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Today in History: October 27

2018 – Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting:
On October 27, 2018, a gunman stormed the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, resulting in the deadliest attack on Jews in U.S. history. Eleven congregants lost their lives, and six others were wounded in a hate-fueled rampage by the shooter, Robert Bowers, who spewed anti-Semitic rhetoric throughout. Bowers was later convicted and sentenced to death in 2023. This tragic event underscored the persistence of anti-Semitism in America and led to heightened security protocols for religious spaces nationwide, reflecting the nation’s ongoing struggle against hate crimes and religious intolerance.

The Pittsburgh synagogue massacre in 2018 is considered the deadliest antisemitic attack in the nation’s history (Hilary Swift for The New York Times)
The Pittsburgh synagogue massacre in 2018 is considered the deadliest antisemitic attack in the nation’s history (Hilary Swift for The New York Times)

1787 – The First Federalist Paper Published:

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On this day in 1787, the first of the Federalist Papers, a compelling series of essays advocating for the ratification of the United States Constitution, was published. Authored primarily by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, these essays outlined the need for a strong central government to preserve unity and stability within the newly independent states. The Federalist Papers remain foundational texts in American political philosophy, providing a window into the framers’ vision and influencing constitutional interpretation well into the modern era.

Pilot Rudolf Anderson´s pressure suit was hit by shrapnel and he was killed becoming the only fatality by enemy fire during the Cuban Missile Crisis
Pilot Rudolf Anderson´s pressure suit was hit by shrapnel and he was killed becoming the only fatality by enemy fire during the Cuban Missile Crisis

1962 – Cuban Missile Crisis Escalation:
October 27, 1962, marked a critical day during the Cuban Missile Crisis when a U-2 reconnaissance aircraft piloted by U.S. Air Force Major Rudolf Anderson Jr. was shot down over Cuba, escalating tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union. Major Anderson became the sole combat casualty of the crisis, which brought the world to the brink of nuclear war. His sacrifice highlighted the real dangers of Cold War espionage and diplomacy, and his death contributed to the urgency of a peaceful resolution. This event ultimately underscored the importance of de-escalation measures that followed, reshaping U.S.-Soviet relations.

People look over at the washed out Saopin bridge in La Ceiba Honduras - which collapsed earlier in the day (AP Photo Victor R Caivano)
People look over at the washed out Saopin bridge in La Ceiba Honduras – which collapsed earlier in the day (AP Photo Victor R Caivano)

1998 – Hurricane Mitch Devastates Central America:
On October 27, 1998, Hurricane Mitch tore through the western Caribbean, striking Honduras and Belize with ferocious winds and rainfall that continued for days, leading to thousands of fatalities and widespread destruction. As one of the deadliest Atlantic hurricanes on record, Mitch caused devastating mudslides, flooded entire communities, and displaced hundreds of thousands in Central America. The hurricane’s catastrophic impact exposed vulnerabilities in infrastructure and emergency preparedness, prompting changes in disaster response policies and intensified focus on climate resilience in vulnerable regions.


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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.

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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.

Arne Petterson, the last alien to leave Ellis Island before its closing, waves from the ferry boat Ellis Island (AP Photo)

Today in History: November 12

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American troops cheer after hearing the news that the Armistice had been signed, ending World War I (AP Photo)

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