February 3rd
Today in 1913,the 16th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified, authorizing the Federal income tax.
Today in 1924,Woodrow Wilson, the 28thPresident of the United States, died in Washington at the age of 68.
Today in 1959,Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J-P "The Big Bopper" Richardson died in a plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa. It has ever since been known as “The Day The Music Died.”
Today in1964,nearly half-a-million Black and Puerto Rican students boycotted NYC public schools in what became known as the “New York School Boycott of 1964.”One of the largest demonstrations of the Civil Rights movement, protestors called for the full integration of the city’s public schools and an end tode facto
Today in1965, 105 Air Force Academy cadets resigned for cheating in exams.
Today in1971, NYPD officer Frank Serpico was infamously shot during a drug bust while his fellow officers stood outside and failed to call for assistance.
Today in 1986, President Reagan appointed the Rogers Commission to investigate the explosion that destroyed the space shuttle Challenger seconds after lift-off.
Today in 1988,Congressrejected President Reagan's request for at least $36.25-million in aid to the Nicaraguan Contras, leading to the Iran-Contra scandal.
Today in 1993, Cincinnati Reds owner Marge Schott was suspended by the MLB for one year due to racist comments. Of course, she never helped herself. Repeated remarks about Black Americans, Asians, Jewish and Gay people found her never really out of trouble’s way. When she made comments in support of Hitler, she was ultimately forced into retirement.
Today in 1998, the state of Texas executed Karla Faye Tucker. She was the first woman executed in the U.S. since 1984, and the first in Texas since 1863. She had been convicted of murder in 1984, but because of her gender and widely publicized conversion to Christianity, she inspired an unusually large national and international movement advocating the commutation of her sentence to life imprisonment.
Today in 1998,former teacher Mary Kay LeTourneau was caught violating her probation with Vili Fualaau, the 14-year-old father of her baby.
Today in 1998,an American military plane hit a cable causing the death of 20 skiers on a lift in Italy.
Today in2002,Super Bowl XXXVI: New England Patriots beat St. Louis Rams, 20-17 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans.
Today in 2004,the Senate confirmed Alberto Gonzales, the country's first Hispanic Attorney General.
Today in 2008, Super Bowl XLII: New York Giants beat the New England Patriots, 17-14 at University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona.
Today in2009,Eric Holder succeeded Michael Mukasey to become the 82ndoverall and the first African American US Attorney General.
Today in 2013,Super Bowl XLVII: Baltimore Ravens beat San Francisco 49ers, 34-31 at NOLA’s Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
Today in 2016,President Barack Obama visited his first American mosque- the Islamic Society of Baltimore mosque in Maryland.