On August 30, 1967, the U.S. Senate made history by confirming Thurgood Marshall as the first Black justice to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court.
Other significant events on this day:
1905: Ty Cobb, a legendary figure in baseball, stepped onto the field for the first time in a major league game with the Detroit Tigers.
1916: After three failed attempts, explorer Ernest Shackleton finally reached Elephant Island in Antarctica, where he successfully rescued 22 crew members who had been stranded for four and a half months following the sinking of their ship, the Endurance.
1941: During the turmoil of World War II, German forces advancing toward Leningrad severed the last remaining railway link to the city.
1945: U.S. General Douglas MacArthur arrived in Japan to establish the Allied occupation headquarters following the end of World War II.
1963: The “Hot Line” communication link between Washington, D.C., and Moscow was activated, marking a critical step in Cold War diplomacy.
2005: In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, 80 percent of New Orleans was submerged in floodwaters. As looting spread, rescue teams in helicopters and boats worked tirelessly to save hundreds of stranded residents.
2021: The United States concluded its military withdrawal from Afghanistan, ending the nation’s longest war. The Taliban, once again in control, celebrated as the final U.S. planes departed from Kabul.
2022: Mikhail Gorbachev, the last leader of the Soviet Union, passed away at the age of 91. Gorbachev was known for his efforts to reform the crumbling Soviet empire, which ultimately led to the end of the Cold War.
Today in History: December 3
Excerpts:Today in History: December 3:
In 1947, the Tennessee Williams play “A Streetcar Named Desire” opened on Broadway.
In 2015, Defense Secretary Ash Carter ordered the armed services to open all military jobs to women.
Today in History: December 2
Today in History: December 2:
In 1804, Napoleon crowned himself emperor of France in a coronation ceremony at Notre Dame de Paris cathedral.
In 2018, Israeli police recommended indicting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on bribery charges, adding to a growing collection of legal troubles for the longtime leader.
Today in History: December 1
Today in History: December 1:
In 1955, Rosa Parks, a Black seamstress, was arrested after refusing to give up her seat to a white man on a Montgomery, Alabama, city bus.
In 1824, the presidential election was turned over to the House of Representatives after none of the candidates (John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, William Crawford, and Henry Clay) won over 50% of the electoral vote.
Today in History: November 30
Excerpts:Today in History: November 30:
In 1999, an estimated 40,000 demonstrators clashed with police as they protested against the World Trade Organization in Seattle.
In 1936, London’s Crystal Palace exhibition hall was destroyed by a massive fire.
In 1993, President Bill Clinton signed the Brady Bill, which required a five-day waiting period for handgun purchases