Editorials

Today’s Highlight in History: 

Two hundred years ago, on Feb. 26, 1802, French literary giant Victor Hugo was born in Besancon. 

On this date: 

In 1815, Napoleon Bonaparte escaped from the Island of Elba to begin his second conquest of France. 

In 1848, the Second French Republic was proclaimed. 

In 1919, Congress established Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona. 

In 1929, President Coolidge signed a measure establishing Grand Teton National Park. 

In 1940, the United States Air Defense Command was created. 

In 1951, the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, limiting a president to two terms of office, was ratified. 

In 1952, Prime Minister Winston Churchill announced that Britain had developed its own atomic bomb. 

In 1962, after becoming the first American to orbit the Earth, John Glenn told a joint meeting of Congress, “Exploration and the pursuit of knowledge have always paid dividends in the long run.” 

In 1987, the Tower Commission, which probed the Iran-Contra affair, issued its report, which rebuked President Reagan for failing to control his national security staff. 

In 1993, a bomb built by a group of Islamic extremists exploded in the parking garage of New York’s World Trade Center, killing six people and injuring more than 1,000 others. 

Ten years ago:  

The Supreme Court ruled unanimously that sexually harassed students may sue to collect monetary damages from their schools and school officials. The Supreme Court of Ireland cleared the way for a 14-year-old girl to leave the country for an abortion. 

Five years ago:  

President Clinton defended White House fund-raising tactics as “entirely appropriate,” a day after the disclosure of documents putting Clinton at the center of all-out fund-raising efforts. Israel’s Cabinet voted to build a new Jewish neighborhood in disputed east Jerusalem. “Change the World” won four Grammy awards, including record of the year; Celine Dion’s “Falling Into You” won album of the year and best pop album. 

One year ago: 

A U.N. tribunal convicted a Bosnian Croat political leader (Dario Kordic) and a military commander (Mario Cerkez) of war crimes for ordering the systematic murder and persecution of Muslim civilians during the Bosnian war. 

Today’s Birthdays:  

Actor Mason Adams is 83. Actor Tony Randall is 82. Actress Betty Hutton is 81. Singer Fats Domino is 74. Political columnist Robert Novak is 71. Singer Johnny Cash is 70. Country-rock musician Paul Cotton (Poco) is 59. Actor-director Bill Duke is 59. Singer Mitch Ryder is 57. Rock musician Jonathan Cain (Journey) is 52. Singer Michael Bolton is 49. Actor Greg Germann (“Ally McBeal”) is 44.