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Today's Highlight in History:
On Feb. 19, 1945, during World War II, some 30,000 US Marines began landing on Iwo Jima, where they commenced a successful month-long battle to seize control of the island from Japanese forces. An unidentified correspondent reports from the scene.
On this date:
In 1473, astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus was born in Torun, Poland.
In 1803, Congress voted to accept Ohio's borders and constitution.
In 1846, the Texas state government was formally installed in Austin, with J. Pinckney Henderson taking the oath of office as governor.
In 1878, Thomas Edison received a patent for his phonograph.
In 1881, Kansas prohibited the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages.
One hundred years ago, in 1909, the National Committee for Mental Hygiene, a precursor to Mental Health America, was founded by Clifford W. Beers. [Most of the inhabitants of this country are probably mentally iller than they were 100 yrs. ago. We know we are. — Ed.]
In 1934, the US Army Air Corps began delivering mail after President Franklin D. Roosevelt canceled private contracts that had come under suspicion. (The hastily arranged, ill-equipped military flights claimed the lives of a dozen pilots, sparking a public outcry before they were dropped several months later.)
In 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt authorized the military to relocate and intern US residents, including native-born Americans, of Japanese ancestry. Japanese warplanes raided the Australian city of Darwin; at least 243 people were killed.
In 1959, an agreement was signed by Britain, Turkey and Greece granting Cyprus its independence.
In 1983, 13 people were found shot to death at a gambling club in Seattle's Chinatown in what became known as the "Wah Mee Massacre." (Two Chinese immigrants were convicted of the killings and sentenced to life in prison.)
In 1986, the U.S. Senate approved a treaty outlawing genocide, 37 years after the pact had first been submitted for ratification.
In 1997, Deng Xiaoping, the last of China's major Communist revolutionaries, died at age 92.
Ten years ago: President Bill Clinton posthumously pardoned Henry O. Flipper, the first black graduate of West Point, whose military career had been tarnished by a racially motivated discharge.
In 2002, Vonetta Flowers became the first black athlete ever to win a gold medal at the Winter Olympics when she and Jill Bakken took top honors in bobsledding in Salt Lake City.
Five years ago: Former Enron Corp. chief executive Jeffrey Skilling was charged in court with fraud, insider trading and other crimes in connection with the energy trader's colossal collapse. (Skilling was later convicted of 19 counts and sentenced to 24 years and four months in prison; a federal appeals court upheld his convictions, but vacated the prison term and ordered that he be resentenced.) The AFL-CIO endorsed Democrat John Kerry for president. After sanctioning more than 2,800 gay marriages, the city of San Francisco sued the state of California, challenging its ban on same-sex marriages.
In 2005, eight suicide bombers struck in quick succession in Iraq in a wave of attacks that killed dozens. The USS Jimmy Carter, the last of the Seawolf class of attack submarines, was commissioned at Groton, Conn.
In 2007, New Jersey became the third state to offer civil unions to gay couples.
One year ago: An ailing Fidel Castro resigned the Cuban presidency after nearly a-half century in power; his brother Raul was later named to succeed him. President George W. Bush, visiting Rwanda, pleaded with the global community for decisive action to stop grisly ethnic violence plaguing other African nations like Kenya and Sudan. Barack Obama cruised past Hillary Rodham Clinton in the Wisconsin primary and Hawaii caucuses. Toshiba, creator of the HD DVD, conceded to Sony's rival Blu-ray format.
Today's Birthdays: Singer Smokey Robinson is 69. [Dig him working it in the vid below. — Ed.] Singer Bobby Rogers is 69. Actress Carlin Glynn is 69. Singer Lou Christie is 66. Actor Michael Nader is 64. Rock musician Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath, Heaven and Hell) is 61. Author Amy Tan is 57. Actor Jeff Daniels is 54. Rock singer-musician Dave Wakeling is 53. Talk show host Lorianne Crook is 52. Actor Ray Winstone is 52. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is 50. Britain's Prince Andrew is 49. Tennis Hall-of-Famer Hana Mandlikova is 47. Singer Seal is 46. Country musician Ralph McCauley (Wild Horses) is 45. Rock musician Jon Fishman (Phish) is 44. Actress Justine Bateman is 43. Actor Benicio Del Toro is 42.
In 1972, Paul McCartney and Wings released "Give Ireland Back to the Irish," a commentary about the Northern Ireland conflict. It was banned by the BBC, but still reached the top 20 in England.
Thirty-five years ago, in 1974, Dick Clark staged the first American Music Awards as an alternative to the industry-dominated Grammy Awards. The winners of the American Music Awards are determined by the votes of music fans. "Tie A Yellow Ribbon" by Tony Orlando and Dawn won for favorite pop single that year.
In 1977, Fleetwood Mac released the album "Rumours." It sold more than 17 million copies. [And sixty million morons voted for Nixon. Big fucking deal. — Ed.]
In 1980, AC/DC vocalist Bon Scott died after choking on his own vomit after an all-night drinking binge in London. He was 33. His death came just months after the band scored its first North American success with the album "Highway to Hell."
In 1981, a New York Supreme Court judge ruled George Harrison "subconsciously plaigerized" [sic] the song "He's So Fine" by The Chiffons for his hit, "My Sweet Lord." Harrison was ordered to pay $587,000.
In 1995, Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee married Pamela Anderson of the TV show "Baywatch" on a beach in Cancun. The bride wore white -- a bikini. They've since divorced.
In 1996, London police arrested singer Jarvis Cocker of Pulp for allegedly attacking three children performing with Michael Jackson at the Brit Awards. Cocker admitted walking onstage but denied touching any children; he was later cleared.
In 1997, the Trinity Broadcasting Network canceled Pat Boone's "GospelAmerica" show after viewers complained about Boone's appearance on the American Music Awards. He had been promoting his "In a Metal Mood" album by wearing a dog collar and black leather. The show was later reinstated. A judge in New York dismissed a seven-million-dollar lawsuit a fan filed against Motley Crue for hearing loss suffered at one of their concerts. The judge said the fan knew the concert would be loud going in to it.
Thought for Today: "In America everybody is, but some are more than others." — Gertrude Stein, American author (1874-1946).
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