November fourth

Today's Highlight in History:
On November fourth, 1979, the Iranian hostage crisis began as militants stormed the United States Embassy in Tehran. For some of the hostages, it was the start of 444 days of captivity.

On this date:
In 1842, Abraham Lincoln married Mary Todd in Springfield, Illinois.

In 1880, the first cash register was patented by James and John Ritty of Dayton, Ohio.

In 1884, Democrat Grover Cleveland was elected to his first term as president, defeating Republican James G. Blaine.

In 1922, the entrance to King Tutankhamen's tomb was discovered in Egypt.

In 1939, the United States modified its neutrality stance in World War Two, allowing "cash and carry" purchases of arms by belligerents, a policy favoring Britain and France.

In 1942, during World War Two, Axis forces retreated from El Alamein in North Africa in a major victory for British forces commanded by Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery.

In 1952, Dwight D. Eisenhower was elected president, defeating Democrat Adlai Stevenson.

In 1956, Soviet troops moved in to crush the Hungarian Revolution.

In 1980, Ronald Reagan won the White House as he defeated President Carter by a strong margin.

In 1991, former President Reagan opened his library in Simi Valley, California.

Ten years ago: Iraq issued a new broadside, saying it was prepared to fight a "dangerous war" rather than give up Kuwait. Secretary of State James Baker visited US troops in the Saudi Arabian desert. Douglas Wakiihuri of Kenya and Wanda Panfil of Poland won the New York City Marathon.

Five years ago: Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated by a right-wing Israeli minutes after attending a festive peace rally.

One year ago: Aaron McKinney, who beat gay college student Matthew Shepard and left him to die on the Wyoming prairie, avoided the death penalty by agreeing to serve life in prison without parole and promising never to appeal his conviction. Some ten-thousand Iranian students rallied outside the former US Embassy in Tehran to mark the 20th anniversary of its seizure by Islamic militants.

"Drop the question what tomorrow may bring, and count as profit every day that Fate allows you."

-- Horace, Roman poet (65 B.C.-8 B.C.)