December 2nd, 2008

Today in History

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

1972:
Gough Whitlam becomes the first Australian Labor Party Prime Minister of Australia for 23 years.

1954:
Red Scare: The United States Senate votes 65 to 22 to condemn Joseph McCarthy for "conduct that tends to bring the Senate into dishonor and disrepute."

1942:
Manhattan Project: A team led by Enrico Fermi initiate the first self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction.

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