1980 US Embassy Hostage Crisis

1980: The mission to rescue the 52 hostages from the US embassy in Iran (Operation Eagle Claw) was aborted due to equipment failure. The Iranian foreign minister warned that any attempt by the US would be considered an act of War. Eight US Servicemen lost their lives in the aborted attempt. The hostages were held for 444 days from November 4, 1979 to January 20, 1981, after a group of students took over the American embassy in support of Iran's revolution. The crisis ended after The Algiers Accords are agreed on January 19, 1981 brokered by the Algerian government between the USA and Iran to resolve the situation. The Algiers Accords consisted of a number of stipulations which both parties agreed to including:

1. The US would not intervene in Iranian internal affairs.
2. The US would remove a freeze on Iranian assets and trade sanctions on Iran.
3. Both countries would end litigation between their respective governments and citizens referring them to international arbitration, namely the Iran-United States Claims Tribunal.
4. The US would ensure that US court decisions regarding the transfer of any property of the former Shah would be independent from "sovereign immunity principles" and would be enforced.
5. Iranian debts to US institutions would be paid.

1990 USA Hubble Space Telescope

1990: The Space Shuttle Discovery launched the Hubble Space Telescope into orbit. It is hoped that the Telescope will be able to see up to the edge of the known universe. Although Hubble had some problems in the beginning with the original mirror design after repairs consisting of a series of corrective mirrors which are carried out in space, Hubble has sent back a series of stunning photographs of deep space, and revolutionized thinking about the universe.

1800 USA Library of Congress

1800: The Library of Congress (the research library of the United States Congress) was established on This Day 1800 when then President John Adams signed an Act of Congress providing for the transfer of the seat of government from Philadelphia to the new capital city of Washington.

1898 Cuba Spain / America War

1898: Spain declares war on the United States after rejecting America's ultimatum to withdraw from Cuba.

1916 Ireland Easter Uprising

1916: The Easter uprising begins when some 1,600 militant Irish republicans who are members of the Irish Republican Brotherhood seize several key sites in Dublin hoping to win independence from British rule. British forces suppressed the uprising after six days, and its leaders were court-martialed and executed.

1920 Mexico Pancho Villa

1920: The rebels in Mexico led by Pancho Villa are to launch a major drive against federal forces and are continuing to gain ground.

1924 USA Governor of Indiana

1924: The Governor of Indiana Warren G. McCray has resigned after being found guilty of mail fraud . His sentence will be announced tomorrow and his time will be served at Atlanta Federal Penitentiary.

1936 USA Benny Goodman

1936: Benny Goodman and his trio recorded "China Boy." Benny Goodman was one of the most prominent jazz and big band musicians of his day, often being referred to as the "King of Swing," "The Professor" and "Swing's Senior Statesman."

1947 Germany Future of Berlin

1947: The four major powers Britain, France, Russia and The United States met in Berlin to discuss the Austrian treaty for Berlin but no agreement was reached for the future of Berlin.

1951 USA Korean War Drafts

1951: The US Army plans to cut it's draft call for the Korean war to 20,000 in June and to bring home 20,000 Korean Veterans.

1954 Kenya Mau Mau Rebels Rounded Up

1954: British Security forces round up more than 10,000 men suspected of being Mau Mau rebels who are part a guerrilla movement opposed to white settlers in the East African colony. The round up has come following a breakdown in law and order and a state of emergency which has been declared in Kenya.

1961 France Charles de Gaulle

1961: In France the backing for Charles de Gaulle continues to grow and he is now backed by the Army, Air Force and the people of France, the world waits to see if an all out civil war occurs in France and the Eiffel Tower was blacked out in Paris.