SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2012

Today is Saturday, November 17, the 322

nd

day of 2012. There are 44 days left in the year.

1558 ― Elizabeth I ascends English throne upon death of Queen Mary

1800 ― Congress held first session in Washington, D.C.

1866 ― The opera "Mignon" is produced (Paris)

1869 ― Suez Canal opens

1913 ― Panama Canal opens

1937 ― Britain's Lord Halifax visits Germany, beginning of appeasement

1959 ― De Beers firm of South Africa announces synthetic diamond

1973 ― President Nixon told AP "...people have got to know whether or not their President is a crook. Well, I'm not a crook"

1977 ― Miss World Contest; Miss U.K. wears $9,500 platinum bikini

1993 ― U.S. Congress votes for NAFTA