1973: The Trans-Alaska Pipeline Authorization Act
On November 16, 1973, President Richard Nixon signed the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Authorization Act, paving the way for the construction of an 800-mile oil pipeline from Alaska’s North Slope to the port city of Valdez. This legislation marked a turning point in U.S. energy policy, aiming to reduce dependence on foreign oil during the energy crisis of the 1970s. The pipeline, completed in 1977, has since transported billions of barrels of oil and played a crucial role in supporting Alaska’s economy and bolstering America’s energy security. The project also sparked significant environmental debates, leading to the establishment of more rigorous environmental protections.
1988: Benazir Bhutto Elected Prime Minister of Pakistan
On this day in 1988, Benazir Bhutto made history by becoming the first woman elected as the prime minister of a Muslim-majority country. Her victory marked a monumental step for women’s leadership in global politics. Bhutto’s tenure was defined by her efforts to modernize Pakistan, champion democracy, and address gender inequality, though she faced significant opposition and political turmoil during her leadership. Her election inspired women worldwide and demonstrated that gender barriers could be broken even in conservative societies.
2001: The First Harry Potter Film Debuts
On November 16, 2001, the world of cinema was forever changed with the release of “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” (titled “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” in the U.S.). The film adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s beloved book introduced audiences to the wizarding world, launching one of the most successful franchises in entertainment history. The film’s critical and commercial success brought fantasy storytelling into the mainstream and set new standards for book-to-film adaptations.
2006: Nancy Pelosi Nominated as Speaker of the House
On this date in 2006, Nancy Pelosi was nominated by the Democratic caucus to become the first woman to serve as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, following a decisive victory for Democrats in the midterm elections. Officially elected Speaker in January 2007, Pelosi broke a 218-year precedent, demonstrating a significant shift in American politics. As Speaker, she played a pivotal role in advancing landmark legislation, including the Affordable Care Act.
2018: The Khashoggi Assassination Report
On November 16, 2018, U.S. intelligence officials concluded that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had likely ordered the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Khashoggi, a critic of the Saudi government and a Washington Post columnist, was killed in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October 2018. The incident sparked international outrage, shining a spotlight on human rights abuses and complicating diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and other nations.
Today in History: November 15
Today in History: November 15: On Nov. 15, 1777, the Second Continental Congress approved the Articles of Confederation. In 1806, explorer Zebulon Pike sighted the mountaintop now known as Pikes Peak in present-day Colorado. In 1864, late in the U.S. Civil War, Union forces led by Major General William Tecumseh Sherman began their “March to the Sea.” In 1988 The Palestinian Declaration of Independence formally established the State of Palestine.
Today in History: November 14
Today in History: November 14. On November 14, 1889, journalist Nellie Bly began an attempt to travel around the world in 80 days; she would successfully complete the journey in just over 72 days. In 1851, Herman Melville’s novel ‘Moby-Dick; Or, The Whale’ was published in the United States, almost a month after being released in Britain. In 1960, six-year-old Ruby Bridges became the first Black child to desegregate William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans. In 1965, the U.S. Army’s first major military operation of the Vietnam War began with the start of the five-day Battle of Ia Drang.In 1993, Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula became the NFL’s all-time winningest coach with a victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.
Today in History: November 13
Today in History: November 13:On Nov. 13, 2015, Islamic State militants carried out a set of coordinated attacks in Paris at the national stadium, in a crowded concert hall, in restaurants and on streets, killing 130 people in the worst attack on French soil since World War II. In 1956, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed a lower court ruling which found Alabama bus segregation laws were illegal. In 1971, the U.S. space probe Mariner 9 went into orbit around Mars, becoming the first spacecraft to orbit another planet. In 1982, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was dedicated on the National Mall in Washington, DC. In 1985, some 23,000 residents of Armero, Colombia, died when a volcanic mudslide buried the city. In 2001, U.S.-backed Northern Alliance fighters in Afghanistan entered Kabul as Taliban forces retreated from the capital city.
Today in History: November 12
Today in History: On November 12: 1954, Ellis Island officially closed as an immigration station and detention center. More than 12 million immigrants arrived in the United States via Ellis Island between 1892 and 1954. In 1927, Josef Stalin became the undisputed ruler of the Soviet Union as Leon Trotsky was expelled from the Communist Party. In 1936, the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge opened as President Franklin D. Roosevelt pressed a telegraph key in Washington, D.C., and gave the green light to traffic. In 1948, former Japanese premier Hideki Tojo and several other World War II Japanese leaders were sentenced to death by a war crimes tribunal. In 1970, the Bhola cyclone struck East Pakistan, now Bangladesh. The deadliest tropical cyclone on record claimed the lives of an estimated 300,000-500,000 people.
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