GMT

Today in History


1170
Thomas Becket, the archbishop of Canterbury, is murdered in Canterbury Cathedral by four knights of Henry II.
1607
Indian chief Powhatan spares John Smith's life after the pleas of his daughter Pocahontas.
1778
After attempting a new strategy to defeat the colonials in America, British troops capture Savannah, Georgia.
1808
Andrew Johnson, American vice president who succeeded Lincoln after his assassination on April 15, 1865.
1845
Texas (comprised of present-day Texas and part of New Mexico, Colorado, and Wyoming) is admitted as the 28th state of the Union, with the provision that the area (389,166 square miles) should be divided into no more than five states "of convenient size."

1862
Union General William T. Sherman's troops try to gain the north side of Vicksburg in the Battle of Chickasaw Bluffs.
1890
The last major conflict of the Indian Wars takes place at Wounded Knee Creek in South Dakota after Colonel James W. Forsyth of the 7th Cavalry tries to disarm Chief Big Foot and his followers.
1914
The production of Belgian newspapers is halted to protest German censorship.
1921
Sears Roebuck president Julius Rosenwald pledges $20 million of his personal fortune to help Sears through hard times.
1926
Germany and Italy sign an arbitration treaty.

1934
Japan formally denounces Washington Naval Treaty of 1922, which curbed the international arms race by limiting naval construction between the United Kingdom, the United States, France, Italy, and Japan.
1940
In a radio interview, President Roosevelt proclaims the United States to be the "arsenal of democracy."
1940
London suffers its most devastating air raid when Germans firebomb the city on the evening of December 29.
1948
Josip "Tito" Broz declares Yugoslavia will follow its own path to communism.
1956
President Dwight Eisenhower asks Congress for the authority to oppose Soviet aggression in the Middle East.

1965
A Christmas truce is observed in Vietnam, while President Johnson tries to get the North Vietnamese to the bargaining table.
1981
President Ronald Reagan curtails Soviet trade in reprisal for its harsh policies on Poland.




Joke of the Day

It seems a farm boy accidentally overturned his wagon-load of corn. The farmer who lived nearby heard the noise. "Hey Wilmer!" the farmer yelled. "Forget your troubles. Come in and have a bite with us. Then I'll help you get the wagon up."

"That's mighty nice of you," Wilmer answered. "But I don't think Pa would like me to."

"Aw, come on." the farmer insisted.

"Well okay," the boy finally agreed, and added, "But Pa won't like it."

After a hearty dinner, Wilmer thanked his host. "I feel a lot better now, but I know Pa is going to be real upset."

"Don't be foolish!" the neighbor said with a smile. "By the way, where is your Pa?"

Wilmer replied, "Under the wagon.”