Today in History

Bernard “Bernie” Madoff arrested and charged with securities fraud in what was called a $50-billion Ponzi scheme.

President of Mexico Felipe Calderon launches a military-led offensive against drug cartel violence in the state of Michoacan.

Cronulla riots begin in Cronulla, a suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

People’s Republic of China joins the World Trade Organization.

The Kyoto Protocol international treaty intended to reduce emissions of greenhouse gasses, opens for signature.

Hamish Blake, Australian comedian, actor, author; won Gold Logie Award for “Most Popular Personality on Television”; half of award-winning comedy duo Hamish and Andy (Andy Lee).

Massive demonstrations take place in Tehran against the shah.

Challenger, the lunar lander for Apollo 17, touches down on the moon’s surface, the last time that men visit the moon.

The Concorde, a joint British-French venture and the world’s first supersonic airliner, is unveiled in Toulouse, France.

Frank Sinatra, Jr., is returned home to his parents after being kidnapped for the ransom amount of $240,000.

Israel raids Syrian positions on the Sea of Galilee.

Joe DiMaggio announces his retirement from baseball.

Christina Onassis, businesswoman; inherited and operated the Onassis shipping businessh.

A Boeing B-29 Superfortress shatters all records by crossing the United States in five hours and 27 minutes.

Brenda Lee, singer; her 37 US chart hits in the 1960s is surpassed only by Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Ray Charles and Connie Francis (“I’m Sorry,” “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”).

John Kerry, politician; unsuccessful Democratic nominee for President of the United States (2004); secretary of state (2013– ).

The United States declares war on Italy and Germany.

Donna Mills, actress (Knots Landing TV series, Play Misty for Me movie).

Tom Hayden, social and political activist; author, politician.

Jim Harrison, novelist and poet (Legends of the Fall).

Britain’s King Edward VIII abdicates the throne to marry American Wallis Warfield Simpson.

Reports say Paraguay has captured 11,000 Bolivians in the war over Chaco.

As the economic crisis grows, the Bank of the United States closes its doors.

Nearly 400 world leaders sign a letter to President Calvin Coolidge asking the United States to join the World Court.

Willie “Big Mama” Thornton, blues singer.

Grace Paley, short story writer.

Alexander Solzhenitsyn, Russian writer and winner of the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize. Famous for The Gulag Archipelago.

Naguib Mahfouz, Nobel Prize-winning Egyptian novelist.

Fiorella H. La Guardia, mayor of New York City from 1933 to 1945.

Union gunboats Restless, Bloomer and Caroline enter St. Andrew’s Bay, Fla., and begin bombardment of both Confederate quarters and saltworks.

Union General Ambrose Burnside occupies Fredericksburg and prepares to attack the Confederates under Robert E. Lee.

A raging fire sweeps the business district of Charleston, South Carolina, adding to an already depressed economic state.

Robert Koch, physician and medical researcher.

Indiana is admitted to the Union as the 19th state.

Hector Berlioz, French composer and conductor (Symphonie Fantastique, La Damnation de Faust).

James II abdicates the throne because of William of Orange landing in England.