Today in History: October 10

OCTOBER TENTH

1973: VICE PRESIDENT SPIRO AGNEW, ACCUSED OF TAKING BRIBES, PLEADS NO CONTEST TO FEDERAL INCOME TAX EVASION. AGNEW THEN BECOMES ONLY THE SECOND VICE PRESIDENT IN U.S. HISTORY TO RESIGN.

1911: END OF IMPERIAL RULE IN CHINA AS REVOLUTIONARIES UNDER SUN YAT SEND OVERTHROW THE COUNTRY'S MANCHU DYNASTY.

1985: U.S. FIGHTER JETS FORCE AN EGYPTIAN PLANE CARRYING THE ACHILLE LAURO HIJACKERS TO LAND IN ITALY. THAT'S WHERE THE GUNMEN WHO SEIZED THE SHIP ON THE MEDITERRANEAN ARE TAKEN INTO CUSTODY.

1985: ORSON WELLES, THE ACTOR, DIRECTOR AND PRODUCER WHOSE WORKS INCLUDE THE MASTERPIECE CITIZEN KANE, DIES IN LOS ANGELES. HE WAS 70.

1813: GUISEPPE VERDI, CONSIDERED ONE OF THE GREATEST OPERA COMPOSERS OF ALL TIME, IS BORN IN ITALY.

2004: ACTOR CHRISTOPHER REEVE, WHO PLAYED SUPERMAN IN THE MOVIES, DIES IN MT. KISCO, NEW YORK AT THE AGE OF 52. REEVE SPENT THE LAST YEARS OF HIS LIFE IN A WHEELCHAIR AFTER HE WAS PARALYZED IN A HORSE-RIDING ACCIDENT.



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