February 25 - The Day in History

February 25: General Interest 1964: Clay knocks out Liston On February 25, 1964, 22-year-old Cassius Clay shocks the odds-makers by dethroning world heavyweight boxing champ Sonny Liston in a seventh-round technical knockout... read more American Revolution 1779 : British surrender Fort Sackville http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/british-surrender-fort-sackville Automotive 1938 : Miami drive-in debuts http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/miami-drive-in-debuts Civil War 1862 : U.S. Congress passes Legal Tender Act http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/legal-tender-act-passed Cold War 1948 : Communists take power in Czechoslovakia http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/communists-take-power-in-czechoslovakia Crime 1949 : Actor Robert Mitchum is released after serving time for marijuana possession http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/actor-robert-mitchum-is-released-after-serving-time-for-marijuana-possession Disaster 1984 : Explosion kills hundreds in Brazil http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/explosion-kills-hundreds-in-brazil General Interest 1870 : African American congressman sworn in http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/african-american-congressman-sworn-in 1986 : Marcos flees the Philippines http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/marcos-flees-the-philippines Hollywood 2004 : The Passion of the Christ opens in the United States http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-passion-of-the-christ-opens-in-the-united-states Literary 1956 : Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes meet http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/sylvia-plath-and-ted-hughes-meet Music 1873 : Enrico Caruso, the greatest tenor who ever lived, is born http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/enrico-caruso-the-greatest-tenor-who-ever-lived-is-born Old West 1848 : Railroad baron Edward Harriman is born http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/railroad-baron-edward-harriman-is-born Presidential 1828 : John Quincy Adams' son marries relative at the White House http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/john-quincy-adams-son-marries-relative-at-the-white-house Sports 1964 : Cassius Clay defeats Sonny Liston http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/cassius-clay-defeats-sonny-liston Vietnam War 1971 : Congress moves to block widening of the war http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/congress-moves-to-block-widening-of-the-war 1972 : U.S. troops fight biggest battle in nearly a year http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/us-troops-fight-biggest-battle-in-nearly-a-year World War I 1916 : German troops capture Fort Douaumont (Verdun) http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/german-troops-capture-fort-douaumont-verdun World War II 1890 : Molotov is born http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/molotov-is-born