February 20
1792
President George Washington signed the Post Office Act, establishing a permanent Post Office Department.
1809
The Supreme Court ruled the power of the federal government is greater than that of any individual state.
1895
Frederick Douglass, abolitionist, author, and orator, died.
1962
John Glenn became the first American to orbit Earth.
1998
Tara Lipinski won the Olympic figure skating gold medal.
2003
A fire in a nightclub in Warwick, R.I., killed 100 and injured over 150.
Birthdays
Ansel Adams
1902–1984, American Photographer.
Honore Daumier
caricaturist, painter (1808)
Louis Kahn
architect (1901)
Robert Altman
director (1925)
Sidney Poitier
actor (1927)
Bobby Unser
auto racer (1934)
Buffy Sainte-Marie
singer, songwriter (1941)
Phil Esposito
hockey player (1942)
Kurt Cobain
musician (1967)