Today in 1806, construction of the Great National Pike, better known as the Cumberland Road, was authorized – thus becoming the first federally-funded highway.
Today in 1886, the first batch of Coca-Cola was brewed over a backyard fire in Atlanta, Georgia. John Pemberton created the drink to be a hangover-stomachache-headache cure. He advertised it as a “brain tonic and intellectual beverage.” The original kick from Coca-Cola came from a surprise ingredient: cocaine, but Congress banned the use of the substance in 1904.
Today in 1951, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were convicted of espionage. They were executed in June of 1953.
Today in 1971, a jury in Los Angeles recommended the death penalty for Charles Manson and three female followers for the 1969 Tate-LaBianca murders.
Today in 1974, eight Ohio National Guardsmen were indicted on charges stemming from the shooting deaths of four students at Kent State University in Ohio. The guardsmen were later acquitted.
Today in 1988, leaders of the Assemblies of God defrocked Reverend Jimmy Swaggart as he had defied their order to stop preaching for at least a year because of "moral failure." On February 21st, 1988 (without giving any details regarding his transgressions) Swaggart had given his now-infamous "I have sinned" speech. What’d he do in the first place? He’d ben caught with a prostitute. Of course, despite being disbarred he was soon back in the pulpit – as in, by May. He was also boasting that he was a “clean preacher.” Maybe he was…at last until when police in Indio, California, stopped him on a traffic violation…and found that the woman riding with him was a sex worker.
Today in 1991, General H. Norman Schwarzkopf publicly apologized to President Bush for questioning his judgment about calling a cease-fire in the Gulf War.
Today in 1992, Presidential candidate Bill Clinton admitted that he had used marijuana, but said he didn’t inhale.
Today in 1999, the Dow Jones industrial average closed above 10,000 for the first time, ending the day at 10,006.78.
Today in 2000, a federal judge ruled that President Clinton "committed a criminal violation of the Privacy Act" by releasing personal letters to undermine the credibility of Kathleen Willey, one of his accusers.
Today in 2017, it was revealed that Ivanka Trump’s unpaid position as Advisor to the President, Donald Trump…was becoming a formal, paid White House gig.
Today in 2017, British Prime Minister Theresa May sent a letter to the EU invoking Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, formally triggering Brexit.
Today in 2019, Joe Biden was accused of inappropriate touching and kissing in 2014by fellow Democrat Lucy Flores. The allegation came in advance of Biden’s expected Presidential campaign announcement – a few days later, he spoke out saying that he didn’t believe he was ever inappropriate.
Today in 2019, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees were: The Cure; Def Leppard; Janet Jackson; Stevie Nicks; Radiohead; Roxy Music; and The Zombies.