1929 – The Teapot Dome Scandal: On October 25, 1929, former U.S. Secretary of the Interior Albert B. Fall was convicted of accepting bribes in exchange for valuable oil field leases in Wyoming’s Teapot Dome and California’s Elk Hills and Buena Vista fields. This landmark scandal marked a pivotal moment in American political history, making Fall the first U.S. Cabinet member to be imprisoned for crimes committed in office. The scandal underscored the urgent need for transparency in government dealings and led to increased public scrutiny of corporate-government relations in the United States.
1760 – Ascension of King George III: On this day in 1760, King George III ascended to the British throne, succeeding his grandfather, George II. His long reign would oversee significant events, including the loss of the American colonies and the beginnings of the Industrial Revolution, shaping the course of British history. George III’s rule not only witnessed profound changes in British politics but also sparked debates on monarchy’s role, particularly as Britain emerged as a global power.
1859 – John Brown’s Trial Begins: Radical abolitionist John Brown faced trial on October 25, 1859, in Charles Town, Virginia, for his failed raid on Harpers Ferry, aimed at sparking a slave uprising. Convicted and later hanged, Brown’s actions and trial highlighted the nation’s deep divisions over slavery. His raid and subsequent execution would resonate throughout the United States, galvanizing abolitionist movements and accelerating the nation’s path toward the Civil War.
1962 – Cuban Missile Crisis at the U.N.: On this date in 1962, amid the Cuban Missile Crisis, U.S. Ambassador Adlai Stevenson publicly confronted Soviet Ambassador Valerian Zorin at a U.N. Security Council meeting, challenging him to admit the existence of Soviet missile bases in Cuba. When Zorin declined to answer, Stevenson presented photographic evidence, intensifying global tensions. This dramatic moment underscored the dire threat of nuclear confrontation and emphasized diplomacy’s critical role in defusing international crises. In addition, by publicly calling the Soviet Union’s bluff, this exchange underscored President Kennedy’s success at diffusing the Cuban Missile crisis.
1983 – U.S. Invasion of Grenada: On October 25, 1983, a U.S.-led force invaded Grenada on orders from President Ronald Reagan, citing the need to protect American citizens and restore stability amid rising tensions. The controversial invasion demonstrated Reagan’s stance against Soviet influence in the Caribbean and showcased U.S. willingness to intervene in regional conflicts, shaping future American foreign policy in the region.
2002 – Senator Paul Wellstone’s Tragic Death: U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone, a prominent Democrat from Minnesota, died tragically in a plane crash on October 25, 2002, along with his wife, daughter, and five others. The accident occurred just days before a tight election, sparking nationwide grief and a renewed focus on campaign safety and leadership in times of crisis. Wellstone’s legacy as a passionate advocate for progressive policies lives on, particularly in health care and labor rights.
2022 – Rishi Sunak Becomes U.K. Prime Minister: Rishi Sunak made history on October 25, 2022, as he became the United Kingdom’s first prime minister of color, ascending to lead the Conservative Party. His appointment was significant not only as a landmark moment for diversity in British politics but also as a response to political and economic challenges facing the U.K. Sunak’s rise reflects the evolving diversity in global leadership, inspiring future generations and promoting greater representation in government.
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.