February 21 - The Day in History

February 21: General Interest 1965: Malcolm X assassinated In New York City, Malcolm X, an African American nationalist and religious leader, is assassinated by rival Black Muslims while addressing his Organization of Afro-American Unity at the Audubon Ballroom in Washington Heights... read more American Revolution 1777 : George Weedon is promoted to brigadier general http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/george-weedon-is-promoted-to-brigadier-general Automotive 1948 : NASCAR founded http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/nascar-founded Civil War 1862 : North and South clash at the Battle of Valverde http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/battle-of-val-verde Cold War 1972 : Nixon arrives in China for talks http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/nixon-arrives-in-china-for-talks Crime 1961 : Rockefeller imposter and convicted felon born http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/rockefeller-imposter-and-convicted-felon-born 1994 : Double agent Aldrich Ames is arrested http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/double-agent-aldrich-ames-is-arrested Disaster 1971 : Tornadoes move across Mississippi River Delta http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/tornadoes-move-across-mississippi-river-delta General Interest 1848 : Marx publishes Manifesto http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/marx-publishes-manifesto 1885 : Washington Monument dedicated http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/washington-monument-dedicated 1972 : Nixon in China http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/nixon-in-china Hollywood 1926 : Garbo's first U.S. film opens http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/garbos-first-us-film-opens Literary 1927 : Erma Bombeck is born http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/erma-bombeck-is-born Music 1981 : Dolly Parton cements her crossover success as "9 to 5" hits #1 http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/dolly-parton-cements-her-crossover-success-as-quot9-to-5quot-hits-351 Old West 1828 : Cherokee receive their first printing press http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/cherokee-receive-their-first-printing-press Presidential 1848 : John Quincy Adams suffers a stroke http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/john-quincy-adams-suffers-a-stroke Sports 1952 : Dick Button wins second Olympic figure skating gold http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/dick-button-wins-second-olympic-figure-skating-gold Vietnam War 1967 : Bernard Fall killed by mine in South Vietnam http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/bernard-fall-killed-by-mine-in-south-vietnam 1970 : Kissinger begins secret negotiations with North Vietnamese http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/kissinger-begins-secret-negotiations-with-north-vietnamese 1972 : Nixon visits China http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/nixon-visits-china World War I 1916 : Battle of Verdun begins http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/battle-of-verdun-begins 1918 : Allied troops capture Jericho http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/allied-troops-capture-jericho World War II 1944 : Tojo makes himself "military czar" http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/tojo-makes-himself-military-czar