This Day in History
In Alaska
• In 1939, an earthslide caused by heavy rains forced the Alaska-Juneau mine in Juneau to halt operations for nearly 20 hours until repairs were made.
• In 1942, the Whittier-Portage tunnel was holed through, making the port accessible to Anchorage.
In the nation
• In 1789, New Jersey became the first state to ratify the Bill of Rights.
• In 1925, Robert F. Kennedy was born in Brookline, Mass.
• In 1967, the census clock at the Commerce Department ticked past 200 million.
• In 1993, the U.S. Senate ended a filibuster against the Brady Bill, which imposed a five-day waiting period for handgun purchases, and passed it by a 63-36 vote. The Senate also approved legislation 61-38 implementing the North American Free Trade Agreement.
• In 1998, 46 states embraced a $206 billion settlement with cigarette makers over health costs for treating sick smokers.
In the world
• In 1910, revolution broke out in Mexico, led by Francisco I. Madero.
• In 1943, during World War II, U.S. Marines began landing on Tarawa and Makin atolls in the Gilbert Islands, encountering fierce resistance from Japanese forces but emerging victorious three days later.
• In 1945, 24 Nazi leaders went on trial before an international war crimes tribunal in Nuremberg, Germany.
• In 1947, Britain's future queen, Princess Elizabeth, married Philip Mountbatten, Duke of Edinburgh, in a ceremony broadcast worldwide from Westminster Abbey.
• In 1975, after nearly four decades of absolute rule, Spain's Gen. Francisco Franco died, two weeks before his 83rd birthday.
• In 1977, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat became the first Arab leader to address Israel's parliament.