October 4 - This Day in History

October 4: General Interest
1957: Sputnik launched

The Soviet Union inaugurates the "Space Age" with its launch of Sputnik, the world's first artificial satellite... read more


American Revolution
1777 : Both sides battered at Germantown
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/both-sides-battered-at-germantown


Automotive
1937 : Blues singer Bessie Smith, killed in Mississippi car wreck, is buried
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/blues-singer-bessie-smith-killed-in-mississippi-car-wreck-is-buried


Civil War
1861 : Lincoln watches a balloon ascension
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/lincoln-watches-a-balloon-ascension


Cold War
1957 : Soviet Union launches Sputnik I
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/soviet-union-launches-sputnik-i


Crime
1988 : Jim Bakker is indicted on federal charges
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/jim-bakker-is-indicted-on-federal-charges

2011 : Man who served 25 years for murder exonerated by DNA
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/man-who-served-25-years-for-murder-exonerated-by-dna


Disaster
1992 : Plane crashes into apartment building
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/plane-crashes-into-apartment-building


General Interest
1777 : The Battle of Germantown
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-battle-of-germantown

1965 : Pope visits U.S.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/pope-visits-us

1993 : White House siege ends in Moscow
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/white-house-siege-ends-in-moscow


Hollywood
1990 : Beverly Hills, 90210 debuts
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/beverly-hills-90210-debuts


Literary
1941 : Anne Rice is born
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/anne-rice-is-born


Music
1970 : Janis Joplin dies of a heroin overdose
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/janis-joplin-dies-of-a-heroin-overdose


Old West
1861 : Frederic Remington is born in Canton, New York
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/frederic-remington-is-born-in-canton-new-york


Presidential
1822 : Rutherford B. Hayes is born
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/rutherford-b-hayes-is-born

1927 : Work begins on Mount Rushmore
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/work-begins-on-mount-rushmore


Sports
1955 : So-called Brooklyn bums win their first World Series
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/so-called-brooklyn-bums-win-their-first-world-series


Vietnam War
1964 : Johnson orders the commencement of Oplan 34A raids
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/johnson-orders-the-commencement-of-oplan-34a-raids

1966 : Pope calls for end to the Vietnam War
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/pope-calls-for-end-to-the-vietnam-war


World War I
1918 : Germany telegraphs President Wilson seeking armistice
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/germany-telegraphs-president-wilson-seeking-armistice


World War II
1943 : Heinrich Himmler encourages his SS group leaders
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/heinrich-himmler-encourages-his-ss-group-leaders

1944 : Ike warns of the risk of "shell shock"
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/ike-warns-of-the-risk-of-shell-shock