This Week in History

OCTOBER 19

1960 – The United States imposes a partial embargo on goods exported to Cuba.

1987 – The stock market crashed on what came to be known as Black Monday. Stocks dropped a record 508 points, or 22.6%, topping the drops on October 28 and 29 in 1929 that ushered in the Great Depression.

OCTOBER 20

Richard Sergiovanni was born.

KathiAnn O’Sheil was born.

Mickey Mantle was born.

Alice Rodkin was born.

1944 – Gen. Douglas MacArthur returned to the Philippines, 30 months after he said, “I shall return.”

1968 – Jacqueline Kennedy married Aristotle Onassis.

OCTOBER 21

Wil Pops Gilliard was born.

Carolyn Riordan was born.

1879 – Thomas Edison invented a workable incandescent electric lamp.

OCTOBER 22

Janine DaSilva was born.

Janet Jenkusky Brady was born.

1962 – President Kennedy announced an air and naval blockade of Cuba, following the discovery of Soviet missile bases on the island.

1979 – The deposed Shah of Iran was allowed in the United States for medical treatment. This action led to the Iran hostage crisis.

OCTOBER 23

Annette Lord was born.

Tara McIntyre Murphy was born.

1973 – President Richard Nixon agreed to turn White House tape recordings requested by the Watergate special prosecutor over to Judge John J. Sirica.

1983 – A suicide truck-bombing at Beirut International airport in Lebanon killed 241 U.S. Marines and sailors.

OCTOBER 24

Robin Caparella Hoffman was born.

Marni Sugar was born.

1931 – The George Washington Bridge, connecting New York and New Jersey, opened to traffic.

1945 – The United Nations officially came into being as its charter took effect.

OCTOBER 25

Caroline and Charlotte Spaeth were born.

1400 – Geoffrey Chaucer died in London.

1983 – The United States invaded the Caribbean nation of Grenada.