Today in History

US Court of Appeals rules Congress must save all emails.

The wreckage of a plane that carried U.S. congressman Mickey Leland and others on a humanitarian mission is found on a mountain side in Ethiopia; there are no survivors.

Bomb attack in Beirut during Second Lebanese Civil War kills more than 150 people.

A 17 year-old Buddhist monk burns himself to death in Saigon, South Vietnam.

Construction begins on Berlin Wall during the night.

Herb Ritts, photographer who revolutionized fashion photography in the 1980s and created many iconic photos of celebrities.

Dan Fogelberg, multiple-platinum singer-songwriter.

During the Berlin Airlift, the weather over Berlin becomes so stormy that American planes have their most difficult day landing supplies. They deem it ‘Black Friday.’

Robert Lee Stewart, US Army brigadier general and astronaut.

Ann Armstrong Daily, founder of Children’s Hospice international.

Jocelyn Elders, first African American US Surgeon General (Sept 1993–Dec 1994).

Adolf Hitler refuses to serve as Franz Von Papen’s vice chancellor.

Don Ho, Hawaii’s best-known musician and singer (“Tiny Bubbles”).

Fidel Castro, Cuban revolutionary leader and president.

Daniel Schorr, radio and television correspondent.