On this day...
1631-Pierre Gassendi observes transit of Mercury predicted by Kepler
1875-Verney Cameron is 1st European to cross equatorial Africa
1917-British capture Gaza Palestine from the Turks
1917-October Revolution (Oct 26 OS) in Russia, Lenin seizes power
1940-Tacoma Narrows (Galloping Gertie) Bridge collapses, Wash
1942-First U.S. President to broadcast in a foreign language-FDR in French
1943 Detroit Lions 0, NY Giants 0; last scoreless tie in NFL
1944-FDR wins 4th term in office, defeating Thomas E Dewey (R)
1951-Constitution of Jordan passed
1962-Richard Nixon quits politics-You won't have Nixon to kick around
1966-Lunar Orbiter 2 launched by U.S.
1982-Liz Taylor's 7th divorce (John Warner)
1985-Colombian troops end 27-hr siege of Bogota's Palace of Justice
1989-NYC elects its 1st black mayor (Dinkins) & female comp (Holtzman)
1991-Magic Johnson announces he has HIV virus & retires from Lakers