Nov. 2 (UPI) — On this date in history:
In 1889, North and South Dakota became the 39th and 40th states of the union.
In 1920, Pittsburgh’s KDKA reported the results of the U.S. presidential election in the first major news broadcast in Warren G. Harding’s victory over James Cox.
In 1947, Howard Hughes built and piloted the world’s largest airplane, the 200-ton flying boat Spruce Goose, on its only flight, at Long Beach, California. The Goose remained airborne for just under 1 mile.
In 1959, Charles Van Doren told a US congressional investigation that he had been asked questions and answers before appearing on a television game show.
In 1962, US President John Kennedy announced that Soviet missile bases in Cuba were being dismantled.
In 1976, Democrat Jimmy Carter, former governor of Georgia, was elected the 39th U.S. president, defeating Republican incumbent Gerald Ford.
In 1983, US President Ronald Reagan signed the bill establishing a national holiday to mark the birthday of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.
In 1992, legendary filmmaker Hal Roach died at the age of 100. He was credited with discovering the comedy team of Laurel and Hardy and producing the film Our gang comedies.
In 2004, US President George W. Bush was re-elected in a race with Democrat John Kerry.
In 2013, two French journalists, Ghislaine Dupont and Claude Verlon, were kidnapped and murdered after interviewing a rebel leader in northern Mali. President François Hollande expressed his “indignation at this detestable act.”
In 2016, the Chicago Cubs defeated the Cleveland Indians in Game 7 of the World Series to win the team’s first championship in 108 years. Although the game started on November 2, a rain delay pushed the last half hour of Game 7 to early November 3.
In 2023, the Beatles released their final new song, “Now and Then”, using new technology to merge vocals, guitar and piano, recorded by the late John Lennon and George Harrison in the late 1970s with new additions by Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. .
