Dow Jones closed above 1,000 for the first time (1972), US government shut down due to budget deadlock (1995), first US streetcar in operation (1832), Apollo 12 launched (1969), Battle of la Drang began (1965), Sedna discovered (2003), Iranian assets frozen by President Carter (1979), Nellie Bly began trip around the world (1889), BBC radio service started (1922), first aircraft takeoff from ship deck (1910), Moby Dick published (1851).
The Dow Jones closed above 1,000 for the first time in history. (1972) The Dow closed at 1,003.16, signaling an upbeat economic outlook on the back of US President Nixon’s re-election, higher corporate profits, and diminishing fears of tax hikes and inflation.
The US federal government has effectively shut down. (1995) The US Congress failed to agree on a budget, resulting in a deadlock that forced many non-essential offices to close and most other government offices to operate on minimal staff. The shutdown, which also closed museums and national parks, lasted for several weeks.
The first streetcar in the United States went into operation. (1832) The “John Mason”, named after its owner, was a horse-drawn streetcar that operated in the city of New York.
NASA launched Apollo 12, the second of its manned missions to the lunar surface. (1969) Apollo 12 was the second successful attempt to land a manned spacecraft on the Moon. This mission, by the way, was significant in that it achieved a precision landing, landing very close to the target point. The landing techniques would be used in future lunar explorations requiring targeted landings. The first manned mission that landed successfully on the Moon on July 20, 1969 was Apollo 11.
The first major battle between North Vietnamese and US military troops began during the Vietnam War. (1965) The “Battle of la Drang” lasted four days and resulted in heavy casualties for both sides. The battle included an ambush on November 17 that resulted in 155 killed and 126 wounded.
Trans-Neptune object “90377 Sedna” discovered. (2003) The “90377 Sedna” is an object that lies beyond Neptune in the Solar System. It may have the appropriate characteristics to be classified as a dwarf planet, but scientists cannot determine its shape due to its distance from the Sun. At the time of its discovery, it was the furthest known object in the Solar System, apart from a few Comets.
US President Jimmy Carter froze all Iranian assets – about 8 billion US dollars – in the United States. (1979) The executive order was in response to the Iran hostage crisis in which 66 US citizens were taken hostage in Tehran. Two days before the asset freeze, President Carter banned oil imports from Iran.
Nellie Bly has begun her attempt to complete a trip around the world in less than 80 days. (1889) Bly, also known as Elizabeth Cochrane, was an American journalist who set out on a journey similar to the fictional journey in Jules Verne’s novel Around the World in 80 Days – only Bly wanted to do it faster. She succeeded, completing the journey in 72 days.
The UK’s BBC has started its radio service. (1922) Arthur Burrows read the first newscast. Today, the BBC operates 10 radio stations and offers live streaming over the internet.
The first aircraft takeoff from the deck of a ship took place. (1910) Eugene Ely, an Iowa aviator, took off in a Curtiss pusher plane and from a platform on the USS Birmingham. The wheels hit the water after takeoff, but the plane was able to take off.
MoDick has been published. (1851) Herman Melville’s novel, based on the sinking of the Essex whaler by a sperm whale, has become one of the most famous novels in the world.
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