2008

Today in History 12/11 (King Edward VIII)

The Duke of Windsor and Mrs. Bessie Wallis Warfield Simpson pose for photographers in a garden of the Chateau de Cande, France, May 7, 1937 (© AP)(1936) Britain’s King Edward VIII abdicates for love
King Edward VIII gives up the throne to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson. The Church of England, officials, and the public have largely condemned the match (though Winston Churchill gave his OK.) But, as Edward says, he can’t carry out his duties “without the help and support of the woman I love.”
In 1936, a constitutional crisis in the British Empire arose when King-Emperor Edward VIII proposed to marry Wallis Simpson, an American socialite who was divorced from her first husband and was pursuing the divorce of her second.
Statement of Abdication
Instrument of abdication signed by Edward VIII and his three brothers, Albert, Henry and George, 10 December 1936
wiki/Edward_VIII_abdication_crisis
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(1936) Britain’s King Edward VIII abdicates for love.
Also on this day,

1941 | Axis at war with US as Germany and Italy declare war on the United States
Four days after Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor, the two other Axis powers, Germany and Italy, declare war on the United States. The US responds in kind. Meanwhile, Adolf Hitler declares that the three Axis powers “will continue in closest cooperation with a view to establishing a new and just order.”
1944 | Brenda Lee, ‘Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree’ singer is born
Brenda Lee (nee Brenda Mae Tarpley) is born in Atlanta. She’ll start singing professionally by age 6 and go on to have huge hits with ‘I’m Sorry’ and ‘Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.’ Lee will eventually be inducted into the Rock and Roll, Country and Rockabilly halls of fame.
2008 | Billionaire Bernie Madoff is arrested at his NYC penthouse
Feds arrest Madoff after his sons told authorities about his $65 billion Ponzi scheme. Until his arrest, Madoff was a well-respected financier who managed money for A-list clients. His ruse is the biggest financial fraud in US history and will get Madoff 150 years in prison.

Today in History 12/11/17

Adolf Hitler speaking in Germany on December 11, 1941 (© Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images)(1941) Germany and Italy declare war on the United States
Four days after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, the two other Axis powers, Germany and Italy, declare war on the United States. The US responds in kind. Meanwhile, Adolf Hitler declares that the three Axis powers "will continue in closest cooperation with a view to establishing a new and just order."
On 11 December 1941, four days after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the United States declaration of war against the Japanese Empire, Nazi Germany declared war against the United States, in response to what was claimed to be a series of provocations by the United States government when the US was still officially neutral during World War II. The decision to declare war was made by Adolf Hitler, apparently offhand, almost without consultation. Later that day, the United States declared war on Germany.
Berlin, Reichstagssitzung, Rede Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler delivers a speech at the Kroll Opera House to the men of the Reichstag on the subject of Roosevelt and the war in the Pacific, declaring war on the United States. Next to Hitler in the government benches (from right to left) are Joachim von Ribbentrop, Erich Raeder, Walther von Brauchitsch, Wilhelm Keitel, Wilhelm Frick and Joseph Goebbels. In the second row (from right to left) are Lutz Graf Schwerin von Krosigk, Walther Funk, Richard Walther Darré, Bernhard Rust, Hanns Kerrl, Hans Frank, Julius Dorpmüller, Arthur Seyss-Inquart and Fritz Todt. In the third row (from right to left) are Alfred Rosenberg, Otto Meißner and Johannes Popitz.

wiki/German_declaration_of_war_against_the_United_States_%281941%29
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Today in History 11/04 (Iran Hostage Crisis)

One of the hostages seized when radicals stormed the US embassy in Tehran with hostage takers on November 9, 1979 (© AP)(1979) Militants storm US Embassy in Tehran, take US hostages
The militants demand the US return the Shah of Iran, who’d fled after being overthrown in the Islamic Revolution. US President Carter refuses to “yield to blackmail” and imposes an Iran oil embargo. The hostages will remain in captivity for 444 days.
The Iran hostage crisis was a diplomatic standoff between Iran and the United States of America. Fifty-two American diplomats and citizens were held hostage for 444 days from November 4, 1979, to January 20, 1981, after a group of Iranian college students belonging to the Muslim Student Followers of the Imam’s Line, who supported the Iranian Revolution, took over the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. It stands as the longest hostage crisis in recorded history.
Start date: Nov 04, 1979
End date: Jan 20, 1981

Iran hostage crisis - Iraninan students comes up U.S. embassy in Tehran
Iran hostage crisis – Iraninan students comes up U.S. embassy in Tehran
wiki/Iran_hostage_crisis
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(1979) Militants storm US Embassy in Tehran, take US hostages.
Also on this day,

1922 | Tut’s tomb discovered as British archeologist finds the entrance to King Tut’s tomb
After years of scouring the Valley of the Kings in Egypt, archeologist Howard Carter unearths hidden steps down to the sealed tomb of King Tutankhamun, the boy king. When he unseals the tomb in a few months, it will turn out to be remarkably intact, its riches hidden for over 3,000 years.
1928 | Fatal shooting in NYC as NY gambler, racketeer Arnold ‘the brain’ Rothstein shot
Arnold ‘the Brain’ Rothstein, a businessman and gambler known as a leader of the Jewish mob and tied to fixing sporting events, is shot at a Manhattan hotel. The shooting is reportedly related to debts from a poker game. He will die from his wounds two days later.
2008 | Barack Obama elected first black president in US
After a tough primary race against Hillary Clinton, Obama beats John McCain in the general election and makes history as the first African-American president. Obama’s promise of hope and his slogan “Change We Can Believe In” seem to register with voters, who give him a decisive victory.

Today in History 11/04/17

President-elect Barack Obama gives his victory speech to supporters during an election night gathering in Grant Park on November 4, 2008, in Chicago (© Scott Olson/Getty Images)(2008) Barack Obama elected first black president in US
After a tough primary race against Hillary Clinton, Obama beats John McCain in the general election and makes history as the first African-American president. Obama's promise of hope and his slogan "Change We Can Believe In" seem to register with voters, who give him a decisive victory.
The United States presidential election of 2008 was the 56th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on Tuesday, November 4, 2008. Democratic Party nominees Barack Obama, a U.S. Senator from Illinois, and his running mate Joe Biden, a long-time U.S. Senator from Delaware, defeated Republican Party nominees John McCain, a long-time and current U.S. Senator from Arizona, and his running mate Sarah Palin, a Governor of Alaska. Obama became the first African American ever to be elected president of the United States, and Joe Biden became the first Roman Catholic ever elected vice president.
Election year: Nov 04, 2008

Electoral College 2008
Presidential election results map. Blue denotes those won by Obama/Biden, red denotes states won by McCain/Palin. Numbers indicate electoral votes allotted to the winner of each state.

wiki/United_States_presidential_election,_2008
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