In 1787, Delaware became the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution.
In 1817, British naval officer William Bligh, well remembered for the April 1789 mutiny against him on the "Bounty," died in London.
In 1836, Martin Van Buren was elected the eighth president of the United States.
In 1941, Japanese warplanes attacked the home base of the U.S. Pacific fleet located at Pearl Harbor on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. Japan then declared war against the United States and Britain.
-- part contents for background part 16
----- text -----
Actor Eli Wallach (1915)
Actress Ellen Burstyn (1932)
Senator Thad Cochran [R-Miss.] (1937)
Former all-star catcher Johnny Bench (1947)
Singer-songwriter Tom Waits (1949)
Basketball star Larry Bird (1956)
Actor C. Thomas Howell (1966)
-- part contents for background part 17
----- text -----
"I see no wisdom in saving up indignation for a rainy day."