The Beatles go on their first US tour

Today is Wednesday, February 7, the 38th day of 2024. There are 328 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight in History:

On February 7, 1964, the Beatles arrived at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport to screaming fans to begin their first American tour.

On this date:

In 1857, a French court acquitted writer Gustave Flaubert of obscenity charges for his serialized novel “Madame Bovary.”

In 1943, the government suddenly announced that wartime rationing of shoes made of leather would come into effect within two days, and that consumers would be limited to purchasing three pairs per person per year. (Rationing was abolished in October 1945.)

In 1948, General Dwight D. Eisenhower resigned as chief of staff of the U.S. Army; he was replaced by General Omar Bradley.

In 1962, President John F. Kennedy imposed a full trade embargo on Cuba.

In 1971, women in Switzerland won the right to vote by national referendum, 12 years after the previous attempt had failed.

In 1984, space shuttle Challenger astronauts Bruce McCandless II and Robert L. Stewart went on the first independent spacewalk, which lasted approximately six hours.

In 1985, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena was kidnapped by drug traffickers in Guadalajara, Mexico, who tortured and killed him.

In 1991, Jean-Bertrand Aristide was inaugurated as Haiti’s first democratically elected president (he was overthrown by the military the following September).

In 1999, King Hussein of Jordan died of cancer at the age of 63; He was succeeded by his eldest son Abdullah.

In 2009, a mile-wide section of ice on Lake Erie broke away from the Ohio shoreline, trapping approximately 135 fishermen; some remained there for as long as four hours before being rescued (one man fell into the water and later died in an apparent accident). heart attack).

In 2014, the Sochi Olympics opened with a celebration of Russia’s past greatness and its hopes for future glory.

Biotechnology billionaire Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong struck a $500 million deal to buy the Los Angeles Times, San Diego Union-Tribune and other publications in 2018.

In 2020, two days after his acquittal in his first Senate impeachment trial, President Donald Trump took revenge against two officials who gave damaging testimony; He fired his national security aide, Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, and his ambassador to the European Union, Gordon Sondland.

After moving south to a new team and conference in 2021, Tom Brady led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a 31-9 Super Bowl victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on the Buccaneers’ home field.

Today’s birthdays: Author Gay Talese 92. Sen. John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., 72. Comedy writer Robert Smigel 64. Actor James Spader 64. Country singer Garth Brooks 62. Rock musician David Bryan (Bon Jovi) 62. Actor-comedian Eddie Izzard 62. Actor-comedian Chris Rock 59. Actor Jason Gedrick 57. Actor Essence Atkins 51. Rock singer-musician Wes Borland 49. Rock musician Tom Blankenship (My Morning Jacket) 46. Actor Ashton Kutcher 46. Actor Tina Majorino 39. Actor Deborah Ann Woll is 39. Former NBA player Isaiah Thomas is 35. NHL center Steven Stamkos is 34.