 Today's highlight in history:
On Feb. 6, 1952, Britain's King George VI died at Sandringham House
in Norfolk, England; he was succeeded as monarch by his daughter,
who became Queen Elizabeth II.
On this date:
In 1778, the United States won official recognition from France with
the signing of a Treaty of Alliance in Paris.
In 1788, Massachusetts became the sixth state to ratify the U.S.
Constitution.
In 1862, during the Civil War, Fort Henry in Tennessee fell to Union
forces.
In 1899, a peace treaty between the United States and Spain was
ratified by the U.S. Senate.
In 1911, Ronald Wilson Reagan, the 40th president of the United
States, was born in Tampico, Ill.
In 1912, Adolf Hitler's longtime companion, Eva Braun, was born in
Munich.
In 1922, Cardinal Archille Ratti was elected pope; he took the name
Pius XI.
In 1933, the 20th Amendment to the Constitution, the so-called "lame
duck" amendment, was proclaimed in effect by Secretary of State
Henry Stimson.
In 1959, the United States successfully test-fired for the first
time a Titan intercontinental ballistic missile from Cape Canaveral.
In 1978, Muriel Humphrey took the oath of office as a United States
senator from Minnesota, filling the seat of her late husband, former
Vice President Hubert Humphrey.
In 1987, Wall Street Journal reporter Gerald Seib (syb) was released
after being detained six days by Iran, accused of being a spy for
Israel; Iran said the detention was a result of misunderstandings.
In 1992, 16 people were killed when a C-130 military transport plane
crashed in Evansville, Ind.
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Ten years ago: A federal judge in Alexandria, Va., ordered
John Walker Lindh, the so-called "American Taliban," held without
bail pending trial. Britain's Queen Elizabeth II reached a
bittersweet milestone, somberly marking 50 years as monarch on the
anniversary of the death of her father, King George VI.
Five years ago: Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki (NOO'-ree
ahl-MAHL'-ih-kee) complained that the long-awaited Baghdad security
operation was off to a slow start, but he also reassured Iraqis that
security forces would live up to their responsibilities. Singer
Frankie Laine died in San Diego at age 93.
One year ago: Egypt's vice president met with the outlawed
Muslim Brotherhood and other opposition groups and offered sweeping
concessions, including granting press freedom and rolling back
police powers in the government's latest attempt to end two weeks of
upheaval. The Green Bay Packers won Super Bowl XLV, defeating the
Pittsburgh Steelers 31-25. New England Patriots quarterback Tom
Brady became the first unanimous choice for The Associated Press NFL
Most Valuable Player Award.
Today's birthdays: Actress Zsa Zsa Gabor is 95. Actor Patrick
Macnee is 90. Actor Rip Torn is 81. Actress Mamie Van Doren is 81.
Actor Mike Farrell is 73. Former NBC News anchorman Tom Brokaw is
72. Singer Fabian is 69. Actress Gayle Hunnicutt is 69. Actor
Michael Tucker is 68. Producer-director-writer Jim Sheridan is 63.
Singer Natalie Cole is 62. Actor Jon Walmsley is 56. Actress Kathy
Najimy is 55. Rock musician Simon Phillips (Toto) is 55.
Actor-director Robert Townsend is 55. Actor Barry Miller is 54.
Actress Megan Gallagher is 52. Rock singer Axl Rose (Guns N' Roses)
is 50. Country singer Richie McDonald is 50. Singer Rick Astley is
46. Rock musician Tim Brown (Boo Radleys) is 43. Actor Brandon
Hammond is 28. Actress Alice Greczyn (GREH'-chihn) is 26.
Thought for today: "Duty is the most sublime word in our
language. Do your duty in all things. You cannot do more. You should
never wish to do less." -- Robert E. Lee, Confederate general
(1807-1870)
[Associated Press]
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