On October 13, 1792, President George Washington laid the cornerstone of what would later be known as the White House. This marked the beginning of construction on one of the most iconic symbols of American democracy. Designed by Irish-born architect James Hoban, the executive mansion would become the residence of every U.S. president since John Adams. The laying of this cornerstone not only symbolized the physical creation of the White House but also the establishment of the federal government in the new capital, Washington, D.C.
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In 1932, President Herbert Hoover and Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes laid the cornerstone for the U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C. This moment was significant as it marked the first time the nation’s highest court had its own permanent home, reflecting the growing importance of an independent judiciary in American governance. The building, designed by architect Cass Gilbert, was completed in 1935 and stands as a monument to the enduring role of the Supreme Court in interpreting the Constitution.
In 1943, during World War II, Italy declared war on Germany, its former Axis partner. This dramatic shift followed the fall of the fascist regime under Benito Mussolini and marked Italy’s alignment with the Allied forces. Italy’s declaration of war against Nazi Germany was pivotal in weakening the Axis powers and reshaping the course of the war in Europe.
In 1960, the Pittsburgh Pirates won the World Series in one of the most dramatic games in baseball history. Bill Mazeroski hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 7, defeating the New York Yankees 10-9. This remains the only Game 7 in World Series history to end with a home run, cementing Mazeroski’s place in baseball lore and marking a key moment in American sports history.
In 1972, a Uruguayan chartered flight carrying 45 people crashed in the Andes mountains. Of the original passengers, only 16 survived the ordeal, which lasted 72 days. In an effort to stay alive, survivors resorted to cannibalism. The incident, which became widely known after the book and film adaptations of “Alive,” is a sobering reminder of human endurance and the will to survive under extreme conditions.
In 1999, after 13 months of investigation, the grand jury in Boulder, Colorado, was dismissed in the JonBenet Ramsey case. The decision came as prosecutors announced that there was not enough evidence to charge anyone in the murder of the 6-year-old beauty queen, leaving one of the most high-profile unsolved cases in American criminal history without closure. The case remains a subject of intense public speculation and continues to haunt investigators decades later.
In 2010, after 69 harrowing days trapped underground, 33 Chilean miners were rescued from a collapsed mine. The rescue, which used a custom-built escape capsule, captivated the world and highlighted the extraordinary risks faced by miners. It also underscored the international cooperation and technological ingenuity that made the rescue possible. The miners’ survival became a symbol of hope and resilience.
In 2011, Raj Rajaratnam, a billionaire hedge fund manager, was sentenced to 11 years in prison for insider trading. This was one of the largest cases of its kind in U.S. history and exposed widespread corruption in the financial industry. The case signaled the government’s increased efforts to crack down on corporate crime and marked a turning point in regulatory enforcement after the 2008 financial crisis.
In 2016, Bob Dylan was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, becoming the first songwriter to receive this prestigious honor. His selection sparked debate about the boundaries of literature and its intersection with music. Dylan’s poetic lyrics, which have influenced generations of musicians and writers, solidified his status as one of the most important cultural figures of the 20th century. His award recognized the deep literary value of his work and its profound impact on global culture.
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.
Today in History: November 11
Today in History: November 11: On Nov. 11, 1918, fighting in World War I ended as the Allies and Germany signed an armistice aboard a railroad car in the Forest of Compiègne in northern France. In 1620, 41 Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower, anchored off Massachusetts, signed the Mayflower Compact, calling for a “civil body politick, for our better ordering and preservation.” In 1921, the remains of an unidentified American service member were interred in a Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery in a ceremony presided over by President Warren G. Harding. In 1966, Gemini 12 blasted off on a four-day mission with astronauts James A. Lovell and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin Jr. aboard; it was the tenth and final crewed flight of NASA’s Gemini program.
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