Important Events From This day in History February 12th

 

1924 First Presidential Radio Address

1924 : Calvin Coolidge became the first U.S. president to deliver an address by radio. This was the first day that radio programming had included commercials. The National Carbon Company had aired an advertisement during the broadcast of The Everyday Hour. This first sponsored program was heard in New York, Washington, Province, and surrounding areas. This show featured celebrity appearances, music, and stories.

1958 Great Britain Transatlantic Jet Service

1958 : The first Trans Atlantic passenger jetliner service begins by BOAC with flights between London and New York on the new Comet Jet Airliner.

1935 USS Macon Rigid Frame Airship

1935 : The 785-foot USS Macon a rigid frame airship built and operated by the United States Navy for scouting was the last US Navy dirigible (ZRS-5) built, it crashed off the coast of California, killing two people. Her sister ship the USS Akron (ZRS-4) had crashed off the New Jersey coast on April 4th, 1933, killing 73 passengers and crew. The USS Macon (ZRS-5) and sister ship USS Akron (ZRS-4), were among the biggest flying objects in the world. Although the Hindenburg was bigger, the two airships still hold the world record for biggest helium filled airships. Due to the crashes The US navy halted temporarily building further helium filled airships.

1899 USA The Great Blizzard

1899 : It started on the 11th and despite its largely more southerly influence it reached -61 F in Montana and -47 F in Nebraska. Snow started falling on the 12th, 1899 and Washington D.C. had over twenty inches of snow falling, with New Jersey reaching an astonishing thirty-four inches. New Orleans was iced over, as were parts of the Mississippi River.

1912 Last Emperor of China

1912 : Hsian-T'ung, the last emperor of China, is forced to abdicate following Sun Yat-sen's republican revolution, ending 267 years of Manchu rule in China and 2,000 years of imperial rule.

1921 South Africa Independence

1921 : Following general elections in South Africa General Smuts party has won over the dutch speaking nationalists and the labour party, he has already stated South Africa will continue to be part of the British Empire but under vastly different terms these will include:

South Africa has the right to amend her own constitution

South Africa will have her own flag

South Africa will have power and authority over domestic affairs and International and Foreign Relations

South Africa will be a Independent Sovereign State in friendly association with the British Empire.

1926 U.S.A. Chase National Bank

1926 : One of the largest bank mergers of to this date in history has taken place. This merger involved at least a billion dollars in resources. The bank merge which would take place on this day includes Chase National, Metal National, and Mechanics Merger. This new bank would bear the name Chase National Bank, and was second only to National City Bank as the largest institution in the United States.

1932 U.S.A. Malcolm Campbell

1932 : A new record was set by racer Captain Malcolm Campbell. He had set a record speed of 245.733 miles per hour as he sped across Daytona's 12-mile strip. Part of the above-mentioned accomplishment was due to the fact that Campbell made sure his Bluebird, the automobile he drove, was in top shape. For instance, professionals had worked on the Bluebird, increasing its horsepower and reducing its wind resistance.

1938 US Taxicab Insurance

1938 : The plan was to enforce a strict taxicab ordinance. This ordinance would require taxicab drivers to carry liability insurances. Furthermore, this new legislation would make it easier for taxicab drivers to have their licenses revoked if they break any city driving laws. Additionally, cab drivers would be rated by a scoring system, which would include points accumulated for actions such as speeding and excessive horn use.

1954 Atomic Energy Authority

1954 : The Atomic Energy Authority has been created to control the production and development of atomic energy in the UK.

1964 Cyprus Fighting

1964 : Following Cyprus gaining independence from the Britain in 1960 the fighting continues to increase in Limassol, Cyprus between ethnic Turks and Greeks which has left at least 16 people dead.

1973 First U.S. Prisoners Released

1973 : As part of the Vietnam cease-fire agreement, the first U.S. prisoners of war were released by North Vietnam.

1993 England James Bulger

1993 : Two 10-year-old boys lured 2-year-old James Bulger from his mother at a shopping mall in Liverpool, England, then beat him to death.

1994 Norway Scream Stolen

1994 : Thieves have stolen one of the world's best known paintings ( Scream by by Edvard Munch circa 1893 ) from a gallery in the Norwegian capital, Oslo.

1998 Russia Accident

1998 : The Russians had bumped into a U.S. destroyer (Caron) and U.S. cruiser (Yorktown). This incident took place towards the end of the Russian-American Cold War, and it occurred in the Crimean Peninsula of the Black Sea. The Caron and Yorktown were moving about in the 12-mile-limit area designated to them by the Soviet Union. Apparently, even though the Cold War was coming close to an end, there still were some unresolved differences and tensions between the Russians and the Americans.The operators of the American ships were being challenged by the operators of a Soviet frigate and Soviet destroyer. The soviet ship operators order the Americans to move out of the way and then were pushed out of the way while being bumped slightly. The Americans hesitated to move, but eventually did move out of the area. There was no exchange of gunfire during this incident, and no injuries or damage (no serious damage) to ship or personnel. Even though the Americans were allowed within the 12-mile sea radius near Soviet grounds, there was some suspicion as to the nature of the use of the Caron. This particular ship was known as a spy vessel, and it was considered foolish by many Americans and/or leaders that this ship was allowed to sail in Russian waters at this time.

