Associated Press
On Nov. 4, 2008, Democrat Barack Obama was elected the first black president of the United States, defeating Republican John McCain.
1842 Abraham Lincoln married Mary Todd in Springfield, Ill.
1879 Humorist Will Rogers was born in Oologah, Okla.
1880 The first cash register was patented by James and John Ritty of Dayton, Ohio.
1922 The entrance to King Tutankhamen’s tomb was discovered in Egypt.
1924 Nellie T. Ross of Wyoming was elected the nation’s first woman governor.
1939 The United States modified its neutrality stance in World War II to allow “cash and carry” purchases of arms by belligerents, a policy favoring Britain and France.
1942 During World War II, Axis forces retreated from El Alamein in North Africa in a major victory for British forces commanded by Lt. Gen. Bernard Montgomery.
1952 Republican Dwight D. Eisenhower was elected president, defeating Democrat Adlai Stevenson.
1955 Baseball Hall of Famer Cy Young died at age 88.
1956 Soviet troops moved in to crush a revolt in Hungary.
1979 The Iranian hostage crisis began as militants stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran.
1980 Ronald Reagan won the White House, defeating President Jimmy Carter.
1995 Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated by a Jewish extremist after speaking at a peace rally in Tel Aviv.
2001 The first movie based on the best-selling “Harry Potter” books by J.K. Rowling has its world premiere in London.
2008 California voters approved Proposition 8, a constitutional amendment outlawing same-sex marriage.
2010 Hall of Fame baseball manager Sparky Anderson died at age 76.
Today’s Birthdays:
Actor Matthew McConaughey turns 46 years old today.
AP Photo/Dan Steinberg
Name Profession Age
Doris Roberts Actress (“Everybody Loves Raymond”) 85
Loretta Swit Actress (“M.A.S.H.”) 78
Delbert McClinton Blues singer 75
Laura Bush Former first lady 69
Markie Post Actress (“Night Court”) 65
Chris Difford Rock singer, musician (Squeeze) 61
Ralph Macchio Actor (The “Karate Kid” movies) 54
Jeff Probst TV personality (“Survivor”) 54
Diddy Rapper, producer 46
Bethenny Frankel TV personality 45
Heather Tom Actress (“The Bold and the Beautiful”) 40
Comedian Kathy Griffin turns 55 years old today.