This Day in History
In Alaska
• In 1905, the post office of Gakona was established.
• In 1942, road crews met at the "breakthrough" at Beaver Creek on the Alaska Highway, where the roads met.
• In 1970, William A. Egan was elected fourth Governor of the State of Alaska. Egan also served as the State's first Governor.
• In 1980, U.S. Supreme Court Justice William Rehnquist issued a temporary stay, preventing the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend Law from going into effect and the checks from being mailed. The stay was based on a suit filed by Patricia and Ron Zobel of Anchorage.
In the nation
• In 1868, Republican Ulysses S. Grant won the presidential election over Democrat Horatio Seymour.
• In 1896, Republican William McKinley defeated Democrat William Jennings Bryan for the presidency.
• In 1900, the first automobile show in the United States opened at New York's Madison Square Garden under the auspices of the Automobile Club of America.
• In 1908, Republican William Howard Taft was elected president, outpolling William Jennings Bryan.
• In 1936, President Franklin Roosevelt won a landslide election victory over Republican challenger Alfred M. "Alf" Landon.
• In 1964, President Lyndon Johnson soundly defeated Republican challenger Barry Goldwater to win a White House term in his own right.
• In 1990, Broadway musical actress Mary Martin died in Rancho Mirage, Calif., at age 76.
• In 1992, Bill Clinton was elected the 42nd president of the United States, defeating President Bush. In Illinois, Democrat Carol Moseley-Braun became the first black woman elected to the U.S. Senate.
• In 1993, President Clinton joined his wife, Hillary, in attacking the health insurance industry - the lobby accused by the first lady of lying when it unveiled a new TV ad repeating there must be a "better way" than the Clinton health care reform plan.
• In 1998, in national elections, Democrats gained five House seats, trimming the Republican majority. Minnesotans elected former pro wrestler Jesse "The Body" Ventura to be their governor.
• In 2002, Boston Marathon champion Rodgers Rop of Kenya won the New York City Marathon in 2:08:07. Joyce Chepchumba of Kenya finished in 2:25:56 to capture the women's title. Actor Jonathan Harris died in Encino, Calif., at age 87.