Today in History

Hurricane Jeanne causes severe flooding in Haiti; over 1,000 reported dead.

The first public version of Mozilla Firefox browser released; originally called Phoenix 0.1 its name was changed due to trademark issues with Phoenix Technologies.

Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) detonates 3,700-lb. bomb in Belfast, completely destroying the Northern Ireland forensic laboratory, injuring 20 people and damaging 700 houses.

Gulf Air Flight 771 from Karachi, Pakistan, to Abu Dhabi, UAE, bombed; all 117 aboard die.

Juan Peron is re-elected president of Argentina after being overthrown in 1955.

Soviets sign a pact to send more aid to Hanoi.

William “Willie” McCool, American astronaut; among those killed when Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrates while reentering Earth’s atmosphere (2003).

East German police arrest 400 citizens as U.S. spies.

Richard Nixon responds to charges of a secret slush fund during his ‘Checkers Speech.’

Bruce “The Boss” Springsteen, singer, songwriter, musician (“Born to Run,” “Born in the U.S.A”); his multiple awards include 20 Grammys, two Golden Globes, and an Oscar, the latter for “Streets of Philadelphia” (1994).

Mary Kay Place, Emmy-winning actress (Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman), singer.

The first American dies in Vietnam during the fall of Saigon to French forces.

Julio Iglesia, singer, songwriter with more than 2,600 certified gold and platinum records (“To All the Girls I’ve Loved Before,” “Summer Wind”).

Valentin Corazao, Interim President of Peru (2000-01) after Pres. Alberto Fujimori was removed from office by Congress.