Today in History

In New York City, the 9/11 Memorial Museum opens to the public.

Joseph Estrada, former president of the Philippines, is convicted of plunder.

UN lifts sanctions against Libya in exchange for that country accepting responsibility for the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 in 1988 and paying recompense to victims’ families.

Space Shuttle Endeavor takes off on NASA’s 50th shuttle mission; its crew includes the first African-American woman in space, the first married couple, and the first Japanese citizen to fly in a US spacecraft.

East and West Germany, along with the UK, US and USSR—the Allied nations that had occupied post-WWII Germany—sign the final settlement for reunification of Germany.

Jennifer Hudson, singer, actress; numerous awards include a Grammy (Jennifer Hudson, 2008), and Oscar, Golden Globe and British Academy awards (Dreamgirls, 2006).

Military coup in Turkey.

Steve Biko, a South African activist opposing apartheid, dies while in police custody.

President Richard Nixon orders a resumption in bombing North Vietnam.

Richard “Ricky” Rudd, known as the “Iron Man” of NASCAR racing; he holds the record for the most consecutive NASCAR starts.

Charles “Chic” Burlingame III, pilot of American Airlines Flight 77, that was hijacked and flown into the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001, by terrorists.

French troops land in Indochina.

American troops fight their way into Germany.

Michael Ondaatje, Canadian novelist and poet (The English Patient).