Today in History

Iraqi forces attack into Saudi Arabian town of Kafji, but are turned back by Coalition forces.

The Soviets issue a formal complaint against alleged U.S. arms treaty violations.

President Jimmy Carter commutes the sentence of Patty Hearst.

Thirty-seven civilians are killed by a U.S. helicopter attack in Vietnam.

Riots break out in Johannesburg, South Africa, over the policy of Apartheid.

The world’s greatest warship, Missouri, is launched.

German and Italian troops take Benghazi in North Africa.

Winston Churchill resigns as Stanley Baldwin’s aide.

The Seeing Eye, America’s first school for training dogs to guide the blind, founded in Nashville, Tennessee.

Violette Neatley Anderson becomes the first African-American woman admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Supreme Allied Council meets at Versailles.

W.C. Fields, comedian and actor (David Copperfield, My Little Chickadee).

William Quantrill and his Confederate raiders attack Danville, Kentucky.

Kansas is admitted into the Union as the 34th state.

William McKinley, 25th President of the United States.

Jane Austin publishes Pride and Prejudice.

Thomas Paine, political essayist (The Rights of Man, The Age of Reason).