This Day in History – October 20, 2011

1803 The United States Senate ratifies the Louisiana Purchase. 1817 1st Mississippi showboat leaves Nashville on maiden voyage 1818 The Convention of 1818 signed between the United States and the United Kingdom which, among other things, settled the Canada United States border on the 49th parallel for most of its length. 1818 US & Britain agree to joint control of Oregon country 1906 Dr Lee DeForest demonstrates his radio tube 1910 1st appearance of cork centered baseball in World Series (World Series #7) 1942 “Durham Manifesto” calls for fundamental changes in race relations 1944 Liquid natural gas leaks from storage tanks in Cleveland, then explodes; the explosion and resulting fire level 30 blocks and kill 130. 1944 General Douglas MacArthur fulfills his promise to return to the Philippines when he commands an Allied assault on the islands, reclaiming them from the Japanese during the Second World War. 1947 The House Un-American Activities Committee begins its investigation into Communist infiltration of Hollywood, resulting in a blacklist that prevents some from working in the industry for years. 1947 United States of America and Pakistan establish diplomatic relations for the first time. 1951 The “Johnny Bright Incident” occurs in Stillwater, Oklahoma 1952 Governor Evelyn Baring declares a state of emergency in Kenya and begins arresting hundreds of suspected leaders of the Mau Mau Uprising, including Jomo Kenyatta, the future first President of Kenya. 1956 58ø F (15ø C), Esperanza Station, Antarctica (Antarctic record high) 1956 Hannes Lindemann begins journey across Atlantic in a 17′ craft 1960 1st fully mechanized post office opened, Providence, RI 1963 Jim Brown sets NFL single-season rushing record, 1,863 yds 1963 S Africa begins trial of Nelson Mandela & 8 others on conspiracy 1967 7 men are convicted of civil rights violations in Meridan Miss 1967 A purported bigfoot is filmed by Patterson and Gimlin. 1968 Former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy marries Greek shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis. 1970 Siad Barre declares Somalia a socialist state. 1971 The Nepal Stock Exchange collapses. 1973 “Saturday Night Massacre”: President Richard Nixon fires U.S. Attorney General Elliot Richardson and Deputy Attorney General William Ruckelshaus after they refuse to fire Watergate special prosecutor Archibald Cox, who is finally fired by Robert Bork. 1973 OPEC oil embargo begins 1973 Pres Nixon proclaims Jim Thorpe greatest athlete of 1st century 1973 The Sydney Opera House opens. 1976 The ferry George Prince is struck by a ship while crossing the Mississippi River between Destrehan and Luling, Louisiana. Seventy-eight passengers and crew die and only 18 people aboard the ferry survive. 1977 A plane carrying Lynyrd Skynyrd crashes in Mississippi, killing lead singer Ronnie Van Zant and guitarist Steve Gaines along with backup singer Cassie Gaines, the road manager, pilot, and co-pilot. 1981 3 members of Weather underground arrested for armored truck robbery 1987 10 die as Air Force jet crashed into a Ramada Inn near Indianapolis 1988 Man armed with explosives blows self up in 125 St subway station (NYC) 1989 US Senate impeaches US District Judge Alcee L Hastings 1990 3 members of 2 Live Crew acquitted on obscenity charges in Florida 1990 Antiwar protest marches begin in 20 US cities (US-Iraq) 1991 The Oakland Hills firestorm kills 25 and destroys 3,469 homes and apartments, causing more than $2 billion in damage.]]]]> ]]>