino is 27.
Thought for today: "A day wasted on others is not wasted on
one's self." -- Charles Dickens (1812-1870)
[Associated Press]
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This
material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or
redistributed.
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