Today is Wednesday, Nov. 4, the 309th day of 2020. There are 57 days left in the year.
Today in history
On Nov. 4, 2008, Democrat Barack Obama was elected the first Black president of the United States, defeating Republican John McCain.
Also on this date:
In 1842, Abraham Lincoln married Mary Todd in Springfield, Ill.
In 1922, the entrance to King Tutankhamen’s tomb was discovered in Egypt.
In 1956, Soviet troops moved in to crush the Hungarian Revolution.
In 1979, the Iran hostage crisis began as militants stormed the United States Embassy in Tehran, seizing its occupants; for some of them, it was the start of 444 days of captivity.
In 1980, Republican Ronald Reagan won the White House as he defeated President Jimmy Carter by a strong margin.
In 1985, to the shock and dismay of U.S. officials, Soviet defector Vitaly Yurchenko announced he was returning to the Soviet Union, charging he had been kidnapped by the CIA.
In 1991, Ronald Reagan opened his presidential library in Simi Valley, Calif.; attending were President George H.W. Bush and former Presidents Jimmy Carter, Gerald R. Ford and Richard Nixon — the first-ever gathering of five past and present U.S. chief executives.
Fun fact
Sunsets on Mars are blue.
That’s punny
What’s made of leather and sounds like a sneeze?
A shoe.
Trending words
“Wraith:” noun; (RAYTH). Definition: The exact likeness of a living person seen usually just before death as an apparition; ghost, specter or an insubstantial form or semblance: shadow or a barely visible gaseous or vaporous column.
— Merriam-Webster
Today’s birthdays
Actor Loretta Swit is 83. Rhythm-and-blues singer Harry Elston (Friends of Distinction) is 82. Blues singer Delbert McClinton is 80. Former first lady Laura Bush is 74. Actor Ivonne Coll is 73. Actor Markie Post is 70. Rock singer-musician Chris Difford (Squeeze) is 66. Country singer Kim Forester (The Forester Sisters) is 60. Actor-comedian Kathy Griffin is 60. Actor Ralph Macchio is 59. “Survivor” host Jeff Probst is 59. Saxophonist Tim Burton is 57. Actor Matthew McConaughey is 51. Rapper-producer Sean “Puffy” Combs is 51. Talk show host Bethenny Frankel is 50. Actor Anthony Ruivivar is 50. Soul/jazz singer Gregory Porter is 49. Rhythm-and-blues singer Shawn Rivera (Az Yet) is 49. Celebrity chef Curtis Stone is 45. Actor Heather Tom is 45. Rhythm-and-blues/gospel singer George Huff is 40. Actor Emme Rylan is 40. Actor Chris Greene (“Loving”) is 38.
The Edge is compiled by Dallas Marshall. She can be contacted at dmarshall@lmtribune.com.
