Today in 1776, George Washington asked for a spy volunteer – and he got one, in Nathan Hale.
Today in 1897, London taxi driver George Smith was the first person to be arrested and fined for drunk driving.
Today in 1935,US Senator Huey P. Long, "The Kingfish" of Louisiana politics, was shot and mortally wounded. He died two days later.
Today in 1955, the TV show, "Gunsmoke," premiered on CBS-TV.
Today in 1963, Alabama schools were officially integrated as 20 black students entered public schools in Birmingham, Tuskegee and Mobile, following a standoff between federal authorities and Governor George C. Wallace.
Today in 1972, Emerson Fittipaldi became the youngest man to win a World Championship in auto racing at age 27.
Today in 1990,Ellis Island, the point of entry for millions of immigrants to the U.S., opened as a historical site. It had closed in 1954 (in relation to accepting and processing of immigrants), and had originally opened to the public in 1976. Then, in 1982, a massive revitalization effort took place under President Ronald Reagan. Since it officially re-opened in 1990, more than 30-million visitors have re-traced their heritage and visited the site.
Today in 1991, the Senate Judiciary Committee began hearings on the nomination of Clarence Thomas to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Today in 1998, four tourists who paid $32,500 each were taken in a tiny submarine to view the wreckage of the "Titanic,” 2.5-miles below the ocean surface off Newfoundland.
Today in 1998, Northwest Airlines and its striking pilots announced an agreement to end a nearly two-week-old walkout.
Today in 2008, the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, described as the biggest scientific experiment in the history of mankind was powered up in Geneva, Switzerland.
Today in 2012, teachers in Chicago went on strike – a move affecting 350,000 students.