 Today's
highlight in history:
On Feb. 27, 1942, the Battle of the Java Sea began during World War
II; Imperial Japanese naval forces scored a decisive victory over
the Allies.
On this date:
In 1801, the District of Columbia was placed under the jurisdiction
of Congress.
In 1911, inventor Charles F. Kettering demonstrated his electric
automobile starter in Detroit by starting a Cadillac's motor with
just the press of a switch, instead of hand-cranking.
In 1912, author Lawrence Durrell, author of The Alexandria Quartet,
was born in India.
In 1922, the Supreme Court, in Leser v. Garnett, unanimously upheld
the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, which guaranteed the right
of women to vote.
In 1933, Germany's parliament building, the Reichstag (RYKS'-tahg),
was gutted by fire. Chancellor Adolf Hitler, blaming the Communists,
used the fire as justification for suspending civil liberties.
In 1939, the Supreme Court, in National Labor Relations Board v.
Fansteel Metallurgical Corp., outlawed sit-down strikes.
In 1951, the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, limiting a
president to two terms of office, was ratified.
In 1960, the U.S. Olympic hockey team defeated the Soviets, 3-2, at
the Winter Games in Squaw Valley, Calif. (The U.S. team went on to
win the gold medal.)
In 1973, members of the American Indian Movement occupied the hamlet
of Wounded Knee in South Dakota, the site of the 1890 massacre of
Sioux men, women and children. (The occupation lasted until May.)
In 1979, Jane M. Byrne confounded Chicago's Democratic political
machine as she upset Mayor Michael A. Bilandic to win their party's
mayoral primary. (Byrne went on to win the election.)
In 1982, Wayne Williams was found guilty of murdering two of the 28
young blacks whose bodies were found in the Atlanta area over a
22-month period. (Williams, who was also blamed for 22 other deaths,
has maintained his innocence.)
In 1991, President George H.W. Bush declared that "Kuwait is
liberated, Iraq's army is defeated," and announced that the allies
would suspend combat operations at midnight, Eastern time.
Ten years ago: U.S. officials announced a $5 million reward
for information in the kidnap-murder of Wall Street Journal reporter
Daniel Pearl. A mob of Muslims set fire to a train carrying hundreds
of Hindu nationalists in Godhra, India; some 60 people died. At the
Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, Alicia Keys won five prizes, including
song of the year for "Fallin'"; Irish rockers U2 won four Grammys,
including record of the year for "Walk On"; album of the year went
to the "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" soundtrack. Comedian Spike
Milligan died in Rye, East Sussex, England, at age 83.
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Five years ago: A suicide bomber struck Bagram Air Base in
Afghanistan during a visit by Vice President Dick Cheney, who was
rushed to a bomb shelter. (Twenty-three people were killed; Cheney
was unhurt.) The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 416.02 points,
the worst drop since the 2001 terrorist attacks.
One year ago: "The King's Speech" won four Academy Awards,
including best picture; Colin Firth won best actor for his portrayal
of Britain's King George VI. Frank Buckles, the last surviving
American veteran of World War I who'd also survived being a civilian
prisoner of war in the Philippines in World War II, died in Charles
Town, W.Va., at age 110. Duke Snider, 84, the Baseball Hall of Famer
who helped the Dodgers bring their only World Series crown to
Brooklyn, died in Escondido, Calif.
Today's birthdays: Actress Joanne Woodward is 82. Consumer
advocate Ralph Nader is 78. Opera singer Mirella Freni is 77.
Actress Barbara Babcock is 75. Actor Howard Hesseman is 72. Actress
Debra Monk is 63. Rock singer-musician Neal Schon (Journey) is 58.
Rock musician Adrian Smith (Iron Maiden) is 55. Actor Timothy Spall
is 55. Rock musician Paul Humphreys (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the
Dark) is 52. Country singer Johnny Van Zant (Van Zant) is 52. Rock
musician Leon Mobley (Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals) is 51.
Basketball Hall-of-Famer James Worthy is 51. Actor Adam Baldwin is
50. Actor Grant Show is 50. Rock musician Mike Cross (Sponge) is 47.
Actor Donal Logue (DOH'-nuhl LOHG) is 46. Rhythm-and-blues singer
Chilli (TLC) is 41. Rock musician Jeremy Dean (Nine Days) is 40.
Rhythm-and-blues singer Roderick Clark is 39. Country-rock musician
Shonna Tucker (Drive-By Truckers) is 34. Actor Brandon Beemer is 32.
Chelsea Clinton is 32. Rhythm-and-blues singer Bobby Valentino is
32. Singer Josh Groban is 31. Rock musician Jared Champion (Cage the
Elephant) is 29. Actress Kate Mara is 29.
Thought for today: "I am indeed rich, since my income is
superior to my expenses, and my expense is equal to my wishes."
-- Edward Gibbon, English historian (1737-1794)
[Associated Press]
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This
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