Today is Thursday, November 17, the 321st day of 2011. 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 (Egypt)
1913 ― Panama Canal opens
1948 ― Britain's House of Commons votes to nationalize steel industry
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"
1980 ― John Lennon releases ``Double Fantasy" album in U.K.
1993 ― U.S. Congress votes for NAFTA