October 17 - The Day in History

October 17 : General Interest 1931: Capone goes to prison On this day in 1931, gangster Al Capone is sentenced to 11 years in prison for tax evasion and fined $80,000, signaling the downfall of one of the most notorious criminals of the 1920s and 1930s... read more American Revolution 1777 : Americans win more than a battle at Saratoga http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/americans-win-more-than-a-battle-at-saratoga Automotive 1973 : OPEC states declare oil embargo http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/opec-states-declare-oil-embargo Civil War 1864 : The Confederate's James Longstreet returns to command http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/longstreet-returns-to-command Cold War 1986 : U.S. aid to Contras signed into law http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/us-aid-to-contras-signed-into-law Crime 1906 : A shoemaker leads German soldiers in a robbery http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/a-shoemaker-leads-german-soldiers-in-a-robbery Disaster 1989 : Loma Prieta earthquake strikes near San Francisco http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/loma-prieta-earthquake-strikes-near-san-francisco General Interest 1777 : Patriot victory at Saratoga http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/patriot-victory-at-saratoga 1961 : Algerians massacred in Paris http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/algerians-massacred-in-paris 1973 : OPEC enacts oil embargo http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/opec-enacts-oil-embargo 1989 : Earthquake rocks San Francisco http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/earthquake-rocks-san-francisco Hollywood 1974 : Benji debuts http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/benji-debuts Literary 1903 : Nathanael West is born http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/nathanael-west-is-born Music 1960 : R&B legends the Drifters earn a #1 pop hit with "Save the Last Dance For Me" http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/rb-legends-the-drifters-earn-a-1-pop-hit-with-quotsave-the-last-dance-for-mequot Old West 1835 : The first resolution formally creating the Texas Rangers is approved http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-first-resolution-formally-creating-the-texas-rangers-is-approved Presidential 1974 : Ford explains his pardon of Nixon to Congress http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/ford-explains-his-pardon-of-nixon-to-congress Sports 1968 : Olympic protestors stripped of their medals http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/olympic-protestors-stripped-of-their-medals Vietnam War 1966 : President Johnson goes to Asia http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/president-johnson-goes-to-asia World War I 1912 : Serbia and Greece declare war on Ottoman Empire in First Balkan War http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/serbia-and-greece-declare-war-on-ottoman-empire-in-first-balkan-war World War II 1941 : Konoye government falls http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/konoye-government-falls

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