This Date in History

On this date:

In 1837, Mount Holyoke Seminary, a college exclusively for women, opened in South Hadley, Mass.

In 1889, Montana became the 41st state.

In 1932, New York Gov. Franklin D. Roosevelt defeated incumbent Herbert Hoover for the presidency.

In 1933, President Roosevelt created the Civil Works Administration, designed to create jobs for more than four million unemployed.

In 1942, Operation "Torch” began during World War II as U.S. and British forces landed in French North Africa.

In 1960, Massachusetts Sen. John F. Kennedy defeated Vice President Richard M. Nixon for the presidency.

In 1965, the soap opera "Days of Our Lives” premiered on NBC.

In 1966, Ronald Reagan was elected governor of California.

In 1988, Vice President George Bush won the presidential election, defeating Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis.

In 1994, midterm elections resulted in Republicans winning a majority in the Senate while at the same time gaining control of the House for the first time in 40 years.

Ten years ago: Retired General Colin Powell embraced the Republican Party, but said he would not run for president or any other political office in 1996 because it was "a calling that I do not yet hear.”

Five years ago: A statewide recount began in Florida, which emerged as critical in deciding the winner of the 2000 presidential election. Early that day, Vice President Al Gore telephoned Texas Gov. George W. Bush to concede, but called back about an hour later to retract his concession. Waco special counsel John C. Danforth released his final report absolving the government of wrongdoing in the 1993 siege at the Branch Davidian compound in Texas.

One year ago: Thousands of U.S. troops attacked the toughest strongholds of Sunni insurgents in Fallujah, Iraq, launching a long-awaited offensive aimed at putting an end to guerrilla control of the city. The U.S. dollar was eliminated from circulation in Cuba. Jason Bay became the first Pittsburgh Pirates player to win the National League Rookie of the Year award, while Oakland shortstop Bobby Crosby took the American League honor.

Today’s Birthdays

Actor Norman Lloyd is 91. Actress June Havoc is 89. Jazz singer Chris Connor is 78. Singer Patti Page is 78. CBS newsman Morley Safer is 74. Singer Bonnie Bramlett is 61. Singer Bonnie Raitt is 56. TV personality Mary Hart is 55. Playboy Enterprises chairman and chief executive Christie Hefner is 53. Actress Alfre Woodard is 52. Singer-songwriter Rickie Lee Jones is 51. Singer-actor Leif Garrett is 44. Actress Courtney Thorne-Smith is 38. Actress Parker Posey is 37. Rock musician Jimmy Chaney is 36. Actress Roxana Zal is 36. Singer Diana King is 35. Actress Gretchen Mol is 32. Actress Tara Reid is 30. Actress Azura Skye is 24. Actor Chris Rankin is 22. TV personality Jack Osbourne ("The Osbournes”) is 20.<