1902 – American Automobile Association (AAA) founded in Chicago.
1909 – United States prohibits interstate transportation of game birds.
1918 – US Army mess cook Private Albert Gitchell of Fort Riley, Kansas becomes the first documented military case of Spanish flu. It’s the start of worldwide pandemic killing 50 million to 100 million people. However, some sources attribute start date as March 11.
1927 – Babe Ruth becomes the highest-paid player in Major League Baseball history when he signs a 3-year $70,000 per season contract with the New York Yankees.
1933 – Franklin D. Roosevelt inaugurated as 32nd President, pledges to pull United States out of the Depression. “We have nothing to fear but fear itself,” he said.
1943 – 19th Academy Awards: “Mrs. Miniver”, James Cagney and Greer Garson win.
1944 – First US bombing of Berlin.
1955 – First radio facsimile transmission sent across the continent.
1957 – The S&P 500 stock market index is introduced, replacing the S&P 50.
1961 – 8th ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament: Wake Forest beats Duke 96-81.
1967 – World’s Ladies’ Figure Skating Champion in Vienna won by Peggy Fleming of the United States.
1976 – 2nd People’s Choice Awards: John Wayne and Katharine Hepburn win (Motion Picture) and Telly Savalas and Carol Burnett win (TV).
1979 – 200th episode of “All in the Family”
1984 – Tennis legend Martina Navratilova retains her WTA Tour Championship in New York City, beating Chris Evert 6-3, 7-5, 6-1 for her fifth overall championship.
1993 – First ESPY Awards: Michael Jordan, Monica Seles win.
1998 – Gay rights: Oncale v. Sundowner Offshore Services: The Supreme Court rules that federal laws banning on-the-job sexual harassment also apply when both parties are the same sex.
2005 – United Nations warns that about 90 million Africans could be infected by HIV in the future without further action against the spread of the disease.
2012 – Vladimir Putin wins Russian presidential election amid allegations of voter fraud.
2019 – Democrats announce a wide-ranging corruption investigation into President Donald Trump.
2023 – Historic High Seas Treaty agreed by nations at the United Nations, aiming to place 30% of the seas into protected areas by 2030. It’s the first international ocean protection agreement in 40 years.
About Author