1999 UK GM Food Report

1999 : A group of 20 independent international scientists has reinforced warnings that genetically modified food may be damaging to health after looking at a report about the effects of biologically altered potatoes on laboratory rats produced by Arpad Pusztai who was forced to retire over his revelations.

1999 U.S.A. Bill Clinton

1999 : The five-week period during which Bill Clinton was being tried had ended on this day. The Senate voted to acquit Clinton on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice. The trial was set in order to determine whether or not President Clinton would be impeached. Before the beginning of the trial, a lawsuit was filed by Paula Jones against the president on the account of sexual harassment charges. During this process, she had subpoenaed Monica Lewinsky, who had an affair with Bill Clinton over the period of a year and a half. Later Clinton had denied having sexual relations with Monica Lewinsky, but had admitted that the relationship was "inappropriate." Over time, it was clear that the affair had taken place, and the president had approved up to three articles of impeachment. However, he was determined to be "not guilty" on other charges, such as lying under oath and obstruction of justice.

2002 Germany Slobodan Milosevic

2002 : Slobodan Milosevic was the main defendant in the most important war crimes case since the trial of the Nazis at Nuremberg he was accused of overseeing the murder of hundreds of elderly people and civilians and bombing a hospital.

2004 U.S.A. Same Sex Marriage

2004 : Defying a California law, San Francisco officials began performing weddings for same-sex couples. Voters in California had voted to ban same sex marriages under Proposition 22 in 2000.

2006 US Heavy Snow

2006 : During a powerful winter storm blankets the Northeastern United States including a record 26.9 inches of snow falls in New York's Central Park.

2007 Trolley Square Shooting

2007 : A lone gunman ( Sulejman Talovic ) armed with a shotgun and handgun kills five bystanders and wounds four others during a shooting spree at the Trolley Square Mall in Salt Lake City, Utah.

2008 Screenwriters Strike Over

2008 : American film and television writers have voted to end their three-month strike and return to work. Their decision had been approved by 92.5% of the 3,775 Writers Guild of America members. 'The strike is over. Our members have voted. Writers can go back to work,' the W.G.A. president has said. The votes had been cast in New York and Los Angeles.

2009 Dutch Politician Stopped from Entering Britain

2009 : The Dutch Member of Parliament (M.P.) that called the Koran a 'fascist book' has been banned from entering the U.K. on public security grounds. The Freedom Party M.P. Geert Wilders, who will be facing trial in his own country for inciting hatred, has been denied entry by the Home Office. Wilders had been asked to show his film, Fitna, at the House of Lords by the U.K. Independence Party peer Lord Pearson, but he has received a letter from the British Embassy in the Netherlands telling him he would not be allowed to cross the borders. Lord Pearson said he disagreed with Wilders' call to ban the Koran, but has accused the Home Office of 'appeasing violent Islam.' On arrival at Heathrow he was appended by border guards. His 17-minute film compares Islam to Nazism. The Freedom Party M.P. had been invited to a House of Lords screening of his film that links the Koran to terrorism.

2010 Canada Winter Olympics

2010 : The 2010 Winter Olympics opens running from February 12-28, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Approximately 2,600 athletes from 82 nations participated in 86 events in fifteen disciplines. The opening day ceremonies are marred when Nodar Kumaritashvili a Georgian luger dies during a practice run, following the death the start of the men's luge was moved to the women's starting point to reduce the speed contestants were able to achieve.

2011 Ship Found Near Hawaii

2011 : Archaeologists have found the ship that belonged to Captain George Pollard who inspired Herman Melville's novel 'Moby Dick.' The Two Brothers whaling ship's remains were found off the coast of Hawaii. The ship sank in 1823 when it hit a coral reef.

2012 Incumbent President Berdymukhamedov to Win Election

2012 : The incumbent president of Turkmenistan, Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, was expected to win the country's presidential elections. Critics say that Turkmenistan's repressive government has failed to make any democratic reforms and the election was largely for show with only token opposition candidates.

2013 North Korea Carries Out Nuclear Test

2013 : North Korea has carried out a nuclear test despite warnings from the United Nations. Authorities monitoring the test stated that it had double the force of a test conducted in 2009.

2014 US Sinkhole Swallows Corvettes

2014 : A sinkhole opened up under a classic Corvette museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Eight of the rare sports cars fell into the sinkhole. The hole was estimated at being thirty feet deep and about forty feet across.

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