April 25 - The Day in History

April 25 : General Interest 1983: Andropov writes to U.S. student On this day in 1983, the Soviet Union releases a letter that Russian leader Yuri Andropov wrote to Samantha Smith, an American fifth-grader from Manchester, Maine, inviting her to visit his country... read more American Revolution 1781 : Cornwallis retreats from Guilford Courthouse http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/cornwallis-retreats-from-guilford-courthouse Automotive 2001 : Italian Formula One driver dies in crash http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/italian-formula-one-driver-dies-in-crash Civil War 1864 : Confederates overwhelm Union at Marks' Mills http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/battle-of-marks-mills-arkansas Cold War 1983 : Andropov writes to an American fifth-grader http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/andropov-writes-to-an-american-fifth-grader Crime 1989 : A father is exonerated after 21 years http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/a-father-is-exonerated-after-21-years Disaster 1980 : Air tragedy hits Canary Islands http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/air-tragedy-hits-canary-islands General Interest 1859 : Ground broken for Suez Canal http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/ground-broken-for-suez-canal 1990 : Space telescope in orbit http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/space-telescope-in-orbit Hollywood 1995 : Ginger Rogers dies http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/ginger-rogers-dies Literary 1719 : Robinson Crusoe is published http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/robinson-crusoe-is-published Music 1917 : Ella Fitzgerald is born http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/ella-fitzgerald-is-born Old West 1831 : A play lionizing Davy Crockett opens http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/a-play-lionizing-davy-crockett-opens Presidential 1947 : Truman inaugurates White House bowling alley http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/truman-inaugurates-white-house-bowling-alley Sports 1964 : Maple Leafs win third Stanley Cup in a row http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/maple-leafs-win-third-stanley-cup-in-a-row Vietnam War 1964 : Johnson announces appointment of Westmoreland http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/johnson-announces-appointment-of-westmoreland 1972 : North Vietnamese Army close to cutting South Vietnam in two http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/north-vietnamese-army-close-to-cutting-south-vietnam-in-two World War I 1915 : Allies begin invasion of Gallipoli http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/allies-begin-invasion-of-gallipoli World War II 1945 : Americans and Russians link up, cut Germany in two http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/americans-and-russians-link-up-cut-germany-in-two

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