GMT

Today in History: November 23

1785 John Hancock is elected president of the Continental Congress for the second time.

1863 The Battle of Chattanooga, one of the most decisive battles of the American Civil War, begins (also in Tennessee).

1921 President Warren G. Harding signs the Willis Campell Act, better known as the anti-beer bill. It forbids doctors to prescribe beer or liquor for medicinal purposes.

1934 The United States and Great Britain agree on a 5-5-3 naval ratio, with both countries allowed to build five million tons of naval ships while Japan can only build three. Japan will denounce the treaty.

1945 Wartime meat and butter rationing ends in the United States.

1981 US Pres. Ronald Reagan signs top secret directive giving the CIA authority to recruit and support Contra rebels in Nicaragua.

1990 The first all-woman expedition to South Pole sets off from Antarctica on the part of a 70-day trip; the group includes 12 Russians, 3 Americans and 1 Japanese.

1992 The first Smartphone, IBM Simon, introduced at COMDEX in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Born on November 23


1878 Ernest King, commander-in-chief of the U.S. fleet who designed the United States' winning strategy in World War II.

1887 Boris Karloff, film actor most famous for his role as the monster in the movie Frankenstein.


Joke Of The Day

Why did Alabama raise its drinking age to 34?

They wanted to keep alcohol away from highschools.