November 21st
Today in 1871, the first human cannonball – Emilio Onra –was fired.
Today in 1922,Rebecca L Felton (D-GA)was sworn in as the first female Senator in the United States. A well-known suffragist and temperance advocate, like most southern senators of the time she was also an advocate of racial segregation – and an avowed white supremacist. She served for just a day…until Walter George was sworn in the day after (he’d won a special election).
Today in 1931,the movie, "Frankenstein,"premiered. Boris Karloff received fourth billing at the end of the movie.
Today in 1960,then 17-year-old George Harrison was deported home to England from Germany as Hamburg law prohibited those under 18 from working in a nightclub – which is where The Beatles were performing.John,Paul,Pete Best and Stu Sutcliffe continue on as a foursome at the Kaiserkeller.
Today in 1973,President Nixon's attorney, J. Fred Buzhardt,revealed the existence of an 18.5-minute gap in one of the White House tape recordings related to Watergate.
Today in 1980,the "Who Shot JR?" episode of "Dallas"aired on CBS. An estimated 83-million TV viewers tuned in to find out that it was his jilted mistress, Kristin.
Today in1989,President George H. W. Bush Law signed a law banning smoking on most domestic flights.
Today in 1990,after a decade together,Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall were married on the island of Bali. The ceremony was later deemed to have no legal standing, and the couple's marriage ended in 1999 without any need for a legal divorce. Still, they ultimately decided that an “annulment” was the way to end the relationship in legal terms…and did so, amicably.
Today in 1990,Kevin Costner's film, "Dances With Wolves,"opened in theaters nationwide.
Today in 1992,Senator Bob Packwood (R-OR)was accused of making unwelcome sexual advances toward ten women over the years. He apologized weeks later…without exactly saying what he was apologizing for. Still, he held on for three more years – until it became clear that he was going to be expelled.
Today in 1993,Bill Bixby, whose three-decade career included starring roles in "My Favorite Martian, "The Courtship of Eddie's Father" and "The Incredible Hulk,"died of cancer at the age of 59.
Today in 1993,the House of Representatives voted against making the District of Columbia the 51st state. The District of Columbia remains the only locale in the country without official representation on a federal level – and yet,they’re taxed as though they are…but still cannot elect a voting member of the United States.
Today in 1997,President Clinton signed a law giving the FDA new powers to speed the approval of drugs to combat a host of killer diseases, including cancer and AIDS.
Today in 1999,China completed its first unmanned test of a spacecraft meant to carry astronauts.
Today in 2013,Alabama parole board granted posthumous pardons to three members of the Scottsboro boys. The so-called “Scottsboro Boys” were nine black teenagers falsely accused of raping two white women aboard a train near Scottsboro, Alabama, in 1931. The subsequent trials, the two Supreme Court verdicts they produced and the international uproar over their treatment helped fuel the rise of the civil rights movement later in the 20th
Today in 2014,Republicans condemned President Obama’s use of executive powers to force through immigration reform.
Today in 2017,legendary newsman Charlie Rose was fired from CBS, Bloomberg and PBS the day after allegations of harassment were made by eight women in a “Washington Post” expose. The news came hours after his shell-shocked "CBS This Morning" co-hosts Gayle King and Norah O’Donnell took to the airwaves and confirmed that he’d been accused and suspended on that morning’s broadcast.
Today in 2017,Robert Mugabe was forced to resign after 37 years in power as the president of Zimbabwe. It ended a bizarre series of events that began with a coup of sorts – the country’s military leaders had placed him under house arrest, he said he’d resign…then refused, but ultimately stepped down once the parliament initiated impeachment proceedings. Turns out, Mugabe and his wife negotiated a deal before his resignation, under which he and his family were exempted from prosecution and leaving his business interests untouched. He also received a payment of at least $10-million.
Today in 2017, Pixar animation chief John Lasseter began a six-month leave of absence amid sexual misconduct claims. In June 2018, however,it was revealed that Lasseter would ultimately step downfor good by the end of the year.