February 4th
Today in 1783,Britain ended hostilities with its former colonies, now known as the United States of America through the Paris Peace Treaty.
Today in 1789, George Washington was elected the first President of the United States. He received unanimous approval from the Electoral College, making him the first and only president to ever receive all Electoral College votes, which numbered 132 at the time. Even in 1820 when James Monroe ran, essentially unopposed, during the Era of Good Feeling, he lost one Electoral College vote. (That elector chose another candidate on purpose because he wanted George Washington to be the only President to ever receive a unanimous vote. Those were the days when electors could just sort of do whatever they wanted. In fact, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee were all underrepresented in that election because their electors died before being able to cast a vote).
Today in 1945,FDR, Churchill, and Stalin met at Yalta to make plans for the defeat of Germany.
Today in 1952,Jackie Robinson became the first black executive of a major TV network.
Today in 1987,President Reagan's veto of Clean Water Act was overridden by Congress.
Today in1988, Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously approved the nomination of Judge Anthony Kennedy to US Supreme Court.
Today in 1999,Senators at President Clinton's impeachment trial voted to permit the showing of portions of Monica Lewinsky's videotaped deposition.
Today in 1999,Amadou Diallo, an unarmed West African immigrant, was shot and killed in front of his Bronx home by four plainclothes New York City police officers. The officers fired at him 41 times, which later inspired the title for a Bruce Springsteen song about the incident.
Today in 2004,Harvard student Mark Zuckerberg launched the site, thefacebook.com, which of course…became Facebook.
Today in 2008,John Mellencamp asked John McCain, whom he did not support, to stop using his songs "Our Country" and "Pink Houses" at campaign rallies. The senator complied.
Today in 2008,NASA beamed The Beatles' song "Across the Universe" to Polaris, better known as the North Star. The unique broadcast celebrated the 40thanniversary of the song and the 45thanniversary of NASA's Deep Space Network – which communicates with its distant probes – and the 50thanniversary of the space agency. Even at the speed of light, the signal would take 431 years to reach its destination – as Polaris is two-point-five-quadrillion miles from Earth.
Today in 2018,Super Bowl LII: Philadelphia Eagles defeated New England Patriots, 41-33 at US Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota.