Today in History for Feb. 19, 2013

Today is Tuesday, Feb. 19, the 50th day of 2013. There are 315 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight:

On Feb. 19, 1963, the book “The Feminine Mystique” by Betty Friedan, credited with reviving American feminism, was first published by W.W. Norton & Co.

On this date:

In 1473, astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus was born in Torun, Poland.

In 1803, Congress voted to accept Ohio’s borders and constitution.

In 1807, former Vice President Aaron Burr, accused of treason, was arrested in the Mississippi Territory, in present-day Alabama. (Burr was acquitted at trial.)

In 1846, the Texas state government was formally installed in Austin, with J. Pinckney Henderson taking the oath of office as governor.

In 1878, Thomas Edison received a U.S. patent for “an improvement in phonograph or speaking machines.”

In 1881, Kansas prohibited the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages.

In 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, which cleared the way for the U.S. military to relocate and intern Japanese-Americans. Japanese warplanes raided the Australian city of Darwin; at least 243 people were killed.

In 1945, during World War II, some 30,000 U.S. Marines began landing on Iwo Jima, where they began a successful month-long battle to seize control of the island from Japanese forces.

In 1959, an agreement was signed by Britain, Turkey and Greece granting Cyprus its independence.

In 1976, calling the issuing of Executive Order 9066 “a sad day in American history,” President Gerald R. Ford issued a proclamation confirming that the order had been terminated with the formal cessation of hostilities of World War II.

In 1986, the U.S. Senate approved an international treaty outlawing genocide, 83-11, nearly 37 years after the pact had first been submitted for ratification.

In 1997, Deng Xiaoping, the last of China’s major Communist revolutionaries, died at age 92.

Ten years ago: Rep. Dick Gephardt, D-Mo., announced his second candidacy for president with a pledge to repeal most of President George W. Bush’s tax cuts. An Iranian military plane carrying 275 members of the elite Revolutionary Guards crashed in southeastern Iran, killing all on board.

Five years ago: An ailing Fidel Castro resigned the Cuban presidency after nearly a half-century in power; his brother Raul was later named to succeed him. President George W. Bush, visiting Rwanda, pleaded with the global community for decisive action to stop grisly ethnic violence plaguing other African nations like Kenya and Sudan. Barack Obama cruised past Hillary Rodham Clinton in the Wisconsin primary and Hawaii caucuses. Toshiba, creator of the HD DVD, conceded to Sony’s rival Blu-ray format.

One year ago: Three skiers were killed when an avalanche swept them about a quarter-mile down an out-of-bounds canyon at Stevens Pass, Wash., but a fourth skier caught up in the slide was saved by a safety device. Forty-four imates were killed in a prison riot in Apodaca, northern Mexico. The Detroit Red Wings won their 23rd straight home game, breaking the NHL overall record with a 3-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks.

Today’s birthdays: Singer Smokey Robinson is 73. Singer Bobby Rogers (Smokey Robinson & the Miracles) is 73. Actress Carlin Glynn is 73. Sony Chairman Howard Stringer is 71. Singer Lou Christie is 70. Actor Michael Nader is 68. Rock musician Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath, Heaven and Hell) is 65. Actor Stephen Nichols is 62. Author Amy Tan is 61. Actor Jeff Daniels is 58. Rock singer-musician Dave Wakeling is 57. Talk show host Lorianne Crook is 56. Actor Ray Winstone is 56. Actor Leslie David Baker (“The Office”) is 55. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is 54. Britain’s Prince Andrew is 53. Tennis Hall-of-Famer Hana Mandlikova is 51. Singer Seal is 50. Actress Jessica Tuck is 50. Country musician Ralph McCauley (Wild Horses) is 49. Rock musician Jon Fishman (Phish) is 48. Actress Justine Bateman is 47. Actor Benicio Del Toro is 46. Actress Bellamy Young is 43. Rock musician Daniel Adair is 38. Pop singer-actress Haylie Duff is 28. Actress Victoria Justice is 20.

Thought for today: “In America everybody is, but some are more than others.” — Gertrude Stein, American author (1874-1946).