This Day in History

In Alaska

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• In 1969, a massive rockslide buried Ketchikan's new Lake Silvis hydroelectric plant.

• In 1980, three top Alaska military commanders and the State Department of Natural Resources signed an agreement giving the state and the public far greater control over military use of state land.

In the nation

• In 1925, the Grand Ole Opry, Nashville's famed home of country music, made its radio debut on station WSM.

• In 1964, the United States launched the space probe Mariner 4 on a course to Mars.

• In 1975, President Ford nominated Federal Judge John Paul Stevens to the U.S. Supreme Court seat vacated by William O. Douglas.

• In 2001, Enron Corp., once the world's largest energy trader, collapsed after would-be rescuer Dynegy Inc. backed out of an $8.4 billion deal to take it over.

• In 2005, eight-term Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham pleaded guilty to graft and tearfully resigned; the California Republican admitted he'd taken $2.4 million in bribes mostly from defense contractors in exchange for government business and other favors. The trial of Saddam Hussein resumed after a five-week break, but adjourned until Dec. 5, 2005.

In the world

• In 1520, Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan reached the Pacific Ocean after passing through the South American strait that now bears his name.

• In 1806, French forces led by Joachim Murat entered Warsaw, in what is now Poland.

• In 1919, American-born Lady Astor was elected the first female member of the British Parliament.

• In 1943, President Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet leader Josef Stalin began conferring in Tehran, Iran, during World War II.

• In 1958, the African nation of Chad became an autonomous republic within the French community.

• In 1979, an Air New Zealand DC-10 en route to the South Pole crashed into a mountain in Antarctica, killing all 257 people aboard.

• In 1990, Margaret Thatcher resigned as prime minister of Britain during an audience with Queen Elizabeth II, who conferred the premiership on John Major.