1869 – The Opening of the Suez Canal
On this day in 1869, the Suez Canal was inaugurated in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea and revolutionizing global trade. This monumental engineering feat cut shipping routes between Europe and Asia by thousands of miles, eliminating the need to navigate around the southern tip of Africa. The canal, which remains one of the world’s most strategic waterways, symbolizes human ingenuity and is a cornerstone of Egypt’s economy and geopolitics to this day. Its construction marked a turning point in international commerce, highlighting the era’s shift toward globalization.
1989 – The Velvet Revolution Begins in Czechoslovakia
In Prague, on November 17, 1989, an estimated 10,000-15,000 students gathered to protest Communist rule, sparking what became known as the Velvet Revolution. Over the following days, the protests swelled to include hundreds of thousands of people, culminating in the resignation of the Communist Party’s leadership on November 28. This peaceful revolution dismantled decades of authoritarian rule and restored democracy to the nation, a profound victory for human rights and freedom. The Velvet Revolution remains a testament to the power of collective action and nonviolent resistance in achieving political transformation.
2003 – Arnold Schwarzenegger Sworn in as California Governor
Arnold Schwarzenegger, an Austrian-born immigrant who rose to global fame as a Hollywood action star, took the oath of office as California’s 38th governor on November 17, 2003. His election underscored the appeal of outsider candidates in American politics and reflected widespread dissatisfaction with the state’s leadership during a period of economic turmoil. Schwarzenegger’s tenure is remembered for efforts to address budgetary crises and environmental reforms, including landmark legislation aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. His unique journey from bodybuilding champion to political leader symbolizes the American Dream.
2020 – Firing of Election Security Official Christopher Krebs
On November 17, 2020, President Donald Trump dismissed Christopher Krebs, the nation’s top election security official. Krebs had publicly refuted Trump’s unsubstantiated claims of widespread electoral fraud and affirmed the integrity of the 2020 presidential election. This event underscored the challenges of maintaining public trust in democratic institutions amid political polarization. Krebs’ dismissal became a flashpoint in debates about election security, misinformation, and the resilience of democratic systems.
Today in History: November 20
Today in History: November 20: On Nov. 20, 1910, Francisco Madero led a revolt against Mexican President Porfirio Díaz, marking the beginning of the decade-long Mexican Revolution. In 1945, 22 former Nazi officials went on trial before an international war crimes tribunal in Nuremberg, Germany. In 1947, Britain’s future queen, Princess Elizabeth, married Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, at Westminster Abbey. In 1969, Native American activists began an occupation of Alcatraz Island that would last 19 months. In 1982, the University of California football team defeated Stanford University by scoring a touchdown in a crazy last move of the game. In 1992, fire seriously damaged Windsor Castle, the favorite weekend home of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II.
Today in History: November 19
Today in History: November 19: On Nov. 19, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address at the dedication of a national cemetery at the site of the Civil War battlefield of Gettysburg in Pennsylvania. In 1959, Ford Motor Company announced it was halting production of the unpopular Edsel. In 1969, Apollo 12 astronauts Charles Conrad and Alan Bean made the second manned landing on the moon. In 1977, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat became the first Arab leader to visit Israel. In 1985, President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev met for the first time as they began their summit in Geneva.
Today in History: November 18
Today in History: November 18: In 1928, “Steamboat Willie,” the first cartoon with synchronized sound as well as the first released of the character Mickey Mouse, debuted on screen at the Colony Theater in New York. In 1978, U.S. Rep. Leo J. Ryan of California and four others were killed on an airstrip in Jonestown, Guyana by members of the Peoples Temple; the killings were followed by a night of mass murder and suicide resulting in the deaths of more than 900 cult members. In 1991, Shiite Muslim kidnappers in Lebanon freed Anglican Church envoy Terry Waite and Thomas Sutherland, the American dean of agriculture at the American University of Beirut. In 2021, more than half a century after the assassination of Malcolm X, two of his convicted killers were exonerated; a New York judge dismissed the convictions of Muhammad Aziz and the late Khalil Islam after prosecutors and the men’s lawyers said a renewed investigation had found new evidence that undermined the case against them.
Today in History: November 16
Today in History: November 16. In 1973, President Richard Nixon signed the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Authorization Act into law, authorizing the construction of an 800-mile oil pipeline from the Alaska North Slope to the port city of Valdez. In 1988, Benazir Bhutto was voted prime minister of Pakistan, the first woman to be elected to lead a Muslim-majority country. In 2001, the first film in the Harry Potter series, ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’ debuted in theaters around the world. In 2006, following midterm elections, Nancy Pelosi was nominated by the Democratic caucus to become the first female speaker of the House. In 2018, a U.S. official said intelligence officials had concluded that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had ordered the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
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