Today in History

In Virginia, Douglas Wilder, the first African American elected governor of a US state, takes office.

Air Florida Flight 90 Boeing 737 jet crashes into Washington, D.C.’s 14th Street Bridge shortly after takeoff, then plunges into the Potomac River; 78 people, including 4 motorists, are killed.

The United States offers Pakistan a two-year aid plan to counter the Soviet threat in Afghanistan.

Argentina ousts a British envoy in dispute over the Falkland Islands.

U.S. reports shifting most air targets from North Vietnam to Laos.

Two U.S. planes are shot down in Laos while on a combat mission.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, actress, producer (Seinfeld TV series)

Chase National and the Bank of Manhattan agree to merge resulting in the second largest U.S. bank.

British troops replace striking truck drivers.

The Red Army opens an offensive in South Poland, crashing 25 miles through the German lines.

Plants are destroyed and 64 U.S. aircraft are lost in an air attack in Germany.

General Leclerc’s Free French forces merge with the British under Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery in Libya.

The United States bars Americans from serving in the Civil War in Spain.

The bridge connecting New York and New Jersey is named the George Washington Memorial Bridge.

Joe Pass, considered one of the greatest jazz guitarists of the 20th century.

A woman takes a seat on the NY Stock Exchange breaking the all-male tradition.

Michael Bond, author, best known for his series of Paddington Bear children’s books.

Hitler denounces the Weimar Republic as 5,000 storm troopers demonstrate in Germany.

Robert Stack, actor; portrayed Elliot Ness in TV series The Untouchables.

To combat Czech nationalism, Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria-Hungary decrees German the official language of the Imperial Army.

President Lincoln names Edwin M. Stanton Secretary of War.

President James Polk dispatches General Zachary Taylor and 4,000 troops to the Texas Border as war with Mexico looms.

Horatio Alger, Jr., American children’s author (Ragged Dick, Tattered Tom).

Salmon P. Chase, U.S. Treasury Secretary, sixth Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

John of Gaunt marries Katherine Rouet.