December 2nd, 2008

Today in History

1999:
The United Kingdom devolves political power in Northern Ireland to a the Northern Ireland Executive.

1988:
Benazir Bhutto is sworn in as Prime Minister of Pakistan, becoming the first woman to head the government of an Islam-dominated state.

1975:
The communist Pathet Lao seizes power in Laos, and establishes the Lao People's Democratic Republic.

1962:
Vietnam War: After a trip to Vietnam at the request of US President John F. Kennedy, US Senate Majority Leader Mike Mansfield becomes the first American official to not make an optimistic public comment on the war's progress.

1859:
Militant abolitionist leader John Brown is hanged for his October 16th raid on Harper's Ferry.