February 22nd

Today's Highlight in History:
Twenty years ago, on February 22nd, 1980, the United States Olympic hockey team upset the Soviets at Lake Placid, New York, 4-to-3. (The US team went on to win the gold medal.)

On this date:
In 1732, the first president of the United States, George Washington, was born at his parents' plantation in the Virginia Colony.

In 1819, Spain ceded Florida to the United States.

In 1865, Tennessee adopted a new constitution abolishing slavery.

In 1879, Frank Winfield Woolworth opened a five-cent store in Utica, New York.

In 1889, President Cleveland signed a bill to admit the Dakotas, Montana and Washington state to the Union.

In 1892, "Lady Windermere's Fan," by Oscar Wilde, was first performed, at London's St. James's Theater.

In 1924, Calvin Coolidge delivered the first presidential radio broadcast from the White House.

In 1934, the romantic comedy "It Happened One Night," starring Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert, opened at New York's Radio City Music Hall.

In 1973, the United States and Communist China agreed to establish liaison offices.

In 1987, pop artist Andy Warhol died at a New York City hospital at age 58.

Ten years ago: Former President Reagan's videotaped testimony for the trial of former national security adviser John Poindexter was released in Washington; in his deposition, Reagan said he never had "any inkling" his aides were secretly arming the Nicaraguan Contras.

Five years ago: France accused four American diplomats and a fifth US citizen of spying, and asked them to leave the country. Security forces in Algiers crushed a prison uprising by Islamic extremists, resulting in 96 deaths by official count.

One year ago: Levi Strauss, falling victim to a fashion generation gap, announced it was closing eleven plants.

"I can resist everything except temptation."

-- From "Lady Windermere's Fan," by Oscar Wilde (1854-1900).