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Today in History

Staff
Wednesday February 06, 2002

Today is Wednesday, Feb. 6, the 37th day of 2002. There are 328 days left in the year. 

 

Today’s Highlight in History: 

Fifty years ago, on Feb. 6, 1952, Britain’s King George VI died; he was succeeded as reigning monarch by his daughter, Elizabeth II. 

 

On this date: 

In 1756, America’s third vice president, Aaron Burr, was born in Newark, N.J. 

In 1778, the United States won official recognition from France with the signing of treaties in Paris. 

In 1788, Massachusetts became the sixth state to ratify the U.S. Constitution. 

In 1895, baseball legend Babe Ruth was born in Baltimore. 

In 1899, a peace treaty between the United States and Spain was ratified by the U.S. Senate. 

In 1933, the 20th Amendment to the Constitution, the so-called “lame duck” amendment, was declared in effect. 

In 1959, the United States successfully test-fired for the first time a Titan intercontinental ballistic missile from Cape Canaveral. 

In 1991, comedian and television performer Danny Thomas died in Los Angeles at age 79. 

In 1993, tennis Hall-of-Famer and human rights advocate Arthur Ashe died in New York at age 49. 

In 1998, President Clinton signed a bill changing the name of Washington National Airport to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. 

Ten years ago: Democratic presidential candidate Bill Clinton denied he’d tried to avoid the Vietnam draft, saying he gave up a draft deferment in the fall of 1969 because he “didn’t think it was right” to keep it. President George H.W. Bush unveiled a health care plan for most Americans. Sixteen people were killed when a C-130 military transport plane crashed in Evansville, Ind. 

Five years ago: President Clinton sent Congress a $1.69 trillion budget for fiscal 1998, saying it would erase deficits by 2002 and for 20 years beyond. (Republicans scoffed that the plan was brimming with costly new programs and phantom savings, but said they were ready to bargain.) 

One year ago: Ariel Sharon was elected Israeli prime minister in a landslide win over Ehud Barak. 

 

Today’s Birthdays: Former President Ronald Reagan is 91. Actress Zsa Zsa Gabor is 85. Actor Patrick Macnee is 80. Actor Rip Torn is 71. Actor Mike Farrell is 63. NBC News anchorman Tom Brokaw is 62. Singer Fabian Forte is 59. Actress Gayle Hunnicutt is 59. Actor Michael Tucker is 58. Producer-director-writer Jim Sheridan is 53. Singer Natalie Cole is 52. Actor Jon Walmsley is 46. Actress Kathy Najimy is 45. Rock musician Simon Phillips (Toto) is 45. Actor-director Robert Townsend is 45. Actor Barry Miller is 44. Actress Megan Gallagher is 42. Rock singer Axl Rose (Guns N’ Roses) is 40. Country singer Richie McDonald (Lonestar) is 40. Singer Rick Astley is 36. Rock musician Tim Brown (Boo Radleys) is 33. Actor Brandon Hammond is 18.