Today in 1791,the Bill of Rights was ratified in Virginia. The Bill of Rights is comprised of the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution.
Today in 1939,the film classic, "Gone With The Wind," premiered at Loew's Grand Theater in Atlanta. Two versions of the film were produced. One contained Rhett Butler’s famous farewell to Scarlett, “Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn.” For including the word “damn,” produced David O. Selznick was fined $5,000. The other version had Gable saying, “Frankly my dear, I just don’t care.” Among the many actresses considered for the role of Scarlett O’Hara before Vivien Leigh was chosen were: Katharine Hepburn, Tallulah Bankhead, Miriam Hopkins, Susan Hayward, Paulette Goddard, Norma Shearer, Lana Turner, Jean Arthur and Joan Bennett. Vivien Leigh earned $30,000 for the role. It opened nationally a month later.
Today in 1944,big band leader Glenn Miller, who was also a U.S. Army Major, was presumed dead when his plane disappeared over the English Channel during WWII.
Today in 1961,former Nazi officer Adolph Eichman was sentenced to death in Jerusalem for crimes against humanity during World War II.
Today in 1966,animated motion picture pioneer and amusement park founder Walt Disney died at the age of 65.
Today in 1967,the film, "Valley of the Dolls," starring Sharon Tate and Susan Hayward, premiered.
Today in 1972, the film, "Sleuth," starring Laurence Olivier and Michael Caine, premiered.
Today in 1973,the American Psychiatric Association reversed its longstanding position and declared that homosexuality was not a mental illness.
Today in 1988,“Godfather Of Soul” James Brown began serving a six-year jail term for leading police on a late night, two-state car chase.
Today in 1989,a popular uprising began that resulted in the downfall of Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu.
Today in 1990, Rod Stewart and model Rachel Hunter were married in Beverly Hills, California. They split in January 1999 and their divorce was finalized in November 2006. He’s since remarried – to Penny Lancaster. She has been most recently linked to “Game of Thrones” actor Joe Naufahu.
Today in 1993, a judge in Colorado struck down the state's voter-approved Amendment Two prohibiting gay rights laws, calling it unconstitutional.
Today in 1995,the film, "Heat," starring Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro, opened in theaters nationwide. The same day, the film, “Jumanji,” starring Robin Williams, premiered.
Today in 1995,President Clinton defied a deadline for turning over a former aide's Whitewater notes, prompting a deeply divided Senate investigative committee to vote to challenge him in federal court. The White House agreed six days later to turn over the notes.
Today in 1995,the film, "Sabrina," starring Julia Ormond and Harrison Ford, opened in theaters nationwide. It was are make of the 1954 classic of the same name– which starred Audrey Hepburn.
Today in 1999,with President Clinton's close mediation, Syriare opened peace talks with Israel in Washington.
Today in 2000,the infamous Chernobyl atomic power plant in Kiev, Ukraine, was shut down for good. In 1986,the facility was the site of the world’s worst nuclear disaster.
Today in 2000,New York Senator-elect Hillary Rodham Clinton agreed to accept an $8-million book deal with Simon & Schuster. The book was to be about her eight years in the White House. The advance was the highest ever to be paid to a member of the U.S. Congress.
Today in 2001,it was announced that Siena Heights University would begin offering a class called "Animated Philosophy and Religion. "The two-credit class would cover how religion and philosophy are part of popular culture and is based on the television series "The Simpsons.”
Today in 2005,the cleanup began from an ice storm that left more then one-million without power.
Today in 2006,B. King was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George W. Bush.
Today in 2011,Barry Bonds was sentenced to 30 days of house arrest, two years of probation and 250 hours of community service, for an obstruction of justice conviction stemming from a grand jury appearance in 2003.
Today in 2015,school officials in Los Angeles closed 1,000 schools in after an email threat, supposedly from jihadists. New York City Schools received the same threat and stayed open…turned out, the threat was bogus.
Today in 2015,officials in Flint, Michigan declared state of emergency over lead-contaminated water amid calls for a criminal investigation.
Today in 2016,admitted White supremacist Dylann Roof was found guilty of the Charleston Church Massacre, which killed nine.
Today in 2017,Anita Hill was appointed to lead a Hollywood commission on sexual harassment, spearheaded by Kathleen Kennedy.
Today in 2019,the Raiders played their final NFL game in Oakland conceding 17 unanswered second half points to go down 20-16 to the Jacksonville Jaguars. They’re now the Las Vegas Raiders.
Today in 2020,the UK newspaper "The Sun" published a recording of Tom Cruise berating his film crew for breaking COVID-19 protocols.
Today in 2020,it was confirmed that Russia was behind a massive cyber attack on US government agencies and private companies since the Spring.
Today in 2020,Jeff Bezos’ ex-wife, MacKenzie Scott, announced that she’d given away more than $4-billion to 384 nonprofit organizations across the United States. The giving hasn’t stopped. At last check, she’s now given away more than $8-billionsince divorcing Bezos.