This Day in History – April 11, 2011

1865 Lincoln urges a spirit of generous conciliation during reconstruction 1876 Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks is organized 1881 Spelman College founded 1890 Ellis Island designated as an immigration station 1898 President William McKinley asks for Spanish-American War declaration 1899 Treaty of Paris is ratified, ending war; Spain cedes Puerto Rico to US 1900 US Navy’s 1st submarine made its debut 1906 Einstein introduces his Theory of Relativity 1921 Iowa imposes 1st state cigarette tax 1921 KDKA broadcast the 1st radio sporting event, a boxing match (Ray-Dundee) 1942 Distinguished Service Medal for Merchant Marines authorized 1951 President Harry Truman fires General Douglas McArthur 1956 Singer Nat Cole attacked on stage of Birmingham theater by whites 1957 Ryan X-13 Vertijet becomes 1st jet to take-off & land vertically 1960 1st weather satellite launched (Tiros 1) 1961 Bob Dylan’s 1st appearance at Folk City, Greenwich Village 1965 40 tornadoes strike US midwest killing 272 & injuring 5,000 1968 President Lyndon Johnson signs 1968 Civil Rights Act 1981 Ronald Reagan arrives home from hospital after Hinkley shot him 1986 Dodge Morgan completes nonstop sail solo around the world in 150 days 1986 Halley’s Comet makes closest approach to Earth this trip, 63 million km 1989 1st playoff goal scored by a goalee, Ron Hextall of the Philadelphia Flyers 1991 UN Security Council issues formal cease fire with Iraq declaration]]]]> ]]>