Today in 1801, The U.S. House of Representatives broke an electoral tie between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr. Jefferson became president and Burr became vice president.
Today in 1865, Columbia, South Carolina was on fire thanks to General Sherman. The Confederates were evacuating and the Union Forces were moving in.
Today in 1897, the National Congress of Mothers was established. It later became known as the PTA.
Today in 1934, the first driver’s education class began.
Today in 1964, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that congressional districts had to be about equal in population.
Today in 1968, the Basketball Hall of Fame opened to the public.
Today in 1985, Murray Haydon became the third person to receive an artificial heart. Haydon lived 488 days with the device.
Today in 1992, Jeffrey Dahmer was sentenced to life in prison. Two years later, he was beaten to death.
Today in 1995, Colin Ferguson was convicted of six counts of murder in the December 1993 Long Island Rail Road shootings. He was later sentenced to a minimum of 200 years in prison.
Today in 2014, NBC’s premiere episode of “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” hit the airwaves on NBC.
Today in 2016, Channing Dungey was announced as the new President of ABC Entertainment Group, first African-American to lead a major American broadcast network.
Today in 2016, Apple CEO Tim Cook confirmed the company would contest an FBI order to unlock the phone of a San Bernardino gunman. Ultimately, the FBI found a way to unlock it themselves.
Today in 2017, the discovery of the new mostly underwater continent Zealandia in the South Pacific was announced in the research journal, "GSA Today.”
Today in 2020, Denny Hamlin won his second straight title at the 62nd Daytona 500. Hamlin won by 0.014 seconds over Ryan Blaney on the second restart in overtime; his third Daytona victory.
Today in 2021, Texas senator Ted Cruz infamously flew to Cancun, Mexico with his family amid a winter disaster in his state, igniting widespread condemnation.