1940 Tacoma Narrows Bridge Collapse

In Washington State, the Tacoma Narrows Bridge collapsed a little more than four months after the bridge opened to traffic.  No people were hurt during the collapse, but one dog was killed. The suspension bridge could not withstand high winds, a design flaw that was addressed in the construction of a new bridge, which opened in 1950.

 

1989 Historic Election for African American Candidates

 

Democrat David Dinkins became the first black mayor of New York City, beating Republican Rudy Giuliani.  In a close race, Democrat Douglas Wilder won the seat of governor in Virginia.  Other historic wins of the ’89 elections included Norman Rice as mayor of Seattle, John Daniels as mayor of New Haven, Conn., and Chester Jenkins as mayor of Durham, N.C.  Video report is from the night after the elections, Nov. 8, 1989.

 

1991 Magic Johnson Announces He Has HIV

 

Twenty years ago, basketball superstar Earvin “Magic” Johnson announced to the public that he tested positive for HIV.  The 32-year-old retired from the Los Angeles Lakers, but returned for the 1992 All-Star Game and for part of the 1996 season.  In the past two decades, Johnson has become a high-profile activist for HIV-AIDS prevention.  He created the Magic Johnson Foundation to help combat the spread of HIV and teach people to not discriminate against those living with the virus.  Since the foundation’s inception in 1991, its mission has expanded to include a broader spectrum of the “educational, health and social needs of ethnically diverse, urban communities.”

 

1996 Mars Global Surveyor

 

NASA launched a probe to orbit Mars and map the surface, looking for any signs of primitive life.

 

2000 Hillary Clinton Elected Senator

 

First lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, a Democrat,  won the New York Senate race, beating Republican Rick Lazio.

 

 

Famous Birthdays

1879 Leon Trotsky

1913 Albert Camus

1943 Joni Mitchell

1952 David Petraeus

1957 Christopher Knight

1963 Sam Graves

1970 Morgan Spurlock

1972 Jason London

1972 Jeremy London

 

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